Health care shaping up as major fiasco. Hillary Clinton and Ira Magaziner, holding firm for original plan, are a lonely twosome. President Clinton says everything’s negotiable, except universal coverage. High-ranking Administration officials conceding privately program is dead. Harold Ickes, brought aboard to railroad plan into legislation, is looking for compromises. Hillary is even conferring with left-leaning Sen. Paul Wellstone (D., Minn.), who advocates Canadian-style entirely government-run single-payer program. Two held private meeting at White House last week. . . . Hillary has lined up usual religious lefties— National Council of Churches and United Church of Christ. But the Southern Baptist Convention, Family Research Council, National Right to Life, Christian Coalition, Eagle Forum, and others are digging in their heels. They want no part of any health plan that pays for abortions. Christian Coalition plans to spend about $1.5 million to help defeat ClintonCare; Planned Parenthood has launched $1O-million campaign in favor of it, as the only proposal that will ensure federal money for abortions. . . . Meanwhile, public backing of health plan is down to 36 per cent; 46 per cent oppose it. Some 64 per cent feel President is playing it sly, “withholding certain details” about his plan. . . . Bill Kristol (Project for Republican Future) argues Republicans are winning debate that there is no crisis; he urges them to stick to that line. Kristol outlined in memo for GOP senators, meeting at behest of John Chafee (R.I.), ways to reform current system which would avoid compromise with overhaul plans. . . . Rep. Fred Grandy (R., Iowa), seemingly ready to dump principles in his pursuit of primary victory over conservative Gov. Terry Branstad, threatens to “turn in my [party] pass” if GOP continues to oppose health reform.
Socialist Rep. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.) is considering a challenge to liberal Sen. James Jeffords, only Republican behind Clinton health plan. Burlington Free Press poll has Sanders trailing by only six points. . . . Three-term Sen. Paul Sarbanes, booed at town meetings and backed by only 34 per cent of Maryland voters, is likely to face Bill Brock, former Tennessee senator and RNC chairman. . . . FEC reports show three-term Sen. Bill Bradley (D., N.J.) has only $160,000 in campaign chest. His term is up in 1996. Three years before 1990 race against now—Governor Christine Todd Whitman, he had over $2 million. . . . Also in N.J., two-term Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D.) looks vulnerable, with less than 50 per cent of voters wanting him re-elected. Popular Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian is strong challenger. . . . Harrumphed Bill Clinton when Janet Reno criticized his overt campaigning for Postalgate-tinged Rep. Dan Rostenkowski: “There is still a presumption of innocence in this country.” . . . Conservative Rep. Bob Dornan has bowed out of race against Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) and says he will seek re-election to House for final time this year. . . . Fabrizio, McLaughlin poll shows that, “all other things being the same,” 51 per cent prefer a “conservative Republican” to a “liberal Demo crat” as President. Same poll found that, if election were held today, 34 per cent would vote for Bill Clinton, 31 per cent for Bob Dole. . . . Dan Quayle is not taking advice from friends to run for governor of Indiana in 1996 rather than for President. “Who’s going to beat me?” he responds. Quayle coming in strong third in polls among Republicans, behind Bob Dole and Jack Kemp.
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