Roberta on a rampage - social policies of Roberta Achtenberg, Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Department of Housing and Urban Development

National Review, May 2, 1994 by Bruce Bartlett

HUD is entering new terrain in regulating the insurance industry--in fact, insurers contend HUD doesn't even have the authority--and a serious effort is probably a couple of years away. But Miss Achtenberg is sounding an ominous note, because insurance is an inherently discriminatory business--property in high-crime, high-arson areas (inner cities) is at higher risk and demands higher premiums. "We have to look at risk," says Charles Fritzel of the National Association of Independent Insurers. "That seems to be a problem for them. They seem to want to throw out risk-based pricing." Eradicating the "discriminatory effect" of high-risk premiums would mean "cross-subsidies"--everyone in lower-risk areas paying higher premiums.

While the insurance and banking industries wait for the New Roberta Order, for HUD employees it has already arrived. In a January 13 memo Miss Achtenberg outlined HUD's new performance standards with regard to diversity, which includes, of course, "sexual orientation." In order for supervisors to get an outstanding rating on the "Cultural Diversity Critical Element" there must be "documented evidence" showing how a manager or supervisor "has materially contributed to the achievement of the Department's Affirmative Employment Program goals and its Diversity Vision."

Then comes a long list of examples of how to comply: "speaks favorably about minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and others of diverse backgrounds"; "participates as an active member of minority, feminist, or other cultural organizations"; "provides leadership and initiative for agency-wide EEO/cultural Diversity programs"; "volunteers as a mentor to help install [sic] the value of diversity in those mentees who want to excel in helping the Department adhere to its mission."

This has raised eyebrows on the Hill. "It's totally outrageous," says one Republican staffer. "The basic rule," explains Michael Greve of the Center for Individual Rights, "is government must not condition benefits, like promotion, on people's willingness to engage in certain speech or activities." In response to complaints, HUD has said it "intend[s] to review" the guidelines.

Post-Bork confirmation battles almost necessarily have an element of parody. So it is that the image that emerged from Miss Achtenberg's hearings was "Roberta the Boy-Scout Basher." There's truth to that, but it misses much. Roberta Achtenberg is not the Abbie Hoffman of lesbians--just a flamboyant activist. She can work effectively to get where her conscience tells her to go. That's the problem.