The Daily Muck

Gingrich Cashes In With Casino Check
Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker and a possible presidential candidate, just started a new political group, and its most generous initial funding comes from a source that conservative Americans may not appreciate. “Gingrich’s American Solutions for Winning the Future reported to the Internal Revenue Service that it collected a $1 million check from Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon G. Adelson shortly after the November elections.” (The Washington Post)

Senators Meet with Chertoff to Discuss Immigration Raid
In the wake of an immigration raid earlier this month that led to the arrests of 1,297 illegal immigrants working at Swift & Co. meatpacking plants in Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah, senators from the affected states had a closed-door meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Monday. Afterwards, the senators said that “the raid exposed flaws in the federal government and in a program designed to help employers screen for illegal immigrants.” (AP)

Dems Oppose Watered-Down Veto Plan
The GOP is looking to push through a bill that would reinstate the line-item veto. Under the proposal, the president would be able to “scrutinize spending bills he signs into law for questionable items and then submit cuts, or rescissions, to Congress for a vote,” and, if approved by both chambers, the cuts would go into effect. Democrats are against the proposal, which is much weaker than the line-item veto power granted to President Clinton in 1996 (and which many of them supported), struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998. Roll Call reports that the GOP push on this issue is part of a larger effort by Republican senators to prove they can still wield influence despite their minority status. (AP)

Libby Jury Finally Picked
After an arduous, politically charged process that included a large number of disqualifications, the final jury has been selected for the perjury and obstruction trial of former Dick Cheney chief of staff I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. (AP)

Padilla Prosecutors Angry About Leak
“Prosecutors on Monday asked the judge in the Jose Padilla terrorism-support case to punish a defense attorney who leaked transcripts of Padilla’s intercepted phone conversations, saying the leak violated a court order and could jeopardize selection of an impartial jury.” (AP)

New Flying Rules Will Also Affect Presidential Candidates
Recent Senate-sponsored rule changes requiring senators to pay full fare for private chartered flights will also apply to anyone running for Congress or president. (USA Today)

Families of Convicted Reps. May Still Get Pensions
The Pension Forfeiture Act, which will strip convicted members of Congress of their pensions, will “give the Office of Personnel Management the discretion to pay out pension benefits to the family of a convicted former Member on the basis of financial need.” (Subs. Req.) (Roll Call)

Nobody Worry: Our Lawmakers are Still Eating Well
Despite attempts by the new Democratic majority to tighten ethics rules, it’s doubtful lawmakers are going to go hungry anytime soon. This is thanks in part to the fact that “nearly two dozen exemptions to the gift rules survived the latest round of reforms, including one that allows lobbyists to mingle with lawmakers and staff and pay for their steak, among other things, on their dime — as long as it occurs at a big function.” (Subs. Req.) (Roll Call)

New Ethics Rules Preclude CPR Training
“The American Heart Association wanted to offer Congressional staffers free CPR training to help revive victims of cardiac arrest, but the sweeping gift ban lawmakers approved earlier this month has the program hanging on life support.” (Subs. Req.) (Roll Call)