CLINTON OPPOSES FLAG-BURNING BILL

The Clinton Administration came out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban desecration of the flag, arguing that the offense caused by such an infrequent event does not justify amending the Bill of Rights. Assistant Attorney General Walter Dellinger told a Senate Judiciary Committee panel today that tampering with the Constitution over the issue was unwise "in the absence of any meaningful evidence that the flag is in danger of losing its symbolic value." But Judiciary chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said a 1989 Supreme Court decision knocking down state anti-desecration laws "has given us no choice. If we believe the flag is important enough to protect from physical desecration, an amendment is necessary." The House Republican leadership has promised to bring the legislation -- which has some Democratic support -- to the floor on June 28.