European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 05, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday february 1993,. . The stars and stripes a Page 5 House Hustles leave Biff to Senate Washington a House democrats Are hailing Quick passage of a fam ily leave Bill As a sign that Congress and the White House Are ready to return working families concerns to the fore front. The House voted 265163, on wednes Day night to Send the Bill to the Senate which is working on a nearly identical version to guarantee workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for a new child or a sick relative. The Senate was expected to follow suit this week although action there is being delayed by Republican objections to president Clinton s efforts to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military. Senate majority Leader George j. Mitchell of Maine planned to meet with fellow democrats thursday to figure out How to proceed on the military Gays Issue. We re not trying to delay the Bill said minority Leader Robert j. Dole r kan., predicting the family leave measure could still be passed in the Senate on thursday if the Gays Issue was resolved despite the Roadblock democrats still Hope to get the family leave Bill to Clin ton by week s end a feat they said would prove their claim that with a democratic controlled Congress and a democratic president gridlock in Washington is Over House democrats said voters in no vember issued a warning that they wanted Washington to act on their be half. We have a mandate a Mission a moral obligation to stand up for the american family said rep. John Lewis a a. And majority whip David e. ,d-mich., said the Issue was one reason Why we have a new  family Leaver legislation was twice vetoed by former president Bush. Clinto asked Congress to get it to him As soon As possible. During the lengthy House debate wednesday republicans tried to Amend the Bill to give employers More leeway with leave policies but democrats voted Down each proposed change. The measure would exempt companies with fewer than 50 workers. The labor department estimates it would cover 5 percent of companies and about 40 per cent of the work Force. Voting for the Bill in the House were 224 democrats 40 republicans and one Independent. Opposed were 134 re pub in the stars and stripes 10 years ago feb. 5,1983 defense Secre tary Caspar w. Weinberger ordered the armed services to take immedi ate action to open military installations As Winter shelters for the nation s homeless. 20 years ago feb. 5,1973 British prime min ister Edward Heath warned that a unilateral . Troop withdrawal might give the soviets the Green Light to extend their influence Over Western Europe. 30 years ago feb. 5,1963 a . State department official said soviet military strength in Cuba May be 10 times As great As before the october mis Sile crisis 40 years ago feb. 5,1953 Stormy winds churning up the North sea washed out numerous dikes in flood stricken Southwest Holland As the unofficial death toll reached 1,500. 50 years ago feb. 5,1943 b-17s from the american 8th air Force hit targets in Northwestern Germany their Sec Ond raid Over Germany after smashing naval installations  eight Days earlier. World War ii 50 years ago today feb. 5 1943 with the War going badly or italian forces in North Africa and on the Southern soviet front Mussolini fires Italy s foreign minister and takes on those duties himself. Soviet armoured columns take stary Oskoi Southeast of Voronezh and i Yum Southeast of Kharkov. In the Pacific japanese troops Retreat Westward from Wau in new Guinea source 2194 Days of War w. H. Smith publishers inc wot id almanac Book of world War ii. Bison books corp. 1981 a police sgt. Stacy c. Koon leaves court in los Angeles on wednesday. Koon an three others Are charged with violating Rodney g. King s civil rights. Hundreds of possible jurors questioned about King Case los Angeles a prospective jurors in the Rodney g. King beating Case were asked whether the could reach a verdict without fear of More rioting and whether they too part in the violence after the police officers first trial. The process of selecting 12 jurors to hear the Federal civil rights trial began wednesday As 333 prospects were asked to fill out 53-Page questionnaires. Attorneys were to begin studying the answers thursday. The four defendants Are sgt. Sta Cey c. Koon officers Laurence m. Powell and Theodore j. Briseno and former officer Timothy e.  Are charged with violating King s civil rights in the beating which occurred a freeway Chase March 3, 1991. Wind a Rookie on probation was fired after the beating. The trial opened a year after the four went on trial on state assault charges in the mostly White suburb of Simi Valley. Their acquittal on most charges on april 29 by a jury with no Black members triggered rioting i which 54 people died and damage reached $1 Pillion. After the riots the officers were indicted on the Federal charges. Among the questions asked of prospective jurors what was your personal react onto the verdicts in the state court trial did you feel that Justice had Bee served or were you disappointed with the verdicts did you or any Friend or rela Tive participate in the civil unrest do you fear the Prospect of so Cial unrest following a verdict in this Case in general How would you rate the Job the los Angeles police redoing in dealing with crime Laicans and 29 democrats. Democrats said the measure would give americans Job Security and ultimately make . Companies More competitive by lifting morale and creating a More stable work Force. It s not Only humane policy it s smart policy said House majority Leader Richard a. Gephardt do. Republicans scoffed at the Democrat for making the Issue a priority saying it had nothing to do with turning around the Economy the thing Clinton said he d work on from his first Day in the White House. Instead republicans said it s just another govern mint knows bust Bill. Despite All the new team Job creation rhetoric it s the same old demo cratic playbook said rep. Tom Dclay a Texas. Abortion foes protest plan to curb protest Washington a a Bill that would give Federal Protection to women confronted by blockades at abortion clinics unfairly targets one group anti Abor Tion advocates charge. The measure introduced in the Houston wednesday is designed to counter last month s supreme court decision barring Federal judges from issuing injunctions to Stop blockades at abortion clinics. Douglas Johnson legislative director of the National right to life committee said that under the Bill pro life protes ters would be singled out for harsh Feder Al  but no Federal Penally would apply to labor Union members aids protesters animal rights protesters or others who lock entry to medical facilities for other reasons Johnson said. The measure introduced by  Schumir d-n.y., would make it a Federal crime to prevent entry into or exit from a clinic. Enable women and clinics to get fed eral injunctions against attempts to Block their Access to clinics. And allow women clinics and staff members to file lawsuits against blocked cars under civil Law. This Bill gives the Federal government the Power to act when abortion protes ters move from the legitimate expression of their views to acts of violence against those who have made other choices Schumir said. You can t talk about Freedom of Choice without Freedom of Access said rep. Connie Morolla r-md., a co Spon  Bill would not interfere with pro testers free speech making lit very american and very very appropriate she said. But Beverly Laliae president of concerned women for America called the Bill censorship of a particular  state Law enforcement is Well equipped to Deal with any protester s Vio lation of the Law she said. Schumer promised the legislation after the supreme court last month limited the Federal help available to abortion clinic owners who try to Stop blockades by operation Rescue and other anti abortion protesters. By a 5-4 vote the court barred Federal courts from interfering with protesters who try to impede a Cess to  ruling Means abortion clinic operators will have to turn to state judges for help. But Many local police departments called on to enforce state court injunctions have said they Lack the resources to Deal with massive demonstrations