A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, August 10, 1998

Criminal investigators from the Internal Revenue Service have asked the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission for all campaign finance reports filed by Gov. Gary Locke (D) since 1990. Locke gave two hours of secret testimony last month to a congressional panel investigating campaign finance abuses, his aides said last week. Among Locke's donors are Asian-American business leaders tied to allegations of laundering foreign money in the 1996 presidential campaign.

"What's that Lewinsky thing down in Washington? ... Costs what, $15 million of taxpayers' money? I would stop all that stuff." – Fred Tuttle, 79-year-old Vermont dairy farmer turned Senate candidate and star of the 1996 art house movie, "Man With a Plan." (The Boston Globe, Aug. 10)

IRS Probing Locke's Donors (The Seattle Times, Aug. 8)
Locke Talking to Probers (The Seattle Times, Aug. 7)
Governors Guide: Locke Profile (washingtonpost.com)
Special Report: Campaign Finance (washingtonpost.com)

S.C. Governor Says He'll Accept Lottery
A longtime opponent of video poker, South Carolina Gov. David Beasley (R) said over the weekend that he would support a statewide lottery if the legislature placed a referendum on the ballot and voters approved it. The Republican-controlled state House rejected a referendum this year. Democrat Jim Hodges, Beasley's Democratic gubernatorial challenger, supports a state lottery to raise money for education.
If S.C. Votes for Lottery, Beasley Says OK (The State, Columbia, S.C., Aug. 10)

Tuesday's Colorado Primaries May Turn on Fund-raising
Despite tight races in Colorado's Senate and gubernatorial primaries, the biggest issue in each race seems to be who can raise the most money and garner the most support from party insiders.
Primary Election Tuesday (The Denver Post, Aug. 10)
Key Race: Colorado Governor (washingtonpost.com)
Key Race: Colorado Senate (washingtonpost.com)

With a Month to Go, Ariz. Gubernatorial Race Is Quiet
With one month to go before the Sept. 8 primary, Arizona Gov. Jane Dee Hull (R) is presiding over a quiet campaign season. After surviving the threat of a possible challenge for the GOP gubernatorial nomination by Rep. Matt Salmon, Hull has been riding high in the polls.
Primary a Yawner to Voters (The Arizona Republic, Aug. 10)

Indiana Congressman Tells Governors to Ignore Viagra Mandate
States should ignore a federal mandate forcing them to pay for Viagra treatment of Medicare recipients, Rep. David McIntosh (R-Ind.) wrote in a letter to all 50 governors. He said the Department of Health and Human Services did not properly notify Congress of the plan.
Ignore Viagra Edict, McIntosh Tells States (The Star-News, Indianapolis, Aug. 7)

Clinton's Refrain: Hit the Road as Scandal Heats Up
President Clinton left town when the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke in January, and now he is doing it again, a week before his scheduled testimony to a federal grand jury. Clinton begins a three-day, money-raising, hand-pumping road trip today that will take him to Kentucky, Illinois, California and Wisconsin.
Clinton Heads Out To Promote Agenda (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Aug. 10)

Clinton's stop today in Kentucky will help pump more money into what is already the fourth most expensive Senate race in the country. Rep. Jim Bunning, the Republican nominee, has the 28th largest war chest of any Senate candidate this year. Rep. Scotty Baesler, the Democratic nominee, is not even in the top 100.
Bunning Ranks 28th at Building War Chest (The Lexington Herald-Leader, Aug. 10)
Senate Rivals Tap Wide Range of Donors (The Lexington Herald-Leader, Aug. 10)
Key Race: Kentucky Senate (washingtonpost.com)

All Aboard the Illinois Shakedown Train
Two weeks ago, Illinois Democratic gubernatorial nominee Glenn Poshard said McDonald's Chairman Michael Quinlan was shaking down restaurant suppliers to give money to his Republican rival, George Ryan. This week, Poshard says Ryan supporters are trying to collect cash from contractors to a Chicago-area commuter rail system. Ryan denied the allegations and said Poshard had a loco motive for making the claims.
Poshard Hits Metra Chief for Ryan Solicitation (The Chicago Tribune, Aug. 10)
McDonald's Asks Vendors to Aid Ryan (The Chicago Tribune, July 31)
Key Race: Illinois Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Ark. Gov. Says School Shooting Suspects Should Stay Locked Up
If the two boys accused of killing five people at a Jonesboro elementary school are found guilty at their Tuesday hearing, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said they should stay locked up until they are 21. Never mind that the state only has enough facilities to hold juvenile offenders until they turn 18. Huckabee said a new facility could be built to hold the boys, now 12 and 13.
Governor Says Boys to Face Longer Terms (The Dallas Morning News, Aug. 10)

Calif. Democrat Hits Republican Over Draft Record
California Democratic gubernatorial nominee Gray Davis violated his own campaign pledge last week when he joked to a crowd about Republican rival Dan Lungren being a "draft dodger," said two attendees of the meeting.
Davis Camp Denies Rumored Jab at Lungren's Draft Status (San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 10)
Key Race: California Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Ryan Thornburg can be reached at ryan.thornburg@washingtonpost.com