A·Page 8 The University Daily Kansan Wednesday, January 19, 2000 Nation GOP in danger of losing control of House Key issues could make, break party recent poll finds The Associated Press WASHINGTON — One-fourth of George W. Bush's supporters side with the Democratic party on most issues, according to an internal Republican poll that indicates that victory in the presidential race wouldn't necessarily be enough to keep the House in GOP hands. Republicans must open a new issue front, as well as redefine some key existing issues more to their political advantage heading into the fall elections, according to the survey findings, shared recently with several dozen rank- and-file Republicans. "Twenty-five percent of Bush's vote prefers Democrats on the issues by a significant margin," according to the material circulated at a communications workshop convened by Rep. J.C. Watts Jr., ROkla, the fourth-ranking member of the GOP leadership. The poll was conducted for Securing America's Future for Everyone (SAFE), an organization Watts established to assist him in his leadership post. Republicans hold a narrow 222-212 majority in the current House, with one Democratic-leaning independent. A switch of five seats would deliver control to the Democrats. The survey found Republicans must make a greater effort to develop their brand, much as any organization must do as it competes for market share. Democrats were favored, 44 percent to 31 percent. when the survey asked potential voters which party cares more about them, according to the poll snow recently to about 50 GOP members of the House. "They've got to connect ideology to solving problems. That's their mission," said David Winston of the Fabrizio McLaughlin firm, which conducted the poll. The 1,000- Bush: One-fourth of supporters side with democrats person survey was conducted in November, at a time when Bush was outpolling Democratic contenders by wide margins. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Democrats hold an edge on three of the top five issues, as identified by potential voters, the poll reported. They lead on education, the top-ranked issue, by 16 percentage points; on health care by an even bigger margin; and strongly on Social Security. Republicans are favored by a wide margin on moral values. As for handling the economy, neither side held a statistically significant advantage. On six other issues tested, which the voters defined as somewhat less important. Republicans hold a narrow advantage on taxes and a more substantial edge on foreign policy and defense as well as on crime and drugs. Democrats are favored on Medicare and the environment. Campaign finance was a statistical tie. The margins for Democrats were much higher than for the GOP, the poll found. Republicans were urged to adopt a strategy that includes stressing new issues, such as government waste and a plan to eliminate the national debt. Top leaders have mentioned both in recent days, and Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., is expected to lay out a plan in the next several days to retire the national debt by 2015. In addition, Republicans were urged to redefine key issues, and handed a blueprint on one of them — education. Democrats have led in polling on the subject by wide margins in recent years, in part because several Republicans who came to power in 1995 advocated eliminating the Education Department. The poll taken for Watts' organi 2000 Race for President zation found that Democrats enjoy a 16-point gap on the issue, but the material circulated to the lawmakers suggested a reversal was possible. The survey said Republicans who stress a message of better education for children by giving local schools flexibility to hire new teachers, purchase new books, provide teacher training, buy computers and repair classrooms outpoll Democrats who advocate funding for 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size. Bradley, Gore tackle racial profiling The Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa — In their final debate DES MOINES, Iowa — before Iowa voters launch the presidential nominating season with the caucuses next week, Democratic rivals Al Gore and Bill Bradley scuffled about the issue of racial profiling but agreed that the Confederate battle flag should no longer be allowed to fly above the South Carolina Capitol. Vice President Gore and Bradley, a former senator, also stated their support for affirmative action policies during the hourlong forum on racial issues. Gore: Tackled racial issues in final Iowa debate Both men pledged to quickly end racial profil ing, but the liveliest moment of Monday evening's debate came when Bradley pressed Gore to demand that President Clinton issue an executive order immediately ending the practice. "I want you to walk down his hallway, walk into his office and say 'sign this executive order today,'" Bradley said, drawing a sharp retort from Gore. "I don't think President Bill Clinton needs a lecture from Bill Bradley on how to stand up and fight for African-Americans" and Hispanic Americans, Gore said. He also argued that Clinton has set records in appointing minorities to key administration posts.The focus on minority issues came hours after protests in South Carolina, where civil rights leaders demanded that the Confederate battle flag be lowered from atom the South Carolina Capitol. Both rivals firmly agreed that the flag should be lowered. The debate came on the federal holiday honor. inslain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and both men were sounding their themes of racial unity at a wider audience, since Iowa's minority population is under 4 percent. It was the sixth face-to-face exchange between the two competitors and it came as most polls show Gore with a significant lead of 20 percentage points or more in Iowa. On other issues, the two rivals: Agreed that the father of Elian Gonzalez, the 6-year-old Cuban boy at the center of an international dispute, should come to the United States to seek custody of him. Said they favored the policy that allows Cuban refugees who successfully reach this country to remain here, unlike those from other nations, such as Haiti. Emphasized their commitment to minority issues. Bradley noted that his German-born wife Ernestine would be the first immigrant first lady in the United States. Clinton pushes for ways to curb gun violence The Associated Press require safety locks on handguns. WASHINGTON — President Clinton is asking Congress for $280 million in additional funds to hire 500 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents and inspectors and to create a program to track guns through ballistics testing. Clinton announced the program to hire 500 more ATF personnel yesterday in Boston. The emphasis on law enforcement represented a subtle shift in the administration's efforts to curb gun violence. After a spate of high-profile shooting attacks by troubled killers at high schools and community centers, Clinton pushed for tougher gun-control measures in Congress. But legislation has stalled about such issues as how to extend Brady law background checks to gun shows or whether to Outlining plans for his final year in office, Clinton last week alluded to new projects aimed at curbing gun violence. The administration already announced a request for $10 million to develop smart guns that fire only when held by their owners. A similar request died in Congress last year. The new plans for the budget for fiscal year 2001, which begins Oct. 1, represent an effort to invest more in enforcement of existing laws on the illegal use and possession of firearms, a priority for Republicans and groups such as the National Rifle Association. Clinton: Asking for funds to hire more ATF agents Clinton intended to ask Congress to hire the new agents and inspectors and 1,000 more federal, state and local prosecutors to focus on gun-related crimes. He also will seek to expand an existing gun-tracing program from 38 to 51 cities and ask for $30 million to create a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network to track ballistics data of guns used in crimes. By maintaining records of unique markings each gun barrel leaves on bullets, investigators could track firearms used in crimes to their purchasers, even if that person had passed the weapon to another individual. The fiscal 2000 budget also includes funds for 50,000 more community police officers. Bill could stop bets on collegiate games The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Two senators plan to introduce legislation that would outlaw betting on intercollegiate sports, a practice critics say has contributed to the growing number of gambling scandals on campuses nationwide. The National Collegiate Athletic Association is urging its 1,031 member colleges and universities to lobby members of Congress to support the bill, which Sens. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., plan to introduce Jan. 26. "We think the kids are very vulnerable," said Doris Dixon, NCAA director of federal relations. "They're young people; they don't have professional contracts or careers — $500 or $5,000 to miss that shot or stumble on that finish line doesn't mean their team won't win, just that they won't win by the point spread." "There have been more pointshaving scandals at our colleges and universities in the 1990s than in every other decade before it, combined," Brownback said. "These scandals are a direct result of an increase in gambling on college sports." sports, and high school and Olympic competitions. The Brownback-Leahy bill would bar wagering on college Nevada is the only state that allows betting on college sports. Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., president of the American Gaming Association, said banning legal college sports wagering would increase business for illegal bookies and would do nothing to stop gambling scandals on college campuses. He said the NCAA should not expect the government to police its member schools. Congress last considered sports betting legislation nine years ago. The result was a law signed by President George Bush banning sports wagering in the 47 states where it was not then legal. In addition to Nevada, the exemptions were for Oregon, which allows betting on pro football through a lottery, and Delaware, which has not adopted sports betting despite a 1976 public vote approving it. New Jersey was given a one-year window to decide whether to sanction sports gambling in Atlantic City, but the state Legislature did not muster enough votes to hold a public referendum. Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., said New Jersey casinos should be allowed to offer such wagering. 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