Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH), a longtime foe of baseball's
antitrust exemption, threatened again last night to attach his
legislation revoking the exemption as an amendment to an
appropriations bill. But at the suggestion of Democratic
colleagues, he again withdrew his measure for a later time.
Metzenbaum and UT Republican Orrin Hatch are co-sponsors of a
revised bill that would lift the exemption should the owners
unilaterally impose a salary cap. Both senators argued their
case last night that the baseball antitrust amendment should be
attached to the HHS appropriations bill because of a
parliamentary loophole that made it "germane" to that particular
piece of legislation. Metzenbaum had claimed that the HHS bill
would be the last chance for an amendment before adjournment (THE
DAILY).
BACK ON THE HILL TODAY: For the second time in two weeks, a
House subcommittee will hold hearings on baseball's labor
situation. Today, it is the labor-management subcommittee of the
House Education and Labor Committee chaired by Rep. Pat Williams
(D-MT). Williams has proposed legislation that would establish a
three-person arbitration panel to settle the baseball dispute
should no agreement be reached by February 1. Among those
scheduled to appear: Chief management negotiator Richard
Ravitch, MLB labor relation committee General Counsel Charles
O'Connor, MLBPA General Counsel Gene Orza, the Yankees' Bernie
Williams and the Dodgers' Orel Hershiser. Williams' bill is "not
very likely to go anywhere this session," but it "would probably
have a better chance" next year than the bill to strip the
antitrust exemption (Murray Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 9/28).
SPEAKING OF WHICH ... The House Judiciary Committee will
vote, possibly as early as tomorrow, on a bill sponsored by Rep.
Mike Synar (D-OK) to lift the exemption should the owners
unilaterally impose a cap. The vote could come tomorrow
(AP/PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/28).
