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Activists say Schaffer delayed worker reforms

Candidate's stance on conditions in islands assailed

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 30, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Josh Shields, left, a staff member for Bob Schaffer's Senate campaign, takes information from activists Allen Stayman, center, James Salt and Wendy Doromal on Monday at Schaffer's campaign office in Greenwood Village.

Photo by Ken Papaleo / The Rocky

Josh Shields, left, a staff member for Bob Schaffer's Senate campaign, takes information from activists Allen Stayman, center, James Salt and Wendy Doromal on Monday at Schaffer's campaign office in Greenwood Village.

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A human rights activist unhappy about Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer's stance on conditions faced by workers in the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands accused the former congressman of delaying reforms while in office.

Wendy Doromal accused the former congressman of being a "foot soldier" for now disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was hired by the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to help thwart guest worker reforms.

Doromal, an activist who once taught in the territory; James Salt, communications director for Catholics United; and Allen Stayman, a Senate staffer and territorial affairs expert, held a news conference outside Schaffer's campaign headquarters and demanded he apologize for delaying reforms.

The three then went into Schaffer's office, but learned he was not there. "If you'd like a meeting without the press we'd be more than happy to accommodate you," Schaffer staffer Joshua Shields told them.

Schaffer's campaign later noted that Stayman once was investigated - but never charged - after he wrote a memo on official Interior Department stationery urging the Democratic National Committee to attack politicians who fought reforms. Federal law prohibits using federal resources for campaigns or lobbying.

"He should be in jail rather than working for the U.S. Senate," said Dick Wadhams, Schaffer's campaign manager.

Stayman made a point Monday of noting he paid for his trip to Colorado and used his vacation leave.

Schaffer, who served three terms in Congress, took a trip to the Marianas in 1999 that was paid for and arranged by groups with ties to Abramoff. Schaffer's campaign has said he wanted to see for himself if reports of atrocious working conditions at foreign-owned factories were true, but critics said the trip was part of Abramoff's strategy to woo Republicans to his point of view on labor reforms.

Schaffer has said he did complain about a garment factory, which he was told was shut down. But Schaffer has said he didn't see forced abortions, prostitution or other abuses that Doromal and others said they uncovered.

Stayman, one of the government officials pushing for reform, said he was targeted by Abramoff. Stayman said he was subpoenaed to appear at a committee hearing led by Schaffer, whom he described as the House ringleader fighting changes.

"Will Schaffer admit that he was wrong about conditions in Saipan? Will Schaffer admit he was wrong to block reforms? Will he apologize to the thousands of people who suffered because of the delay he helped bring about?" Stayman asked.

President Bush in May signed a bill reforming tax, immigration and wage laws in the islands.

Abramoff is serving time at a minimum security federal prison in Maryland after pleading guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to bribe public officials.

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327

Comments

  • October 1, 2008

    9:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HopiMedicineMan writes:

    This article is from Mars. The writer is a foot soldier for
    Schaffer's Mormon opponent.