A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, September 28, 1998

Health care is high on the political agenda from coast to coast. New statewide polls in Ohio and Indiana indicate that the issue will influence voters there more than the Clinton scandal. Education was also a common concern among respondents of both polls. The economy was the top issue in Indiana.

"The president is mentally and emotionally unstable." – Former presidential candidate Ross Perot, at the Reform Party convention. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sept. 28)

• Poll Shows Voters Seek Substance, Not Scandal (The Star-News, Indianapolis, Sept. 27)
• Mason-Dixon Poll Results (StarNews.com, Indianapolis, Sept. 27)
• Health Care a Big Issue for Ohioans, Poll Finds (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Sept. 28)
• Candidates Lay Out Their Proposals (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Sept. 28)

In Massachusetts, both parties' gubernatorial hopefuls are fighting to be the "health care candidate." Some experts say that Republican Gov. Paul Cellucci has effectively stolen the issue from the arsenal of Democratic challenger Paul Harshbarger. There is little difference between the two candidates' proposals, with both calling for expanded publicly funded insurance programs for the poor.
• Candidates Take Distinct Paths on Health Care (The Boston Globe, Sept. 28)
• Key Race: Massachusetts Governor (washingtonpost.com)

On Friday, term-limited California Gov. Pete Wilson (R) vetoed two significant health care bills passed by the state legislature this session. The bills would have established a consumer commission to regulate HMOs and allowed patients to get a second opinion if insurers denied care.
• Bill to Create HMO Regulatory Board Is Vetoed (Los Angles Times, Sept. 26)
• Special Report: Managed Care (washingtonpost.com)

Scandal Still Looms in Some Races
Despite repeated polls that indicate that the November election will not be a referendum on impeachment, the Clinton scandal is still a key issue in federal and state races around the country.
• Integrity, Character Topping Agendas (The Boston Globe, Sept. 28)

In North Carolina, the Christian Coalition began handing out voter registration information Sunday to remind conservative churchgoers that morals and character are important issues.
• Christian Coalition Leader Says 'Character Does Count' (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 28)
• Special Report: Clinton Accused (washingtonpost.com)

N.Y. Governor Signs Day-Care Protection Bill
New York child care providers who lie about their services now violate state criminal law, rather than just a regulatory guideline. New York Gov. George Pataki (R) signed the new legislation on Thursday.
• Governor Signs Day Care Protection Bill (The Times-Union, Albany, N.Y., Sept. 25)

Western States Primary Date to Be Set in November
Governors from Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado are committed to creating a common primary date in 2000 to give their states greater clout in the presidential contest. The date, to be set at a November summit, will most likely fall between March 6 and 10.
• Utah Governor Expects OK in November (The Arizona Republic, Sept. 28)
• White House 2000 (washingtonpost.com)

ACLU to Help Nevada Candidate Defend Insinuating Ad
The Nevada ACLU has volunteered to help Republican state Assembly candidate Bob Beers challenge a $5,000 fine imposed on him for running an ad that was, while technically accurate, not entirely forthcoming. The ad insinuates that his opponent burned down his own business to collect insurance money.
• ACLU Plans to Help Candidate Challenge Ethics Panel's Fine (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sept. 28)

Groups Weigh In on Washington Affirmative Action Initiative
The head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the California anti-affirmative action group American Civil Rights Institute have taken opposite sides on Washington state's Initiative 200. The ballot measure was modeled after California's Prop. 206, which ended racial preferences in state hiring in 1996.
• I-200 a Step Backward, NAACP Leader Argues (The Seattle Times, Sept. 27)
• California Group Pays for I-200 Radio Ad (The Seattle Times, Sept. 26)
• Will I-200 Vote Resolve Affirmative-Action Debate? (The Seattle Times, Sept. 24)

Oregon Is Latest State to Consider Medicinal Marijuana
A multi-million dollar battle, largely funded by out-of-state donors on both sides, is being waged in Oregon over a ballot measure to legalize medicinal marijuana. California and Arizona passed similar initiatives in 1996.
• Marijuana Vote Brings Out Big Societal Issues (The Oregonian, Sept. 27)

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