FORTHE RKNCORI) @ Senior House Democrats Ron Del- lums (Calif.) and Vic Fazio (Calif.) announce they won’t run for re-election. Dellums, Far Left favorite, would have been chairman of National Security Committee if Democrats retook Con- gress. These retirements are taken as indication that Democrats don’t think that will happen. . . . Generally rosy pic- ture for GOP governors up for re-elec- tion in 798, but Alabama’s Fob James in trouble—strained relations with party, business community to blame… . Ili- nois Gov. Jim Edgar (R.) tries to raise telephone, tobacco, gambling taxes for education program, but Democrats, ob- jecting to tenure reform, kill bill. Edgar vows to try again in special session of legislature; has support of GOP leader- ship but will need three-fifths majority. . . .
GOP congressmen who complain about Clinton’s use of line-item veto are mostly protecting pork, but Rep. Curt Weldon (R., Pa.) is upset by veto of anti-satellite and -missile programs. Explains White House aide: “We simply don’t believe that this . . . capability is needed.” Wall Street Journal and Defense News echo Weldon. @ Pat Buchanan sends out first direct- mail piece in presidential cycle. Elizabeth Dole says: “We may well see a woman as President in our lifetime. But it won’t be Elizabeth Dole in the year 2000.” . . . Cedar Rapids Gazette reports Lamar Alexander, speaking in Iowa, as lambasting President for talk- ing about “making this one country” while in fact dividing us, by opposing Official English, supporting racial pref- erences, and allowing Census to contin- ue listing people by racial categories. Alexander says he will decide next year whether to run again. Pete Wilson’s five issues for 2000: school choice, immigration reform, no domes- tic-partner benefits for homosexuals, an end to racial preferences, “paycheck pro- tection” (from coerced union dues used for political activity). Linda Chavez, head of Center for Equal Opportunity, notes that “big business poured big bucks into the Houston fight” against anti-preference initiative:
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