A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, April 19, 1999

A new Census Bureau report of state tax revenues shows that Connecticut collects more taxes per person – $2,869 – than any other state. New Hampshire, where a yogurt tycoon is forming a political action committee to support candidates who reject an anti-tax pledge, has the lowest per capita tax rate at $851. The national average is $1,762 per person.

"I think it is to the advantage of U.S. producers and to the country to have admitted China to the World Trade Organization." – GOP presidential candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush, in William Safire's column. (The New York Times, April 19, registration required)

• Stonyfield Farm Founder Forming Political Group (Foster's Daily Democrat, April 19)
• Texans' Tax Bills Rank as 3rd Lowest (The Dallas Morning News, April 19)
• State Rakes in More Taxes (The Rocky Mountain News, Denver, April 19)
• State Taxes Exceeded $11 Billion Last Year (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, April 19)

Alabama Rejects Video Poker,
Awaits Lottery Details
On the same day that the Alabama Senate agreed to send Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman's lottery plan to a statewide vote, it rejected a proposal to allow video gambling at racetracks.
• Video Poker Failure Came as a Shock (The Birmingham News, April 18)
• Governor May Unveil Lottery Details This Week (The Birmingham News, April 18)

Fish Sticks Help Wisconsin Firm Land Forbes TV Job
Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes, who spent $22.8 million on television and radio in his 1996 White House campaign, has selected Milwaukee's William Eisner to create his ads this year. Forbes's campaign manager Bill Dal Col said Eisner's work for Mrs. Paul's fish sticks helped win him the gig.
• Eisner Agency Will Create Forbes Ads (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, April 19)

Colorado Governor Organizes Denver Bush Rally – Without Bush
Colorado Gov. Bill Owens (R), a native Texan, will announce at the state Capitol today a Colorado leadership committee for the presidential campaign of Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R).
• Bush Team Will Rally at Capitol (The Rocky Mountain News, Denver, April 19)

2000 Ins and Outs: Feinstein Gets GOP Challenger
San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn said he sees opportunity where others see risk in his Republican bid for the Senate seat held by Democrat Dianne Feinstein. Republican Rep. Jim Rogan is still weighing a run.
• GOP Hopeful Launches Longshot Bid for Feinstein's Seat (Los Angeles Times, April 18)

Washington state Attorney General Christine Gregoire (D) announced last week that she would not seek the Senate seat held by Republican Slade Gorton. Her announcement leaves a wide-open Democratic primary to challenge one of the Senate's most vulnerable Republicans.
• Gregoire Won't Run for U.S. Senate (The Seattle Times, April 15)

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