A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 1998

With the economy flourishing and incumbents in many states cutting taxes like Paul Bunyon on a five-shot latte, it looked like few issues would captivate voters this year. Then Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr began investigating an alleged affair between President Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Suddenly, 1998 is the year of 28 U.S.C. Chapter 40 – the federal law giving independent counsels their power.

"Politicians walk on the beach so much, you'd think they were running for 'Baywatch.'" – Darrell Issa, a U.S. Senate candidate from California, in a TV ad referring to the "surf daddy" spots of two other California politicians. (The Los Angeles Times, Feb. 17)

It may not be as enticing a catch phrase as the recent years of The Woman, The Angry White Male, and The Soccer Mom, but 28 U.S.C. Chapter 40 is one of the few things that anyone might dare propose changing during an election cycle dominated by overwhelming complacency. U.S. Senate committee hearings are scheduled to examine the law this summer, just as the campaign season gets into full swing.

Even candidates running for state offices with no chance to change or repeal the statute are trying to capitalize on poll numbers showing distaste from voters nationwide for Starr and his tactics. Both Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger (D) – who is running for governor – and Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods (R) – a potential gubernatorial candidate – have called for changes in the law.

Republican attacks on Clinton may be only marginally successful with his approval ratings at an all-time high. However, both Democrats and Republicans will be able to rail against Starr without fear of party backlash.

Senate Hopeful Coulter Proposes Six Limits on Special Prosecutors (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Feb. 17)
AG Seeks to Reconcile His Remarks on Starr (The Boston Globe, Feb. 17)
Will There Be a Backlash Back Home? (The Hartford Courant, Conn., Feb. 17)
Kentucky Congresswoman Emerges as Outspoken Clinton Critic (The New York Times, Feb. 17; registration required)
GOP Senatorial Candidates Agree, Except on Clinton (Indianapolis Star/News, Feb. 13)
Woods Calls for Counsel Law Repeal (Arizona Republic, Feb. 12)
Post staff writer Ruth Marcus explains 28 U.S.C. Chapter 40 (washingtonpost.com)

Georgia: Black Lawmaker Returns Volley of 'Racist' Column
On Feb. 3, the Catoosa (Ga.) Tribune ran a column by state Rep. Bill Clark, a white Republican, alleging that blacks in Atlanta support drug use. State Rep. Tyrone Brooks, president of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, fired back in a column distributed on the House floor Monday.

Brooks' piece, which appeared in a GABEO newsletter, said that most jobs in America are given to "under-educated and under-qualified whites" with connections.
Another Racially Divisive Column Hits House Floor (The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Feb. 17)
White Lawmaker Won't Retract Column on Black People (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 3)

Creative Promises in Illinois
Primary candidates looking for hot issues in Illinois have begun making some interesting promises. U.S. Senate hopeful Peter Fitzgerald has vowing to cut state taxes – which he has no power to do. Gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard has promised to balance the state budget – a state constitutional requirement for years.
Issues Are Lost Cause for Primary Candidates (Chicago Tribune, Feb. 17)

Looking for Good News in Atlanta
A bill in the Georgia state House would tax news organizations for the gross revenue they earn from reporting crime stories. The tax money would go to crime victims and their families. No word on whether the Atlanta Police Department would face a tax for continuing to report the names of sex and drug offenders.
Proposed Bill Would Tax Crime Stories to Pay Victims (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 17)

Announcements in California, Colorado
U.S. Rep. Frank Riggs (R-Calif.) officially has announced his candidacy for Democrat Barbara Boxer's U.S. Senate seat. Riggs faces primary competition from state Treasurer Matt Fong and wealthy businessman Darrell Issa, both of whom have substantial fund-raising leads.

In Colorado, Jefferson County businessman Terry Walker became the third and least-experienced Republican to enter the race for governor. Walker is positioning himself as conservative Christian alternative to state Treasurer Bill Owens, state Senate President Tom Norton and state House Speaker Chuck Berry.
Frank Riggs Opens Bid For U.S. Senate (San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 17)
Rep. Riggs Announces Bid for U.S. Senate Seat (The Los Angeles Times, Feb. 17)
Walker Announces for Governor (The Denver Post, Feb. 17)

For California's Checchi, It's All Business
The personally-financed gubernatorial campaign of former Northwest Airlines co-chairman Al Checchi will depend largely on the way voters view his business acumen. Despite potential hurdles from his corporate background – conflict of interest concerns and bad publicity over his decisions during the takeover of the airline, for example – that's just the way the California Republican wants it.
Airline's Legacy Colors Checchi's Governor Race (The Los Angeles Times, Feb. 17)
Checchi Wrestles With Conflict Issue (The Sacramento Bee, Feb. 16)