European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes wednesday March 5,1986 groups oppose Witch hunt7 drug test plan Washington a charging Witch Hunt and illegal searches a civil liberties group and a labor Union said a presidential panel s proposal for drug testing in government work places would violate the constitutional rights of Federal workers. The president s commission on organized crime issued a report monday saying the . Drug problem has be come a threat to National Security that justifies drastic measures such As drug testing on the Job. Forcing someone to submit to drug testing is the equiv Alent to illegal search and seizure said Kenneth Blay lock president of the american federation of government employees the largest Federal workers Union with 210,000 members. Drugs have no place at the Federal work site or any other work site. Well support any reasonable plan to eliminate drug abuse or to rehabilitate employees suspected of having a problem Blaylock said but we oppose the Witch Hunt  in a report to president Reagan the commission called drug trafficking and abuse the most serious organized crime problems in America  it said the president should direct All Federal agencies to formulate immediately Clear policy statements with implementing guide lines including suitable drug testing  the recommendation puts millions of government employees in the position of proving that they Are not drug abusers protested Allan Adler legislative counsel for the american civil liberties Union. There Are 2.7 million civilian Federal employees and 1.7 million in the military. The study also said government contracts should not be awarded to companies that fail to implement suitable drug  the Federal government does business with about 15,000 companies employing 23 million workers. I think drug testing is an appropriate response by employers who Are contracting with the Federal government said Mark a. De Bernardo manager of labor Law at the . Chamber of Commerce. Drug and alcohol abuse nationally costs Industry $60 billion a year in lost productivity increased absenteeism higher Accident rates and medical claims and theft he said. Adler noted that Law enforcement agencies Are unable to Stop the flow of drugs into the United states and that Antidrug education programs Are unable to change the habits of the american Public. One Way to get your kicks a photo the fallen rider at Center holds on perhaps dreading vicious Ostrich foot attack if he lets go. The Winner in the race at Gulf Stream Park in Hallandale fla., was High stepping big Bird at right. The fallen jockey thrown after his mount crashed through the inner rail Fence was not Hurt. Revise insurance regulations or face Federal intervention states warned Washington up if states Don t solve the Mal practice and liability insurance crisis soon the Federal govern ment May be forced to step in two congressmen Are warning. Reps. John Porter r-i11., and Pete Stark d-calif., said at a news conference monday that they have introduced a Reso Lution urging states to take action to Reform the insurance Industry historically regulated by the states. This Resolution is a shot across the Bow warning states to act or be acted upon Porter said. If the states fail to act a role for the Federal government is  the two congressmen also released the first instalment of a five part general accounting office study of the problem a report whose title suggests the difficulties facing lawmakers tackling the thorny issues. The report is titled medical malpractice no agreement on problems or  it concludes that the four parties most affected by the malpractice crisis doctors and health providers lawyers insurance companies and Consumers could not agree on limiting monetary damages for pain and suffering or on whether a Federal role is warranted among other issues. Porter said the Only thing they agreed on is this problem is going to get worse in the next five years if nothing is  among the reforms the two proposed Are a Cap on pain and suffering awards and a payment of Large awards Over time rather than All at once. Stark acknowledged that Laws limiting pain and suffering awards will be Tough to pass at the Federal level although some states have adopted limits. Another recommended state Reform is that parties bearing less than half the fault in medical malpractice cases should have to pay Only a proportionate amount of the damages. That would prevent deep pocket suits in which people sue whoever has the most Money regardless of their degree of fault. Doctors and other health providers Are not the Only ones being hit with skyrocketing insurance premiums said Porter. Every unit of local government in America is facing a crisis in their coverage or in the premiums he said. They Are watching their liability rates soar or having their insurance policies cancelled for the recreational facilities they operate even when there is no history of lawsuits. The people Are getting Damn mad about their liability insurance said Stark chairman of the House ways and Means subcommittee on health. He criticized doctors for being too lax in punishing incompetents among themselves calling the medical profession an old boy or old girl fraternity or sorority that won t dump on its , a lawyer said something must be done to make the system More predictable regarding Cash awards for malpractice but he cautioned it would be unwise to regulate the fees attorneys get in malpractice and liability cases. It s difficult to understand Why they think this is going to affect organized crime by invading the privacy of Mil Lions of people Adler said. The report however said the Public and private sectors must All recognize that we Are in a National  no attempt to eliminate organized crime from this country can possibly be Complete without a concerted nationwide Campaign to reduce the demand for narcotics in the United states the commission s chairman 2nd . Circuit court of appeals judge Irving r. Kaufman said in a statement. The commission said Law enforcement agencies Are Able to do Little More than hold the line against illicit narcotics traffic generating an estimated $110 billion a year. The solution is to bolster police interception of narcotics with anti drug programs aimed at reducing the demand for illicit substances the report said. The commission s Deputy director Rodney b. Smith acknowledged that drug tests Are not 100 percent accurate and that there was concern among commission members about employees unfairly losing their jobs As a result. But he said drug testing technology can be improved and that losing a Job unfairly is one Small Issue in a much larger  . Urged to Waif of turn Nixon Home info historic sife Washington a the idea of making Richard m. Nixon s Birthplace a National historic site won wide support at a House hearing tuesday but several groups said its opening should be delayed until after Nixon Dies. A living former president is in the unique position to unduly influence the development and interpretation of the site Laura Beaty of the National Parks and Conser vation association testified. Postponing the Public opening of a site will also ensure a better historical perspective on the life and times of the president in question she told the House Interior com Mittee s National Parks and recreation subcommittee. Offering similar advice was Page Miller director of the National coordinating committee for promotion of history. She also said an advisory Council of historians should help develop the Nixon Birthplace to provide a balanced history including his resignation in 1974. No opposition was voiced against a Bill by rep. William Dannemeyer r-calif., that would require the National Park service to acquire the i i Story Frame Bungalow in Yorba Linda calif., where Nixon lived from 1913 to 1922. Dannemeyer and Denis Galvin Deputy Park service director emphasized that turning a president s Birthplace into a historical site and museum honors the presidency not the particular president. These National historic Sites Are not monuments to presidential careers but rather Are maintained by the National Park service to preserve our history Danne Meyer testified. This Bill is consistent with the treatment of other mod Ern presidents and will Benefit future generations Dan Nemeyer said. Co sponsors include 29 of California s other 44 House  Don t interpret the political life of a person said Galvin whose Agency operates historical Sites associated with at least a dozen other sex presidents. There Are values in these Sites that go beyond the contemporary life of the  Galvin said the Park service s approach to restoring and preserving such presidential properties is what did this site have to do with the life of a president How were his ideas folded Here he estimated it could Cost from $500,000 to $1 million to acquire the Nixon Birthplace and 7.2 acres of land which includes an elementary school. Galvin said it would take from $150,000 to $200,000 a year to operate it As a historic site. Galvin urged the subcommittee to Amend the Bill to allow the Park service to accept donations of the buildings and land from the Nixon Birthplace foundation and the Yorba Linda City government. We believe a very major portion perhaps All the acquisition costs can be borne by non government funds he testified. The Nixon House which has been owned by the Nixon Birthplace foundation since 1978, was declared a National historic landmark a status involving no Federal spend ing by the Interior department in 1973 with Nixon approval. Nixon is supporting the idea of upgrading the status of his first Home. In a letter to Dannemeyer he said the congressman s thoughtful gesture. Is deeply