ANCHESTER, N.H. - Protections for workers whose companies switch pension plans must be balanced with efforts to encourage companies to offer fair plans, Vice President Al Gore said yesterday. Campaigning for president in a dusty sheet-metal shop, Gore proposed a law requiring employers to give workers 45 days' notice of any conversion of their pension plans. Gore's proposal is similar to a bipartisan bill endorsed by President Clinton last month that would require employers to provide detailed information in plain language before pension changes take effect. The bill and Gore's plan both respond to the trend among companies to convert traditional pensions to ''cash balance'' plans. The conversions have raised concerns, because workers frequently are unaware they may get lower benefits, particularly if they are older. (AP)
NY poll shows few would back Trump
ALBANY, N.Y. - Eighty-nine percent of New Yorkers surveyed by the Siena College Research Institute said they wouldn't consider voting for developer Donald Trump, who is considering a run for the Reform Party's presidential nomination. Ten percent said they would consider backing Trump. Patrick J. Buchanan, who is already actively seeking the Reform Party nomination, did slightly better among New Yorkers - 14 percent said they might consider voting for the former Republican candidate while 79 percent said they would not. The telephone poll of 563 New Yorkers 18 years of age or older was conducted Nov. 6-13 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. (AP)
GOP plans survey of Hispanics' views
CARLSBAD, Calif. - The Republican National Committee plans to survey Hispanics across the country to gauge their views on a wide array of issues, party officials said yesterday. The poll, which is still being drafted, will give the GOP information it needs to market the party to Hispanics, RNC spokeswoman Leslie Sanchez said. The party plans an advertising campaign next year tailored to Hispanics, the first such effort by the national GOP since 1984, she said. (AP)
