A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Friday, March 12, 1999

New Hampshire residents may be closer to paying their first state income tax, as the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) could not present the issue directly to voters in a referendum. The 4-percent tax to fund education was approved by the 400-member House by only four votes on March 4. Shaheen – whose husband became Vice President Gore's state campaign chairman on Thursday – said she would not sign the measure, despite a court-imposed April 1 deadline to redo the state's plan on education funding.

"She would always mull things over real well, but she would do it. But she would do it in a ladylike manner." – Peggy Looney, a childhood friend of Elizabeth Dole, on NPR discussing whether Dole would be able to "bomb somebody." (The Arizona Republic, March 12) .

• Education Referendum Plan Dead (The Union-Leader, Manchester, N.H., March 12)
• N.H. Vote Imperils a No-Tax Tradition (The Boston Globe, March 5)
• Gore Taps Shaheen Husband for N.H. Race (The Boston Globe, March 12)

Alabama Democratic Boycott Stops One-Third of Senate's Session
Alabama lawmakers returned to the floor on Thursday after an 10-day standoff between Democratic state senators and Lt. Gov. Steve Windom (R), who presides over the chamber, only to resume their shouting match over legislative procedure. The Senate is limited to a 30-day session.
• Ala. Senate Democrats End Boycott (The Associated Press, March 12)
• Distrust Keeps Senate in Limbo (The Birmingham News, March 11)

IRS Rules Against Charity Tied to Gingrich
A now-defunct charity wrongly funneled money to a political action committee formerly headed by Newt Gingrich, the IRS has ruled. The Abraham Lincoln Opportunity Foundation, run by former Rep. Howard "Bo" Callaway (R-Ga.), lost its tax-exempt status for its ties to GOPAC.
• Former Charity Tied to Gingrich Under IRS Fire (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 12)

Utah Approves Western Primary; Five Other States Likely
When Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (R) signed into law the state's March 10, 2000, primary date along with several other Western states, he said Arizona would not likely join the coalition. Thus, the Western states' primaries would decide fewer delegates to the GOP convention than California's primary.
• Only 6 States in Western Primary? (Desert News, Salt Lake City, March 10)
• Status of Western Primary Bills (Western Governors' Association)

Michigan's Stabenow Likely to Challenge Sen. Abraham
Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) will likely announce in the next few days her intention to challenge Republican Sen. Spencer Abraham for his Senate seat.
• Stabenow Expected to Challenge Abraham for Senate Seat (Detroit Free Press, March 12)
• 2000 Senate Race Shapes Up as Cliff-Hanger (Detroit Free-Press, March 11)

White House 2000: Dole, Quayle, Alexander on Stump
Kept at arms-length from Elizabeth Hanford Dole by her press secretary, reporters had little chance to ask the potential Republican presidential candidate many questions on her first campaign trip to Arizona.
• Dole Meets Valley Jet Set (The Arizona Republic, March 12)

Campaigning across his home state of Indiana this week, former vice president Dan Quayle said Thursday that he would upset Texas Gov. George W. Bush's early lead in Republican presidential polls with early wins in next year's primaries.
• Quayle Vows to Lead GOP Pack (The Star-News, Indianapolis, March 12)

Ethanol replaced education as the top theme of Republican Lamar Alexander's campaign during his swing across Iowa on Thursday.
• Alexander Kicks Off New Strategy, Stressing Appeal to Rural Voters (The Des Moines Register, March 12)

Los Angeles to Get Democratic Convention Monday
The Democratic National Committee is scheduled to announce Monday that it is choosing Los Angeles over Boston and Denver as the site for its 2000 presidential nominating convention.
• L.A. Officials Clinch Deal on 2000 Convention (Los Angeles Times, March 12)

Clinton to Dedicate His Birthplace Today
Residents of Hope, Ark., have high expectations for their local economy after President Clinton returns to his boyhood home today to dedicate the Clinton Birthplace Museum.
• High Hope (The Dallas Morning News, March 12)

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