Democratic VP candidate to land in Republican country

Alicia Robinson

Orange County Democrats will wield the fundraising clout of

vice-presidential candidate John Edwards at a noon luncheon Saturday

in Newport Beach.

Edwards will visit the Balboa Bay Club and speak to those willing

to drop $1,000 for a ticket or $2,000 for preferred seating. Those

who can afford a $10,000 donation to the Democratic presidential

campaign can rub elbows with Edwards at a private reception.

Democrats hope to raise at least half a million dollars on

Saturday, campaign volunteer Ed Wallin said.

“We expect that we will have quite a large crowd there, and we’re

quite excited by it,” he said.

And there may be a crowd Saturday across the street at Taco Bell,

though the food isn’t expected to be as good. That’s where

Republicans plan to gather to protest Edwards’ appearance.

The club is at 1221 W. Coast Highway.

For more information, call Michael Weinberg at (310) 556-9172.

Cox vaccine bill

passes House

The House on Wednesday approved a $5.6 billion bill written by

Rep. Chris Cox, who represents Newport Beach, to develop and

stockpile vaccines against biological weapons. The Senate already has

passed the bill, which is the largest first responder bill in

history, Cox said.

“The purpose is to provide a market for inventors and producers of

antidotes and vaccines,” he said. “There aren’t really commercial

markets for antidotes to anthrax, for example.”

The Homeland Security Department will assess the threat posed by

various biological agents to decide which vaccines are needed, then

those will be created and stockpiled in various cities around the

country, Cox said. The bill will go to President Bush for his

signature next week.

Iraqi delegation

to meet with Cox

Cox will meet this morning with a delegation of Iraqi women

leaders who are visiting Washington, D.C., to shadow congressional

leaders and observe American democracy in action, Cox said. The 10

women are heads of government ministries, journalists, political

activists and other social leaders.

Cox and other elected officials will listen to the women’s stories

and experiences over breakfast, after which the visitors will be

paired with members of congress to watch them work.

“I think it’ll be an inspiration for us, because so much of what

we take for granted is being realized for the first time by citizens

in Iraq,” he said. “Women’s issues take on a much deeper meaning in

Iraqi society after Saddam [Hussein] women were persecuted in many

ways [under his rule].”

Rohrabacher recognized

for science policy efforts

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was honored for his contributions to science

and technology policy with an award from the Potomac Institute for

Policy Studies in Arlington, Va., it was announced Wednesday.

Rohrabacher was chosen for his work on House diplomatic and

terrorism-prevention committees, and his commitment to developing

space transportation, a statement from the institute said.

Other recipients of the annual award were Connecticut Sen. Joseph

Lieberman and CIA science and technology deputy director Donald M.

Kerr.