Informed Sources

The Specter of VAT

WASHINGTON -- Senators Bob Kerrey and John Danforth, co-chairs of the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement Reform -- the group President Clinton agreed to back in order to win Democrat Kerrey's crucial vote on the budget -- appear set to pick Fred Goldberg, the IRS chief under Bush, as their executive director. Goldberg is an advocate of shifting federal taxes away from income to consumption, as are -- in a general way -- Danforth and Kerrey. This worries Clinton economic advisers. Having been singed already this year by a VAT scheme, they don't want the President to be associated with any similar proposals -- at least not during his first term -- from a panel that he created.

Rollins Flimflammed?

NEW JERSEY -- Some savvy black politicos in New Jersey are suggesting an explanation for why no one has found evidence that Edward Rollins attempted to suppress the black vote in the state's gubernatorial election. They say that Rollins probably did try to do what he originally boasted of, but got flimflammed by black con men who promised to help hold down the black vote, walked out with his cash and vanished.

Chelsea Clinton Yuletide Privacy Roundup

WASHINGTON -- For its holiday window displays, the Macy's flagship store in Manhattan chose to create White House Christmas scenes, but one tableau, featuring Chelsea Clinton reading in bed, is missing: the White House objected to it, and the store had it removed. The Clintons have also decided that Chelsea will not appear on their Christmas cards.