A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, May 12, 1999

Whatever political mix that Florida Gov. Jeb Bush put together in his successful push for the nation's first statewide school voucher program, it doesn't appear to a secret family recipe. Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R), his brother and likely presidential candidate, is not optimistic about passing a similar measure before his state legislature.

"If they get locked in the room with [Franklin] and you feed him some hamburger, I'd say we'd have a deal within 45 minutes." – Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, on his threat to lock lawmakers in a room with his flatulent dog if they couldn't work out a budget deal. They did. (The Star-News, Minneapolis, May 12)

Meanwhile, New Mexico lawmakers rejected on Tuesday a statewide voucher proposal put forth by Gov. Gary Johnson (R).

• Bush Pessimistic on Vouchers for Private Schools (The Dallas Morning News, May 12)
• Vouchers Fall Flat In Voting (Albuquerque Journal, May 12)

Beverly Hills Voters Not Fur Garment Tags
Animal rights activists won't get to put toe-tags on mink stoles sold in Beverly Hills after voters there overwhelming rejected on Tuesday a proposal that would have forced fur sellers to attach labels explaining how the animals died.
• Beverly Hills Voters KO Fur Labels (Los Angeles Times, May 12)

Gov. Thompson Opposes Wisconsin Bill to Protect Gun Makers
Gov. Tommy Thompson (R), who recently abandoned all hope for a presidential bid in 2000, said Tuesday he did not support a bill to prevent cities from suing gun and ammunition manufacturers and dealers.
• Thompson, Doyle Wary of Pro-Gun Bill (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, May 12)

Bradley, Organizing in Massachusetts, Vows to Fight Different War
Democratic presidential candidate Bill Bradley held his first organizational meeting in Massachusetts Tuesday. Vice President Al Gore already has a vast network of support in the Bay State, but Bradley dismissed it, saying, "It's not going to be like anything you've ever seen. It will be 'You fight your war, and I'll fight mine.'"
• Bradley Building a Team in Mass. (The Boston Globe, May 12)

Florida Senate Leader May Use Gender to Boost Senate Bid
Florida state Senate president Toni Jennings (R) is exploring the possibility of running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Connie Mack (R). Jennings, who said her gender would be an advantage to her, must step down from her current office in 2000 because of term limits.
• Jennings Plumbs Capital for U.S. Senate Race (St. Petersburg Times, May 12)

Kentucky Republicans Blast Patton in Gubernatorial Debate
Two Republican candidates in this year's Kentucky gubernatorial race took aim at Gov. Paul Patton (D) during Tuesday's debate, but probably made no dent in Patton's strong lead. It was the first – and probably the last – time that all three appear together.
• GOP Governor Candidates Take on Patton (Lexington Herald-Leader, May 12)

Minnesota Budget Deal Devoid of Wrestling Metaphors
Nobody took anybody to the mat. Nobody had anybody up against the ropes. Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura and the legislature did what state lawmakers do every year: They ended a budget deadlock with some good ol' fashioned compromise.
• Record Tax-Relief Deal Struck (The Star-News, Minneapolis, May 12)

Florida Roads to Be Named After 'Walkin' Lawton'
The 1,003 miles of roads that the late Florida Democrat Lawton Chiles once walked as a U.S. Senate candidate will be officially dubbed the "Lawton Chiles Trail." Chiles died last year during the final months of his gubernatorial tenure.
• Chiles Back on the Trail (The Miami Herald, May 12)

Longtime Helms Foreign Policy Adviser Dies
James "Bud" Nance, the childhood friend of Sen. Jesse Helms who advised the North Carolina Republican on foreign policy, died Tuesday at age 77. Helms is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
• 'Bud' Nance, Advised Friend Helms (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., May 12)

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