WASHINGTON INSIGHT

FAMILY FRIENDLY: Seeking to begin their emphasis on “family values” at home, incoming House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and fellow Republicans are establishing a Family Friendly Advisory Commission to create a House schedule that will allow lawmakers to spend more time with spouses and children. Among the ideas being explored are convening only on Tuesdays through Thursdays to give those who live in their districts more time at home, starting and ending sessions earlier in the day to give those who live in Washington more time with families, and planning breaks to coincide with school vacations. “I think it’s terribly exciting,” said Janis Berman, wife of Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) and a member of the bipartisan panel. “The culture here is workaholic, totally alien to working Americans. This is truly going to make a difference.”

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SMOKIN’ MAD: Although the tobacco industry has been under siege of late, there are signs it still has some clout on Capitol Hill. R.J. Reynolds succeeded in overcoming complaints by the American Lung Assn. concerning the tobacco giant’s appearance at Occupational Safety and Health Administration hearings on the issue of second-hand smoke. OSHA has proposed a ban on smoking in all workplaces because of health risks from secondhand smoke. The tussle began when the lung association tried to scuttle RJR’s plan to have its scientists and engineers appear jointly at the hearing, rather than testifying individually. RJR thought the joint appearance would be more effective, while the lung association thought the mass appearance would deflect tough questioning. When the objections arose, RJR withdrew from the hearings. But after closeted discussions with OSHA, RJR prevailed. Its experts will appear together Jan. 17-19.

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CLINTON IN ‘96: Democratic sources say the White House is hoping to persuade Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown to leave his post and become chairman of President Clinton’s 1996 reelection campaign. Brown, the first African American chairman of the Democratic Party, has the added attraction of being close to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has threatened to run against Clinton. There also is talk that Clinton’s campaign manager will be Harold M. Ickes, White House deputy chief of staff who, like Brown, once served as an adviser to Jackson. But given Ickes’ liberal bent, some wonder how his involvement would square with the President’s effort to slide to the political right.

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TREASURY STABLE: The departure of Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen won’t lead to a housecleaning at the department. Sources say incoming secretary Robert E. Rubin is expected to keep most of the senior staff. Frank Newman, now deputy secretary, Lawrence Summers, undersecretary for international affairs, and Les Samuels, assistant secretary for tax policy, will probably stay. The only senior staffer likely to leave is Josh Steiner, Bentsen’s chief of staff.

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FRIENDLY FIRE: Two prominent GOP senators who tried to launch an attack on the President’s defense budget this week ran into some heavy flak--from their own side. Sens. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) held a press conference to unveil their own plans for budget changes. But they neglected to clear the package with Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), the incoming chairman of the Armed Services Committee. After Thurmond found out from reporters, he issued a press release that began: “Sens. McCain and Warner did not consult with me prior to the public release of their defense priorities.”