A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Thursday, April 15, 1999

Florida Republicans – and surely other lawmakers around the country – will use today's federal tax filing deadline to promote tax cuts. GOP legislators and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) are expected to agree on a $1-billion cut, including rollbacks on everything from property taxes to per-drink taxes on restaurant liquor sales.

"I'll support anything to get drunk drivers off the road. I'm just sorry Prohibition didn't work." – Louisiana state Rep. B.L. "Buddy" Shaw (R), on a bill to mark cars owned by people convicted of drunken driving. (The Advocate, April 14)

In Mississippi, tax cuts became an early issue in this year's gubernatorial campaign. At a meeting of state business leaders, most candidates endorsed tax cuts of some sort.

• GOP Comes Up With $1-Billion in Tax Cuts (St. Petersburg Times, April 15)
• Tax Cuts Surface Early as Issue in Governor's Race (The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss., April 15)

Texas Governor Garners Iowa, Colo. Endorsements
All four of Iowa's Republican U.S. House members, along with Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), endorsed Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the GOP presidential nomination this week.
• Allard Backs Bush in Bid for President (The Rocky Mountain News, Denver, April 15)
• All 4 Iowa GOP House Members to Endorse Bush (The Des Moines Register, April 14)
• List of Endorsements (Bush Campaign Site)

Duke's Weak Poll Showing Keeps NRCC Out of La. Race
Assured by recent poll results that show former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke trailing in the 1st District race to replace former Louisiana congressman Bob Livingston (R), the National Republican Congressional Committee has decided not to get involved in the primary contest.
• Poll: Duke Unlikely 1st District Winner (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., April 15)

Bauer Forms Minnesota's First GOP Presidential Committee
Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer has formed Minnesota's first GOP campaign steering committee. Allen Quist, a leader of state conservatives and the 1994 GOP-endorsed gubernatorial candidate, heads the committee.
• GOP Presidential Hopeful Bauer Forms State Steering Committee (The Star-Tribune, April 15)

Florida's Bush Has Strong Start; Democrats Low on Cash
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who has fared better than his two immediate predecessors during his first 100 days in office, now has the state's GOP governors organizing themselves to latch on to his coattails. Meanwhile, the Florida Democratic Party continues to trail the GOP in fund-raising.
• Jeb Bush's Report Card 100 Days In: Fast and Successful (Tallahassee Democrat, April 15)
• GOP Mayors Seeking to Forge Ties With Bush (The Miami Herald, April 15)
• Democrats Face Money Struggle (The St. Petersburg Times, Fla., April 15)

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