TOO MUCH FOR DAVIS: Facing a tough reelection challenge from Republican Bill Simon, California Gov. Gray Davis decided that he could not afford to reward one of California Democrats’ key constituencies and instead vetoed a bill that would have granted driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Davis had promised last year to sign such a bill but now says, "The tragedy of September 11 made it abundantly clear that the driver’s license is more than just a license to drive; it is one of the primary documents we use to identify ourselves." The bill’s sponsor, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D.-Los Angeles), said, "It is just nothing but politics and not public policy. Here is a man who calls me and gives me his word that we would get it done. . . . What we see is that the governor only responds to powerful interests, and he may believe that the Latino community isn’t powerful enough." Simon had announced his opposition to the bill.
AFTER ARI? With speculation mounting that soon-to-be-married White House press secretary Ari Fleischer will seek private sector employment after the November elections, the newest guessing game in Washington is who will succeed him in the briefing room. The most-oft mentioned names are those of Ed Gillespie, longtime right-hand man to House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R.-Tex.) and now a White House aide, and former Bush campaign operative Tucker Eskew, once director of communications for former South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell. Both Gillespie and Eskew are considered close to White House political quarterback Karl Rove.
SCHAFFER TO THE UKRAINE? With Rep. Bob Schaffer (R.-Colo.) finishing out his self-imposed three terms this January, speculation is mounting that the conservative stalwart will be tapped by President Bush to be ambassador to the Ukraine next summer, when current envoy Carlos Pasqua is expected to step down. The 40-year-old Schaffer, who is part Ukrainian, has made eight trips to the former Soviet Republic, criticized its old-line strongman President Leonid Kuchma, and was recently honored at a banquet of the Ukrainian-American Bar Association.
CARE FOR UNBORN: New federal regulations issued by the Bush Administration allow the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to fund health care for unborn children. This small but symbolically important policy shift heartened pro-lifers and annoyed pro-abortionists, who want the government to do nothing that might be considered acknowledging the humanity of the unborn. "This is a common-sense regulation. No matter what your position on the life issue, it’s obvious that children need prenatal care for good health," Wendy Wright, senior policy director for Concerned Women for America, said when the regulations were issued. "It’s indisputable that one of the best things we can do to prevent life-long health problems is to provide good prenatal care to the child in the earliest stages of life." Kate Michelman, president of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), fulminated October 3: "The administration has taken a giant step towards its ultimate goal of making abortion illegal. Today, Oct. 3, 2002, the Bush Administration published a final rule that would actually designate embryos and fetuses as ‘children’ eligible-independent of the pregnant woman-for medical benefits under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program."
PARTIAL-BIRTH DELAY: Senate supporters of a partial-birth abortion ban say that unless the Republicans regain control of the Senate in the November 5 election and there is a lame-duck session, there will probably not be a vote on the issue until next year. Although the ban on this particularly gruesome form of abortion has passed the House and has strong Senate support, Democrats-even some who say they favor the ban-are arguing that the legislation must again go through the committee process before coming to the floor for a vote.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS: The declining stock market and continual Democratic attacks have taken their toll: Americans are less supportive of Social Security privatization than they used to be. A Gallup poll conducted September 20 to 22 found that two-thirds of Americans recognize that Social Security has major problems-although only 43% of those 65 and older did. In April, 63% of Americans liked the idea of allowing people to invest a portion of their payroll taxes in stocks and bonds, but now, reports Gallup, only 52% do. Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 especially like the idea, with 68% in support. Only 30% of senior citizens, who are already getting their payments, favor it.
