User:John Benton

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I am an intern at the Sunlight Foundation, focusing specifically on Congresspedia.org. I'm a 2007 graduate of Connecticut College, where I majored in East Asian Studies and Government, and am currently living in Washington D.C., though my hometown is Larchmont, New York.

Along with making regular front page headline updates and keeping various legislative information up to date, I have focused on the following legislation pages:


Bob Filner Assault

On Sunday, Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) joined the ranks of the ever-growing group of members of Congress under investigation after allegedly assaulting an airport employee at Dulles airport.

Unlike the other members under investigation, almost all of whom are being scrutinized for shady connections with lobbyists, corruption, and general ethics violations, Filner is the only one being looked at for an old fashioned violent crime, though his office denied the allegations, stating “...the story that has appeared in the press is factually incorrect-and the charges are ridiculous.”[1]

According to witnesses, Filner became upset after his luggage was misplaced and had pushed aside an airport employee's arm as he made his way into an restricted baggage area, yelling "You can't stop me." After the incident, the employee decided to file the assault charges.[2]

The story was only one of many recent instances where members of Congress seemed to expect special treatment, as Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) diverted National Guard resources to salvage personal items during Hurricane Katrina, and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) snapped at a fellow legislator for looking to cut some of what Young called "my money" out of a bloated spending bill. All representatives in question seemed to forget that as elected officials, they are always under public scrutiny, and though they wield considerable power, they cannot get away with behaving like spoiled children.

In a recent development, Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) bought Filner a DVD of Anger Management, starting Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson.[3]

Executive privilege in the U.S. attorney firing controversy

After months of grappling with officials in the Justice Department as well as Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the Senate Judiciary Committee set its sights on the White House in May of 2007. On May 2nd, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena for all e-mails from Karl Rove relating to the U.S. attorney firings, though the Justice Department ignored the request, giving no explanation as to why the emails would not be provided.[4] Following the missed deadline, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) issued a warning that he would subpoena the White House, which he argued at that time, had provided no documents on a voluntary basis.[5]

On June 13, after receiving more information from the Justice Department revealing the White House's involvement in the firings, and after still being ignored by the White House, the Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena for former White House political director Sara Taylor and former White House counsel Harriet Miers.[6]

On June 28, the day the White House was due to provide subpoenaed documents, White House counsel Fred Fielding announced President Bush's first claim of executive privilege relating to the investigation. He wrote, "I write at the direction of the President to advise and inform you that the President has decided to assert executive privilege and therefore the White House will not be making any production in response to these subpoenas for documents."[7] The next day House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Patrick Leahy wrote a response asking the President to "relinquish or expand on his broad claim of executive privilege" or face a contempt of Congress motion.[8]

On July 11, Sara Taylor testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, revealing some new information, though repeatedly withholding information based on the executive privilege claim. After her testimony, it was announced that Harriet Miers would not appear before the House Judiciary Committee, as it was argued that her testimony would be protected under executive privilege.[9] Representatives John Conyers and Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) responded to the claim, arguing “We are aware of absolutely no court decision that supports the notion that a former White House official has the option of refusing to even appear in response to a Congressional subpoena... To the contrary, the courts have made clear that no present or former government official — even the president — is above the law and may completely disregard a legal directive such as the Committee’s subpoena... A refusal to appear before the Subcommittee tomorrow could subject Ms. Miers to contempt proceedings.”[10] Following the refusal, the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law voted that White House claims to immunity and executive privilege were invalid.[11]

On August 1, the White House claimed executive privilege again on the testimony of Karl Rove and Scott Jennings.[12] Just as it occurred with Harriet Miers and Sara Taylor, Karl Rove did not appear before a Congressional Judiciary Committee, while Jennings did. In Jennings's testimony on August 2, however, he refused to answer many of the most basic questions, such as his role in the selection of U.S. attorney nominees.[13]

Members of Congress on Alberto Gonzales

House

Member name District/Party Strongest criticism Quote
Alabama
None recorded
Alaska
None recorded
Arizona
None recorded
Arkansas
None recorded
California
Nancy Pelosi 8th CD - Democrat Criticism "I believe we need a new attorney general."(3/19/2007)[14]
Dana Rohrabacher 46th CD - Democrat Criticism "Even for Republicans this is a warning sign … saying there needs to be a change ... Maybe the president should have an attorney general who is less a personal friend and more professional in his approach."(3/15/2007)[15]
Darrell Issa 49th CD - Republican Criticism "We can soft-pedal it a lot of ways, but Congress was lied to ... he should not be able to continue in his job."[16]
Colorado
Tom Tancredo 6th CD - Republican Criticism "Gonzales' legacy at the (Justice Department) has been one of misplaced priorities, political miscalculation, and a failure to enforce the laws which he has sworn to uphold. I think that it is time for him to move on."(3/20/2007)[17]
Connecticut
None recorded
Delaware
None recorded
Florida
None recorded
Georgia
None recorded
Hawaii
None recorded
Idaho
None recorded
Illinois
None recorded
Indiana
None recorded
Iowa
None recorded
Kansas
None recorded
Kentucky
None recorded
Louisiana
None recorded
Maine
None recorded
Maryland
None recorded
Massachusetts
None recorded
Michigan
None recorded
Minnesota
None recorded
Mississippi
None recorded
Missouri
None recorded
Montana
None recorded
Nebraska
None recorded
Nevada
None recorded
New Hampshire
None recorded
New Jersey
None recorded
New Mexico
None recorded
New York
None recorded
North Carolina
None recorded
North Dakota
None recorded
Ohio
Paul Gillmor 5th CD - Republican Resignation "As a result of very public errors, Attorney General Gonzales has become a lightning rod and has distracted from the mission of the Department of Justice... Given the totality of the circumstances, I think it would be better for the President and the Department if the Attorney General were to step down."(3/15/2007) [18]
Oklahoma
None recorded
Oregon
None recorded
Pennsylvania
None recorded
Rhode Island
None recorded
South Carolina
None recorded
South Dakota
None recorded
Tennessee
None recorded
Texas
None recorded
Utah
None recorded
Vermont
None recorded
Virginia
None recorded
Washington
None recorded
West Virginia
None recorded
Wisconsin
None recorded
Wyoming
None recorded

Senate

Member name Party Strongest criticism Quote
Alabama
Jeff Sessions Republican Resignation "There are some problems that he just hasn't handled well, and it might just be best if he came to a conclusion that the department is better served if he's not there."(4/20/07)[19]
Alaska
None recorded
Arizona
John McCain Republican Resignation "I am very disappointed in [Alberto Gonzales’] performance . . . I think loyalty to the president should enter into his calculations. . . . I think that out of loyalty to the president that [resigning] would probably be the best thing that he could do."(4/25/07)[20]
Arkansas
None recorded
California
None recorded
Colorado
None recorded
Connecticut
Chris Dodd Democrat Firing "Anyone found responsible for these egregious lapses in judgment — up to and including Alberto Gonzales — should be immediately dismissed."(3/16/2007)[21]
Delaware
None recorded
Florida
None recorded
Georgia
None recorded
Hawaii
None recorded
Idaho
None recorded
Illinois
Dick Durbin Democrat Criticism "It would be so refreshing to bring a real prosecutor in there, someone independent to clean up the Department of Justice to restore the integrity and credibility, what that important agency needs."(3/25/2007) [22]
Indiana
None recorded
Iowa
None recorded
Kansas
Pat Roberts Republican Resignation "When you have to spend more time up here on Capitol Hill instead of running the Justice Department, maybe you ought to think about [stepping down]."(5/16/07)[23]
Kentucky
None recorded
Louisiana
None recorded
Maine
None recorded
Maryland
None recorded
Massachusetts
None recorded
Michigan
None recorded
Minnesota
Norm Coleman Republican Resignation "Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said Thursday that he would like to see Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resign, calling into question Gonzales’ credibility and his ability to focus on his job. ‘I don't believe that Gonzales has the type of leadership that the department needs,’ he said."(5/17/07)[24]

"Coleman, who faces a tough re-election campaign next year, said in an interview he had "deep concerns" about whether Gonzales should stay. "This situation has been handled abysmally," he said."(3/15/2007)[25]

Mississippi
Trent Lott Republican Support "I see no evidence that anything illegal was done or improper. As a matter of fact, it looks to me like when you look at the dates there that this discussion took place kind of after the decisions had been made."(3/25/2007) [26]
Missouri
None recorded
Montana
None recorded
Nebraska
Chuck Hagel Republican Criticism "The American people deserve an attorney general, the chief law enforcement officer of our country, whose honesty and capability are beyond question . . .Attorney General Gonzales can no longer meet this standard. He has failed this country. He has lost the moral authority to lead."(5/16/07)[27]

"You cannot have the nation's chief law enforcement officer with a cloud hanging over his credibility."(3/25/2007) [28]

Nevada
None recorded
New Hampshire
John Sununu Republican Firing "I think the president should replace him. I think the attorney general should be fired."(3/14/2007)[29]
New Jersey
None recorded
New Mexico
None recorded
New York
Hillary Clinton Democrat Resignation "The buck should stop somewhere and the attorney general — who still seems to confuse his prior role as the president's personal attorney with his duty to the system of justice and to the entire country — should resign."(3/13/2007)[30]
Chuck Schumer Democrat Resignation "This department has been so political that I think for the sake of the nation, Attorney General Gonzales should step down."(3/1/2007)[31]

"This weekend I called for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to step down. Today's staff resignation does not take heat off the attorney general. In fact, it raises the temperature. Kyle Sampson will not become the next Scooter Libby, the next fall guy."(3/13/2007)[32]

North Carolina
None recorded
North Dakota
None recorded
Ohio
None recorded
Oklahoma
Tom Coburn Republican Resignation "I believe that the best way to put this behind us is your resignation."(4/19/07)[33]
Oregon
Gordon Smith Republican Resignation "For the Justice Department to be effective before the U.S. Senate, it would be helpful" if Gonzales resigned.(3/15/2007)[34]
Pennsylvania
Arlen Specter Republican Resignation Specter stated that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales is hurting the Justice Department and the Bush administration by not resigning. Gonzales' testimony "was very, very damaging to his own credibility. It has been damaging to the administration."(4/19/2007) [35] Additionally, Specter stated that "I have a sense that when we finish our investigation, we may have the conclusion of the tenure of the attorney general."(5/17/07)[36]

"One day there will be a new attorney general, maybe sooner rather than later."(3/8/2007)[37]

Rhode Island
None recorded
South Carolina
Lindsay Graham Republican Criticism "But at the end of the day, you said something that struck me, ‘That sometimes it just came down to these were not the right people at the right time.’ If I applied that standard to you, what would you say?"(4/19/07)[38]

"He's going to have to come to the Senate and re-establish his credibility. He's going to have to prove to us that there was a legitimate reason this was poorly handled, because you can't say it was anything other than poorly handled."(3/25/2007) [39]

South Dakota
None recorded
Tennessee
None recorded
Texas
None recorded
Utah
None recorded
Vermont
None recorded
Virginia
None recorded
Washington
None recorded
West Virginia
None recorded
Wisconsin
None recorded
Wyoming
None recorded

Notable statements from non-members of Congress

Name Party Strongest criticism Quote
Newt Gingrich Republican Resignation "I think the country, in fact, would be much better served to have a new team at the Justice Department, across the board."(4/8/2007) [40]

Candidates by state

User:John_Benton/Candidates_by_state

Current Headlines

  • The House voted overwhemingly to condemn MoveOn.org's "General Betray Us" advertisement. (The Hill story)
  • Rep. Terry Everett (R-Ala.) announced that he would not seek reelection at the end of the term. (The Hill story)
  • The House passed the revised SCHIP expansion bill in a vote of 265-159, short of the majority required to override an expected Presidential veto. (Roll Call story)
  • Lawyers from the DOJ sought to overturn a court ruling protecting papers seized in the May 2006 raid of Rep. William Jefferson's (D-La.) office. (The Hill story)
  • It was revealed that the FBI recorded conversations between Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and VECO executive Bill Allen. (The AP story)
  • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) warned that Congress might have to stay in session into December if progress was not made on passing appropriations bills. (The Hill story)
  • Fighting off allegations of secret land deals in Guatemala, Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) will not seek reelection in 2008. (Roll Call story)
  • Sources in the Republican party stated that Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns (R) would resign and run for Senate in Nebraska. (The Hill story)
  • The District of Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act was filibustered in the Senate, falling just three votes short of the required sixty votes for cloture. (Roll Call story)
  • A deadline for an ethics committee investigation into Rep. Bob Filner's (D-Calif.) assault charges passed, though it was unclear as to whether an investigatory subcommittee was formed or not. (Roll Call story)
  • Senate Democrats, including Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who had strongly opposed other possible nominees, approved of the White House's choice for a new attorney general, Michael Mukasey. (The Politico story)
  • Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner (D) announced that he would run for Sen. John Warner's Senate seat after he retires at the end of his term. (The Hill story)
  • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that he would fight to prevent Ted Olson from becoming the next attorney general. (Kansas City Star story)
  • General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker answered questions from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate Committee on Armed Services on the situation in Iraq. (The New York Times story)
  • The Democratic leadership in the House delayed the contempt vote for Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten over their refusal to comply with subpoenas relating to the U.S. attorney firings controversy. (The Politico story)
  • Republican members of the House Transportation Committee considered returning the funds questionably earmarked by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) to make additions to Coconut Road to their original purpose, widening I-75. (TPM Muckraker story)
  • Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) returned to the Senate for the first time since his brain hemorrhage. (The AP story)
  • After the release of the GAO report on progress in Iraq, which stated that only three of eighteen benchmarks had been met, Democrats in Congress used the report as evidence of flawed policy, while Republicans sought to discredit the report. (TPM Election Central story)
  • Democrat Niki Tsongas and Republican Jim Ogonowski won their respective party primaries and will face off on October 16 to fill the seat left vacant after Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) retired. (The Hill story)
  • Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his apartment. (The Hill story)
  • Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) agreed to step down from his committee positions for the duration of the Ethics Committee investigation into his arrest. (The Politico story)
  • Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) made his first public appearance after a nearly fatal brain hemorrhage in December. (The Hill story)
  • Republican Senate leaders issued a joint statement urging the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate Sen. Larry Craig's (R-Idaho) recent lewd behavior charges. (Washington Post story)
  • Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) stated that he regretted pleading guilty to lewd behavior charges, and that he had done nothing wrong. (The Hill story)
  • A new report revealed that Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested for lewd behavior in a men's public restroom in early June. (Roll Call story)
  • It was expected that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales would announce his resignation on August 27, 2007. (The Hill story)
  • Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), in the face of federal investigations, announced he would not seek reelection in 2008. (The Politico story)
  • The White House announced new rules for SCHIP that would limit eligibility to families making above 250 percent of the poverty line. (New York Times story)
  • Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) officially announced he would not seek reelection in 2008. (The Hill story)
  • Rep. Don Young's (R-Alaska) questionable $10 million Coconut Road earmark was sent back by the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization in a vote of 10-3. (TPM Muckraker story)
  • F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller turned over notes to the House Judiciary Committee describing a March 2004 visit by Alberto Gonzales to then Attorney General John Aschroft to get approval for the warrantless surveillance program. (The Hill story)
  • Rep. Chip Pickering (R-Miss.) announced that he would not seek reelection in 2008, sparking speculation as to what his political future might be. (Roll Call story)
  • In its investigation of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the F.B.I. began looking into a suspicious $170 million contract secured for Veco. (TPM Muckraker story)
  • Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) was expected to announce that she will not seek reelection in 2008. (The Hill story)
  • Before the recess, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) blocked a Darfur divestment bill overwhelmingly passed in the House. (The Hill story)
  • It was expected that Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), former Speaker of the House, would not seek reelection in 2008. (CQ story)
  • A report recently revealed that one of Don Young's (R-Alaska) 2005 earmarks was edited after being passed by Congress but before being signed by the President to direct funds specifically to Coconut Road in Florida. (Naples News story)
  • A note found after the F.B.I. raid on Ted Stevens' (R-Alaska) home revealed that he may have gotten a deal on the renovation costs. (TPM Muckraker story)
  • President George W. Bush authorized funds to repair a collapsed bridge in Minneapolis following its tragic collapse in early August. (CQ story)
  • The House passed an amendment to the FY 2008 DoD appropriations bill that would undo an implemented recommendation of the 9/11 commission to disclose the total intelligence budget to the general public. (CQ story)
  • After House and Senate Democrats reluctantly allowed the FISA bill to pass, President Bush signed it into law, extending the powers of the warrantless surveillance program. (The New York Times story)
  • Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, gave the Bush administration until noon on July 31, to issue a letter clarifying Gonzales's congressional testimony. (The Hill story)
  • The FBI and the IRS raided the home of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) in a continuation of the probe into the relationship between Stevens and VECO Corp. (The Hill story)
  • The House passed the Farm Bill Extension Act in a vote of 231-191, short the number required to override a veto that the White House has threatened. (AP story)
  • The White House issued a veto threat to the Farm Bill Extension Act, objecting to a proposed increase in nutrition programs that would be funded by closing tax loopholes for U.S.-based foreign companies. (Washington Post story)
  • Democratic Senators on the Judiciary Committee called for an perjury investigation into Gonzales' testimony on warrantless surveillance programs. (Roll Call story)
  • Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) stated that he would not seek reelection in 2008. (The Hill story)
  • Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) threatened Attorney General Alberto Gonzales with a perjury investigation if he did not revise his statements on meetings that may or may not have been on warrantless surveillance programs. (TPM Muckraker story)
  • House leadership pushed the contempt votes for Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers to the fall, putting priority on passing important appropriations bills. (Roll Call story)
  • Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) was under federal criminal investigation for his connections with VECO, an oil field-services firm made famous for its shady campaign funding practices. (TPM Muckraker story)
  • The House passed an ethics bill by voice vote that would ban lawmakers from paying their spouses for campaign work. (Washington Post story)
  • The Common Ground Coalition, a group founded by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) to help form bipartisan legislation sought the help of the Bipartisan Policy Center to hold meetings on contentious issues.(The Hill story)
  • The Department of Energy denied a claim by Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) that it supported a $1 million earmark to create a group to further research oil pipeline technology.(The Hill story)
  • A watchdog group filed a complaint with the Senate ethics committee to investigate if Rep. David Vitter's (R-La.) behavior warranted official discipline proceedings. (The Hill story)
  • Rep. Don Young (R-Ala.) launched threats at Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) after Garrett introduced legislation that would have cut funding to programs in Alaska. (The Hill story)
  • Bob Penney, who was involved in the corruption scandal with Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Ala.), also was involved in a land deal with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.). (TPM Muckraker story)
  • A watchdog group reported that senators have failed to claim responsibility for at least $7.5 billion worth of projects approved by the Appropriations Committee. (The Hill story)
  • Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) made plans to introduce legislation to require that violent television programming be shown only after 10 p.m..(The Hill story)
  • The Senate will consider energy, labor, and immigration packages this week as the House will continue debate over spending bills this week, after finally resolving a partisan conflict over earmarks that took up most of last week.
  • On the energy package, the Senate must still consider three of the most contentious amendments:
  1. A bill that includes elevating the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards from 25 to 35 MPG on passenger cars and light trucks by 2020
  2. A bill that would require utilities to produce 15 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.
  3. A bill that would add loan guarantees to enhance private investment in coal-to-liquids plants if sufficient carbon emissions can be captured and stored.
  • On immigration, the Senate will consider a long list of amendments. The most substantial amendment would provide more than $4 billion for border security and employment verification initiatives. It would also tighten language in various titles and levy additional penalties on immigrants who violate the law.
  • On labor, the Senate will take a vote on the Employee Free Choice Act, a labor-backed "card-check" bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions. Unions argue that the card-check process keeps reluctant employers from stalling when workers seek a union. Lobbyists predict that a cloture vote on the card-check bill will fail, but that it will at least win a majority.
  • The House will try to speed along the appropriations process this week, most likely aiming to pass the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations bills, after finally resolving a partisan procedural standoff over earmarks that took up most of last week. As part of the agreement, Democratic leaders will move to adopt a rule that allows members to raise a point of order against appropriations conference reports should there be any earmarks included that were not in either the House or Senate version.

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Labor, Immigration and Retirement Policy

  • The Employee Free Choice Act stalled in the Senate on Jun. 26 after a failed cloture vote of 51-48, divided closely along party lines.
  • The Senate's efforts to reach a "grand compromise" on comprehensive immigration legislation collapsed on Jun. 7 as a move to cut off debate on the bill fell 15 votes short. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) declared the Senate was done with addressing immigration "for the time being."
  • An amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) failed in a 42-54 vote on Jun. 7. The amendment would demand that existing border security and immigration laws be enforced and included building a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.
  • The Senate passed an amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill in a vote of 56-41 on Jun. 6. The amendment, offered by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), would save American taxpayers up to $24 billion in the 10 years by preventing the earned income tax credit from being claimed by Y temporary workers or illegal aliens.
  • The Senate passed an amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill on Jun. 6 in a vote of 64-33. The amendment was sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and would declare English the official language of the United States.
  • The House passed the Employee Free Choice Act on Mar. 1, in a 241-185 vote that was largely divided along party lines. The bill would further protect workers against management threats as well as create an easier process for creating new unions.
  • The Senate voted on an amendment on Jan. 24 that would effectively remove the federal minimum wage. The amendment's sponsor was Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and failed in a 28-69 vote.

Economic Policy

  • The president's "fast track" authority to negotiate trade agreements, established under the Trade Act of 2002, is set to expire on July 1. No significant efforts have been made to extend it, despite calls of several trade interest groups.
  • Arguing that they had fulfilled a promise to the electorate by raising the minimum wage, on Jun. 27 Democratic lawmakers in the House voted to raise congressional salaries for the following year by 2.7 percent.
  • Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced a bill on Jun. 14 that would close a tax loophole exempting certain publicly traded partnerships from a level of taxation.
  • Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) introduced a bill on Jan 11. which would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reduce the federal sales tax deduction, the child credit, and also repeal the estate tax.
  • Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.) introduced the Fair Tax Act of 2007 on Jan. 4. The bill would abolish the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), repeal the federal income tax, enact a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the states, and lastly, repeal the estate tax.
  • President George W. Bush signed CAFTA into law on Aug. 2, 2005, which established a free trade zone between the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua as well as setting up a separate trade agreement with the Dominican Republic.

Science and Technology Policy (U.S.)

  • The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, which would lift the restriction on new federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, was presented to President George W. Bush on Jun. 12. He has promised to veto the legislation, and it has not received the supermajority needed to override a veto.
  • The House passed a bill in a vote of 399-17 on May 2. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), would authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010 for the National Science Foundation.
  • The House passed the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, sponsored by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) on Apr. 24. This bill would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage or raising rates for a person found to have a potential genetic condition or genetic predisposition towards a disease or disorder.
  • On Apr. 11, the Senate passed the HOPE Act in a vote of 70-28. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), aimed to provide $5 billion over 10 years for stem cell research that does not involve "crossing the ethical line of using taxpayer dollars for the destruction of human embryos."

Health Policy

  • The Senate passed a bill on May 9 which was sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) in a vote of 93-1 that would improve food safety operations.
  • The Senate passed, in a vote of 49-40-11, a bill on May 7 that was sponsored by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The bill would require the FDA to certify the safety of imported drugs.
  • A bill sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) passed in a vote of 63-28 on May 3. This bill would allow drug importation from certain foreign countries.
  • The Senate rejected a bill sponsored by Sen. Wayne Allard (R- Colo) in a vote of 41-53-6 on May 2. The bill would have removed provisions for limiting market exclusivity for companies that test products on children.
  • President George W. Bush signed NASPER into law on Aug. 11, 2005, which gives states grant money to create scheduled drug tracking databases, allowing to hospitals and law enforcement to collect data on people receiving controlled substances.

Energy and Environment

  • In a 408-8 vote on Jun. 6, the House passed the H-Prize Act of 2007, establishing a series of cash rewards for innovation in hydrogen energy technology.
  • Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced a comprehensive energy bill on May 17. The bill intended to improve energy independence and security, increase production of clean renewable fuels, protect consumers from price gouging, increase the energy efficiency of products, buildings and vehicles, promote research on greenhouse gas management, and improve the energy performance of the federal government.
  • On Mar. 9, the House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) that would authorize appropriations to states for dealing with water pollution.
  • The House passed a bill on Mar. 8, sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), that would provide grants aimed at developing alternative water source projects.
  • The House passed a bill on Mar. 7, sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), which would reauthorize federal grants to municipalities and states to control sanitary sewer overflows.

  1. "Congressman Charged With Assault," ABC 7 News, August 20, 2007.
  2. "Congressman Charged With Assault," ABC 7 News, August 20, 2007.
  3. Patrick O'Connor, "Bilbray's gift for Bob Filner," The Politico, August 22, 2007.
  4. Jeremy Jacobs, "Leahy, Specter slam Gonzales for bucking subpoena," The Hill, May 16, 2007.
  5. Klaus Marre, "Leahy threatens White House with subpoenas," The Hill, May 16, 2007.
  6. Dana Bash and Ted Barrett, "Judiciary committees to issue two subpoenas in U.S. attorneys firings probe," CNN Political Ticker, June 13, 2007.
  7. William Branigin. "Bush Won't Supply Subpoenaed Documents," Washington Post. June 28, 2007.
  8. Elana Schor, "Dems take next steps toward enforcing subpoenas," The Hill, June 29, 2007.
  9. Jeremy Jacobs, "Miers won’t testify," The Hill, July 11, 2007.
  10. Jeremy Jacobs, "Miers won’t testify," The Hill, July 11, 2007.
  11. Paul Singer, "Miers a No-Show on Hill; House Subcommittee Rules Privilege Claim Invalid," Roll Call, July 12, 2007.
  12. Paul Kiel, "Rove Aide Testifies, Rove Does Not," TPM Muckraker, August 2, 2007.
  13. Paul Kiel, "Rove Aide Refuses to Answer Questions on U.S. Attorney Firings," TPM Muckraker, August 2, 2007.
  14. Zuckman, Jill. "Pelosi calls for new attorney general," Chicago Tribune, March 19, 2007.
  15. "Strategist Says Gonzales Is "Finished"," CBS/AP, March 15, 2007.
  16. Bennett, William Finn.(3/14/2007) "Issa: 'Congress was lied to'," North County Times, March 15, 2007.
  17. Talhelm, Jennifer. "Tancredo: Time for Gonzales to 'Move On'," Associated Press, March 20, 2007.
  18. Benjamin Roode, "Gillmor joins in calls for Gonzales to go," Sandusky Register, March 23, 2007.
  19. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  20. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  21. CQ Staff. "Presidential Hopefuls Speak Up on Prosecutor Dismissals," CQ Politics, March 19, 2007.
  22. "All About Alberto," The Hotline, March 26, 2007.
  23. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  24. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  25. Rowley, James and Robert Schmidt. "Bush Official Backs Away From Claim on Prosecutors," Bloomberg, March 16, 2007.
  26. "All About Alberto," The Hotline, March 26, 2007.
  27. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  28. "Specter: Gonzales has some explaining to do," CNN, March 26, 2007.
  29. Kellman, Laurie. "Sununu calls for ouster of Gonzales," Associated Press, March 15, 2007.
  30. Tapper, Jake and Cindy Smith. "EXCLUSIVE: Hillary Clinton Calls for Gonzalez' Removal," ABC News, March 13, 2007.
  31. Roche, Jr., Walter F. "Key Democrat calls for Gonzales to resign," Boston Globe, March 12, 2007.
  32. Kiel, Paul. "Schumer: Gonzales Staffer 'Will Not Become The Next Scooter Libby'," TPM Muckraker, March 13, 2007.
  33. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  34. "Second Republican suggests Gonzales should go," USA Today, March 15, 2007.
  35. Zachary A. Goldfarb, "Specter Says Gonzales Is Hurting Justice Department," Washington Post, April 23, 2007.
  36. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  37. Kane, Paul and Dan Eggen. "Gonzales Yields On Hiring Interim U.S. Attorneys," Washington Post, March 9, 2007.
  38. "Americans have lost confidence in the attorney general," The Democratic Caucus, June 11, 2007.
  39. "Specter: Gonzales has some explaining to do," CNN, March 26, 2007.
  40. " Gingrich: Gonzales should consider resigning," CNN, April 8, 2007.