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On January 3, 2006 Jeffrey H. Smith, a former General Counsel of the CIA and a former General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a 16 page memorandum to the Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, addressing the legal authorities regarding warrantless surveillance of U.S. persons. His conclusion – “The …
The Environmental Opinions of Judge Samuel Alito (6 pages, PDF, January 06, 2006 Summary: “The nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr., to serve on the Supreme Court has prompted close scrutiny of his judicial opinions during 15 years as an appellate judge. A review of the 34 opinions in environmental cases in which Judge …
Press release, January 11, 2006: “U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08, today announced his principles for restoring accountability and trust in government, the cornerstone of his lobbying reform legislation which will be introduced when Congress reconvenes at the end of this month.” Press release, January 11, 2006: “House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter …
“Rep. Waxman asks the Labor Secretary Chao to reverse the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s 2004 decision to exclude mine safety inspectors’ notes in Freedom of Information Act responses. The agency’s secrecy policy limited disclosure about hundreds of safety violations at the Sago mine for years before the recent disaster.” [January 11, 2006] Letter to …
Status of a Member of the House Who Has Been Indicted for or Convicted of a Felony (14 pages, PDF), January 5, 2006. “There are no federal statutes or Rules of the House of Representatives that directly affect the status of a Member of Congress who has been indicted for a crime that constitutes a …
Following up on the series of references that were noted in my posting yesterday, news today that President Bush has apparently dropped his opposition to congressional hearings on the controversial domestic surveillance program about which news has appeared almost every day for the past month. Related reference on the upcoming hearings: President Participates in Discussion …
After a series of Congressional calls for hearings and investigations into the administration’s controversial post 9/11 domestic surveillance program, news today from several sources confirming that probes have indeed been launched, and hearings scheduled. Questions remain as to when, and if, the conclusions will be made public. Additionally, ABC News reports that former NSA “insider” …
S. 2175 – A bill to require the submittal to Congress of any Presidential Daily Briefing relating to Iraq during the period beginning on January 20, 1997, and ending on March 19, 2003. Sponsor: Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA](introduced 12/21/2005). Latest Major Action: 12/22/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the …
CDT: “Fourteen of the nation’s leading experts on constitutional law today issued an analysis concluding that “the Justice Department’s defense of what it concedes was secret and warrantless electronic surveillance of persons within the United States fails to identify any plausible legal authority for such surveillance. Accordingly the program appears on its face to violate …
Washington Post: U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Judge Samuel Alito’s Nomination to the Supreme Court, Part I of II, Courtesy FDCH e-Media, Monday, January 9, 2006; 12:59 PM. Read below the opening statements of the first thirteen senators’ opening statements. The final statements, and Judge Alito’s opening statement, can be found in Part II …
Report to Congress on the Benefits of the President’s E-Government Initiatives, January 6, 2006. (183 pages, PDF) “The Federal government is delivering results through expansion and adoption of electronic government principles and best practices in managing information technology, and is increasingly providing timely and accurate information to the citizens and government decision makers while ensuring …
Time (free): How to Raise Cash… Disguise Its Sources… And Buy Influence Time (sub. req’d) – The Man Who Bought Washington – From deep inside the Republican elite, Jack Abramoff brought new excesses to the lobbying game. Who is he, and how did he get away with it for so long?: “A high-level source tells …
