A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, July 6, 1998

Florida gubernatorial candidate Jeb Bush (R) is expected to name Frank Brogan, state commissioner of education, as his running mate today. The announcement comes nearly six months after Bush's first choice, Secretary of State Sandra Mortham, dropped her bid for lieutenant governor following a controversy surrounding political uses of her public office.

"One of the reasons I entered politics was the experience of becoming deeply embittered and disappointed in my country" – Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), who lost part of his leg in Vietnam. (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., July 6)

Last week, Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay (D) announced that he will run with former state senator Rick Dantzler. Mortham is now running for reelection as secretary of state.

GOP Choice Expected Today (The Miami Herald, July 6)
Bush Pick of Brogan Set today (St. Petersburg Times, July 6)

Rep. Gonzalez Absent Since Last July
Despite his decision not to retire at the end of 1997, 82-year-old Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez (D-Tex.) has not cast a vote in Congress in almost a year – since July 24 – and has not been in Washington since November. Shortly after he was hospitalized for two weeks with a heart illness last summer, Gonzalez announced he would resign his seat. He later decided to serve out his full term and not run for reelection.
Gonzalez Winding Down Career as Absentee Legislator (The Dallas Morning-News, July 6)

Forbes's Donations to Wash. Initiative Under Investigation
Washington state election officials are investigating why proponents of an initiative to end affirmative action did not report about $35,000 in radio ads and mailings contributed by likely Republican presidential candidate Steve Forbes. The beneficiaries of Forbes's generosity said they attempted to comply with state law, but that Forbes's organization, Americans for Hope, Growth and Opportunity, would not cooperate. A spokesman for Forbes's group said that "the information has been readily available."
Forbes' Contributions for I-200 Investigated (The Seattle Times, July 3)

Wash. Marijuana, Abortion Initiatives likely for Ballot
Proponents of citizen initiatives to raise the minimum wage, ban certain late-term abortions and allow the medicinal use of marijuana appear to have collected enough signatures to qualify for Washington state's November ballot.
Wage, Marijuana, Abortion Initiatives May Make Ballot (The Seattle Times, July 3)

Calif. Democrats Sink GOP Governor's Proposed HMO Department
Voting along party lines, the California state Senate rejected Republican Gov. Pete Wilson's plan to create a state Department of Managed Health Care to scrutinize health maintenance organizations. Democrats called the measure a "Band-Aid." Republicans said the plan was voted down for partisan purposes.
Democrats Kill Wilson Plan to Create Agency Overseeing HMOs (Los Angeles Times, July 3)

Indiana Districts Key to House Control
Both the national Democratic and Republican parties have targeted three Indiana congressional districts – the 8th, 9th and 10th – as keys to controlling the House after November.
Local Races Critical to Congressional Balance (The Star-News, Indianapolis, July 4)
Congressional Guide: 8th, 9th and 10th Districts (washingtonpost.com)

Nevada Candidate Aims for All-Important Ayn Rand Vote
"Who is Brian Krolicki?" It's not an answer on "Jeopardy." It's a campaign sign on U.S. 15 for a Nevada state treasurer candidate. The idea for the intriguing sign came from the candidate's wife, who was inspired by the first line of libertarian author Ayn Rand's book "Atlas Shrugged." That obscure line, however, may be an answer on "Jeopardy."
Candidate's Signs Turn to Literary Allusion to Rouse Curiosity (Las Vegas Review Journal, July 6)
Who Is John Galt? (Personal site of Magnus Kempe, lecturer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

1998 Calif. Ballot Measures May Set State Spending Record
Two California initiatives to legalize slot machines in tribal casinos and to overturn the state's new utility deregulation program are competing to be the most costly ballot measures of 1998. Spending on those two alone could surpass the $100 million spent on five 1988 initiatives to regulate the state's auto insurance industry.
Costly Ballot Measures Loom (The Sacramento Bee, July 5)

Costly Kentucky Campaigns Trickle Down Ballot
Candidates are spending big money in the Blue Grass state. Kentucky's Senate race is the fifth most expensive in the country and the costliest in state history. And a Pikeville lawyer has broken the record for spending in a Kentucky state House race.
Democrat Sets Record for Campaign Spending (Lexington Herald-Leader, July 6)

Conn. Senate Candidates Get Heavy Help From Outside State
Connecticut incumbents are relying heavily on out-of-state-money in their reelection bids. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D), Rep. Nancy L. Johnson (R), Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D) and Rep. Sam Gejdenson (D) have each raised about 80 percent of their campaign funds outside Connecticut. Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly (D), who is running for governor, also raised about 80 percent of her campaign cash from outside her home state.
Incumbents Cash In Out Of State (The Hartford Courant, July 6)

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