Pubdate:  Sat, 13 Sep 1997
Source:   Houston Chronicle, page 1
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/page1/97/09/13/helmsweld.20.html

Helms rules with iron gavel

Hearing blocked on Weld's nomination as Mexico envoy

By GREG McDONALD

Copyright 1997 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON  A defiant Sen. Jesse Helms, RN.C., refused Friday to
allow a committee hearing on William Weld's nomination as ambassador to
Mexico and delivered a scathing attack on other members of the foreign
relations panel for trying to force his hand.

Helms, under pressure from Weld's advocates, did call a meeting of the
committee, and the nominee attended. But the conservative Republican
used his power as chairman to deny the former Massachusetts governor a
chance to address the panel.

He also refused to let other committee members speak, except for ranking
Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, who contended that Helms'
refusal to grant a hearing was "a mistake" that would prevent the Senate
from fulfilling a constitutional obligation.

"I'm not going to debate this," Helms responded angrily as he gaveled
down numerous objections from panel members about his handling of the
meeting.

Citing a parliamentary rule giving the chairman almost dictatorial
powers, Helms ended the gathering after only 30 minutes. He used up most
of that time referring to Senate records on nominations that have been
denied public hearings.

"There have been 154 nominations in the past 10 years alone which died
in committee without a Senate hearing because a chairman or a ranking
member or someone else didn't want a hearing," Helms said.

Biden later noted that Weld was the first nominee he was aware of to be
denied a hearing when a majority of committee members were in favor of
it.

Helms scolded Weld, a fellow Republican, for challenging his authority
as head of the committee with a "plethora of self serving declarations"
and helping the news media "create a circus atmosphere" over the matter.

"Now what Mr. Weld appears to be threatening is that unless his
nomination to Mexico is moved, he will begin a war within the Republican
Party. Let him try," Helms declared, looking directly at the nominee. "I
have been tempted to say but haven't, that I, Mr. Weld, do not yield to
ideological extortion."

Helms also lashed out at Sen. Richard Lugar, RInd., who forced the
committee meeting by invoking a rarely used Senate rule. Lugar had
publicly referred to Helms as a dictator for refusing to hold a hearing
on Weld.

Helms criticized his colleague's actions as "unprecedented." But he said
he was willing to forgive and forget. "I am a friend, want to be a
friend, and I intend to try to continue to be a friend of the senator
from Indiana," Helms said.

Lugar tried to respond several times, but the chairman gaveled him down.
At one point, an angry Sen. Paul Wellstone, DMinn., spoke up on Lugar's
behalf.

"I just think there should be fairness here. Senator Lugar should have a
chance to respond," Wellstone shouted at Helms.

Lugar remarked later to reporters that the proceedings were
"instructive" if for no other reason because they showed "that sometimes
democracy does not work very well."

Biden acknowledged that Weld's nomination was, for all practical
purposes, dead. He said the only way it could be saved would be a sudden
change of heart by Helms or if Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott,
RMiss., allowed a confirmation vote by the full Senate without going
through Helms' committee.

"The appeal lies with Trent Lott. . . . It is clear that under the
Senate rules Senator Helms can prevent a hearing from now to doomsday,"
Biden said.

At the White House, President Clinton said he would continue to press
for Weld's confirmation and called on Lott to take the next step,

"We're at loggerheads now," Clinton said. But he added: "The battle is
not over yet. . . . I believe the full Senate should find a way to move
forward on this nomination."

Although the president continues to stand by his nominee, at some point,
said one White House official, "it`ll be time to call it quits."

Helms has vowed to make trouble for the administration on other foreign
relations matters if Clinton doesn't withdraw the nomination.

Lott certainly has shown no sign he'll cooperate with the White House.
On Friday, he issued a statement backing Helms and calling on Clinton to
withdraw the nomination and "end this political charade now."

Weld, long at odds with Helms and other conservatives in his party,
resigned as governor earlier this year, declaring that he would wage "a
ground war" if necessary to get a hearing on his nomination. But his
outspoken criticism of Helms apparently only strengthened the chairman's
opposition.

After Friday's meeting, Weld told reporters that Helms' refusal to grant
a hearing or to allow other senators to speak on his behalf was one of
the "saddest" things he had ever witnessed in government. He called the
chairman's handling of the meeting a "spectacle."