Week of February 3, 2003
Bush vs. Choice: Who Will Win?
Bush Senior Advisor Karl Rove amped up the battle on reproductive freedom last month when he took aim at so-called partial birth abortions, saying this issue is high on the President's agenda and one of the "immediate tasks at hand." He conveniently failed to mention that existing proposals on late-term abortion have refused to protect the health of the woman, and have been written so they would be in violation of Roe v. Wade. Reaffirming his commitment to the anti-choice agenda, Bush called into the March for Life Rally on the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade to lend support. In his remarks, Bush said Congress should pass a ban on late term abortions, as well as the cloning of human embryos (The Washington Post, 1/23).
CA-Sen: The Box-ing Match Is Already Starting
Four Republican representatives in California are already weighing challenges to Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2004, hoping voters will turn against what has been termed Boxer's "feisty liberalism." Possible GOP names being floated include Reps. Darrell Issa, George Radanovich, Mary Bono, and Doug Ose (The Hill, 1/15). Ose, who made millions as a Sacramento developer, has already set up an exploratory committee (Los Angeles Times, 12/30). Boxer spent nearly $14 million to hold her seat in 1998; the cost for her 2004 re-election campaign is expected to exceed that.
WA-Sen: With the Economy and Iraq, How Do They Find Time?
The White House has targeted Sen. Patty Murray's seat for takeover in 2004 and is already at work trying to hand-pick their candidate (Bulletin's Frontrunner, 1/22). The White House is hoping for a woman vs. woman race and is aggressively trying to recruit GOP Rep. Jennifer Dunn, despite her reluctance. According to the state's Republican chairman, "the White House is all over her" (The Washington Post, 1/7). If Dunn decides not to run, Republicans have Rep. George Nethercutt waiting in the wings. Meanwhile, Murray was named to a leadership position in the Senate last week when she became a member of a new executive committee that will advise Minority Leader Tom Daschle (Associated Press, 1/8).
DE-Gov: The Other White House 2004 Candidate From the Diamond State?
According to the Wilmington News Journal, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner's name was floated as a potential White House candidate twice last month. Minner confirmed her intention to stay in Delaware and run for re-election in 2004. Minner has instituted a new program, Open Door After 4, creating a time when citizens can sit down with her face-to-face to discuss their concerns and ideas. "Some of the best ideas we've had have come because people said they had a problem with this agency or that department and suggested a better way to do things," Minner said. "So, we're always ready to listen." (News Journal, 1/21 & 1/23)
AZ-Gov: Napolitano Making Her Mark
In her first day in office, Gov. Janet Napolitano demonstrated her new power by issuing an executive order that creates a prescription drug discount program for Medicare-eligible seniors. The order uses the purchasing power of the state to lower drug prices by as much as 20%, and will help nearly 600,000 Arizonans. Napolitano bypassed the Republican-controlled legislature to get this through after a similar idea died there last year (The Arizona Republic, 1/8).
Congress: Pelosi Wields Her Power
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is getting the jump on challenging President Bush's right-wing agenda. The day before Bush announced his economic plan in early January, Pelosi unveiled the Democrats' own economic plan, described as "fair, fast-acting" and "fiscally responsible" (Congressional Quarterly, 1/6). Last week, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle "ripped into President Bush on the eve of his State of the Union address, assailing his administration's credibility and contending that Bush has not yet made the case for war against Iraq" (The Washington Post, 1/28). And recently, Pelosi continued her drive to open up seats on prestigious House committees for less senior members. She gave Rep. Hilda Solis (CA-32) a coveted seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, named Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-39) to the vitally important Judiciary Committee (making Sanchez the first Hispanic woman to serve on the panel, according to Congressional Quarterly, 1/28), and gave up her own post as ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee so that Rep. Jane Harman (CA-36) could take her place (The Washington Post, 1/26).