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Articles
May 23, 2007
"Democrats will 'set a new direction' by expanding health care for children, bolstering early childhood initiatives and investing in the young because this will reap great rewards in the future, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday at a national summit on children."
Blog Post
May 23, 2007
At 10:15 the Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing: "The Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy and Related Matters." It will be televised on C-Span 3.

Officials Describe Interference by Former Gonzales Aide

Dan Eggen and Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post - May 23, 2007

Chairman John Conyers gives opening remarks:

Chairman Conyers:

"If it appears that the US Attorneys are merely pawns in a game of politics, then we will have suffered the loss of one of our nation's most fundamental principles: the rule of law."

Blog Post
May 23, 2007
Changes Spurred Buying, Abuses

Robert O'Harrow Jr. and Scott Higham, Washington Post - May 23, 2007

In February 2005, an auditor at the General Services Administration presented evidence to agency leaders that one of the government's top technology contractors was overcharging taxpayers.

GSA auditor James M. Corcoran reported that Sun Microsystems had billed the government millions more for computer software and technical support than it charged its commercial customers.

If true, the allegation was grounds to terminate the contract and launch a fraud investigation. Instead, senior GSA officials pressed last summer to renew the contract.

Press Release
May 22, 2007
"'Strong evidence indicates that the Bush Administration abused a loophole provided by the prior Republican Congress permitting the indefinite appointment of interim U.S. Attorneys without Senate confirmation. This legislation, which now goes to the President's desk, restores Constitutional checks and balances in the appointment process of interim U.S. Attorneys. It is a small but necessary step toward restoring confidence and independence in the administration of justice."
Speech
May 22, 2007
"'Welcome to the National Summit on America's Children. Today is an historic day in which national experts and scientists are gathered to discuss our nation's most vital resource - our children."
Press Release
May 22, 2007
"'American consumers must not be at the mercy of foreign oil cartels that conspire to fix prices and allocate production. These state-controlled entities and cartels, which control more than two-thirds of crude oil traded internationally, avoid accountability by claiming immunity from the antitrust laws. The NOPEC bill provides a critical tool by authorizing the Justice Department to pursue antitrust actions in U.S. federal court against cartel members."
Blog Post
May 22, 2007
Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08) speaks on President Bush's priorities in the context of national debt and pay raises for the troops:
Rep. Murphy:

"But the fact is, is that those privates who are making $17,000 a year, those privates that are leaving their wives, their kids at home, many of whom have to survive on food stamps, those privates who saw what we did in the defense bill, who said that's great, 3.5% pay increase, not even $1,000 more a year, a couple hundred dollars a year, the President of the United States said, private, 'Thank you for your service to your country, but that's too much of a pay increase.' Mr. Speaker, I hope the people at home are watching. The President of the United States said a couple hundred dollars more a year to a private making $17,000 a year is too much."

Blog Post
May 22, 2007
Sallie Mae Chief Resigns Ahead of $25 Billion Buyout

Matthew Keenan, Bloomberg - May 22, 2007

Sallie Mae replaced Chief Executive Officer Tim Fitzpatrick with C.E. Andrews, its chief financial officer, as the company prepares for a planned $25 billion takeover by a group led by J.C. Flowers & Co.

Fitzpatrick will serve as an adviser in the next few weeks during a transition, Reston, Virginia-based Sallie Mae said today in a statement. Sallie Mae, formally known as SLM Corp., is the largest U.S. student-loan provider.

Blog Post
May 22, 2007
The Select Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee is currently holding a hearing: "The Economic Impact of Global Warming."

Watch the hearing live >>

Blog Post
May 22, 2007
The House has just debated the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act of 2007, H.R. 2264, which will enable the Department of Justice to take legal action against foreign nations for participating in oil cartels that drive up oil prices globally and in the United States. This legislation does so by exempting OPEC and other nations from the provisions of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act when acting in a commercial capacity; by making clear that the so-called "Act of State" doctrine does not prevent courts from ruling on antitrust charges brought against foreign governments; and by authorizing the Department of Justice to bring lawsuits in U.S. courts against cartel members.
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18):