2 Hatch staffers leaving

WASHINGTON — Two longtime aides to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, are leaving his staff to take top positions in the Bush administration.

Bush announced this week he intends to appoint Kristine Iverson, Hatch's legislative director, as assistant secretary of labor for congressional and intergovernmental affairs. She had worked for Hatch since he arrived in the Senate 24 years ago.

Also, Jeanne Lopatto, press secretary for Hatch's Judiciary Committee, left this week to become communications director for the U.S. Department of Energy. She had worked 18 years for Hatch.

Neither Iverson nor Lopatto are Utah natives, although both told the Deseret News they feel like adopted Utahns after working so many years for Hatch. Iverson is from Illinois, and Lopatto is from Pennsylvania.

Iverson is subject to Senate confirmation. But Friday was her last day working for Hatch. She said she will work as an adviser to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao until the Senate can consider her nomination.

Lopatto began working at the Energy Department this week after being persuaded to join it by Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, who was until last year a member of the Judiciary Committee.

If confirmed, Iverson would represent the administration's position on labor issues to Congress. She worked for the Senate Labor Committee when Hatch chaired it. She was also its minority staff director when the Republicans were in the minority.