Recess Naming Of Rights Chief Opposed

Sensing an imminent White House decision, a key senator is urging President Clinton not to circumvent Congress and appoint Bill Lann Lee as the nation’s chief civil rights enforcer.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent Clinton a letter reminding him of “the historically bipartisan opposition to making recess appointments” in cases where the nominee has failed to gain full committee support.

The White House said Sunday that it had not decided to make a recess appointment. But last week, presidential spokesman Mike McCurry hinted that Clinton would act on Lee’s situation in the coming days.

Lee, Western regional counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, is Clinton’s choice for assistant attorney general for civil rights. If confirmed, he would become the first Asian American to hold the job.

The White House is mulling whether it should try the rare maneuver of simply installing Lee while Congress is in recess. That option would allow Lee to serve through 1998, when the current term of Congress ends.

White House aides have said they would rather see Lee confirmed by the Senate, and believe there is still a chance Republican leaders will allow a vote by the full Senate.