European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday november 16, 1994 after the vote the stars and stripes Page 7 what a his name joins hopefuls gop s Specter by Dennis b. Roddy Pittsburgh Post Gazette Concord . A new Hampshire has this much to say to Arlen Specter what a that name again stranger Specter the moderate Republican senator from Philadelphia Little known in the Home to the nations earliest presidential primary announced monday that he will explore a bid Tor the White House. The lawmaker stood on the new Hampshire statehouse Steps a few Yards from the statue of Daniel Webster to say his Campaign would focus on a fiscal conservatism and social  he denounced his party so a right Wing fringe that he says a talks in extremes that Are entirely  Specter joined the Pool of potential gop candidates for the presidency. Essentially Specter announced plans to find out if he really has any  a i m looking to see How Many traditional republicans agree with Arlen Specter a he explained. For Specter the new Hampshire Stop was part of a three state swing that began monday morning in Philadelphia moved to Concord and then on to. Des Moines Iowa. The Hawkeye state is the site of the nations first presidential caucuses. He called his exploratory trip an Effort to determine whether mainstream republicans share his belief that the party should abandon its anti abortion platform language and focus on spending restraint a a muscular National defense a free Trade and diplomatic activism. Among the areas where Specter and some leaders of his party have diverged is abortion rights which spec governor elect would let texans have hidden guns Austin Texas apr texans would be Able to carry concealed handguns under a measure unveiled monday that the incoming governor George w. Bush says he supports. Current state Law does not allow texans to be licensed to carry either concealed or exposed handguns. Instead it restricts them to keeping handguns at Hom or carrying them from a Purchase while travelling or while on a Hunting or fishing trip. The gun measure Bush supports was one of dozens announced by lawmakers monday the first Day to file Bills for the Jan. 10 Start of the regular legislative session. It would allow people 21 or older with no history of criminal wrongdoing or mental illness to apply for concealed handgun licenses. Republican Bush a gun control opponent who Defeated democratic gov. Ann Richards in last weeks general election said he would sign it. About 15 months ago Richards vetoed a Bill that would have allowed texans to vote in a nonbinding referendum on whether they thought they should be allowed to carry handguns. Ter favors. In his announcement monday Specter openly criticized the Rev. Pat Robertson founder of the Christian coalition and 1992 gop aspirant Patrick Buchanan. A from the Robertson Buchanan ideology Springs the intolerance of the far right 5 percent fringe. Specter a said a a a a. A i am seeking to determine whether traditional republicans will join me in the fight to retake our party a Specter said. A i View these exploratory travels As More of a quest for a cause rather than merely a quest for a  folks in Concord believe Specter must first set out on a quest for someone who a heard of him. A i done to know him. I Haven to heard of him Quot said Carla Ellerman a waitress at the Capitol City diner where candidates traditionally arrive in Masse at election time to be photographed talking with Coffee drinking voters. For More than 40 years presidential candidates of both parties have had  through new Hampshire a party primaries. Just three weeks ago vice president a1 Gore stopped by the diner for a photo Opportunity and the crush of Security and press kept real customers locked out. _ just Down the Street from Specter a announcement Michael Collins was Selling soda gum and other necessities of life at store 24. A a in be never heard of Hill a he said frowning. Distributed by Scripp Moward news service _ sen. Arlen Specter r-pa., smiles at his wife Joan after announcing he May run for president in 1996. Gingrich Aims to make House More in tune with families Washington f apr fed up with missed anniversary dinners and kids birthday parties the new re publican leadership says it is going to try to make the Louse a work schedule friendlier to families. Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia who is in line to become House speaker said monday that the legislative workday has been a a very destructive to family life among members and that making the schedule More rational will be one of his first goals. He said rep. Frank Wolf r-va., will head a bipartisan panel on family Quality of life that will make recommendations on improving the House schedule. The committee will be composed of spouses and children and Well As members. Wolf a longtime campaigner for changes that will allow lawmakers to spend More time with their families said he will poll All members and staff on such matters As How to coordinate House recesses with school vacations. Making the House More efficient he said will a be both Good for the country and Good for  Gingrich speaking at a news conference said re Mil icons cant talk about improving the Quality of pubic life in America without doing something about the current House schedule that a a brutalized and damages families by its intensity and its  members have Long debated How to improve a schedule that normally has them spending tuesday through thursday in Washington with committee hearings be ginning Early in the morning and floor sessions often running until late in the evening. Lawmakers typically spend the rest of the week meeting constituents in their Home districts. One proposal has been to have three consecutive five Day weeks in Washington followed by a full week at Home democratic leaders earlier this year thinking More about the legislative logjam than Quality time with the kids proposed mandatory four Day legislative weeks. A. \. A. A a Gingrich said one idea was to have one night a week when the House would break Early so members could spend time with their families. More than half the House members in the 104th Congress will be first or second Wermers Many with school age children. Still after 40 years out of Power it May be difficult for the republicans to go Home for dinner on time when they Nave a political Agenda to carry out a and want speedy action on it. Joining Gingrich at the news conference the expected new House majority Leader Richard Armey of Texas said republicans Are determined to take action on their political Agenda the a contract with America a in the first 100 Days of the new session. A we would be prepared to work seven Days a week if necessary even 10 hours a Day if necessary a Armey said. A a a. A a Feinstein foe still Hopes for election by the associated press sen. Dianne Feinstein a Lead grew monday in her California race for reelection while her Republican challenger still refused to concede their race. Also still hanging in the balance were governor s races in Maryland and Alaska and House contests in California Connecticut new York and Oregon. With More than 667,000 Absentee ballots remaining to be processed Feinstein had 3,637,972 votes to Republican challenger Michael Huffington a 3,510,652/ Huffington said he expects a a  Feinstein was declared the Winner by the associated press. The tally was expected to be completed by the weekend said Melissa Warren a spokeswoman for the Secretary of states office. Elsewhere a Maryland Democrat Parris Glenden ing declared himself that states next governor monday while his Republican challenger Ellen Sauerbrey said she would continue to contest the election. With one county left to tally Absentee votes Glendening led by 4,717 votes out of More than 1.2 million cast. A in alaskans gubernatorial race just 339 votes separated Democrat Tony Knowles from Republican Jim Campbell who Are vying for the Job that gov. Walter Hickel is vacating. An estimated 18,000 Absentee and questioned ballots will decide the Winner. A recount is considered a certainty. A seven term rep. Sam Gejdenson of Connecticut and Republican challenger Edward Munster were separated by four votes monday after a recount their campaigns said. Gejdenson had 79,158 votes to Munster a 79,154 in unofficial figures. A freshman democratic rep. Elizabeth Furse of Oregon was leading Republican Bill Witt by Only about 400 votes out of 237,000, with some Absentee ballots yet to be counted. A in upstate new York democratic rep. Maurice Hinchey held a 1,078-vote Lead Over Republican challenger Robert Moppert out of about 185,000 cast with just one precinct and Absentee ballots still out. A in californians 22nd District House race Republican Andrea Seastrand led Democrat Walter Capps by 969 votes for the seat vacated by Huffington. A in californians 36th District democratic rep. Jane Harman trailed gop challenger Susan Brooks by 93 votes