House Democrats Demand That Ill Committee Head Step Aside

WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders appear to have laid down an ultimatum to Appropriations Committee Chairman Jamie L. Whitten (D-Miss.), telling him to voluntarily step aside until he recovers from a prolonged illness or be forced aside at a meeting of the Democratic caucus next week.

“We’re entering the busiest period of the appropriations process . . . and the chairman has to be operating at peak efficiency,” said Rep. Vic Fazio (D-West Sacramento), vice chairman of the caucus. “His health has made that difficult to do.”

Fazio and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), chairman of the caucus, are drafting a resolution that will be presented to the caucus members requiring Whitten to temporarily relinquish his duties to Rep. William H. Natcher of Kentucky, the No. 2 Democrat on the committee.

Asked if Whitten, 82, would be removed from his post if he does not voluntarily step aside, Fazio said, “That’s our current plan.”

Steven Burtt, a spokesman for Whitten, said Friday that Whitten has no plans to step aside. “He’s making a little progress every day,” Burtt said. “He’s continuing to have a hearing aid problem that’s bugging him, but he has a new one on order.”