The U.S. Senate Commerce committee "took a first step
toward bringing the IOC within the reach of a special U.S.
anti-bribery law" yesterday, but it "let sit -- for now --
proposed legislation" that would alter the IOC's tax-exempt
status in the U.S. and limit deductions for the Games'
sponsors, according to Alan Abrahamson of the L.A. TIMES.
After a three-hour hearing, which included "a courtroom-
style question-and-answer session" with IOC members Anita
DeFrantz and James Easton, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
said that U.S. lawmakers should "go slow" because "this is
very serious business." McCain: "I think the worst thing at
this moment would be to threaten some draconian measure ...
but that doesn't mean I would completely rule it out."
McCain did introduce a bill that would put the IOC under a
U.S. criminal statute that "forbids bribery of foreign
officials" (L.A. TIMES, 4/15). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's
Stefan Fatsis writes that committee members were "frustrated
with the pace of reform" by the IOC and "sharply criticized
the organization." U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR): "I don't
see them exactly tripping over themselves to initiate these
reforms" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/15). In Philadelphia, Bob
Ford writes that while the committee "expressed its disgust"
with the IOC bid process, "words without legislation don't
really make rain" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/15).
MCCAIN TOUGH ON DEFRANTZ: Under questioning on the pace
of IOC reforms, DeFrantz said, "I think we're moving at warp
speed for an international organization." McCain said he
might hold another hearing to assess the IOC progress, and
said afterward, "I'd hoped at this hearing we'd be more
encouraged" (USA TODAY, 4/15). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir
writes that McCain "chastised" USOC President Bill Hybl for
not turning over the USOC's internal report on the Salt Lake
City bid scandal, and "repeatedly expressed annoyance" with
DeFrantz and Easton for their "vagueness" (N.Y. TIMES,
4/15). In Chicago, Philip Hersh writes that DeFrantz became
"progressively meeker" as McCain "constantly challenged her
testimony" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/15). In N.Y., George Vecsey
writes that McCain asked DeFrantz "a lot of questions and
seemed a trifle crabby when she did not spew out figures."
He said later, "I was a little disappointed in her lack of
specifications." DeFrantz said later that "she is just not
that great with numbers" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/15). In CO Springs,
Mary Boyle calls Hybl "one of the IOC's strongest defenders"
during the hearings and noted that McCain was irked when
DeFrantz defended the IOC's practice of keeping private
minutes from IOC meetings (CO Springs GAZETTE, 4/15).
MR. HOLLINGS OPUS: Both Richard Bryan (D-NV) and Ernest
Hollings (D-SC) called for the resignation of IOC President
Juan Antonio Samaranch. Hollings: "What are y'all waiting
for? Why not get rid of Samaranch?" Bryan: "I believe this
problem starts at the very top" (Mult., 4/15).
ARE EXEMPTIONS A TICKING TIME BOMB? John Hancock Mutual
Life Insurance David D'Alessandro said Monday losing the tax
deduction for Olympic sponsors would increase the cost of
sponsoring the Games by 35%. If that happened, D'Alessandro
said his company would end its Olympic involvement in "12
seconds, maybe 13" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/15).
