UPI's Capital Comment for Dec. 18, 2002

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (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.

A Hobson's choice...

The pressure is building on Mississippi's Trent Lott to relinquish his leadership position, leaving Senate Republicans in something of a bind. Many people believe it unlikely Lott would remain in the Senate if he surrenders his majority leader role. A vacancy would be filled by Mississippi's Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, taking the Senate back to a 50-to-50 partisan split. At this point the pressure would build on Rhode Island's Republican Sen. Lincoln Chaffee to switch parties or to declare himself an Independent, giving the Democrats the majority. And things can only get worse for the Republicans from that point on.

If Lott quits the Senate before year's end, Mississippi state law requires a special election be held within 90 days. If Lott quits after the first of the year, then the appointed senator would serve until the next general election in November 2003, meaning the GOP could lose control of the Senate without Lott for at least the rest of the year.

Republicans Senators are now being asked to consider what that means and to balance that against their concerns that, if Lott stays, they might lose control of the Senate for a whole lot more after Nov. 2004.

Outta here...

Nick Calio, who has headed the White House legislative affairs operation since the beginning of the administration, has announced he is leaving his post. Calio was not a favorite of Republicans on Capitol Hill, having established a reputation as being difficult to work with. Sources close to GOP congressional leaders say they are pleased by the news he would be stepping down, blaming Calio for the lack of effective coordination between the White House and members of the House and Senate on key legislative matters.

The president has not indicated when he will name a replacement, but the early betting is the job will go to Jack Howard, currently Calio's deputy; David Hobbs, the former Dick Armey staffer who looks after the House; or to Ziad Ojakli, the veteran of the late Sen. Paul Coverdell's office who heads up legislative affairs in the Senate.

The big bang theory...

Following up on a presidential directive, the United States will begin field-testing missile defense systems in 2004. The Defense Department says the new tests will "serve as a starting point for fielding improved, layered missile defense capabilities later."

According to a DoD statement, the initial set of capabilities planned for 2004-2005 will include: up to 20 ground-based interceptors capable of intercepting and destroying intercontinental ballistic missiles in midcourse; up to 20 sea-based interceptors on existing Aegis ships that would intercept ballistic missiles in the first few minutes after they are launched, during the boost and ascent phases of flight; and deployment of air-transportable Patriot Advanced Capability-3 systems to intercept short and medium range ballistic missiles.

Drinking age...

A new report says one quarter of alcohol advertising on television in 2001 was more likely to be seen by young people than it was by adults. According to Georgetown University's Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, out of the 208,909 alcohol commercials that year on cable and network television, "underage youth, ages 12 to 20, were more likely than adults of legal drinking age to have seen 51,084 of them."

"This study shows that no one is protecting our youth. As a result, teenagers are seeing unbalanced and unrealistic messages about alcohol," former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. David A. Kessler said of the findings. The study by the self-described public health organization also found that young people "saw more commercials for beer than for juice, gum, chips, sneakers or jeans."

Financial fracas in the Free State...

Maryland, shortly to inaugurate its first Republican governor in 40 years, is facing an increasingly bleak financial picture. Outgoing Democrat Gov. Parris Glendening is spending his last few months in office cutting deals with labor unions and otherwise spending money that, Ehrlich supporters say, will only make things worse.

To fix the problem, Ehrlich may turn to Christopher Augostini, former deputy budget director for New York City in the Giuliani administration. Augostini is reportedly at the top of the list of potential state budget directors that also includes former state Sen. Bob Neall and state Delegate Bob Flanagan. Because of the proximity to Washington, policy wonks from both parties will be looking to Annapolis for ideas they can cherry-pick in their efforts to address budgeting problems at the federal level.

Tee'd off...

The National Council of Women's Organizations is ratcheting up their fight against Augusta National Golf Club over the admission of women as members. NCWO's chair Martha Burk, has been on a crusade to force the club to admit women and has, in her latest move, unveiled a Web site intended to increase pressure on club members and the companies for whom they work.

"AugustaDiscriminates.org will showcase the members of Augusta National Golf Club and the corporations they represent, as well as the CBS Television Network, which has agreed to broadcast the 2003 Masters Golf tournament without sponsors," Burk said. The site is scheduled to go live at the same time it is profiled on Bryant Gumbel's HBO series Real Sports.

Personnel notes...

Kate Whitman, formerly of the White House office of presidential correspondence and the public affairs shop at the U.S. Department of Labor, has been name director of communications for California Republican Rep. Chris Cox, the chairman of the House Policy Committee. Whitman will handle Cox's national, state and local media activities.

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