WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.
Pledge politics -- As part of their effort to turn the last few weeks of the campaign into a discussion of the economy, Democrats have hit on an idea to bring home their message on Social Security. Taking a page from the playbook of conservative strategist Grover G. Norquist, whose Taxpayer Protection Pledge is ubiquitous in campaign season, the Democrats have asked all their candidates for House and Senate to sign a pledge indicating they oppose the White House plan to allow workers to invest a portion of their Social Security contribution into private accounts they themselves would control.
The campaign is being organized by the Campaign for America's Future, a liberal group bearing the same name as a defunct Republican political committee. Their pledge, which has been signed by 170 candidates, commits signatories to "oppose diverting Social Security revenues to fund private investment accounts or substituting private investment accounts for any portion of Social Security's guaranteed benefits."
Actuarial studies indicate that, by 2017, Social Security will begin paying out more in benefits then it collects in taxes -- at their current rate -- thanks to retirement of aging baby boomers.
Bucking broncos Batman, this is close! -- A new poll of 500 likely voters for the Denver Post shows Republican U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard with a 41 percent to 38 percent lead over Democrat Ted Strickland. The poll, conducted by Ciruli Associates, had a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent, meaning the race is still too close to call. Allard has been dropping slowly though Strickland has yet to show he is benefiting from voter indecision. If the election turns on national securities issues, as the Republicans hope, Allard may be in better shape then commonly believed. The poll finds that 50 percent of the voters think Allard would be better at strengthening national defense against only 25 percent for Strickland.
If, on the other hand, the race turns on abortion, Strickland is home free. Of those surveyed, 49 percent said Strickland would be better at protecting abortion rights against only 18 percent for Allard.
Contract with America two? -- On Wednesday afternoon, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., and colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus rally to announce their "new agenda to secure the future for all of America's families." Reacting to what they said was the majority party's refusal "to reconsider its misguided economic agenda causing economic pain for millions of hardworking American families," the Democrats unveiled their agenda in the Cannon Caucus Room. Republicans immediately invoked comparisons to their 1994 Contract with America, which galvanized the party and led to the first GOP majority in 40 years and which the Democrat's maligned as a gimmick.
This won't be easy to shrug off -- The Ayn Rand Institute, a think tank devoted to the exploration of the philosophy of writer Ayn Rand, is holding a lecture and discussion Oct. 21 on the crisis in corporate America. The talk, which will be held in Irvine, Calif., will explore the root cause and potential solutions for the corporate malfeasance that has captured the country's attention since the summer. The solution that has been most often offered, the Institute says, "is more government regulations." Dr. Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute, will attempt to rebut that theory.
Hot flashpoint -- Several women's groups are coming out against what they are calling "a reckless nomination" at the federal Food and Drug Administration. The National Organization for Women is leading a fight against the nomination of Dr. W. David Hager to be a member of the federal Reproductive Heath Drugs Advisory Committee. According to NOW, this committee influences FDA decisions vital to women's health, such as the 1996 approval of the French abortion drug RU-486 and will be conducting a major study of hormone-replacement therapy in menopause. "Dr. Hager -- an opponent of women's reproductive rights who prescribes prayer and scripture to treat women's health conditions -- has no place chairing a panel that has enormous power to influence women's health policy," NOW President Kim Gandy said.
Joining with NOW in opposition to the nomination are representatives from the medical, religious, and political communities including Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and groups including the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Feminist Majority, National Abortion Federation, National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, and the National Women's Health Network.
And the award goes to... -- Harris Wofford, former U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania and the current chairman of America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth, has been named the recipient of the 2002 John W. Gardner Leadership Award from the Independent Sector, a philanthropic group. Wofford receives the award Oct. 28 at the group's annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio.
Created in 1985 and named in honor of the founding chairman of Independent Sector, the award recognizes an American working in or with the voluntary sector, institutions and causes whose work has national or international impact in his or her field and contributes to the common good.
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