• It's Still The Economy, Stupid
• Affirming Preference Programs
• Run Christie Run!
• Not Worth The Money?
• A Medicaid Poison Pill

It's Still The Economy, Stupid

AllPolitics (new York, June 27) -- Presumptive GOP nominee Robert Dole plans to step up the attacks against President Clinton's economic record, according to the New York Times. Clinton has been given too much credit for economic growth, Dole aides say, when he should be blamed for tax increases and undermining growth through spending policies. The economic campaign will begin in the fall once Dole reveals his own economic plan.

Affirming Preference Programs

AllPolitics (Washington, June 27) -- Six civil rights groups have formed a coalition to defend affirmative action against Congress, state legislatures, and the courts. Comprised of the National Women's Law Center, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Women's Legal Defense fund, the group calls itself Americans for a Fair Chance and plans to "educate the public about how affirmative action benefits women, minorities and the nation."

Run Christie Run!

NEW YORK (AllPolitics, June 27) -- If Colin Powell won't take the job, presumptive GOP nominee Robert Dole should pick a pro-choice woman as his running mate, Sen. Alfonse D'Amato says. In an interview with the Daily News, the New York senator says Republicans must demonstrate that they are a party of tolerance "by action," and not just by "statement." His top picks? New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman and Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. They would help close the gender gap and appeal to moderates, D'Amato said.

Not Worth The Money?

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 27) -- House Republicans quashed Democratic efforts to fund President Clinton's pet project, AmeriCorps, a program that pays students to do volunteer work. "Let's not fool ourselves into thinking AmeriCorps has anything to do with true volunteerism or true citizenship," said Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), who led the effort to transfer $40 million in AmeriCorps money to veterans health and the remaining $327 million to deficit reduction.

A Medicaid Poison Pill

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, June 27) -- Senate Democrats and Republicans are close to an agreement on welfare reform, but all Finance Committee Democrats voted against a bill combining welfare reform and a provision to block grant Medicaid. The Clinton Administration called it "a poison-pill approach." Republicans defend combining welfare and Medicaid reform, saying their plan gives states needed flexibility to administer Medicaid and shaves $90 billion of Clinton's $1.39 trillion plan. But Democrats said that the legislation will take away the federal guarantee of heath care to 37 million Americans.