07-01-2000

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Inside Washington for July 1, 2000

In Japan, Changes Still Not in the Cards


The losses sustained by Japan's ruling coalition on June 25 don't threaten
its hold on power. But they deny the next government a clear mandate.
Thus, further delays are likely before Japan can make tough decisions
about much-needed economic reforms. In fact, the run up to election day
was striking for the absence of substantive debate about many pressing
issues: the trade-off between more government spending and curtailing
Japan's mushrooming government debt; the merits of breaking up the
government-owned phone company to lower phone and Internet costs; and
Japan's relatively low unemployment benefits. Economic policy in Tokyo may
remain in limbo until next year when elections for the upper house of the
Japanese Diet may finally break the deadlock.


Remember: Animals Are Constituents, Too!


Having sharpened its claws on a series of ballot initiatives across the
land, the Humane Society of the United States (weren't these once the
homeless-puppy people?) is now stalking Congress-and growling loudly. The
society is setting up a political action committee-the "first-ever
major animal-protection PAC," according to society lobbyist Wayne
Pacelle. The society hopes that the new Humane USA PAC will be able to
shell out as much as $250,000 to favored candidates this year. The group's
agenda? Trapping, predator control, chimpanzee sanctuaries, cockfighting,
hunting on commercial game farms, protection for bears and great apes, and
alternatives to animal testing. Separately, the group is expecting to
spend $3 million to $4 million on opposing or defending-depending on the
thrust of the proposal-hunting initiatives in nine states this
fall.


As Always, Conventions Are Where Parties Compete


When it comes to throwing fancy parties in Los Angeles, two K Street
lobbying titans will be vying with one another on the night of Aug. 15 for
top honors and big names. Patton Boggs is co-hosting a gala that evening
at Hollywood's Sunset Room that lists Terry McAuliffe, the Democrats'
leading money harvester and the DNC's convention ringmaster, as a special
guest. That same night, Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand has
plans to co-host a bash at the Mondrian Hotel's Skybar (owned by Cindy
Crawford's husband). One involved lobbyist boasts (naturally) that the
get-together will be a "celebrity-filled" affair.


Could Bill Break Through ABC's Line?


Talk about counterprogramming. Wily convention strategists for Vice
President Al Gore think it may be wise to ask President Clinton to speak
on Monday night, Aug. 14. One reason is to speed along Gore's
transformation into the Democratic Party's Alpha Male; the sooner Clinton
speaks and exits the Los Angeles stage the better. The other reason is to
force ABC television to rethink its plans to broadcast Monday Night
Football that evening and squeeze its convention coverage into the game's
halftime report.




National Journal