The Daily MuckChristopher Ward, reportedly at the center of a federal investigation into financial irregularities during his time as treasurer of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), resigned from the consulting firm Political Compliance Services Inc. (PCS) “as of Jan. 31.” PCS has lost a number of clients since the investigation was first made public last week. Meanwhile, NRCC Chairman Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), sought to reassure a meeting of the House Republican Conference yesterday that allegations against Ward “are not problems that will keep us from competing in the fall.” (Roll Call, The Hill)
Last Halloween, Julie L. Myers, an assistant secretary of homeland security, was part of a three judge panel that awarded an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) worker a “most original costume” award for dressing as an escaped prisoner and wearing blackface. Myers apologized but now lawmakers say that Myers misled them at her Senate confirmation hearing in which she asserted that that she was unaware that the award winner was wearing make-up. A Freedom of Information Act request by CNN turned up 113 official photographs from the Halloween event that, according to House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), demonstrate how “obvious” it was “to the naked eye” that the award-winning employee was wearing makeup. (Washington Post)
Despite efforts of watchdog groups and some members of Congress to curtail the use of earmarks, the appropriations committees of the House and Senate have begun to ask for earmark requests this week. With President Bush directing federal agencies to ignore some earmarks and threatening to veto any bill that does not cut earmarks “in half”, the fate of this year’s earmarks remains uncertain. (The Hill)
The Center for Public Integrity has found that the Centers for Disease Control has blocked the publication of a report on hazardous substances in the Great Lakes area “reportedly because it contains such potentially ‘alarming information’ as evidence of elevated infant mortality and cancer rates.” The study was due to be released last July, but was withdrawn for “further review.” (Center for Public Integrity)
The Bush administration has proposed a new rule that would allow the Forest Service “greater discretion in letting timber companies cut down more trees” on National Forest land. Environmental groups are likely to challenge the new rule in court. A 2005 Forest Service rule was rejected in court last last year. (AP)
Recent Congressional testimony indicates that the CIA has been outsourcing its waterboarding of suspected terrorists. This outsourcing to both large corporations and former military or agency employees calls into doubt the Bush administration’s recent assertions about the legality of waterboarding. (Wall Street Journal)
