HATFIELD FIRESTORM GROWS

Growing GOP demands to punish Sen. Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.) for opposing the balanced budget amendment will be resolved in a Republican congressional showdown on Wednesday. Majority Leader Bob Dole, under pressure from an angry group of GOP freshmen, agreed to discuss whether Hatfield -- an old friend -- should face a full Senate vote to remove him as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. Dole, clearly torn, warned against such an ideological litmus test: "Once you start down this slippery slope, you'd better be prepared for the results." But TIME congressional correspondent Karen Tumulty says Dole has been oddly reluctant to commit himself to saving Hatfield. Though anything could happen at tomorrow's meeting, Tumulty says, Hatfield's opponents so far do not have the votes to prevail. Late today, Hatfield told reporters, "I'm going to fight to keep the chairmanship, and I expect to win."