WASHINGTON, July 30 (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.
Politics shore are exciting 'round here -- Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, R-Md., a six-term GOP moderate, has apparently drawn a stiff challenge in the upcoming September primary. David Fischer, a Timonium, Md., lawyer has filed to run against Gilchrest, vowing to spend more than $200,000 of his own money in the race. The 32-year-old Fischer describes himself as a Ronald Reagan-George W. Bush Republican and is running on a platform of lower taxes, gun rights and opposition to abortion rights. Maryland's newly redrawn 1st Congressional District has been regarded as an Eastern Shore seat, but some analysts say the new lines have added close to 50,000 new Republican voters from Harford and Baltimore counties. These voters tend to be more conservative than those on the Eastern Shore. Gilchrest has drawn the ire of the party's conservative grassroots for his ardent environmentalism as well as his support for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the 2000 presidential primary.
Motown musings -- In the run up to the Aug. 6 congressional primary, the big guns are coming into Michigan on behalf of Reps. John Dingell and Lynn Rivers, two Democrats thrown into the same seat by redistricting. Coming out for Rivers is Sarah Brady, who is possibly the nation's most recognizable proponent of banning private ownership of handguns. On deck for Dingell, the nation's longest-serving House member, is the National Rifle Association, which is encouraging members to vote for him in the primary. An EPIC/MRA poll for the Detroit Free Press of 301 likely primary voters, all Democrats, showed Rivers leading 46 percent to 45 percent -- but with a margin of error of +/- 5.7 percent, that lead is statistically meaningless.
Playing to the base -- In a "Statement of Administration Policy" identified as having "been coordinated by OMB with the concerned agencies," the Bush administration's Office of Management and Budget promulgated a message of support for H.R. 4965, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002, introduced by Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio. The White House wanted to make it clear to members of the House -- and to the conservative groups that make up the president's political base -- that it strongly supported the ban, calling its enactment "morally imperative and constitutionally permissible to prohibit this very abhorrent form of abortion." The bill passed the House last week by a vote of 274 to 151. It now moves to the Senate, where supporters worry they may lack the necessary 60 votes to close of debate and bring the ban to the floor for a vote.
The role of government -- The Brookings Institution, a leading Washington think tank, is pleased to announce the publication of a new book by Paul Light, noted scholar and director of its governmental studies program. "In an era of promises to create smaller, more limited government, Americans often forget that the federal government has amassed an extraordinary record of successes over the past half century ... it helped rebuild Europe after World War II, conquered polio and other life-threatening diseases, faced down communism, attacked racial discrimination, reduced poverty among the elderly, and put men on the moon. 'Government's Greatest Achievements' ... explores the federal government's most successful accomplishments over the previous five decades and anticipates the most significant challenges of the next half century," the Institution says in a release describing the book that, at 241 pages, is somewhat longer than people might expect.
Where can you find a friend -- The Small Business Survival Committee, a national trade association representing the interests of small business owners, has released its 2002 Small Business Survival Index. The analysis ties together 20 major government-imposed or government-related costs that impact small businesses -- including personal and business taxes; property taxes; sales, gross receipts and excise taxes; death taxes; unemployment taxes; health care costs; and labor costs -- that are combined into one number, generating the index.
According to SBSC, the most entrepreneur-friendly states are: 1) South Dakota, 2) Nevada, 3) Wyoming, 4) Texas, and 5) Florida. By contrast, the SBSC says the states with the most anti-entrepreneur policy environments are: 46) California, 47) New Mexico, 48) Minnesota, 49) Maine, 50) Hawaii, and 51) the District of Columbia.
Personnel note -- Bryan Wilkes, longtime press aide to Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., is leaving Capitol Hill for what he hopes are greener but not necessarily glowing pastures. Wilkes has been tapped to be the senior manager of public affairs for the National Nuclear Security Administration, a new position ... The White House announces that Joaquin F. Blaya will be nominated by the president to be a member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for the remainder of a three-year term expiring Aug. 13, 2002, and an additional term expiring Aug. 13, 2005. Blaya is the chairman and chief executive officer of Radio Unica Communications Corporation in Miami and the founder of the Copa Ericsson, a series of professional tennis tournaments in Latin America.
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