The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 22, 1994 - 3 *House Republicans having second thoughts about term limits WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republi- cans, committed to a first-ever vote on con- gressional term limits, are having second thoughts about limiting their own stays in .Washington. The man who will be the new House majority leader, Rep. Dick Armey of Texas, suggested that public support for term limits may wane now that the GOP will control Congress. If Republicans "can straighten out the House," he said in a recent interview, Americans may not be so enthusiastic about a constitutional amendment limiting the time a person may serve in Congress. "They don't want to go home, they love this job," said Cleta Mitchell of the Term Limits Legal Institute in explaining the diffi- culty of getting the two-thirds majority in both chambers needed to pass a constitutional amendment to limit terms. The House Republicans' "Contract With America" that lays out their agenda for their first 100 days in power promises a vote on term limits, which many Republicans made a key issue in their successful runs for congres- sional seats. House Speaker Thomas Foley's opposi- tion to term limits was a major factor in his loss to his Republican challenger, George Nethercutt Jr. But already there are signs that the Repub- licans, back in power in the House for the first time in 40 years, are not that eager to give up their jobs. Armey said in a recent National Public Radio interview that he supported term limits because the House has performed so poorly in recent years, but that he did so "with a terrible amount of reluctance." "I think Americans will find their enthusi- asm for term limits waning quite a bit," the Texas lawmaker said, if the Republicans "can straighten out the House." Another Republican, Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia, the next Speaker of the House and the chief promoter of the "Contract," has also dismayed some term limit advocates by say- ing the legislation would not be retroactive, thus relieving current members of immediate concern about their future employment. Mitchell said that even with a groundswell of public support for term limits, getting the two-thirds majority of both houses needed for a constitutional amendment will be tough. If the amendment passes both houses, three- quarters of the states would have to ratify it. James Geoffrey, legislative aide to Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.) agreed that the pros- pects of winning two-thirds of the members were "on the edge." McCollum has 105 co- sponsors for a bill he introduced earlier this year that would limit House members to six two-year terms and senators to two six-year terms. Many Democrats can be expected to sup- port the Clinton administration position that term limits threaten the election system, and even some key Republicans oppose limits. "I think America is always going to need statesmen and you don't get them out of the phone book," Rep. Henry Hyde (R- Ill.) said earlier this year at hearings on term limits. It is likely that Hyde will become the next chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which will be responsible for moving a term- limit bill..to the House floor. His aides say he would not block action on such a bill, but would speak out against it. This week Hyde filed a "friend of the court" brief with the Supreme Court, present- ing his views on why state attempts to set time limits on national offices were unconstitu- tional. *President hails 'U' workers at 1st Staff Day ON Duderstadt commends University staff on their quality, commitment to supporting faculty and students By MICHELLE LEE THOMPSON Daily Staff Reporter About 300 workers trodded down to Hill Auditorium on coffee breaks and lunch hours from their workplaces within the University community yesterday. They went to hear University President James J. Duderstadt and other speakers deliver words of praise on the first annual Staff Recognition Day. "This is your day, this is your Michigan," Duderstadt told the crowd. "For every professor who published a new book, for every student who eats at a dining hall table, there are hundreds of staff who made that possible," Duderstadt said. Staff Recognition Day included a slide presentation, remarks from various staff and administrators, motiva- tional speeches and a keynote address titled "How to Stay Oon the Leading Edge Without Losing Your Balance." Speakers stressed the value of verbal praise and com- mendation in the workplace as valuable tools to keep workers happy and productive. Duderstadt noted that the University is one of two institutions in the state that received the October Quality Award. He said the University's top ranking as a research institution was made possible in part by the efforts of the staff who keep things working. "What (Duderstadt) told us was encouraging for ev- eryone," said Fatima Abdullah, an administrative assis- tant for University Productions. However, many staff members were unable to attend the event because it was held during their work shifts. Of those who attended, many said Duderstadt's speech was routine, and that they did not learn anything from what he said. City Council considers bond issue to fund YMCA By MATTHEW SMART Daily Staff Reporter In a move to procure financing for the Ann Arbor YMCA last night, the City Council discussed a commitment to Great Lakes Bancorp for the cre- ation of $1.6 million in bonds for the YMCA. The Council has to vote on the bond proposal by mid-December, or they will lose a non-refundable $60,000 deposit. The bonds would generate $155,000 per year for the YMCA, but many council members have strong reservations about spending such a large amount of city money. "The community has to assess the cost versus the benefits derived from making this long-term substantive investment," said Eileen Ryan, com- munity development director. YMCA and City Council still dis- agree over two major points, notably tenant rights. Although occupants rent rooms, the state defines this situation as an inkeeper status. This means rent- ers can be evicted without both prior notice and any sort of appeals process. Several people have been evicted in the past year under this policy and the Ann Arbor Tenants' Union has been challenging it. Another heated issue is the free- dom the YMCA retains over internal managment. The YMCA would like to have the ability to raise rental rates in the future to meet budgetary de- mands. The current rent level is $325 per month for each of the 37 rooms the YMCA supports. Some council members worried that the current rent level is too high and that increases would lead to a decrease in the number of people able to afford the housing. "If it is not affordable, I can see no value in it," Councilmember Maureen Dickson said. The current YMCA rent level is affordable to people at 34 percent of median income. In comparison, people relying on only monthly So- cial Security checks can afford to pay 15 percent of median income. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sets a maxi- mum rate of 75 percent fair market value for an efficiency unit - a no bedroom apartment - as the fair market rent level for single room oc- cupancy units. The city hired an attorney to work out an resolution with the City Coun- cil, YMCA and Great Lakes Bancorp. At last week's meeting, the City Coun- cil authorized approval of a commit- ment to Great Lakes Bancorp for the purchase of bonds for the Ann Arbor YMCA. The purchase will be for $1.6 million at a guaranteed interest rate of 6.5 percent. In 1988, the city and the YMCA agreed to obtain a guaranteed loan from Great Lakes Bancorp. In the agreement, there was a condition that required the city to pay the loan in the case that the YMCA defaulted on it. The city agreed to the contract in an attempt to increase the amount of low income housing in the area. How- ever, last year the YMCA ran out of money and the city began making payments on that loan. MICHAEL FITZHUGH/Daily Glenna Salsbury delivers the keynote speech at the first Staff Recognition Day at Hill Auditorium yesterday. "It's the same thing I've heard before - I've been working here for 10 years," said Eddie Stephens, who works at the family housing office. "It's considerate what they're talking about - it's all positive. The question is will the positive come out of it," Stephens said. Michiaan F t