A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, July 12, 1999

As Oregon and North Carolina legislatures hash through their last budget battles before adjourning later this month, Kentucky is facing the likelihood that its lawmakers won't meet at all this year. The state constitution requires the legislature to meet only once every other year, but some sort of special session has called lawmakers to Frankfort every year since 1981, the last time the legislature didn't meet.

"Cockamamie national agenda." – N.Y. Gov. George Pataki (R), describing in his harshest terms yet, the Senate campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton. (New York Daily News, July 12))

Despite the Kentucky exception, state governments are moving more and more toward full-time legislatures. Of the 10 legislatures that are still in session, seven of them meet throughout the year, recessing during the summer.

• General Assembly Year May Pass Without Session (Lexington Herald-Leader, July 12)
• Lawmakers Begin Adjournment Push (Oregon Live, July 12)
• Hunt Finds Veto Power Useful, But Will He Use It? (The News & Observer, July 12)
• Stalled Budget Awaits Jump Start (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 10)
• Ohio Legislature Recesses Till October (stateline.org, July 9)
• Legislators Lose Bid to Force Vote on Bills (Times Union, Albany, N.Y., July 3)

Segregationist Governor, "You Are My Sunshine" Singer Turning 100
Jimmie Davis, perhaps the only politician who could give Strom Thurmond longevity envy, will turn 100 in September. You may not remember that Davis was the segregationist governor of Louisiana in 1944-48 and 1960-64. But you probably remember his song, "You Are My Sunshine."
• Ex-Governor, Songwriter Looks Back on a Century (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., July 12)

Rep. Moore Looking Safe in Kansas
A willingness to raise money and a slow congressional session that has faced few controversial issues may propel Rep. Dennis Moore (D) to an easy reelection victory in his overwhelmingly Republican district. He is the first Democrat to win the 3rd District in four decades.
• Moore May Be Difficult to Oust (The Wichita Eagle, July 12)
• Congressional Guide: Rep. Dennis Moore (washingtonpost.com)

Chenoweth Aide Arrested in Nevada
Gregory Peek, legislative director for Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R-Idaho), was arrested in Reno, Nev., on Saturday and booked on charges of stalking an 18-year-old woman.
• Congresswoman's Aide Arrested in Reno (Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 12)

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