If Democrats take over the U.S. House this fall, expect Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette‘s embryonic stem-cell research bill to come up for a vote within the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress convening.
The bill, approved by the Senate and House this year, was vetoed by President Bush in September – his first ever.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the likely House speaker if Democrats regain control of the chamber, has told DeGette she’ll immediately resurrect the bill.
DeGette, whose plea to meet with Bush was rebuffed, says he doesn’t know the details of the bill. Only private money, she says, would be used to destroy embryos and federal money would pay for research. Bush said the bill “crossed a moral boundary.”
DeGette has been campaigning across the country for pro-stem- cell Democrats.
Owens still popular
After more than seven years in office, most Coloradans still like Gov. Bill Owens. He’s approaching the end of his second and final term with a 60 percent approval rating, according to a new Ciruli Associates poll.
Owens has hovered in the 60 percent range during his tenure. In December 2000, his approval rating was 64 percent and in October 2003 it was 66 percent.
“He has good numbers at the end of his term in a lousy year for Republicans. … I was impressed, frankly,” said pollster Floyd Ciruli.
Despite some Republicans still smarting over his support for Referendum C last fall, Owens “had strong conservative support” in the poll, Ciruli said.
Kids are running the joint
Some patronizing adults might say Congressman Bob Beauprez‘s campaign is run by a kid, since campaign manager John Marshall is only 28. But Bob Schaffer‘s campaign for State Board of Education is, quite literally, run by kids.
The former GOP congressman’s campaign manager, Brittany Lewin, is 17. Volunteer coordinator Rachael Miller is 19, and press secretary Jenna Jordan is 17.
Schaffer confesses he wishes the idea was the result of deep thinking. Instead, it was born on the fly at a Weld County breakfast meeting. When would-be supporters asked about yard signs and volunteering, Schaffer told them he had no real campaign infrastructure. Turning to three girls there for his talk, he said: “How would you like to run the campaign?”
It made sense, Schaffer said, since they’re students and it’s a Board of Education race. Within an hour or so, he learned the girls were at the library checking out books on campaigning, scouring the Internet and making leaflets. They’ve since produced radio ads, a newspaper for voters, countless homemade yard signs and an Internet presence.
Schaffer faces Tom Griggs in his 4th District race.
Cowboy State politics
Wyoming voters, who tend to vote person over party, appear to be on track to re-electing a centrist Democratic governor in an overwhelmingly Republican state. Gov. Dave Freudenthal had a 33-point lead over Republican Ray Hunkins in a recent poll.
Freudenthal is one of the moderate Democrats – including Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson – the party has touted as the type of leaders needed to gain national power.
Suthers opposed to Ref. K
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers says he’ll vote against Referendum K, placed on this fall’s ballot by the legislature. It directs the AG to initiate, or join other states in, a lawsuit against the U.S. attorney general to demand the federal government enforce immigration laws.
Of the most recent cases where the federal government has been sued to pay for mandates, none has survived pre-trial motions, Suthers said.
He personally delivered a copy of the Colorado law to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who smiled and said: “John, it wouldn’t be the first time we were sued.”
Dan Haley (dhaley@denverpost. com) is a member of The Post’s editorial board. Read the Haley’s Comment blog at denverpostbloghouse.com/haley.
