The Federal Election Commission has deadlocked on a recommendation by its counsel to fine a group for illegal spending practices in the 2004 presidential election. The commission’s 3 GOP members all voted against penalizing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for illegally spending money to attack Democratic Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards. Two of the Democratic members of the FEC charged in a “statement of reasons” that the decision by the GOP members undermines “the commission’s prior enforcement efforts and the law itself.” (Bloomberg)
Michael Bay, director of the movie “Transformers,” will again team up with the Defense Department for filming of the sequel. The second “Transformers” movie will be “the biggest joint military operation movie ever made,” according to Bay’s liaison officer from the Army. The movie, which will feature a plethora of military vehicles, is currently being shot at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. (Wired)
The alleged fraud of Bernard Madoff will likely lead to greatly increased scrutiny of hedge funds. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) has announced a hearing to examine the alleged scheme and how it went undetected for so long. The likely result of congress’ involvement, say experts, will be greater regulation for hedge fund of funds, which channel money to organizations like Madoff’s and handle over 40 percent of hedge fund money. (Financial Times)
A discrimination lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City alleges a fundamentalist Christian bias in the U.S. military. The lawsuit, filed by an atheist soldier, cites attempts by U.S. soldiers to convert Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, and evangelical biases in a suicide prevention manual. (Los Angeles Times)
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the prosecutor in the case against Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, said he will ask permission from a judge next week to turn over excerpts of taped conversations to the panel considering impeachment charges against Blagojevich. The panel has already granted Fitzgerald’s request not to subpoena top Obama aides in its investigation of impeachment charges. (Reuters)
A coal ash spill in Tennessee has led to contamination of local water sources, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Higher-than-normal levels of arsenic and other heavy metals have been found in two rivers near the site of the spill. While the levels are elevated, the EPA notes that they are still below safe drinking-water standards– though given that the Bush EPA has tried to weaken those standards, that may not be much comfort to some. (CNN)
