Media

"A top Democrat in the U.S. Congress raised the possibility on Friday of creating a federal infrastructure bank to help pay for an array of projects, from roads to pipelines to subways, that also could create jobs and improve the environment."

From the Education and Labor Committee:

Former Bush NAFTA Official, Covered by Diplomatic Immunity, Ducks Criminal Prosecution

Chairman Miller Asks Secretary Chao if Steps Have Been Taken to Ensure Justice

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A former high-ranking Bush political appointee is avoiding a potential criminal investigation into his misconduct while running a NAFTA-related agency because he has diplomatic immunity, according to a recent Inspector General report. U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) today asked the Bush administration what it is doing to waive that immunity so that the IG's investigation can proceed.

From the Judiciary Committee:

Conyers Demands Karl Rove Testimony

(Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Committee Members Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Artur Davis (D-AL), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced three critical actions in the Committee's investigation into allegations of selective or poltiically-motivated prosecution in the Justice Department. The Members today invited Karl Rove to testify before the committee; urged the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate those allegations; and demanded that Attorney General Michael Mukasey provide additional documents on this subject.

Rep. Chris Murphy (CT-05) spoke this morning on the struggle Americans face with rising gas prices and what Democrats have done to address it against fierce opposition from Republicans in Congress and President Bush, who has done nothing of any effect to address the problem himself.

The House has just passed the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2008, HR 2634 by a vote of 285-132. The bill directs the Bush Administration to begin negotiations for an agreement within the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the Paris Club of bilateral creditors to allow up to 24 additional low-income countries to qualify for international debt relief. The bill builds on previous successful efforts in recent years to provide debt relief for the world's poorest countries as an essential component in the overall effort to help alleviate the severe poverty that exists in many parts of the world. Debt relief programs have had a proven record of success.