WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee accused the baseball players' association of not responding as quickly as owners to calls for tougher steroid testing.
"I don't think that the players' union has gotten the message, but they're getting it," said Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
Before his Congressional testimony earlier this month, baseball commissioner Bud Selig asked the players' association to discuss steroids, and several lawmakers have said baseball's plan needs more frequent testing and tougher penalties for positive tests.
Selig would like to put a policy in place similar to the one for players with minor league contracts. Because there is an agreement in place through December 2006, the players' union is not under an obligation to bargain until then.
Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., said Selig has to take a tougher stand with the union.
"He can't just tiptoe around the tulips like he's done for so many years as commissioner," Miller said.
John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, threatened at the March 10 hearing to enact legislation to force stronger steroid testing policy.
"The concern that I have with Senator McCain's approach is that it has politicians rewriting collective baseball agreements," Sensenbrenner said.
Said McCain: "I have repeatedly stated that legislative action would be the last resort, but that the status quo is unacceptable. I continue to hope that the parties involved will resolve this problem."
Under baseball's policy, a player faces only counseling for a first offense, and doesn't face a one-year suspension until failing five tests. Selig wants to tighten that so that a first offense draws a 15-day suspension, and a third offense results in a one-year suspension.
But because of federal labor laws and baseball's labor contract, Selig does not appear to have power to act unilaterally.
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0403/23/s04a.html
"I don't think that the players' union has gotten the message, but they're getting it," said Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
Before his Congressional testimony earlier this month, baseball commissioner Bud Selig asked the players' association to discuss steroids, and several lawmakers have said baseball's plan needs more frequent testing and tougher penalties for positive tests.
Selig would like to put a policy in place similar to the one for players with minor league contracts. Because there is an agreement in place through December 2006, the players' union is not under an obligation to bargain until then.
Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., said Selig has to take a tougher stand with the union.
"He can't just tiptoe around the tulips like he's done for so many years as commissioner," Miller said.
John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, threatened at the March 10 hearing to enact legislation to force stronger steroid testing policy.
"The concern that I have with Senator McCain's approach is that it has politicians rewriting collective baseball agreements," Sensenbrenner said.
Said McCain: "I have repeatedly stated that legislative action would be the last resort, but that the status quo is unacceptable. I continue to hope that the parties involved will resolve this problem."
Under baseball's policy, a player faces only counseling for a first offense, and doesn't face a one-year suspension until failing five tests. Selig wants to tighten that so that a first offense draws a 15-day suspension, and a third offense results in a one-year suspension.
But because of federal labor laws and baseball's labor contract, Selig does not appear to have power to act unilaterally.
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0403/23/s04a.html
