A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, July 11, 1998

Think waiting for Congress to approve a budget is rotten way to spend a nasty Washington summer? Then don't move to California. It's 98 degrees in Sacramento and for the 10th time in 11 years lawmakers could not agree on a budget by the July 1 start of the fiscal year. Four legislative leaders and GOP Gov. Pete Wilson – the so-called Big Five – met Saturday with little progress.

"If it is the Mule Day parade, walk at the front." – From "Lamar Alexander's Little Plaid Book". (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., July 13)

Every year, California Republicans promote a big issue that Democrats often must approve if they want to go home. This year it is Wilson's plan to cut the state's vehicle license fee by 75 percent. The car tax will likely be an issue in several gubernatorial campaigns, including the race between California Attorney General Dan Lungren (R) and Lt. Gov. Gray Davis (D).

Talk Fails to End Budget Impasse (The Sacramento Bee, July 12)
Politicos Take a Ritual Step (The Sacramento Bee, July 12)
Budget Impasse May Hit Needy Californians, Controller Says (Los Angeles Times, July 11)

California's Defeated Big Spenders Throw Support to Former Foes
Rep. Jane Harman's personal fortune couldn't buy her the California Democratic gubernatorial nomination, but she's willing to see if it can help Lt. Gov. Gray Davis in November. Harman and her husband are sponsoring two fund-raisers for nominee Davis. In the state's other high-profile race, Darrell Issa, the multimillionaire car alarm magnate who lost the GOP Senate primary, is scheduled to appear at a fund-raiser for nominee Matt Fong.
Harman Backs Davis All the Way in Governor Race (San Francisco Chronicle, July 13)
Key Race: California Senate (washingtonpost.com)
Key Race: California Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Iowa Democrat Blasts Money in Run Against Well-Financed Grassley
In his bid to unseat Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Democratic Senate nominee David Osterberg is decrying the influence of money in politics. Grassley has said he wants to raise $5 million for their race, while Osterberg is aiming for $1 million.
Senate Candidate: Amount Spent on Campaigns 'Embarrassing' (The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 12)

Lamar! Offers Advice in 'Little Plaid Book'
The man whose bumper stickers screamed for attention in the 1996 presidential campaign is dispensing political lessons in a diminutive volume called "Lamar Alexander's Little Plaid Book." Among the gems from the likely 2000 GOP presidential contender: "If you want to be noticed, don't ride in a convertible with Dolly Parton."
Life Lessons and Political Wisdom from Chairman Lamar (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., July 13)
White House 2000: Republicans (washingtonpost.com)

Missouri Senator Runs Ads Because He Can
With three weeks left before the Missouri primary, Sen. Christopher Bond, (R) is running TV ads aimed at November. No other Senate candidate is even running primary ads yet. But Bond's campaign had about $3 million on hand, according to its last financial report. That's three times the war chest of likely Democratic nominee Jay Nixon.
Bond Makes His Move: Political TV Season Begins With Ad Blitz (The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, July 13)

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