The White House reversed its position yesterday and “agreed to brief all members of the House and Senate intelligence committees” on their warrantless domestic spying program, “just as the architect of the program is facing a contentious confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill.” The administration is backing away from its claim that the “decision to restrict these briefings to a select group of members of Congress is in keeping with longstanding tradition when dealing with matters of extreme sensitivity…and it’s perfectly legal.”
The National Climatic Data Center found that last April “was the hottest ever in the United States, according to records going back to 1895.”
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) accused Bush’s choice for deputy CIA director, Stephen Kappes, of “gross insubordination.” Hoekstra claimed former Director Porter Goss had “real concerns” about Kappes, whom he once fired, because he asked him to “do certain things or to stop from doing certain types of things, and the guy refused.”
“Seven members of the Congressional Black Caucus were arrested at the Embassy of Sudan on Tuesday while protesting conditions in the nation’s Darfur region.” “Enough is enough,” said Rep. John Lewis, (D-GA). “We must do all we can to stop the violence.” Click here to see video of the protest.
Despite the anti-lobbyist rhetoric coming from Capitol Hill, lawmakers continue to ask lobbyists for money. “The Speaker [Dennis Hastert (R-IL)]…said we need to minimize our contact with lobbyists, implying something is not right,” said one lobbyist. But just this week, he received a fundraiser invitation from Hastert where the “suggested minimum contribution” was $2,500. “How dare he ask us for money.” Read more
