By Jim Burns. CNS Senior Staff Writer. 21 June, 2000. CNS News.
(CNSNews.com) - Major League Baseball is once again being asked by Congress to investigate the hiring practices of Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, who reportedly is opposed to signing Cuban defectors to play for his team.
House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Bill Goodling (R-PA) has sent a letter to baseball commissioner Bud Selig, asking the league to investigate. Goodling's committee is the fourth House committee to formally request an investigation of the Orioles hiring policy.
Goodling's committee has jurisdiction over the nation's employment discrimination laws. He called the Orioles policy "un-American."
"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal for an employer to deny a job to someone based on national origin. I am deeply concerned about reports that suggest Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos refuses to hire players simply because they were born in Cuba," Goodling
wrote.
Goodling also requested a description of the league's policy on discriminatory hiring practices and the rules, guidelines and other measures the league has imposed to ensure against a team refusing to hire a player based on national origin. He also wants to know what, if any, specific steps the
league is taking to look into the Orioles' hiring policies.
Published reports several weeks ago said two Orioles team officials confirmed the existence of a policy against Cuban defectors, though Angelos later denied its existence.
Goodling called on Selig to investigate the matter and report his findings to the House Education Committee by June 30th.
"The league has been impressive in its internationalization of its clubs, with a significant number of players born outside the United States. It would be regrettable for the Orioles to work against this movement. Baseball's role and responsibility are threatened by any team that would
break the law by discriminating against foreign born players," Goodling said.
Neither the Baltimore Orioles nor Commissioner Bud Selig's office had any comment on Goodling's letter. |