For the Record.(brief news about politicians)(Brief Article)

President Bush, speaking on April 15: "Excessive federal spending threatens economic vitality. What we want is a stronger economy, not larger federal government." . . . Tax Freedom Day arrives on May 3, latest date ever, according to Tax Foundation, which annually calculates day Americans will have earned enough money to pay off all their taxes. . . . In Associated Press poll, 69 percent of Republicans and 62 percent of Democrats say income taxes are "too high." . . . Bush, who has not returned to Yale since own graduation and won't attend alma mater's 300th-anniversary celebration, agrees to give commencement speeches at the U.S. Naval Academy and Notre Dame.

White House political aide Karl Rove, quoted by Associated Press: "We intended to have a smaller profile than the previous administration." . . . Attorney General John Ashcroft, on press interviews with Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh: "I do not want anyone to be able to purchase access to the podium of America with the blood of 168 innocent victims."

Rep. Pete Stark (D., Calif.), on Bush budget, in Alameda Times-Star: "the embodiment of the anti-Christ. . . . [it] goes against all the teachings of Christ. It turns its back on the poor, it turns its back on education and health care for young children. The holiest week of the year [Easter], to release this budget that flies in the face of all Christ's teachings is infamy." . . . "Our national goal must be to ensure that every child, by kindergarten, knows the alphabet, cols,d sizes," writes Sen. Paul Wellstone (D., Minn.), in forthcoming book The Conscience of a Liberal. "This will require well-paid professional teachers, assisted by skillful and well-paid teaching assistants." . . . Sen. Evan Bayh (D., Ind.), on running for president, in Louisville Courier-Journal: "I'm thinking about it." . . . Prominent New Hampshire Republicans ask Sen. Bob Smith (R., N.H.) to step aside for Senate candidacy of Rep. John Sununu (R., N.H.), on grounds he can't beat Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D.) in general election-polls show Shaheen beating Smith, but not Sununu. . . . Rhode Island Republicans hope term-limited Gov. Lincoln Almond will challenge Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D.). . . . Rep. Tony Hall (D., Ohio) turns down offer from Bush administration to head Peace Corps.

In BAMPAC poll of black voters, Jesse Jackson wins 83 percent favorable rating, versus 73 percent for Colin Powell and 32 percent for Clarence Thomas (who has unfavorable score of 48 percent). . . . Urban League president Hugh Price, on Hispanics overtaking blacks in census, in National Journal: "Moving from being the second-largest population group to the third has resulted in a profound shift in strategic thinking." . . . National Council of La Raza president Raul Yzaguirre complains: "In the competition ...