Week of August 3, 2003
WA-Sen: Nether say Nether; Nethercutt Challenge to Murray a Sure Thing
Rep. George Nethercutt announced last week that he will run against Sen. Patty Murray. Nethercutt -- an anti-choice Gingrich Republican -- received national attention when he ousted Democratic Speaker of the House Tom Foley in 1994. Republicans in the state are ready to line up behind their candidate. "It's been clear to us that this is going to be a big-time, targeted senate race with tons of attention from the Bush campaign," said Washington Republican party chairman Chris Vance (Hotline, 7/30).
CA-Sen: Boxer Leads the Fight for Choice
Sen. Barbara Boxer sponsored an amendment that would do away with the global gag rule, challenging President Bush to issue his first veto. The amendment would lift the ban on family planning assistance to health centers overseas that perform or even discuss abortions. In a narrow 53-43 vote, Democrats fought back a Republican effort to derail the measure sponsored by Sen. Boxer. Democrats then succeeded in pushing the measure through on a voice vote. Boxer said she hopes this victory in the Republican-controlled Senate "will give momentum to those in both parties in the House who find this gag rule repugnant" (Congress Daily AM, 7/10). The Republican-led House then passed their own bill, stripping the provision that Boxer had fought for in the Senate (CQ Weekly, 7/19).
EMILY's List Endorses Two New Women for Governor
EMILY's List endorsed Indiana state Senator Vi Simpson and Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire in their gubernatorial campaigns last week.
Simpson, a 19-year veteran of the state Senate, is in a Democratic primary battle with former DNC Chairman Joe Andrew for the chance to take on likely GOP candidate Mitch Daniels, former head of the Office of Management and Budget under President Bush. "Democrats would do well to nominate Vi Simpson, who helped negotiate a fiscally responsible budget settlement that protects Indiana families, against Daniels, who presided over the most dramatic swing from budget surpluses to deficits in U.S. history," said EMILY's List President Ellen R. Malcolm.
Washington's attorney general for more than ten years, Christine Gregoire negotiated a $206 billion landmark settlement between the tobacco industry and 46 states in 1998. Gregoire is expected to be part of a crowded primary field, but one state lobbyist (also a longtime ally of one of her opponents) called Gregoire "a force to be reckoned with" (Hotline, 7/29).
PA-13: Schwartz Announces Bid for 13th Congressional Seat
State Senator Allyson Schwartz announced her bid for Pennsylvania's 13th congressional seat last week and has already received strong support from Democratic allies. PoliticsPA.com named her a "Winner of the Week" for scoring the endorsement of Philadelphia Controller Jonathan Saidel, who had been considering a race for the seat himself (PoliticsPA.com, 7/25). Schwartz also received the endorsement of Marcel Groen, the Democratic Chairman for Montgomery County, which makes up a large portion of the 13th district. Schwartz will likely face a crowded Democratic primary before moving on to the general election, in which two Republicans have already declared their intentions to run. The 13th district is a marginally Republican seat but is currently held by Democrat Rep. Joe Hoeffel, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Pelosi Storms House Floor to Protest Republican Tyranny
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) took to the House floor on July 18 to denounce the tyranny of GOP House leaders. The high drama followed months of alleged abuses of authority by Republicans to trample the rights of Democrats. The incident began when Ways and Means Committee Democrats received a GOP-written substitute bill on pension reform after midnight with a vote scheduled for the next morning, allowing inadequate time for review. Democrats walked out of the committee meeting in protest and gathered in a room nearby. Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) then called the Capitol Police to evict them. Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues demanded a resolution to admonish Thomas' "police state" action and to consider the bill improperly reported out of committee. Committee Republicans denied any wrongdoing until, under pressure from embarrassed party leaders, Thomas tearfully apologized on the floor of the House (Roll Call, July 18, 23, 24).