Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, Sept. 13-19, 2006 [1]
Submitted by Conor Kenny [2] on
- Rep. Henry Waxman [3] (D-Calif.) has written a letter to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez [4] inquiring as to whether members of his staff suppressed a federal scientist from discussing the link between hurricanes and global warming. (TPM Muckraker [5] story)
- Rep. Steve Chabot [6] (R-Ohio) has earmarked [7] $1.6 million to organizations where former campaign contributors sit on the board of directors. (The Hill [8] story)
- A plea deal appears likely in the case of a Florida executive charged with making $10,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Sen. Mel Martinez [9] (R-Fla.). (Roll Call [10] story}
- Rep. Bob Ney [11] (R-Ohio) announced his immediate resignation from the chairmanships of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity [12] and the Franking Commission. (Roll Call [13] story)
- Two New York state lawmakers issued a report critical of Rep. John Sweeney [14] (R-N.Y.), accusing him of using a publicly-funded ski weekend aimed at regional development as a venue for rewarding friends and campaign contributors. (Roll Call [15] story)
- The House [16] and Senate [17] each passed legislation aimed at bolstering port and border security. (New York Times [18] story)
- Sen. Lindsey Graham [19] (R-S.C.) has called for a hearing to investigate reports that the Bush Administration [20] exerted undue influence on military lawyers in an attempt to gain their support for legislation loosening restrictions on the treatment of terror detainees. (Washington Post [21] story)
- Rep. Bob Ney [22] (R-Ohio) has pled guilty to making false statements and conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to the Jack Abramoff [23] corruption scandal. (Associated Press [24] story)
- The Senate Armed Services Committee [25] rejected a Bush Administration [26]-backed bill easing restrictions on the treatment of detainees, instead adopting a rival bill authored by Sen. John Warner [27] (R-Va.) increasing legal protection for terror suspects. (Agence France-Presse [28] story)
- Several members of the House Committee on Appropriations [29], including Chairman Jerry Lewis [30] (R-Calif.), have announced their opposition to a resolution that would require the sponsors of earmarks [7] in tax and spending bills to be identified. (The Hill [31] story)
- The House [16] has passed the Coburn [32]-Obama [33]-McCain [34]-Carper [35] database bill [36] requiring the creation of a public, searchable website tracking federal earmarks [7], grants, and contracts. (TPM Muckraker [37] story)
- The Senate Judiciary Committee [38] advanced a bill onto the floor which would authorize the Bush Administration [26]’s warrantless wiretapping program. (Associated Press [39] story)
- Reps. Rahm Emanuel [40] (D-Ill.) and Chris Van Hollen [41] (D-Md.) have introduced an amendment to a House [42] measure which would prohibit earmarks to any organization employing a spouse, family member, or former employee of the sponsor. (GovExec.com [43] story)