A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Thursday, April 22, 1999

The high school massacre in Littleton, Colo., has effectively stopped passage of two of the most contested measures facing the state legislature this year. Colorado Republicans on Wednesday withdrew two bills that would have loosened gun controls and which otherwise stood a good chance of being signed into law.

"We met with the governor, and he agreed that in this environment there is no reason to revisit this divisive debate over firearms." – Colorado House Majority Leader Doug Dean (R), on the withdrawal of two gun-related bills. (The Rocky Mountain News, April 22)

• Sponsors Will Let 2 Major Gun Bills Die (The Rocky Mountain News, April 22)
• Legislature Cancels Sessions (The Denver Post, April 22)

But rather than ending the debate over gun control and school violence, the Colorado shootings have focused attention on the issues already brewing in state legislatures around the country.
• Fla. Lawmaker Delays Debate on Gun Lawsuits (The Miami Herald, April 22)
• Attack Affects Florida House (Tallahassee Democrat, April 22)
• Huckabee: Program Key in Tackling School Violence (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 22)
• Municipal Gun Control Ban Vetoed (The Arizona Republic, April 22)
• Evans' Gun-Control Theme Is on Target Now (Philadelphia Daily News, April 22)
• Legislators Talk Gun Control In Shootings' Wake (The Salt Lake Tribune, April 22)
• Legislator Sees No Need to Amend Weapons Bill (Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 22)

Giuliani Attends GOP Senate Campaign Fund-Raiser
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, the probable opponent to Hillary Rodham Clinton's potential Senate candidacy, dined in Washington on Wednesday among donors who gave $10,000 each to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
• G.O.P. Senators Rally to Giuliani Candidacy (The New York Times, April 22, registration required)

In N.H., Pataki Criticizes Kosovo Policy
Visiting New Hampshire for the second time in two months, New York Gov. George Pataki (R) said President Clinton's policy on Kosovo has "created instability in places like Macedonia, and raised the risk of trouble in the Balkans."
• Pataki Launches Attack on Kosovo Policy (The Times Union, Albany, N.Y., April 22)

Albany Mayor May Seek Statewide Office
Despite rumors about his interest in a gubernatorial or Senate run, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings (D) is trying to diffuse talk of his political ambitions.
• Albany Mayor Downplays Ambition (The Times Union, Albany, N.Y., April 22)

D'Amato Gets Job With New York Law Firm
Former New York senator Alfonse D'Amato (R) has joined upstate New York's largest lobbying firm of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle.
• D'Amato Gets Post at Upstate Law Firm (The Times Union, Albany, N.Y., April 22)

Texas Advances Bill to Put Donor Rolls Online
Two bills that would put campaign finance records of Texas candidates on the Internet are moving through the state legislature. A similar measure failed last year over concerns about the burden electronic filing would put on less well-funded candidates.
• Campaign Records Bill Advances (The Austin American-Statesman, April 22)

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