Week of July 7, 2003
CA-Sen: Never Say Never?
Saying "I learned awhile ago never to say never," former California Gov. Pete Wilson suggested that he might be open to challenging Sen. Barbara Boxer next year. In a late May poll, Wilson led all potential Republican challengers to Boxer, trailing her by five points (5/27-29; 800 likely voters, margin of error +3.5). According to Wilson, who was a U.S. senator from 1983-91 and governor of California from 1991-99, he is receiving a lot of encouragement from supporters urging him to challenge Boxer. As governor, Wilson was a supporter of Proposition 187, the anti-illegal immigration initiative later ruled unconstitutional by a federal court (Associated Press, 6/13; San Jose Mercury News, 10/24/02).
MD-Sen: Mikulski: Once Again Leading the Fight for Women's Health
Sen. Barbara Mikulski has always been a fierce advocate for women's health issues in the Senate. Now she's introduced legislation to create women's health offices at federal agencies. The Women's Health Office Act will allow offices to reach out to low-income and minority women to make sure they are getting cancer screenings; ensure that women are included in clinical drug trials; and work with health care providers to integrate women's health research into medical practice (Mikulski release, 6/23). Earlier this year, President Bush took funding away from the women's equity office in the Department of Education and closed the Women's Outreach and Initiatives Office in the White House (Village Voice, 3/10).
Governors: Napolitano and Granholm Going Strong
Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill last week that required proof of identification before someone could cast an election ballot. Napolitano compared the legislation to poll taxes, literacy tests, and other barriers that were used to suppress blacks from voting before passage of the Voting Rights of 1965, calling it "a thinly disguised effort to suppress minority voting" (Arizona Daily Sun, 6/27).
And Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is doing all the right things, according to an overwhelming majority of Michiganders. According to a poll conducted last month, 65% of Michiganders approve of the job Granholm is doing as governor (6/17-23; 600 likely voters, margin of error +4%). Granholm also has an incredibly high favorability rating -- 68 percent -- a tremendous feat especially considering the financial hardship state governors face as a result of the economic recession (Hotline, 6/27).
Women of the Senate Flex Their Muscles
Gannett recently highlighted the power of the women senators in its papers, including the Detroit News and The Arizona Republic. Many political insiders agree that the strong voices of the women senators are making a difference on many issues, not just those traditionally categorized as "women's issues." The women senators agree that while campaign fundraising is still a challenge, they are catching up to the men in that arena, too. "Women did not contribute to campaigns in 1969," Sen. Dianne Feinstein said. "Now, women are voting and supporting other women. The bottom line is, women are showing that they are effective" (Gannett News Service, 7/6).
Democratic women senators are using their combined clout to raise funds for the party. At a recent fundraiser for the Democratic Women's Senate Network, Sens. Boxer (CA), Cantwell (WA), Clinton (NY), Landrieu (LA), Lincoln (AR), and Stabenow (MI) raised in $350,000 in one night for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (Roll Call, 6/30).
President Bush's Big Month...
New unemployment figures released last week show the jobless rate has jumped to its highest level in nine years, highlighting one of President Bush's top vulnerabilities. Democratic lawmakers seized the opportunity to draw attention to Bush's failed economic "policies," (aka "tax cuts") claiming the president "doesn't have a clue" about how to fix the economy. Ironically, while many Americans are struggling to pay their mortgage, President Bush was on a multi-city fundraising tour to rake in nearly $30 million for his reelection campaign. (New York Times, 7/4; Washington Post, 7/3 & 7/4).
...and Bush's big mouth
Bush recently taunted militants who are attacking U.S. troops in Iraq, saying "bring 'em on." Hmmm...is the commander-in-chief really inviting attacks on U.S. soldiers? Congressional Democrats were outraged by Bush's cavalier attitude toward the safety of American troops. "I am shaking my head in disbelief," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). "When I served in the Army in Europe during World War II, I never heard any military commander -- let alone the commander in chief -- invite enemies to attack U.S. troops" (Washington Post, 7/3).