GIVE AT THE OFFICE

The White House has kicked off a storm of protest by writing to the heads of all federal agencies reminding them that federal workers may donate toBill Clinton's re-election campaign. Campaign finance experts and Common Cause accuse the Clinton Administration of trying to shake down federal workers for campaign contributions. ButWhite House Counsel Abner Mikva, who sent out the letters, denied any wrongdoing. The letters pointed out that a 1993 clarification of the Hatch Act, which forbids federal employees from making campaign contributions to their immediate bosses (such as members of Congress), does not apply to contributions made to their ultimate boss, the President.