GOP, Democrats joust over security personnel issues

WASHINGTON -- Against steadfast Democratic opposition, Senate Republicans prepared Wednesday for an all-out effort to give President Bush the management flexibility he seeks for the proposed Homeland Security Department.

Republicans were preparing to offer two key amendments to a Democratic-written Homeland Security bill, but votes were not expected until next week. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott said the bill is unacceptable to Bush unless those changes are made.

"If we do not, the president of the United States will veto it, and we will sustain his veto," Lott, R-Miss., told reporters.

Both sides also accused each other of playing politics with the legislation, with Democrats portrayed as cozying up to labor union supporters and Republicans seen as trying to weaken unions and employee job rights.

One GOP amendment would essentially permit Bush to set up a new personnel system for the agency's 170,000 employees, making it easier to fire poor performers, adjust pay scales and hire new workers more quickly than under current civil service law.

Another amendment would restore an existing presidential power that allows entire government units to be exempted from union agreements for reasons of national security. The Democratic bill would limit that power to individual employees, with greater justification requirements.

Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., said these powers are crucial in an agency envisioned to act quickly against terrorist threats within the United States. Without them, Thompson said the Homeland Security secretary could become mired in personnel problems including the virtual impossibility of firing poor workers, sluggish hiring procedures and even determining proper dress code for casual Fridays.

"I believe we're setting ourselves up for failure if we don't give the secretary flexibility to manage the department," Thompson said.

Democrats insisted they would not permit changes in the federal civil service system or union representation. About 43,000 potential Homeland Security workers are members of 17 unions; the two largest are the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union.

About 150 government union members joined key Democratic senators at a Capitol Hill rally Wednesday to oppose the GOP effort.

"The issue before us is really whether to allow this administration to issue blanket exclusions of federal workers from their fundamental rights," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.

Bush also objects to language in the Democratic bill that would enshrine into law the White House homeland security office now occupied by Tom Ridge and make its director subject to Senate confirmation. In a statement issued Tuesday, the White House said that provision could also lead to a veto.

If the Democratic bill prevails in the Senate, it would set up a collision with the GOP-led House and the Bush administration in negotiations on a final bill. The House in July passed a measure closely tracking Bush's original proposal.

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