A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Thursday, July 9, 1998

President Clinton begins a 28-day push for Democratic congressional candidates this morning in Atlanta, where he is set to attend a fund-raiser for Democratic Senate hopeful Michael Coles. Clinton will travel to Daytona Beach, Fla., this afternoon to meet with firefighters who are battling the wildfires engulfing the state.

"We're installing our own seats in the back of the bus." – Colorado gay-rights activist Julie Tolleson, criticizing a committee report endorsed by Gov. Roy Romer (D) that advocates creating legal status for committed same-sex partners, but does not support gay marriages. (Rocky Mountain News, July 9)

Clinton is scheduled to spend about one-third of the next 28 days on the road, but he will not attend the National Governors' Association's annual meeting next month in Milwaukee. Usually the president and a leader of the opposing party attend, but this year the outgoing NGA chairman, Ohio Gov. George Voinovich (R), did not invite party leaders from Washington.

Clinton Comes to Town (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 9)
Weary Community Readies for Clinton Visit Today (The Daytona Beach News-Journal, July 9)
Clinton Won't Be at Governors' Session (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 9)

While Others Target Car Tax, Mass. Candidate Aims to Cut Agency
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Patricia McGovern on Wednesday called for abolishing the Massachusetts agency responsible for licensing vehicles and drivers. Candidates across the country have targeted vehicle licensing fees, but McGovern is the first to propose eliminating the entire agency. Two of her opponents, Acting Gov. Paul Cellucci (R) and state treasurer Joseph D. Malone (R), endorsed the plan.
McGovern Proposes Abolishing Registry (The Boston Globe, July 9)

Florida Democrats May Be Ending Rift With Black Leaders
Eight black ministers from the Tallahassee area endorsed Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay Wednesday, giving the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful his most prominent support from the black community since state House Democrats ousted Rep. Willie Logan as their leader in January. Logan and other black leaders said Democrats could no longer count on their support.
MacKay Gets Support of Black Clergy (The Miami Herald, July 8)
Key Races: Florida Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Florida Anti-Abortion Group Challenges State Donor Limits
Florida Right to Life has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state law that limits individual donors to giving no more than $500 to political candidates per election.
Anti-Abortion Group Challenges Donation Limit (The Miami Herald, July 9)

Insurers Target N.C. Democrat With Radio Ads
A national group of insurance companies and health maintenance organizations began running radio ads in North Carolina this week, blasting Democratic efforts to reign in the industry. The organization has also run ads blaming trial lawyers for skyrocketing health care costs. Probably not coincidentally, Democratic Senate nominee John Edwards is a trial lawyer and recently said he advocated a "patients bill of rights."
Insurance Industry on Air Again (The News & Observer, Raleigh, July 9)
Key Races: North Carolina Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Lungren to Take It Easy on Oakland Pot Policy
California attorney general and GOP gubernatorial nominee Dan Lungren said Wednesday that he would not challenge a new Oakland city ordinance that allows medical marijuana users to store 1 ½ pounds of the drug at home. Lungren's acceptance of the Oakland policy is a drastic change from his previous efforts to close San Francisco's marijuana clubs, which opened after voters passed a ballot initiative in support of medicinal marijuana use.
Lungren to Let Oakland Enforce New Pot Policy (San Francisco Chronicle, July 9)
Key Races: California Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Specter Returns to Senate Floor Following Heart Surgery
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) returned to the Senate floor Tuesday night for the first time since his June 1 double bypass surgery. Specter, 68, said he will be taking it easy but should be "full tilt before Labor Day" in his campaign for a fourth term.
Light-Hearted Specter Returns to Senate (Philadelphia Daily News, July 9)

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