President-elect Barack Obama will likely issue an executive order closing Guantanamo Bay within his first week on the job, an adviser says. At the same time, the President-elect admits that actually closing the facility is easier said than done, and that it will take a while to find a place to send the current occupants and to sort through important-though-tainted evidence gathered by the facility. Obama has said that closing Gitmo will be non-negotiable. (Reuters)
Officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development admitted on Monday that the federal government is not prepared to stop predatory lenders from taking advantage of U.S.-backed home loans. One Arizona-based lender, after the state revoked its licensed and forced it into bankruptcy, was able to reapply for the license under a different name and continue business. Officials assert that the Federal Housing Authority in particular lacks legal authority and manpower to properly guard against abusive lenders. (Financial Week)
Three environmental groups are suing the EPA over new rules that endanger native marine species in U.S. waterways. The lawsuit charges that a rule requiring cargo ships to exchange ballast water before entering American coastal waters and the Great Lakes does not include more extensive guidelines needed to keep away invasive and damaging species. Ballast water was the likely medium through which coastal waters became infested with the Zebra Mussel in the late 1980s. (Associated Press)
A report by the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services charges that the Food and Drug Administration does little to protect against financial conflicts facing doctors who conduct clinical trials of drugs and medical devices. Agency officials told investigators that trying to guard against conflicts is not worth the effort. In 42 percent of clinical trials, financial disclosure forms are not required and reviewers admit to overlooking forms in a third of trials that do require them. (New York Times)
An Associated Press review of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign contributions reveals that 15 firms holding contracts with state transportation authorities donated a total of $80,000 to the governor. One firm in particular made a $10,000 donation the day after the governor awarded it a $1.8 billion contract for a tollway project. (Associated Press)
President-elect Obama is expected to reverse many of his predecessor’s controversial executive orders at the beginning of his term. Sources close to the President-elect say that orders related to security policy will have priority, including those regarding torture of terror suspects. Obama will also support legislation designed to publicize certain opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel issued under Bush and limit his own use of “signing statements” to amend legislation, sources say. (Politico)
