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US Elections |
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WASHINGTON - More than $98B in taxpayer dollars spent by government agencies was wasted, much of it on questionable claims for tax credits and Medicare benefits, representing an increase of $26B from the previous year. (AP)
Ethics inquiry looking at panel WASHINGTON - Nearly half the members of the House subcommittee that oversees more than $600 billion in Pentagon spending have been targeted by ethics investigators who are probing the conduct of a once-influential Washington lobbying firm, according to a confidential document that the House Ethics Committee says was inadvertently exposed. The appropriations subcommittee on defense has been under scrutiny since federal agents raided the now-defunct lobbying firm PMA Group late last year. (LA Times) MORE: CREW statement Congressional ethics report leaked US House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
Spotlight on politicians' perks SACRAMENTO - For many who join the select club of 120 known as the California Legislature, everything changes. Once inside, they find an army of lobbyists and corporate executives at their disposal, more than eager to shower them with food, drink, travel and - in some cases – sex. (LA Times)
WASHINGTON - In a political victory for the Obama administration and a surprising defeat for some lawmakers in both parties, the Senate voted Tuesday to halt further production of the Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jets. (Chicago Tribune) MORE: F-22 armored in pork: can't fly, won’t die It's summertime, and the giving's easy Cash flows to health-reform senators
WASHINGTON - The good-government group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), have filed a lawsuit to force President Obama's Administration to share White House visitors logs with the public. (ABC) MORE: So much for transparency
WASHINGTON - Though they worked behind the scenes in Barack Obama's campaign for president, bundlers who raised millions of dollars for his White House bid are starting to land significant posts on his transition team. (Washington Post) MORE: Post-election lobby boom
44th President of the US elected Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, shattered more than 200 years of history Tuesday night by winning election as the first African-American President of the United States. (MSNBC) PREVIOUS: Democrats score Congress win US voters hit the polls in huge numbers CNN: Election 2008 Fox: America's Decision
WASHINGTON - A lobbyist with close ties to the White House is offering access to key figures in George W Bush’s administration in return for six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush’s presidency. (Times online) MORE: Worldwide Strategic Partners .pdf How to buy favor without actual bribes Lobbying database
Federal agents raid office of Special Counsel WASHINGTON - Agents fanned out yesterday morning in the agency's building on M Street, where they sequestered Office of Special Counsel chief Scott J. Bloch for questioning, served grand-jury subpoenas on 17 employees and shut down access to computer networks in a search lasting more than five hours. (Washington Post) MORE: Bloch misused own task force
Disgraced senator will not resign WASHINGTON - Larry Craig, the Republican senator from Idaho, reversed course yesterday and said he intends to remain in Congress despite his conviction in a sex-sting operation. (Reuters) PREVIOUS: Embattled US senator quits Larry Craig investigation US Senator gets flushed
'Signing statements' add presidential spin to new laws WASHINGTON -The Bush administration sometimes fails to follow all provisions of laws after President Bush attaches "signing statements" meant to interpret or restrict the legislation, congressional examiners say. (AP) PREVIOUS: Presidential Signing Statements accompanying the Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Acts Presidential Signing Statements Signing statements Office of legal counsel memoranda
Bush commutes Libby's sentence WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday spared I Lewis "Scooter" Libby from prison, commuting the former White House aide's 30-month prison term. The prison time was imposed after a federal court convicted Libby of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to investigators in the probe of the leak of the name of a CIA operative. (CNN) MORE: Commutation fits pattern set by predecessors |
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is investigating whether former Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton illegally used her position to benefit Royal Dutch Shell PLC, the company that later hired her, according to officials in federal law enforcement and the Interior Department. (LA Times)
How to run a successful business WASHINGTON - Last year, Murtech received $4M in Pentagon work, all of it without competition, for a variety of warehousing and engineering services. Robert C. Murtha Jr., 49, is the nephew of Rep. John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who has significant sway over the Defense Department's spending as chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee. (Washington Post) MORE: Nephew got millions in defense contracts
BOSTON - Sen. Dianne Wilkerson stood alone and soberly attired in federal court after being charged with accepting $23,500 in bribes - including $10,000 to fund her write-in campaign. (AP)
Congress passes $634B interim spending bill WASHINGTON - Automakers gained $25 billion in taxpayer-subsidized loans and oil companies won elimination of a long-standing ban on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as the Senate passed a sprawling spending bill Saturday. (AP)
Firms with business before panel solicited WASHINGTON - House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel is soliciting donations from corporations with business interests before his panel, hoping to raise $30 million for a new academic center that will house his papers when he retires. (Washington Post) MORE: Rangel will give up 1 rent-stabilized apartment Apartment bargain
Lobbying firm working to undermine Iraqi PM CRAWFORD, Texas - A powerhouse Republican lobbying firm with close ties to the White House has begun a public campaign to undermine the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. A senior Bush administration official told CNN the White House is aware of the lobbying campaign by Barbour Griffith & Rogers because the firm is "blasting e-mails all over town" criticizing al-Maliki and promoting the firm's client, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as an alternative to al-Maliki. (CNN) PREVIOUS: US report see precarious Iraqi government
Diebold Election Systems Inc. voting machines are not secure enough to guarantee a trustworthy election, and an attacker with access to a single machine could disrupt or change the outcome of an election using viruses, according to a review of Diebold's source code. (IDG) PREVIOUS: Voting machines lose to hackers Scientists hack electronic voting machines State of California reports
WASHINGTON - Something revolutionary occurred Thursday in Washington: A major piece of legislation with bipartisan backing and the strong support of the president failed to pass the Senate. The bill runs more than 400 pages. In its many sections are many innovations and many revisions of existing law. For almost any lay person outside of government, it might as well be written in Urdu - so indecipherable is the drafting language. That is by design. (NY Post)
WASHINGTON - A moratorium on the insertion of pork-barrel projects into spending bills has slashed the amount of money for such earmarks by more than half. Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) reports $13.2 billion in pork-barrel spending for the current fiscal year, down from $29 billion in 2006. (Christian Science Monitor)
WASHINGTON - Invading Canada won't be like invading Iraq: When we invade Canada, nobody will be able to grumble that we didn't have a plan. (Washington Post)
FBI tape reveals Mutha's role in Abscam scandal WASHINGTON - It was one of the biggest congressional scandals in our country's history. It was called Abscam. Now, after 26 years, the tape of Murtha's meeting is finally being seen by the public. (Fox)
Nonprofit connects Murtha, lobbyists WASHINGTON, DC - For a quarter of a century, Carmen Scialabba labored for Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), helping parcel out the billions of dollars that came through the House Appropriations Committee, so when the disabled aide needed a favor, Murtha was there. (Washington Post) |
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WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales approved plans to fire several US attorneys in a November meeting, according to documents released. (AP) MORE: Six strikes and you’re out US AG apologies over how prosecutors were fired White House subpoena showdown goes to Senate 'Showdown' really a battle of partisan buffoons White House Ok'd mass US attorney firing |
FBI to examine Foley's e-mails WASHINGTON, DC - The FBI announced last night that it is looking into whether former representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.) broke federal law by sending inappropriate e-mails and instant messages to teenage House pages. (Washington Post) PREVIOUS: Ex-page says he saw suggestive e-mails Who knew what when? Foley checks into alcohol rehab Congressman quits over e-mails to teen |
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WASHINGTON - The congressional legislation intended to defund ACORN, passed with broad bipartisan support, is written so broadly that it applies to "any organization" that has been charged with breaking federal or state election laws, lobbying disclosure laws, campaign finance laws or filing fraudulent paperwork with any federal or state agency. (Huffington Post) |
Federal contractor misconduct database ACORN rule may trap defense contractors House votes to strip ACORN of federal funding |
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WASHINGTON - The FBI is investigating whether Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., used his influence to secure lobbying and consulting contracts for his daughter, two people familiar with the inquiry said Saturday. (AP) |
'Static' blamed for 1500 extra votes WASHINGTON - New measures are being taken to make sure irregularities in September's DC Primary vote don't happen in November. (WJLA) PREVIOUS: Stealing Elections, How Voter Fraud Threatens Democracy |
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Fundraiser gets 18 years in prison TOLEDO, Ohio - Thomas Noe, a prominent coin dealer accused of taking at least $2 million, was convicted last week of theft, corrupt activity, money laundering, forgery and tampering with records. (AP) PREVIOUS: Noe refused 10-year term in plea deal Coingate: Fund facts to know and tell |
FBI investigating actions of Specter staff member WASHINGTON - The FBI is investigating whether a member of Sen. Arlen Specter's staff broke the law by helping her husband, a lobbyist, secure almost $50 million in Pentagon spending for his clients, the senator acknowledged Tuesday. (USA Today) |
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WASHINGTON - The Justice Department is dropping all charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens, the 85-year-old Alaska Republican convicted of lying on Senate financial disclosure forms to conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and home renovations from a businessman. (LA Times) |
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Adams's data show that the values rift between Republicans and Democrats is negligible when compared with the gulf between politically engaged citizens (of either party) and the nearly half of Americans who are politically disaffected. (Tyee) |
Judge sentences ex-Bush official to prison WASHINGTON - David Safavian, the former chief of staff for the General Service Administration, was sentenced on obstruction and concealment charges for lying to investigators about his relationship with Abramoff. (AP) |
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CHICAGO - Former Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan, who was acclaimed by capital punishment foes for emptying out death row, was sentenced Wednesday to 6-1/2 years in prison for the corruption scandal that ruined his political career. (AP) PREVIOUS: Ex-governor guilty of racketeering Feds: End ex-Gov. Ryan's '12 years of Christmas' |
Congress 'Black' budgets scrutinized WASHINGTON - An independent investigation has found that imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham took advantage of secrecy and badgered congressional aides to help slip items into classified bills that would benefit him and his associates. (AP) RELATED: Opposition research a political art form |
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FBI searches home, office of CIA official WASHINGTON - Federal agents conducted searches on Friday at the CIA office and home of Kyle Foggo, who stepped down this week as the agency's third-ranking official. (SF Chronicle/ NY times) MORE: FBI searches home of ex-CIA official The CIA 1- Bush 0 |
Pollster guilty of fake data conspiracy BRIDGEPORT - A polling company owner admitted participating in a conspiracy to falsify data in order to meet deadlines for clients, which included the campaigns of President Bush, U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Mayor John M. Fabrizi. (Connecticut Post) |
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Nonprofit groups funnelled Abramoff funds WASHINGTON - Newly released documents in the Jack Abramoff investigation shed light on how the lobbyist secretly routed his clients' funds through tax-exempt organizations with the acquiescence of those in charge. (Washington Post) Jack Abramoff |
New guilty plea in lobbyist scandal Jack’s bribe ring rocks Washington Independent Counsel report gets sliced up |
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Sen. Frist’s charity records raise questions WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's AIDS charity paid nearly a half-million dollars in consulting fees to members of his political inner circle, according to tax returns providing the first financial accounting of the presidential hopeful's nonprofit. (MSNBC) |
Kentucky governor indicted over hiring practices Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher was indicted Thursday on misdemeanor charges that he directed a scheme to illegally award state jobs to political supporters, the latest twist in a year-long probe into hiring practices in his administration. (CNN) |
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WASHINGTON - Former Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.), who gained national attention after federal agents found $90,000 in his freezer, was convicted of political corruption. Jefferson, 62, was found guilty in federal court in Alexandria, Va., of 11 of 16 criminal counts including bribery, racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud. (LA Times) |
Court rules raid unconstitutional House approves speedy Jefferson ethics probe Congressman indicted on bribery charges 'Cold Cash' Jefferson indicted |
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Ney pleads guilty in Abramoff case WASHINGTON - The Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation claims its first member of Congress with Rep. Bob Ney set to plead guilty Friday to taking bribes. Despite his admission of criminal activity, Ney, 52, is entitled to collect a congressional pension. (CBS/AP) |
Former deputy Interior secretary pleads guilty Report says nonprofits sold clout to Abramoff Investigation of Jack Abramoff's use of tax-exempt organizations .pdf |
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Ex-congressman begins prison sentence SAN DIEGO - Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham began his first day in prison after being sentenced to eight years and four months for taking $2.4 million in homes, yachts and other bribes in a corruption scheme unmatched in the annals of Congress. (AP) |
Corrupt congressman's loot to be auctioned off How Local Politics Works in America |
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WASHINGTON - Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, whose political career has been battered by scandal surrounding lobbying and ethics violations in Congress, will not seek re-election in November. (FOX) |
Premium on lobbyists who served in Congress DeLay smile may foil Dem campaign ad plans |
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This election cycle has seen the creation of Fundrace.org, a Web site devoted solely to making it easy to identify anyone who gives money to presidential campaigns. It is the brainchild of Eyebeam, a technology-focused non-profit organization in New York. (MSNBC) |
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