TX 22: DeLay Ballot Issue Heads Into Appeals Court
“The 5th Circuit federal appeals court in New Orleans on Monday will become the latest venue for the partisan legal battle over whether Tom DeLay â the former House majority leader who resigned from Congress under a cloud of ethics controversies June 9 â must remain on the ballot this November as the Republican nominee in Texasâ 22nd District.” (CQ, AP)
The Stench of the Favor Factory
“Why endure a cooling-off period when your former boss makes you a hot commodity?” the Washington Post editorial page asks this morning, sinking its teeth into the curious case of Letitia White. White, a former staffer of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA), took a pay cut that allowed her to dodge lobbying prohibitions. “Whether crimes were committed remains to be determined, but this much is clear: There’s quite an odor emanating from the favor factory.” (WPost)
Jefferson Probe jams Nigerian’s campaign
Nigerian VP Atiku Abubakar, suspected by the FBI of soliciting bribes from Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), specifically denies having ever done so. (Times Picayune)
Campaign Finance Effort Resumes, Without McCain
“The elided surnames of the four men, “McCain-Feingold-Shays-Meehan,” have become synonymous with so-called campaign finance reform, but Senator McCain, a Republican of Arizona, is conspicuously absent from the latest effort…. The [latest] bill is largely identical to a measure all four men introduced in 2003, but this time around Mr. McCain is not on board. A spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, Eileen McMenamin, did not return calls seeking comment for this article, but several people involved in discussions about the legislation said the senator’s absence was related to his widely expected bid for the presidency in 2008.” (NY Sun)
Lawmakers Plan Another Lame-Duck Assembly
“Congress is leaving for a month-long recess with so much unfinished business that it’s planning a fifth consecutive post-election session, the most since 1935.” (USA Today)
Leak of Classified Information Prompts Inquiry
“A federal grand jury has begun investigating the leak of classified information about intelligence programs to the press and has subpoenaed a former National Security Agency employee who claims to have witnessed illegal activity while working at the agency….A Justice Department official, who would discuss the confidential criminal investigation only on condition of anonymity, said that the leak inquiry was in a preliminary investigative phase and that no journalist had been subpoenaed.” (NYT)
Few Words from Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) on Controversy
“For three months, news has spread about Rep. Jerry Lewis and the controversy linked to a federal inquiry into his ties to lobbyists and contractors. During that time, the prominent Redlands Republican has barely uttered a word about the investigation publicly. His staff issued a handful of news releases, and Lewis, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, gave a few brief telephone interviews.” (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)
Judge Backs Release of Islamic Fundraiser
“A federal judge on Friday denied a government appeal to keep incarcerated a top fundraiser for an Islamic charity the government says has ties to terrorism.” (AP)
Florida Rep Tom Feeney Campaign is Frequent Flier
“Rep. Tom Feeney’s (R-FL) path to re-election stretches from Orlando to the plush Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, according to recently released federal campaign finance reports. The Republican from Oviedo spent $519,496 from his campaign coffers between January 2005 and the end of June, according to campaign records.” (Tallahassee Democrat)
In Court Papers, a Political Note on â04 Protests
“When city officials denied demonstrators access to the Great Lawn in Central Park during the 2004 Republican National Convention, political advocates and ordinary New Yorkers accused Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of squelching demonstrations that could embarrass fellow Republicans during their gathering. The Bloomberg administration denied being guided by politics in banning the protests. Instead, officials said they were motivated by a concern for the condition of the expensively renovated Great Lawn or by law enforcementâs ability to secure the crowd. But documents that have surfaced in a federal lawsuit over the use of the Great Lawn paint a different picture, of both the rationale for the administrationâs policy and the degree of Mr. Bloombergâs role in enforcing it.” (NYT)
Leavitt Charity’s $500,000 Returns, in the Form of Rent
“Thereâs a new twist to the story about Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and his familyâs charitable foundation. Last week, we and others reported that the Leavitt family charity is a special kind of foundation that bi-partisan forces in Congress are trying to restrict. It can offer huge tax deductions, while loaning money back to donors, and giving little away. NPR has discovered another Leavitt foundation practice that also raises eyebrows.” (NPR)
Should Lobbyists Be Doubling as Treasurers of Campaigns?
“…even the appearance of a quid pro quo has ethics watchdogs outraged about the dozens of lobbyists… who play dual roles as both lobbyists and treasurers of campaign committees. These arrangements, which have only recently drawn attention, are completely legal but unethically cozy, according to critics, because the same person potentially trying to influence lawmakers on legislation is also overseeing the donations that bankroll their campaigns.” (US News)
Florida Gov. Candidate in Ethics Flap
“There is probable cause to believe that gubernatorial candidate Tom Gallagher violated ethics laws by owning stock in two insurance companies while he regulated the industry, the state ethics commission determined Friday.” (AP)
Texas Gov. Rick Perry Campaign Changes Check Code
“Texans who make mocking donations to Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign no longer have to worry about how their canceled checks will be labeled. Perry’s campaign said Friday it will likely stop using the code “ASS 06” — short for “A Small Supporter” — on the canceled checks of small-change contributors who donated mere pennies in protest of the governor’s support for a new business tax.” (AP)
