[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 91 (Thursday, July 14, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          REQUEST DENIED FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HANDBOOK CAPS

  (Mr. WALKER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman asked a few moments ago what 
the American people want from this President. I think the answer is 
simple. We want competence.
  Mr. Speaker, the concern I have this morning is that the Clinton 
administration is once again stonewalling. In this case one of my 
constituents has been unable to attain a simple personnel handbook used 
to train and orient new schedule C or political employees from the U.S. 
Office of Personnel Management.
  My constituent requested the material to review as a part of his 
academic graduate studies. He has contacted the personnel offices in 
all 50 States with very positive responses and had hoped to include the 
Federal Government's handbook.
  After several months, several letters, several phone calls and 
several requests for the handbook, he was told to file a Freedom of 
Information Act request with OPM's general counsel. After learning that 
OPM could not comply with the 20-day time period required by law. He 
was told he could file a court suit against the Federal Government to 
get he handbook.
  Two months after he filed the FOIA, he received an OPM final 
determination for his request, a denial, get this, for a draft 
handbook.
  Mr. Speaker, why will not the Clinton administration share their 
personnel handbook which is to train and orient new political 
appointees? I wonder what is in that book that makes them stonewall on 
this one?

                          ____________________