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Democratic, Republican governors meet by Will Lester Associated Press WASHINGTON -Governors came to town this weekend agreeing on many proposals for education reform and health care, wary about the economy’s downturn and with some disagreements on the appropriate size of a federal tax cut. “Cooperation is the watchword of the day,” said Gov. Panis Glendening, a Maryland Democrat who is chairman of the National Governor’s Association. The association “stands ready, willing and able to work hand in hand with the new administration and Congress to identify bipartisan solutions on the issues that affect all Americans, particularly on the issues of education, health care and sustaining economic opportunities.” But he admitted there will be differences of opinion on the question of tax cuts, with Democrats agreeing to the idea of across-the-board cuts, but wanting smaller reductions. Some states are worried that federal tax cuts could have an impact on their own revenues. And he said there was concern about the possibility that money for the poorest schools could be cut, though that situation might be avoided, as well as a disagreement on school vouchers. Michigan Gov. John Engler, a Republican and vice chairman of the group, said the governors could probably agree that there can be choices within the public school system. Governors will also be seeking flexibility in the handling of Medicaid requirements, which can place big financial burdens on the states. Glendening said President Bush has clearly made an effort to work with the governors from both parties. “The president has reached out to us and sought our input,” Glendening said. “From the Republican governors’ perspective, we’re interested in identifying ways to help the administration, particularly with initiatives like public education and special education,” said Pennsylvania’s Tom Ridge, chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association. The governors will also be looking for flexibility to deal with the Medicaid program, health care and prescription drug programs. Ridge said it will be important for GOP governors to demonstrate they can work smoothly with the new Republican administration, because “statistically we’re at a disadvantage” in upcoming elections. Republicans will be defending more than two dozen governorships, with almost half of those open. Democrats have to defend half that many. “It’s going to be a battle,” Arizona Gov. Jane Hull said of the upcoming elections, noting that many governors face term limits or are not seeking re election in two years. With just over three dozen races coming up over tire next two years, the GOP has the most to lose. The Republicans have 29 governors, Democrats have 19*and two are independent. The governors began their meetings Saturday, but most of their formal sessions are on Sunday, with a black-tie dinner at the White House on Sunday night and a Monday morning meeting with President Bush, a former colleague.' Some governors expect Bush to do well in reaching across party lines. “He’s done the bipartisan outreach very effectively and very quickly,” said Connecticut’s Republican governor, John Rowland. “I think he recognizes governors as his natural allies. “When all is said and done, he’s a state’s rights advocate,'for local control and for local empowerment. That’s good news for states and governors. ” ’ Powell urges Israel to lift restraints on Palestinians by Barry Schweid Associated Press RAMALLAH, West Bank — Endorsing a Palestinian demand. Secretary of State Colin Powell urged Israel on Sunday to lift an economic “siege” of the West Bank and Gaza as soon as possible. The constraints, which include a ban on Palestinian workers going to their jobs in Israel and the withholding of tax revenues, do nothing to improve the security situation, Powell said after a two hour meeting with Yasser Arafat at his headquarters. “If people are not able to get to their jobs, they become more frustrated,” Powell said later Sunday as he flew to Kuwait from Jordan. “Frustration leads to anger and then anger to violence.” Israel, in an effort to stem attacks on its soldiers and civilians, is using economic pressure as well as firepower. Peace talks have been shelved, and Powell said it will be a long time before they resume. “We discussed how it is necessary for all sides to move away from violence and incitement and how it is necessary to lift the siege as soon as possible so that economic activity can begin again in the region,” Powell said of his meeting with Arafat. Before seeing Arafat, Powell met Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem, but evidently was unable to persuade Israel’s prime minister-elect to ease that pressure. Still, Powell said the Bush administration’s commitment to Israeli security was “rock hard.” “ This is the time to bring calm to the region," Powell said at a news conference with Sharon. “It is a very dangerous situation.” American ‘contractors’ fighting heavily in Colombian drug war ■ Critics comparing U.S. intervention to early days of Vietnam War by Jared Kotler Associated Press BOGOTA, Colombia Flying missions over guerrilla-infested coca fields or manning remote radar stations in the jungle, private American citizens are working perilously close to the front lines of the drug war in Colombia. Referred to as “contractors” by the Washington agencies who hire them and “mercenaries” by critics, they are supposed to number no more than 300 at a time in the South American country. Yet with the U.S. government “outsourcing” much of its drug war aid to these contractors, officials are indicating the ceiling needs to be raised. As Colombian President Andres Pastrana travels to Washington to meet with President Bush on Tuesday, worries are mounting about the danger the U.S. contractors face — and whether their presence and that of U.S. troops could lead to deeper involvement in Colombia’s decades-old civil war. “Once this juggernaut starts rolling, it’s extremely difficult to put a stopping point on it,” said Robert E. White, a former U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador who heads the Center for International Policy, a Washington think tank. “Once there are a few Americans killed, it seems to me that things begin to unravel,” he added. “And then you can find yourself, indeed, fully involved.” Some of the riskiest jobs in a $ 1.3 billion U.S.-financed counter-drug offensive have been contracted to companies including DynCorp, of Reston, Va„ whose employees last weekend flew into a firefight involving leftist guerrillas to save the crew of a downed Colombian police helicopter. The company provides rescuers, mechanics and helicopter and airplane pilots for aerial eradication missions over cocaine and heroin-producing plantations that are “taxed” and protected by the rebels.. Some critics cliaige the contractors are being used in dicey areas to avoid the scandal that would erupt if U.S. soldiers began returning from Colombia in body bags. Some of those critics worried about the growing U.S. role in Colombia compared it with Vietnam. News Briefs ■ Violence mars Seattle Mardi Gras SEATTLE (AP) — Police in riot gear used pepper spray, rubber bullets and concussion bombs to break up Mardi Gras festivities early Sunday in the second straight day of violence connect ed to the celebration. Police said several people in a crowd of about 2,000 threw bottles, rocks and firecrackers at officers soon after bars closed at about 1:30 a.m. A half-dozen people were arrested, most on assault charges. One person was injured in a stabbing, and a police officer suffered a broken arm. Some people in the crowd smashed car and store windows and tried to overturn a bus, police said. Police said the violence grew worse after they ar rested a man suspected of armed rob bery. Oiganizers had no immediate plans to cancel Mardi Gras events scheduled tlirough Tuesday night. Tliis past year’s Mardi Gras cele bration in Seattle had similar distur bances. It came within months of the protests that shut down a meeting of the World Trade Organization. ■ Earnhardt Jr. crashes on first lap of Dura Lube 400 ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (AP) In an eerie reminder of his father’s fa tal accident this past weekend. Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed hard on the first lap of Sunday’s rain-delayed Dura Lube 400. The 26-year-old son of the racing great walked away limping from a ear that was badly damaged after hitting the wall at an angle almost identical to the one that led to his father death’s tliis past Sunday on the final lap of the Daytona 500. 1 ... 1 ■ i What will be going on during half-time at the USC/UT game on February 27? /-;-\ ( A Disco Dance-Off \_/ Freestyle Bungee Jumping —A Jello-Eating _Contest ■■■ ■- -- ■ ..—~ ' - - '■=% • If you were one of the lucky students to get an invitation to the USC/UT game on February 27 - BE THERE! Its the only way you can win your FIRST CHOICE OF HOUSING or any of the other great prizes which will be up for grabs at the finale. • If you didn’t win, be there in the crowd to root on your fellow students along with the Fighting Gamecocks. You might even get one of the various prizes given away to those in attendance. • You’re down to your 50/50. All you have to do is be there to win a prize. So make the right choice and win with University Housing! V University Housing Designing Communities for Living m/d Learning