SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (SF) - THURSDAY October 13, 1988 Edition: FINAL Section: BUSINESS Page: C3 Word Count: 476
David Tuller, Chronicle Staff Writer

"We understand that our supporters in the corporate community were intimidated and harassed about their support," declared Dana Van Gorder, Northern California coordinator of Californians Against Proposition 102. "Dannemeyer was reminding these people that he was on committees in Congress that have some influence over them."

Dannemeyer sits on the House Judiciary Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee.

Proposition 102 would prohibit anonymous testing for HIV infection; require medical personnel to report to public health authorities the name of anyone infected with the virus, or anyone they have "reasonable cause to believe" is infected, and allow insurance companies and employers to use HIV test results for insurance and employment decisions.

Bay Area companies opposing the proposition include Pacific Gas and Electric, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Levi Strauss, The Gap, Pacific Telesis, KPIX, McKesson and Apple Computer. All will be represented tonight at a fund-raising dinner, sponsored by anti-102 forces, at the Hyatt on Union Square. Van Gorder said the local business community has pledged more than $60,000 to the campaign to defeat the initiative.

No company reached by The Chronicle would confirm it had been harassed by Dannemeyer, although some said he had called. A spokesman for PG&E said the conversation was "spirited and vigorous."

Paul Mero, Dannemeyer's press secretary, acknowledged that the congressman had called the heads of several companies, but denied the calls constituted harassment. Mero said Dannemeyer wanted to find out why the companies failed to contact him before taking a public stance on the issue.

"You've got to understand the politics involved," Mero said. "Not to consult him is a big mistake, and he was offended. They'll have to deal with him in the future for some other reason, and to have somebody who shuns you one minute and the next minute wants you to vote their way - that's almost inhuman."

Mero said he is not surprised Bay Area business leaders oppose the proposition. "They all party together and tend to support liberal, left-wing kinds of things," he said. "I just don't think they're informed on this."

Mero noted that the California Conference of Employer Associations, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce support Proposition 102.

Richard Luehrs, president of the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, said the group supports the initiative because it feels medical professionals have a right to know whether their patients are infected. "We just felt the benefits of the measure outweigh the negatives," he said.

Corporate opponents say it would undermine employee assistance programs that depend on assurances of confidentiality for their effectiveness, and it would derail AIDS educational and research efforts.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1988. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1988. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .