Governors' Conference Boosts Bush

By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, February 24, 1999

WASHINGTON -- The nation's governors demanded more federal money for state programs with no strings attached, ending a four-day conference yesterday that also boosted Texas Governor George W. Bush's presidential prospects.

Though Bush left Washington without a formal endorsement, his supporters said they secured support from 13 of the 31 GOP governors. Three or four more could soon join in, organizers of the drive said.

"I think it's going to be a few more days before we get this done," Governor Marc Racicot of Montana said. He joined forces with Governors John Engler of Michigan and Paul Cellucci of Massachusetts to round up Bush allies, hoping to get a majority of the GOP governors aboard.

Bush was hardly the only topic at the conference, which ended on an upbeat note with Democratic and Republican governors saying their style of bipartisanship and consensus building might be taking hold in Washington.

"I sense a new civility that may be in the air in our nation's capital," said Governor Tom Carper, a Delaware Democrat who is chairman of the National Governors' Association.

The governors were often united across party lines, often against Washington.

They demanded more money for education and welfare programs, while telling Congress and President Clinton to keep their hands off money that states earned in lawsuits against tobacco companies.

The president promised on Monday to back legislation allowing states to keep the tobacco money if it is spent on health and antismoking initiatives. GOP governors said they would make sure Clinton kept his promise.

It was Congress's turn yesterday, with lawmakers from both parties trooping to a downtown hotel to address the governors.

The Senate minority leader, Tom Daschle of South Dakota, said he, like Clinton, would support states' keeping tobacco money. "I know this is a burr in your saddle," he told them.

The Senate majority leader, Trent Lott of Mississippi, promised a quick vote on a bill that would allow states to waive federal education regulations, and he said the next budget will include more money for schools.

Several governors complained that Washington was not giving states money promised for welfare and special education programs mandated by Congress.

As for the 2000 presidential situation, what started as an informal head count Sunday rapidly evolved into a Bush boomlet and could still lead to a formal endorsement in the next week or so, organizers said.

Bush has yet to announce his intentions, but his advisers expect him to form a presidential exploratory committee next month and formally enter the race a few months later. The moves to support him reflect a desire by GOP governors to see one of their own in the White House, preferably a governor they supported early enough to earn a spot on the ticket or a Cabinet post.

"I'll sign the sheet three times," said Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating of the mythical endorsement list.

At least two governors, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Don Sundquist of Tennessee, support Lamar Alexander for the presidential nomination.

Two others appeared to be leaning toward former Vice President Dan Quayle and one was expected to back Senator John R. McCain, Republican of Arizona. The others are uncommitted.