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Moynihan: Time For Indpendent Prosecutor

New Budget Amendment Opposition

Jeb Bush To Run Again For Fla. Governor

U.S. To Resume Food Aid To North Korea

Judge May End Reynolds' Hunger Strike

Clinton Makes Another Pitch For Herman

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Moynihan: Time For Indpendent Prosecutor

Moynihan

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Feb. 20) -- New York's Democratic senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, has become the first in his party to call for an independent counsel to investigate alleged campaign finance abuses by his party during the 1996 campaign, the New York Post reports today. Moynihan told the paper he thinks it's absurd to say "everyone has Chinese arms merchants to lunch -- don't you?" referring to one of President Bill Clinton's guests at a White House reception. Attorney General Janet Reno has turned down numerous requests from Republicans for an independent counsel in the matter.

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New Budget Amendment Opposition

Johnson

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Feb. 20) -- Freshman Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) has decided to oppose a balanced budget consitutional amendment, Democratic sources tell The Associated Press. Backers of the amendment had counted on his vote, since he had supported the measure two years ago while representing South Dakota in the House. Johnson now reportedly says he's concerned about the effect an amendment might have on Social Security.

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Jeb Bush To Run Again For Fla. Governor

TALLAHASSEE (AllPolitics, Feb. 20) -- Jeb Bush is gearing up for another shot at being Florida's governor, though he says he won't formally announce until the fall. Bush, 44, is son of former President George Bush and brother to Texas Gov. George W. Bush. He lost a close campaign in 1994 to Democrat Lawton Chiles, who is barred from running again in 1998. Chiles' lieutenant governor, Buddy McKay, is the only announced Democrat so far.

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U.S. To Resume Food Aid To North Korea

N. Korea Aid

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Feb. 20) -- The U.S. has decided to send $10 million in food aid to North Korea, along with $6 million from South Korea. The aid comes in response to a plea last week from the U.N. World Food Program for the U.S. to help avert the famine that looms in North Korea. The issue has been sticky since North Korea has one of the most closed societies in the world, and it is still technically at war with South Korea. The U.S. sent $6.1 million in food aid to North Korea last year, but suspended it in September after a North Korean submarine ran aground off South Korea. Flooding has caused the destruction of crops representing about half of North Korea's food needs for two years.

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Judge May End Reynolds' Hunger Strike

CHICAGO (AllPolitics, Feb. 20) -- Jailed former Rep. Mel Reynolds is protesting his conditions with a hunger strike, but a federal judge has ordered him to submit to medical tests and may order force-feeding if his blood sugar levels are found to be dangerously low. Reynolds is protesting his treatment since he was transferred from state to federal prison on Feb. 7. He says he's been in solitary confinement and been given inadequate access to his lawyers. "I'm being treated like an animal," Reynolds told U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle on Wednesday. Reynolds, once a bright star in House Democrats' 1992 freshman class, resigned in 1995 after being convicted for sexual abuse and obstruction of justice. He is serving a five-year term.

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Clinton Makes Another Pitch For Herman

Herman

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Feb. 20) -- President Bill Clinton again gave strong support to embattled Labor Secretary-nominee Alexis Herman this morning. After making comments to reporters in the Oval Office on Medicaid, Clinton noted that the Senate had not yet scheduled hearings on her nomination. "I think that is a big mistake," Clinton said. "She's clearly well qualified. She deserves a hearing and if she gets a hearing, she's going to be confirmed." Herman picked up support Wednesday from the AFL-CIO, which had initially opposed her bid. The labor federation passed a resolution saluting her support of "a working-families agenda." "It is time for Alexis Herman to be able to stand in an open forum and have her nomination considered," said AFL-CIO president John Sweeney.

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