The Daily Muck

The salmon are fighting back. The House Resources Committee has announced an investigation into Cheney’s involvement in Klamath River water management following a WaPo report that Cheney helped to push a federal water policy that benefitted farmers but also killed over 70,000 salmon. A date for the hearing has not been set. (McClatchy)

U.S. companies are partly to blame for civil unrest in Colombia, according to Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), who said at a congressional hearing yesterday that Chiquita Brands International and an Alabama coal company were funding paramilitaries with millions of dollars. (AP)

Cheney’s expense account is safe. The House narrowly rejected Rep. Rahm Emanuel’s (D-Ill.) proposal to cut off funding for the Office of the Vice President. (AP)

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) thwarted an attempt by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to set conference proceedings (sub req) on an ethics and lobbying reform deal. (Roll Call)

Democrats will grill Bush’s nominee for White House budget director, Jim Nussle, during his as-yet-unscheduled confirmation hearings about his pork spending past. As a former congressman for Iowa, Nussle pursued earmarks that included an industrial lubricant program and the Grout Museum. (Washington Post)

Fired U.S. Attorney John McKay spoke at Portland State University about possible reasons for his dismissal, which was reported as part of the USA firing scandal. McKay addressed a crowd of 200 lawyers and judges, saying that he also was personally disappointed with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ behavior. (The Oregonian)