Gore Teamster Contracts Probed
by JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two Republican congressmen want Vice President Al Gore to answer allegations that federal contracts went to the Teamsters to influence their endorsement in the presidential race.
Last Friday, The New York Times quoted anonymous Gore advisers as saying projects had been directed through federal agencies that would use Teamsters in an effort to keep the union from endorsing Green Party contender Ralph Nader.
''This statement, if true, is an illegal act,'' Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., a member of the House Government Reform Committee, said Thursday.
The Gore campaign denied the allegation.
''We have no reason to believe there is any substance to this,'' said spokesman Douglas Hattaway. ''George Bush and his allies in Congress are wasting time and money on meaningless political investigation while Al Gore is out there fighting for working families.''
Teamsters spokesman Bret Caldwell said, ''The assertions made by the unnamed source simply are not true.'' He added, ''If it turns out that this is true, no one's been telling the Teamsters.''
Shays and Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., chairman of the House subcommittee on oversight and investigation, said they
had sent letters to Gore, Education Secretary Richard Riley and Labor Secretary Alexis Herman asking for all records of
work going to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters recently and all correspondence to that organization.
Hoekstra said subpoenas might be requested if answers aren't forthcoming.
The Teamsters have so far declined to join the AFL-CIO in endorsing Gore's presidential campaign. With 1.5 million members, the Teamsters are the largest of the labor federation's affiliated unions.
AP-NY-06-29-00 1452EDT<
In the words of James Brown, hardest working man in show business, "Heh! I Feel Good!"
Ledbetter
by JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two Republican congressmen want Vice President Al Gore to answer allegations that federal contracts went to the Teamsters to influence their endorsement in the presidential race.
Last Friday, The New York Times quoted anonymous Gore advisers as saying projects had been directed through federal agencies that would use Teamsters in an effort to keep the union from endorsing Green Party contender Ralph Nader.
''This statement, if true, is an illegal act,'' Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., a member of the House Government Reform Committee, said Thursday.
The Gore campaign denied the allegation.
''We have no reason to believe there is any substance to this,'' said spokesman Douglas Hattaway. ''George Bush and his allies in Congress are wasting time and money on meaningless political investigation while Al Gore is out there fighting for working families.''
Teamsters spokesman Bret Caldwell said, ''The assertions made by the unnamed source simply are not true.'' He added, ''If it turns out that this is true, no one's been telling the Teamsters.''
Shays and Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., chairman of the House subcommittee on oversight and investigation, said they
had sent letters to Gore, Education Secretary Richard Riley and Labor Secretary Alexis Herman asking for all records of
work going to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters recently and all correspondence to that organization.
Hoekstra said subpoenas might be requested if answers aren't forthcoming.
The Teamsters have so far declined to join the AFL-CIO in endorsing Gore's presidential campaign. With 1.5 million members, the Teamsters are the largest of the labor federation's affiliated unions.
AP-NY-06-29-00 1452EDT<
In the words of James Brown, hardest working man in show business, "Heh! I Feel Good!"
Ledbetter