"Red Cross Leadership at Issue" in today's Washington Post

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/29/AR2005122901249.html?nav=rss_nation

Red Cross Leadership at Issue
Grassley Begins Inquiry, Questions Board's Effectiveness

By Jacqueline L. Salmon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 30, 2005; A04

A leading Capitol Hill Republican yesterday questioned the effectiveness of the American Red Cross's leadership, including whether its governing board "meets the high level of competence and engagement that Congress and the public should expect."

In a five-page letter to the board chairman, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) sought information about Red Cross operations. Among the areas of interest to Grassley, the Finance Committee chairman, are the organization's governance structure, executive compensation and spending on public relations. The move by Grassley signals his determination to get to the bottom of the turmoil at the 125-year-old organization, aides said, and could lead to dramatic changes in the leadership of the Red Cross, which operates with little governmental oversight.

The multibillion-dollar charity has come under increasing scrutiny from Congress in the past three months because of what many regard as its stumbling performance after Hurricane Katrina and because of its rapid turnover in leadership. Marsha J. Evans resigned as Red Cross president in mid-December, becoming the fourth chief executive to depart in six years.

<>Because of the recent turmoil, there are more and more calls from public officials and others for Congress to reconsider the federal government's designation of the Red Cross as the nation's primary disaster-response agency. "After witnessing the American Red Cross's struggles during Katrina and Rita," said Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.) at a committee hearing two weeks ago, "I am not sure it is prudent for Congress to place such great responsibility in the hands of one organization."

[Coastie for Truth]

1. There are some other folks that need to be looked at

1. National Guard Bureau and General Steven Blum (maybe just to exonerate)
2. DHS and Secretary Chertoff (Chertoff is Guilty until proven innocent)
3. FEMA and Michael Brown and Chief Dave Paulison. (Brownie is Guilty until proven innocent)
4. Salvation Army

DUers, Please Note: The Salvation Army has come under attack for what some people see as discrimination in hiring and for its requirements on how employees should behave. Despite the tax breaks it receives as a registered charity, and its government funding (about 11 percent of total revenues, in the form of grants and payments for services), it has a stated policy of "discrimination" against applicants and employees whose faith or sexual orientation are not acceptable to The Salvation Army. The Army's position is that because it is a church, Section VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly guarantees its rights to discriminate in hiring.

In a recent case, the New York Federal Court ruled that organization could use religious criteria in its hiring; that ruling is being appealed by the New York Civil Liberties Union. Other issues in the lawsuit by 19 current and former employees are still under consideration by the trial court.

The State of New York has proposed legislation that requires businesses to offer health benefits to same-sex partners of employees. The Salvation Army opposes this policy and has threatened to close its soup kitchens and shelters across New York.