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By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Friday, April 2, 1999

With pressure from voters to cut taxes and improve state services such as education, Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton (D) is warning lawmakers that the state's 2000-2002 budget could be tight. "There's going to be a tremendous amount of pressure on the budget for the next session and we're going to have to make some difficult decisions," he said.

"I'm not sure April Fool's Day is ever a good day to close a budget." – Arizona House Speaker Jeff Groscos (R), after the GOP Senate president locked the chamber doors in and effort to force a budget vote. (The Arizona Republic, April 2)

That gloomy forecast is a change from the sunny prospects that state's have seen during the current economic boom. In Minnesota and several other states this session the question has not been whether to refund state surpluses, but how much money taxpayers should get.
• Patton Forecasting 2000 Budget Battles (Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky., April 2)
• Lawmakers Leave Without Rebate Agreement (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, April 1)

Ariz. Senate Leaders Try to Force Budget With Locked Doors
The doors were locked and draped with yellow "Caution" tape. The parking lot exit was blocked by a security guard's car. By gum, it was high time the Arizona state Senate get around to passing a budget. Senate President Brenda Burns (R) called it all an April Fool's joke, but lawmakers wouldn't capitulate to her tactics and refused to vote on the budget until at least Monday.
• Budget Deal Stalls (The Arizona Republic, April 2)

Starbucks Founder to Help Percolate Money for Bradley
Seattle cafe magnate Howard Schultz is co-hosting a $1,000-a-person April 22 fund-raiser for Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley. Former Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson is slated to be the master of ceremonies. In Washington, Gore's support for California software companies may have disenchanted Democrats in Bill Gates's home state.
• Unhappy Democrats Put Money on Bradley (The Seattle Times, April 1)

Earlier this week, Mrs. Bill Bradley, er, professor Ernestine Schlant gave a rousing speech about the post-war efforts of Germany's writers to come to terms with the Holocaust, a topic which she tackles in her latest book. Schlant, the Democratic presidential candidate's wife, is a professor of German and comparative languages at Montclair State University.
• It's Professor Schlant, Not Mrs. Bill Bradley, Who Absorbs This Crowd (The Star-Ledger, Newark, March 31)

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