European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 2 the stars and stripes Friday May 13,1994 at a glance Melissa Himes of North Carolina has been freed by suspected Khmer Rouge guerrillas in Cambodia after More than five weeks in Captivity. Sec Story on Page 9.tax-free status two influential lawmakers Are seeking to restore the tax free status of most military moving allowances. A Page 4use of leave studied the office of personnel management has proposed allowing Federal workers to use up to five Days of sick leave each year to care for a child spouse or Parent. Quot. A a page5two executed Arkansas has executed two killers exactly an hour apart. A Page 8bank fees grow an increasing number of Banks Are charging fees to both the unwitting recipients of bounced checks and those who write them a study says. A Page 18 i Index j Abby Ann Landers a a 25 classifieds. 28 <32 comics. 25 -27 commentary. M a 17 crossword. M a 25 faces a no places. A a 14 focus a a a. 19 �24 Horoscope. M 1. 31 Jumble. It a a 31 letters 9 16 Money matters. A a it 18 sports. 32< �?�40 to listings. A a 39 weather. A a a 15 correction because of a reporting error the average number of children attending . Air forces in Europe child development centers was incorrect thursday. The average number is 2,100. Bobbitt reportedly in Lead As Clinton mulls court Washington a dragging out the suspense president Clinton toiled Over a Short list of supreme court candidates thursday with Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt said to be the top Prospect. Judges Richard Arnold and Stephen Breyer were still in the Hunt. A the momentum is moving Babbitt s Way a said a White House official involved in the search. Another key adviser warned thursday however that Clinton has not made up his mind and could turn from Babbitt in the face of stiff congressional opposition. Breyer said in Boston on thursday that he had a no information Quot on the nomination and added a the actual thing you do feel is that it is very flattering. This is a major major position and its an Honor to be a key Factor in the possible selection of Babbitt is who would succeed him at the Interior department a senior White House official said Clinton would want to fill that vacancy quickly though probably not in a twin announcement with his supreme court nominee. The most Likely candidate is rep. Bill Richardson . Who is hispanic the official said the aides spoke on condition of anonymity. A White House press Secretary Dee Dee Myers on thursday denied suggestions that Clinton was working in a dual appointment. A the president is making a decision on the supreme court. Period. That is the focus of his concern. Other strategies that suggest there Are other concerns Are just misguided Quot she said. Babbitt who until recently said he wanted to stay at the Interior depart ment made Clear he was available a a in a ready and willing to do my part to serve this Page 1 and respiratory problems. The department is conducting its own exams or Gulf veterans who have left the armed forces. A panel of the National institutes of health recently concluded that the ailments were real but could identify no single cause or syndrome. A Senate committees conclusions made Public last week suggested that some of the illnesses might have been caused by drugs Given the troops to protect them against chemical and biological warfare. The Pentagon a new tests Are intended to be the most comprehensive so far and medical experts Hope the results will yield clues to the cause of the illnesses a a we be set ourselves a time line of 120 Days to get a significant number of exams finished and then we ought to have a better idea of where we Are a Joseph said in a Telephone interview. A a a a Joseph said that Many veterans had been examined before but that the new standardized tests which the Pentagon is devising with the veterans affairs department would give the service member a More detailed medical assessment and the defense department a broader body of medical . Gen. Ronald r. Blanck commander of Walter Reed army medical Center in Washington and other Pentagon officials Are working out details of the tests the veterans will be Given Joseph Page 1 was sent to the Senate for action. In mid june it will be debated and voted on by the foreign relations committee. If the committee gives it the Green Light the Bill will go to the full Senate for vote. If a p roved at that level it will then go to resident Clinton for signature or veto. One sticking print for Senate lawmakers is the priority for claims. As the Bill now reads veterans get the first claims followed in order by private . Companies and then by the Federal government. According to angerhofer the current Senate committee feeling is that the government should get the Money first. A there Are $1.5 billion in assets to cover an estimated $5 billion in claims a he said a if veterans and private companies Are paid first the government will have a huge loss in unpaid Loans and other Aid that was Given to Iraq in the years before the War. A that View is a a pay me now or pay me later Quot argument angerhofer said. A a that a the Way id look at it a he said. A the government is going to pay for injured veterans through their Long term health care costs unemployment and disability he believes if the Money is used now to treat veterans especially those stricken with persian Gulf syndrome the Lon term costs will be drastically reduced. A and the Federal government has another recourse to get repaid by going to the United nations Ana asking for Relief a angerhofer said. In essence he explained the United nations can Garnish iraqi profits such As Oil exports with the Money going directly to the . Treasury although he does t think there san organized conspiracy to shut veterans out he does believe corporate lobbyists Are playing a part. A i have a feeling that some american chemical companies that did business with Iraq Are out there talking to senators a he said. A the companies never want it proven that veterans Are sick because they were exposed to chemicals that . Companies sold to Iraq a first it would be a huge Public relations Nightmare and second lawsuits would be filed a angerhofer said. A a \ a a a i think these companies would prefer to have the Issue settled out of the Public Eye a he said. Veterans organizations have have mixed views on the legislation. American legion spokesman Phil Budahn said a we have no position a we neither support or oppose legion officials want a closer look at the political and social ramifications that will go along with giving veterans Money that a obtained because of War he said. The veterans of foreign wars however strongly supports the legislation a these Are men and women who went to the persian Gulf area and in some cases suffered personal injury material losses and even death a said George Cramer vow commander in chief. A if anyone deserves priority it is our servicemen and women a illegal from Page 1 Tention Quot civilian attorney Bob Fiore said referring to the attention of us. Authorities. A a. Military lawyers in Europe have been reviewing the courts ruling to determine How it would apply to civilian employees and family members. A reports in some Media that use of cannabis in Germany is Legal Are incorrect a Morse said. A the court reaffirmed that Possession of even Small amounts of cannabis for personal use is a criminal act. The court directed German Law enforcement officials to develop a uniform policy on when prosecution is and such appropriateness is at the Crux of the matter. At a meeting this week of the bundesrat the upper House of parliament leaders of the 16 German states failed to agree on what constitutes a a Small Quantity Quot suggestions ranged from 10 to 50 Grams with Bavaria opting for the lower amount and Hessen and the City state of Hamburg favouring the higher Quantity. In the meantime German police officials and judges All Over the country have been lamenting the unclear Legal situation while Many citizens have taken the court ruling to mean they May flaunt their smoking habit in Public. How the ruling would apply to Active duty service members was never in doubt Morse said. Service members who use or possess cannabis Are in violation of the uniform code of military Justice and subject to prosecution. A the Ucma does no to change a Morse said thursday. A it applies wherever you a after european come lawyers reviewed the German court ruling they decided the policy regarding civilian employees and family members would not change. Use or Possession of drugs by civilian department of defense employees is also prohibited by Law a Morse said in his statement. A use or Possession of drugs by civilian employees contractor employees or family members will continue to be disposed of in accordance with existing . Laws and regulations which provide for a wide Range of. Administrative actions and or referral to German the administrative actions taken against a civil service employee could Range from suspension to dismissal Morse said. Authorities could suspend a family members privileges or even Send them Back to the United states while a contractor employee might be temporarily or permanently barred from a military facility thus hindering his or her ability to work. A we can to suspend them from their Job but we can bar them from a facility for a Given time a Morse said. German nationals could face punitive measures ranging from a suspension to referral to German authorities for criminal prosecution Morse said. J
