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By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, April 28, 1999

Rep. James Rogan (R-Calif.) said on Tuesday he would not challenge Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, as many pundits had expected. Rogan, who was a House manager during the impeachment trial of President Clinton and widely regarded as the party's best chance at unseating Feinstein, said he made the decision in consideration for his family.

"War hero John McCain may have cornered the market on Kosovo, but culture critic Dan Quayle owns Littleton." – Arizona Republic columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr., in Wednesday's paper. (The Arizona Republic, April 28)

• Rogan Rules Out U.S. Senate Bid (Los Angeles Times, April 28)

Also on Tuesday, Rep. David Minge (D-Minn.) said that he had formed an exploratory committee to decide whether he should challenge Republican Rod Grams for his Senate seat.
• Minge Begins Exploring U.S. Senate Candidacy (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, April 28)

Arkansas Democrats Indicted
Two current and two former Democratic Arkansas state senators are among 10 people who were indicted Tuesday on corruption charges that a federal prosecutor says cost the state $1.9 million. Two former directors of the state department of education were also named in the 133-count indictment that alleges Sen. Nick Wilson was paid for doing work on child-support cases that he did not do.
• Wilson, 9 Others Accused of Corruption (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 28)
• Senators, Ex-Senators Dispute Charges (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 28)
• Arkansas Senators Among 10 Indicted in Racketeering Case (The Dallas Morning News, April 28)

Bushes Scuttle Gun Bills; Leavitt Pushes Task Force
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and his brother, Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) both declined to support gun-related bills that were revived after last week's Colorado school shooting. The difference is that the Florida bill was a pro-gun measure and the Texas bill was anti-gun.
• State Lawmakers Shelve Gun-Lawsuit Bill (The Miami Herald, April 28)
• Bush Pronounces Gun-Show Bill Dead (The Dallas Morning News, April 28)
• Bush Declines to Support Revival of Legislation on Gun-Show Checks (Austin American-Statesman, April 28)

Tennessee and Utah lawmakers also reacted on Tuesday to the Colorado shootings with political action.
• Bills to Expand Gun Permits Withdrawn (The Tennessean, Nashville, April 28)
• Leavitt Creates Task Force on Gun-Violence Legislation (Salt Lake Tribune, April 28)

On Saturday, Denver will be the focal point of the nation's rising public policy debate over guns. As the National Rifle Association begins its annual meeting, protestors are scheduled to form a human chain around the hotel where the meeting is being held. That afternoon, Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, who has been fighting pro-gun laws in the state legislature, will convene a meeting of area mayors to discuss gun-related public policy.
• Anti-NRA Protests Planned (The Denver Post, April 28)

Texas Hate-Crimes Law Gets Closer to Bush's Desk
A potentially explosive measure for the presidential candidacy of Texas Gov. George W. Bush made it one step closer to his desk on Tuesday as the state House surprisingly passed a hate-crimes bill which names specific groups – including homosexuals – that would receive protection. Bush has indicated he would not sign the measure.
• House Agrees on Bill Against Hate Crimes (Austin American-Statesman, April 28)
• Texas House Gives Initial OK to Hate-Crimes Bill (The Dallas Morning News, April 28)

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