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Energy nominee’s hearing off until August
The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) - Tuesday, July 27, 1993
Author: JOAN MCKINNEY: WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON - Some U.S. senators want to know if Tara O’Toole is - or ever was - a Marxist , but Louisiana labor unions say O’Toole is a qualified advocate for a safe workplace.
In letters mailed last week, the unions pushed U.S. Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, D-La., to break the logjam on O’Toole ‘s nomination to a top U.S. Energy Department job and to schedule an immediate confirmation hearing at the Senate Energy Committee, which Johnston chairs.
That’s not going to happen, however. The Energy Committee will not meet on the O’Toole nomination until after Congress’ August recess, a committee spokesman said Monday.
Reportedly, President Clinton asked that the hearing be delayed, or he agreed to the delay, in order to find out more information that might resolve senators’ questions about O’Toole .
Johnston himself is noncommittal.
U.S. Sen. Malcolm Wallop, R-Wyo., blocked a previously scheduled July l hearing on O’Toole , after raising questions about O’Toole ‘s membership in an organization that 20 years ago was called the “ Marxist -Feminist Group I.”
The organization changed its name in the late 1970s to Northeast Feminist Scholars.
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See also post #8.
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`MARXISM’ ISSUE DOGS NOMINEE
Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Saturday, July 17, 1993
Author: Clifford Krauss, The New York Times
In another trying twist for the confirmation of administration appointees, Senate approval of Tara O’Toole as assistant secretary of energy is in serious jeopardy because of her affiliation to a feminist group that once characterized itself as Marxist .
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has delayed confirmation hearings for O’Toole indefinitely.
Two conservative senators have denounced her membership in a study group, Northeast Feminist Scholars, originally called Marxist -Feminist Group I.
The affiliation raises questions about her philosophy and judgment, conservative senators say. The White House said O’Toole joined the group years after it had changed its name.
The conservative challenge to O’Toole comes as Republicans try to sidetrack appointment of Joycelyn Elders as surgeon general for supporting sex education and abortion rights. Administration officials say they will stand by both nominees.
``We believe she is superbly qualified,’’ William White, deputy energy secretary, said of O’Toole . ``This administration and department do not embrace any Marxist ideology. According to Dr. O’Toole , she does not, either.’’
Supporters in the Senate have speculated that conservatives do not like certain writings of O’Toole that suggest she might make private Energy Department contractors more accountable and liable for errors made in nuclear and other projects.
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From post 8.
“...questions about O’Toole ‘s membership in an organization that 20 years ago was called the “ Marxist -Feminist Group I.”
The organization changed its name in the late 1970s to Northeast Feminist Scholars.
...”
Thanks maggief