Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Council declines breakfast Date: Tue, 27 Oct 92 13:27:07 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Council declines breakfast \SH Kelly's invitation called PR effort \BY Vincent McCraw \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Angered by Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly's efforts to distance herself from the fallout over furloughs and denied raises, D.C. Council members threatened to boycott a meeting with her today unless it's postponed, sources said yesterday. The mayor had scheduled a "Breakfast Round Table" today to discuss the furloughs and budget alternatives with the 13 lawmakers, but council sources said the lawmakers are in no mood to talk. "They decided there really is no reason to have breakfast. They're not averse to meeting, but they aren't interested in being part of her PR gimmicks," said another council staffer. In a letter sent to Mrs. Kelly yesterday, D.C. Council Chairman John Wilson said he had talked to his colleagues and "the consensus is that a more fruitful discussion will transpire if members are given more time to formulate the items they believe need to be brought to the table for discussion." The letter asks for a two-week postponement. The conciliatory tone of the letter - thanking the mayor for her "gracious invitation" - masks the anxiety expressed privately by several council members, staffers said. In the days since the first furloughs Friday, Mrs. Kelly blamed the council - specifically Mr. Wilson - for what she contends is a flawed and ill-advised way to save money. Mrs. Kelly also said she supports giving raises to city employees but blamed the council for rejecting her proposed 11 percent raise for police, firefighters and nurses. But council members say she forced them to mandate the furloughs because she failed to offer any realistic plans to cut the city's budget. "The members are just tired of the mayor politicking," said a council staffer. Council sources said lawmakers discussed boycotting the breakfast should Mrs. Kelly not postpone it. Vada Manager, the mayor's spokesman, yesterday said Mrs. Kelly had not seen the letter, but it was unlikely the meeting would occur. "She had indicated they needed to visit in order to have a backup plan in case the court postpones future furloughs, which is likely to happen," said Mr. Manager. "She is eager to meet with them." All city government buildings and public schools were closed Friday after the D.C. Court of Appeals upheld the council-backed furlough plan and ended a day of on-again, off-again notices for anxious parents and workers. A permanent ruling on the issues raised by the city's labor unions in their lawsuit against the furloughs is expected before the next scheduled furlough date, Nov. 27. The council earlier this year rejected the mayor's budget proposal and created an alternative budget during a closed session at the Hotel Washington that was later adopted at a public session. That plan rejected all the mayor's proposals, including a 2 percent income tax on professionals working in the city. Mrs. Kelly, opposing the furloughs but wanting to save her youth and anti-crime initiatives, decided to allow the budget to become law without her signature. Using her line-item veto power, she rejected a six-day furlough for fiscal 1992 - which ended Sept. 30 - after lawmakers allowed her to delay a $26 million payment to Metro to fund those six days. The council sustained that veto. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM