As it unfortunately is so often the case with Dubya, it all comes down to money. In this instance, it's the NRA money which reaches both the Texas governor and his supporters: " Common Cause reported this week that the National Rifle Association has pumped almost $8.4 million into congressional campaigns and national political parties in the past decade....The NRA's generosity with campaign contributions has had an impact in past debates and unfortunately is likely to be factor again this year." Is that why Bush suggested that the gun show bill be considered on the federal, rather than the state, level? After the Colorado shootings, gun advocates attempted to shift the focus to the evils of the internet. But there, again, the NRA has its hand in: "The NRA consistently resists gun-control efforts and undoubtedly will continue. This year, the commendable Internet Gun Trafficking Act sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is on the NRA's "anti-gun" list." The Schumer bill would limit internet gun sellers to licensed dealers who would ship guns to a local dealer for a background check. The NRA and those whose campaigns are supported with NRA money do not want that.

Today in the NYT's "Political Briefing" column, B. Drummond Ayres, Je. summerizes the Express-News' editorials, reporting that "Democrats say Bush is waffling, trying to duck a real stand for as long as possible, a charge they have leveled at him on other issues, as have some Republicans." Caught between a political desire to say something presidential about the Colorado shootings and an equally pressing political desire not to cross the NRA, Dubya indicated his preference for Eggo's. "What did Senator West (D-Dallas) think of a call for Federal intervention by a Republican Presidential hopeful? 'I'm not going to get into Presidential politics,' he said. The chief sponsor of the House bill, Representative Debra Danburg, a Houston Democrat, did not hesitate to jump in. "Smells like Presidential politics to me." Smells like stale waffles to us. 4/30/99

"Rep. Bob Turner, D-Coleman, chairman of the House Public Safety Committee, said the governor's post-Littleton comments were 'a bit of a knee-jerk reaction probably. To this moment, the governor has never talked to me about the bill,' said Turner, who voted against the measure. 'He (Bush) never called me. His staff here who work with us in the House every day, all day have never visited with me at all about the bill,' he added. Turner said background checks at gun shows would take too long." The other side was equally baffled by the Guv's response: "Rep. Debra Danburg, D-Houston, the House sponsor, laughed when a reporter asked if the governor had made any effort to advance her legislation. She said she learned of Bush's interest only when she read about his comments 'after the vote to kill the bill occurred in committee.'" If the House bill is now dead, what about the Senate? "Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, the Senate sponsor of a similar measure languishing in a Senate committee, challenged the governor Monday to take an active role in trying to revive the proposal. 'I think the governor, given his popularity in the state of Texas, has the power to resurrect that bill,' West said." West later added, ""If he wants this issue addressed, all he has to do is help line up the political support to get it done."

While neither side said that Bush's gun control statement was an attempt to exploit the Colorado tragedy for political gain, it was clear that following his talk with action would dispell any such thoughts. Unfortunately, yesterday in Dallas Dubya said "it's too late in the session to revive" the House bill, ignored the languishing Senate bill, and, most surprisingly, said " (gun show and flea market gun checks) really need to be worked out at the federal level." Aside from failing to lead, passing the buck, and adding new waffling behavior to previous procrastinations, this statement comes out of the mouth of a man who plans to run for President on the proposition that states should do more and Washington should do less. Has our Governor decided that states are incapable of forging the needed laws to control weapons and the right to do so should be turned over to the Feds? Or is this just one more in a growing list of comcon cons? (DMN 4/23,4/28; HC 4/26) 4/29/99

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