
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 20, 1990                   TAG: 9006200031
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

VETO THREAT DELAYS CIVIL RIGHTS BILL

The White House said Tuesday it was willing to compromise on the Civil Rights Act of 1990 to avoid a presidential veto, but a key GOP senator voiced skepticism that such a deal could be struck before Nelson Mandela's visit to Washington.

The civil rights dispute dominated the agenda of Bush's Tuesday meeting with GOP congressional leaders. But participants emerged from the session suggesting a compromise on the issue did not appear to be at hand.

The administration has been discussing possible compromises in hopes of avoiding a battle over the bill during Mandela's visit. The African National Congress leader meets with Bush on Monday.

The legislation, cosponsored by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Augustus F. Hawkins, D-Calif., would overcome a series of Supreme Court decisions last year that made it more difficult for workers to bring discrimination suits against employers.

The administration claims that the bill, as drafted, would in effect force businesses to resort to hiring quotas to reduce their exposure to lawsuits; sponsors deny that the bill requires quotas, directly or indirectly.

by CNB