Submitted by Conor Kenny on
- Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has written a letter to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez inquiring as to whether members of his staff suppressed a federal scientist from discussing the link between hurricanes and global warming. (TPM Muckraker story)
- Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) has earmarked $1.6 million to organizations where former campaign contributors sit on the board of directors. (The Hill story)
- A plea deal appears likely in the case of a Florida executive charged with making $10,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.). (Roll Call story}
- Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) announced his immediate resignation from the chairmanships of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity and the Franking Commission. (Roll Call story)
- Two New York state lawmakers issued a report critical of Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), accusing him of using a publicly-funded ski weekend aimed at regional development as a venue for rewarding friends and campaign contributors. (Roll Call story)
- The House and Senate each passed legislation aimed at bolstering port and border security. (New York Times story)
- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has called for a hearing to investigate reports that the Bush Administration exerted undue influence on military lawyers in an attempt to gain their support for legislation loosening restrictions on the treatment of terror detainees. (Washington Post story)
- Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) has pled guilty to making false statements and conspiracy to commit fraud in relation to the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal. (Associated Press story)
- The Senate Armed Services Committee rejected a Bush Administration-backed bill easing restrictions on the treatment of detainees, instead adopting a rival bill authored by Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) increasing legal protection for terror suspects. (Agence France-Presse story)
- Several members of the House Committee on Appropriations, including Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), have announced their opposition to a resolution that would require the sponsors of earmarks in tax and spending bills to be identified. (The Hill story)
- The House has passed the Coburn-Obama-McCain-Carper database bill requiring the creation of a public, searchable website tracking federal earmarks, grants, and contracts. (TPM Muckraker story)
- The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill onto the floor which would authorize the Bush Administration’s warrantless wiretapping program. (Associated Press story)
- Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) have introduced an amendment to a House measure which would prohibit earmarks to any organization employing a spouse, family member, or former employee of the sponsor. (GovExec.com story)
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