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Huckabee: Flight Not Conflict of Interest
“Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Thursday a flight he took on a private plane that was provided by a state contract-holder did not pose a conflict of interest. The plane was provided by the director of a youth ranch that has been paid at least $8.5 million through a contract with the state. Huckabee said the flight was not a gift to him, but instead was an in-kind contribution to his political action committee.” (AP)

In other muck. . .

New Pentagon Emails On KBR Contracts Contradict Cheney Non-Involvement Claims
Reads one email: “”We anticipate no issue (with the KBR deal) since the action has been coordinated w [sic] VP’s office.” (Raw Story)

Shirlington Offered Help for DHS Limos Before Work Was Solicited
“The local firm, Shirlington Limousine and Transportation Inc., also told DHS that it held special status under a federal program designed to help small businesses in economically distressed areas before it applied for and won such a designation, lawmakers said yesterday.” (WPost)

Specter Threatens to Subpoena Documents
“Specter said he had not received a response to his request that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appear before the panel [Senate Judiciary Committee] this month to answer questions about the surveillance program and other touchy subjects — such as the FBI raid on a lawmaker’s office last month.” (AP)

Dems Want Key Superfund Data Released to Public
“At a congressional hearing, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said the Environmental Protection Agency had designated as confidential the details of about 140 Superfund sites where toxic exposure remained uncontrolled.” (LATimes)

Former Cunningham Staffer Sent to Panama By Alleged Briber

“In April 2000, then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham sent his chief of staff to Panama for what the aide described on his travel disclosure form as “education and research.”

“Although the cost of the three-day trip taken by Dewitt “Trey” Hardin III — roughly $1,900 — was not remarkable, the timing and sponsor are intriguing.

“Hardin traveled to Central America about two weeks before the date on which Cunningham, a California Republican, has said he took his first bribe from defense contractor Brent Wilkes.” (CPI)

San Bernardino Mum on Lewis Subpoena Question

“Over the past couple of weeks, a number of Inland Empire public agencies have confirmed they have been subpoenaed by the federal government over their contracts with a lobbying firm close to Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands. The city of San Bernardino is not among them.

“David Greene, executive director of the Oakland-based First Amendment Project, said he was unaware of any state provision that would allow a city to conceal whether it received a subpoena or not.

“Penman said he was unaware of any law that would force him to comment on the matter. Greene also said the city attorney’s response to the request for the documentation itself was not sufficient.”

(SBSun)

Judge Rules against Ky. Governor in Case
“The public has a right to know how much Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s administration has spent to fight allegations that some state workers were illegally hired for political reasons, a judge ruled Thursday.” (AP)

S. Korean Charged in Oil-for-Food Scandal
“A South Korean businessman accused of accepting millions of dollars from Iraq in the United Nations oil-for-food scandal has been charged with lying to the FBI.” (AP)

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