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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: T L Comiskey who wrote (8845)	11/6/2002 10:06:30 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Respond to of 89467

I beg to differ. Don't you remember the Moot-Hawley Bill?

To: T L Comiskey who wrote (8845)	11/6/2002 10:26:41 AM
From: SOROS	Respond to of 89467

SEC task force. How laughable is that. I remain, SOROS

To: T L Comiskey who wrote (8845)	11/6/2002 11:09:08 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 89467

New class of governors gets chance to shape U.S. policy Op/Ed - USA TODAY 1 hour, 26 minutes ago story.news.yahoo.com On Election Night 2002, when voters returned most of the same faces to a still closely divided U.S. Congress, a major changing of the guard was taking place at statehouses across the USA. More newcomers will occupy governors' offices than at any time since 1954. And this group will confront opportunities and challenges in launching policies that shape the nation's agenda. In all, 36 states covering 80% of the nation's population elected governors Tuesday. Twenty will have new executives in January because sitting governors face term limits or are retiring. Others encountered tough re-election challenges, even though some incumbents were re-elected, including Jeb Bush of Florida, George Pataki of New York and Bob Taft of Ohio. While Republicans were ahead in the race for control of the Senate and retained the House, Democrats claimed some key statehouses. That's in part because the GOP had to defend twice as many posts. Among the new governors: * Democrats Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, a former mayor of Philadelphia known as a problem-solver; Rod Blagojevich, a Chicago congressman who ended a 25-year GOP grip on the Illinois Statehouse; and Jennifer Granholm, an attorney general who will be Michigan's first female chief executive. * Republicans Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the man credited with saving the troubled Utah Olympics; Robert Ehrlich, a congressman who will be the first Republican governor of Maryland since 1968; and Craig Benson of New Hampshire, an entrepreneur who spent $11 million of his own money. The governors whom newcomers are replacing have been adept at using the office to burnish national reputations, mindful that four of the past five presidents came directly from statehouses. But the departing governors also leave a daunting legacy: success in nudging national policies in innovative directions. The Republicans who dominated statehouses for a decade pioneered pragmatic reforms to such vexing problems as welfare and education. A new batch of Democratic governors will be challenged to show similar leadership in advancing solutions to the nation's health-care and environmental concerns. Some role models are worth noting. While Washington was deadlocked over key issues, a few governors found fixes that other states and Washington copied: * Republicans Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, John Engler of Michigan and Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania pushed welfare reform long before Congress took it up. Thompson and Ridge have since joined President Bush (news - web sites)'s Cabinet. * Democrats John Kitzhaber of Oregon and Howard Dean of Vermont and independent Angus King of Maine brought about innovative improvements in health care that held down patient costs while expanding coverage to children and the working poor. The immediate challenge facing nearly every state is a budget gap caused by the weak economy. But big problems persist in health care, education and other social areas. The problem-solvers among the departing class of governors did not shy away from tough tasks. They invested effort and political capital to implement potential solutions. Their determination and pragmatism serve as vital guideposts for the new class of governors. With Washington's wallet empty and its politics facing continued stalemate, statehouse executives will need to rely on their own wits -- and guts.