European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 20, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday november 20, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 5stage set for abortion showdown Bush vetoes Bill blocking ban on counselling Washington apr president Bush on tuesday set up a showdown with Congress by vetoing a Bill blocking the administrations ban on abortion counselling at federally funded clinics. Congress was ready to move swiftly to try to override his veto and some democratic leaders predicted the president would suffer his first defeat after 23 successful vetoes. While vetoing the Bill Bush insisted that he was not trying to restrict counselling for pregnant women. He said he sent a nov. 5 memo to Secretary of health and human services Louis Sullivan that a makes Clear that there is no a gag Rule to interfere with the doctor patient relationship. I have directed that in implementing these regulations nothing prevent a woman from receiving Complete medical information about her condition from a  House speaker Thomas s. Foley d-wash., predicted that Bush would lose the veto Battle. At Issue is a $205 billion spending Bill that includes a provision blocking for one year the administrations can on abortion counselling at federally funded clinics. Gress i think there is very great reason to believe the con is will beginning with the House override the presi dents veto a Foley said a Bush in his veto message reiterated his stand that no Federal funds can be used to support abortion except in cases where the life of the Mother would be endangered by carrying the fetus to full term. If Foley a prediction proves Correct it would Mark the first time Congress has overridden a veto during Bush a presidency. Bush has vetoed 23 Bills in three years and the failure of All 12 override attempts by Congress has been a major frustration for democrats. But rep. Christopher h. Smith r-n.j., Leader of anti abortion forces in the House said he was ready for the veto showdown and would have enough votes to sustain Bush. A we have seen no Zero diminution of our vote count a Smith said. A i done to know upon what Foley is Basing  the abortion measure is included in a $205 billion spending Bill for the labor education and health and human services departments. It cleared the Senate 72-25, with More than the two thirds veto proof majority. The administrations abortion counselling ban called a a gag rules by critics has stirred Strong opposition and has been viewed As the Best Chance for abortion rights supporters to win a veto fight. But supporters did not have override strength in the last House vote on the measure that includes a provision blocking implementation of the Rule for one year. The houses 272-156 vote earlier this month to accept a conference report working out differences with the Senate left supporters Short of the two thirds override majority. If ail 435 House members vote supporters would need 290 votes to override Bush a veto. Smith said anti abortion democrats in the House have been the object of a the most vigorous pressure that i have Ever seen on any vote by democratic leaders seeking support for an override. A we know there has been very heavy pressure put on pro life democrats to vote against their own conscience a he said. Foley however said democrats who voted against the measure on previous votes a have said that they arc reconsidering their votes and that they feel they voted incorrectly. And will vote to  despite their congressional majority democrats have been Force to use a veto strategy on All the major Domestic policy  service to abandon Knickknacks sales by the Washington Post Washington stung by congressional and Public criticism the . Postal service has ordered the nations 40,000 Post offices to Stop Selling to shirts Coffee mugs and other postal Memorabilia in their lobbies. The idea behind Selling merchandise carrying stamp images and postal logos was to boost revenues. But postal officials said the extra Money Wasny to Worth the criticism. A a we be been taking a lot of heat and not getting in the stars and stripes a lot of Benefit in return a on the Bottom line a said Peter Davidson the director of licensing for the postal service. The sales will end feb. 1. A in Brief we need to get Back to basics a said senior assistant postmaster general Richard j. Strasser or. In a nov. 12 memorandum directing postal employees to concentrate on reducing waiting lines in postal lobbies and Selling mail services. Postmaster general Anthony m. Frank has acknowledged the sales done to make much Money but he has held that every Dollar the sales generate is a Dollar less that the service has to charge in higher postal rates. Those arguments have failed to convince critics including consumer advocate Ralph Nader. He said monday that he was delighted Frank a is abandoning the Knick Knack business in the Post office lobbies and can now concentrate on More frequent and reliable delivery of the  in his memorandum Strasser said that a Many customers believe that the sales of to shirts and Coffee mugs has interfered with our traditional lobby operations and that the services research showed customers did not like to see apparel sold at the same counters where our Core products and services Are  he ordered local Post offices to cease new purchases of postal related merchandise to reduce their inventories though closeout sales and to remove the merchandise from prominent sales areas during the Christmas season. Art Shelley a postal service spokesman noted that some Post offices such As those in the Washington area offered a wide variety of items while some offered none at All.10 years ago nov. 20,1981 urged to strengthen president Reagan s hand in arms negotiations with the soviets the House overwhelmingly backed a record $197.4 billion Pentagon budget that included the b-1 bomber and my missile. -20 year Sago nov. 20,1971 a rep. Ronald v. De tums d-calif., said some base commanders were taking reprisals against Blacks who complained to congressional members about racial discrimination in the military. The men had testified during unofficial hearings held by the congressional Black caucus to investigate alleged racism in the military.30 years ago nov. 20,1961 a hundreds of workers and East German soldiers convened at the Brandenburg Gate under lights at night to beef up the Border Wall in Berlin. They were building a 10-foot wooden Fence in front of the Gate and a reinforced Concrete Wall behind the fence.40 years ago nov. 20.1951 a British and egyptian authorities agreed to a seven Day truce in Ismail a in the Suez canal zone following a weekend of fighting in which five British officers and 12 egyptians were killed. Federal employees seek to keep frequent flier Points earned on Job by Mike Causey the Washington Post Washington a the general accounting office was asked monday to let government workers who spend thousands of hours each year scrunched into Ever shrinking airline Economy class seats to have fun with the frequent flier mileage Points they earn on official trips. Current Gao rules require employees to turn in those Points earned in the line of duty. Since the mileage credits Are usually not transferable they Are often lost unless the same worker uses them later on business. In a letter to comptroller general Charles Bowsher the senior executives association reminded the Gao Congress investigative Arm that the House changed its policy on sept. 10 to allow members Ana staff to keep and use mileage Points earned on official business for personal trips or vacations. Some sea members As Well As Many lower level auditors inspectors Law enforcement personnel and other specialists probably spend More time in the air than do Many military combat pilots. Sea general counsel g. Jerry Shaw said the governments wild Bluc yonder is often confusing. For instance. Haw said government workers May keep Money they get from airlines if they Volunteer to be bumped from overbooked flights but May not keep it if they Are involuntarily bumped. Shaw also pointed out that Uncle Sam allows employees to enjoy the various Perks some closed membership Airport clubs offer to first class passengers or frequent fliers. Cancer victim failed to prove he smoked Asbestos filtered Kents in 50s, jury rules Philadelphia a a stockbroker failed to prove be smoked the cigarettes containing Asbestos that he blames for his cancer a Federal court jury decided monday. Peter Ierardo 56, did not prove he smoked Kent cigarettes in the 1950s and therefore could not claim that the nations fourth largest cigarette manufacturer Lorillard inc., was at fault for his illness the jury ruled. Six similar cases against the cigarette maker Are pending. The lawsuit was unusual because it dealt with a highly toxic form of Asbestos not the hazards of smoking. Ierardi of Philadelphia claimed in his 1990 lawsuit against Lorillard that Kent a Micro Nite filter which contained Asbestos in the 1950s, caused his mesothelium a a fatal cancer of the lining of the Abdomen Chest cavity heart and lungs. The Asbestos filter was advertised As harmless though medical reports by the Early 1950s had linked Asbestos with Black lung disease and lung cancer. Ierardi s lawyer Daniel Childs told the u a District court jury that Lorillard should be held liable for damages because consultants told the company in 1954 that Kent smokers were inhaling Asbestos and the filter s composition was not changed for two years. Lear did a suit sought at least $200,000 in damages from new York based Lorillard and the maker of the filters Hollingsworth amp Vose based in East Walpole mass. Lorillard based its defense on claims that Ierardi could not prove he smoked Kents during the four years it used Asbestos filters. The company also said that even if Ierardi smoked Kents he could not prove that Asbestos caused his mesothelium a. Ierardi began smoking in 1948 and was a two pack a Day smoker for Many years. He said he switched from kools to Kents in 1953. He Learned he had mesothelium a in november 1989. No one has collected damages in injury lawsuits against the tobacco Industry. A $400,000 award by a new Jersey jury to the family of the late Rose Cipollone was overturned on Appeal and the . Supreme court has ordered a rehearing of the Case