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The Economist: Pelosi rides high; Madam Speaker is turning out to be one of the Democrats' best assets
February 24, 2007
"Nancy Pelosi, the new speaker of the House of Representatives, has pushed through a popular raft of reforms in double-quick time. She has masterminded a vote of no confidence in George Bush's new Iraq policy, allowing her troops to vent their anger without cutting off funding. And she has done all this while looking cool and stylish."
Blog Post
Privacy Protection
February 23, 2007
The Oversight committee has requested documents from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) amid recent reports that the TSA web site collected personal information without basic security measures to ensure privacy protection. Chairman Waxman writes:

Blog Post
Ethics & the Executive Branch: Case In Point
February 23, 2007
Pelosi Seeks Tougher Oversight on Ethics

John Heilprin, Associated Press - February 22, 2007

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for tighter ethics rules in federal agencies Wednesday after government officials approved the purchase of a $980,000 vacation home by a top Justice Department lawyer with an oil company lobbyist.

Pelosi's criticism followed an Associated Press report last week that department ethics officials did not object when Sue Ellen Wooldridge, then head of the environment division, was buying a South Carolina beach house with Donald R. Duncan, the top Washington lobbyist for ConocoPhillips.

Articles
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Pelosi is Proving She's Up to the Job
February 23, 2007
"In her first month as House speaker, Nancy Pelosi is demonstrating the spine and skill that prove she is no female lummox of the left. "
Blog Post
In Case You Missed It: "Attitude & Effort" Bonuses
February 23, 2007
One of the most interesting and disturbing exchanges from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's Hearing on Homeland Security Contracting was this one between Rep. Elijah Cummings and Comptroller General David Walker discussing contractor bonuses for "attitude and effort" as opposed to performance:

Blog Post
The Strain of Escalation on Our Troops
February 22, 2007
A New York Times story today details Pentagon plans to send National Guard troops back to Iraq next year without standard time between deployments in order to sustain President Bush's plans for escalation in Iraq. The latter part of the article gives specifics on shortcomings regarding training, equipment, and time at home:

National Guard May Undertake Iraq Duty Early

David S. Cloud, New York Times - February 22, 2007

Blog Post
Oversight Committee Schedule
February 22, 2007
Next week in Chairman Waxman's Committee:

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Schedule for the Week of February 26, 2007

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

10:00 a.m. Full Committee Business Meeting, immediately followed by a Full Committee Hearing on Reforming the Presidential Library Funding Disclosure Process

12:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement Hearing on 9/11 Health Effects: Federal Monitoring and Treatment of Residents and Responders

Thursday, March 1, 2007

10:00 a.m. Full Committee Hearing on Allegations of Political Interference with the Work of Government Climate Change Scientists

Blog Post
In Case You Missed It: Chairman Charlie Rangel on Escalation
February 22, 2007
Ways & Means Chairman Charlie Rangel of New York during last week's debate:

Blog Post
Statement on Cheney Iraq Comments
February 21, 2007
Vice President Cheney continues to question the patriotism of those of us in Congress who challenge the Bush Administration's misguided policies in Iraq, but his latest attack is beneath the office of the Vice President, especially at a time of war.

Mischaracterizations by the Vice President will not dissuade Congress from developing, on a bipartisan basis, a responsible new direction for U.S. policy in Iraq that brings our troops home safely and soon. I hope the President will repudiate and distance himself from the Vice President's remarks.

Press Release
Pelosi Statement on Cheney Iraq Comments
February 21, 2007
"Washington, D.C. - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on comments by Vice President Cheney: 'Vice President Cheney continues to question the patriotism of those of us in Congress who challenge the Bush Administration's misguided policies in Iraq, but his latest attack is beneath the office of the Vice President, especially at a time of war."
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