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Ethics committee won't investigate Sen. Vitter
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate Ethics Committee declined Thursday to investigate Louisiana Senator David Vitter, who was linked to an escort service whose owner was convicted in federal court and subsequently committed suicide. The committee says it declined to pursue the case because Vitter's conduct preceded his Senate service, did not result in charges against him, and did not involve use of his public office or status for improper purposes. In a letter to Vitter, the committee also took note of the first term senator's July 2007 statement when he said, "This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible. "
Vitter has acknowledged that his Washington phone number was among those called several years ago by the escort service run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey. Palfrey committed suicide earlier this month, saying in notes that she couldn't bear going to prison. The senator was spared further embarrassment when he was not called as a witness in Palfrey's trial. She was convicted of money laundering, using the mail for illegal purposes and racketeering. The committee of three Democrats and three Republicans said it made no factual findings on Vitter's conduct. ... more » |
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Obama accuses McCain of 'losing his bearings' with comment
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barack Obama says that John McCain tried to "smear" him and was "losing his bearings" for suggesting that Hamas preferred Obama for president. The Democratic presidential candidate told CNN that it's "offensive" and "disappointing" especially since McCain has said he's "not going to run that kind of politics. "
McCain has raised questions about a Hamas adviser saying in an interview: "We like Obama and hope that he will win the election. " The United States has labeled the Palestinian organization a terrorist group. McCain said yesterday on "The Daily Show with John Stewart" that it shows how some enemies view America. He said "I guarantee you, they're not going to endorse me. "
And a McCain adviser says Obama was referring to McCain's age with his "losing his bearings" comment. . ... more » |
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Chair: La. tax cut vote on Monday
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- A House committee won't vote until Monday on a proposal to eliminate Louisiana's income tax. Representative Hunter Greene, chairman of the House's tax committee, said the vote will come on Monday, so that members will be able to assess the coming revenue from the energy industry. The state's income forecasting panel, called the Revenue Estimating Conference, meets Friday to revise its income estimates. Greene, a Baton Rouge Republican, held a hearing Thursday evening to discuss the bill that would do away with income tax. The sponsor, Senator Buddy Shaw, a Republican from Shreveport, said he wants the tax cut bill returned to its earlier form: a $302 million income tax break that would affect every taxpayer who earns more than $12,500 per year. . ... more » |
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Florida Dems: We're closing in on deal to seat delegation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida Democrats say they're on the verge of finishing a plan to have the state's delegates counted toward the party's presidential nomination. Thursday's news comes after Michigan Democrats came up with their own plan. The Democratic National Committee stripped both states of their convention delegates for holding their primaries too early in violation of party rules. State party spokesman Mark Bubriski told The Associated Press that Florida officials have been talking with campaign representatives of Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton about recognizing all, or part, of Florida's 211 delegates. Clinton is trailing Obama in the race for the nomination and is seeking to close the gap with delegates from Florida and Michigan. . ... more » |
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Texas mayor's colorful past called into question
CARROLLTON, Texas (AP) -- Officials say the mayor of the Dallas suburb of Carrollton has long told stories of her colorful background. Among Mayor Becky Miller's tales are claims of an engagement to Don Henley of the Eagles and stints as a backup singer for Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne. However, her opponent in Saturday's mayoral election is questioning all those claims. And family members, school officials and spokesmen for the famous musicians contacted by The Dallas Morning News are saying none of the tales are true. Miller says she never made some of the claims and attributed other discrepancies to dirty politics by challenger Ron Branson. But Branson says Miller made the false claims, and that he's most upset by her claim that she had a brother who died in the Vietnam war. Miller's father, Edward Sampson, said his son is alive and never served in the military. Miller first suggested her 80-year-old father didn't get his facts right and suffers from Alzheimer's disease. She later said the man who died was not her biological brother but a "blood brother" who was as close to her as a real one. She declined to give his name. . ... more » |
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Michigan Democrats settle on delegate-seating plan
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Michigan Democratic leaders have settled on a plan for seating a delegation at this summer's convention that would give presidential candidate Hillary Clinton 69 delegates and Barack Obama 59. Clinton won the January 15th Michigan primary even though her name was the only one on the ballot. Obama and the other candidates had their names removed after national party officials declared Michigan and Florida had violated the rules by jumping in line. All the candidates agreed not to campaign in either state. Clinton is now eager to have the delegate votes counted. Under the original rules, she would have received 73 pledged delegates from Michigan and Obama would have gotten 55. The state also has 29 superdelegates. The state party's executive committee voted Wednesday to ask the national party's Rules and Bylaws Committee to approve the 69-59 delegate split when it meets May 31st. . ... more » |
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Texas House may no longer get to hire part time, pay full time
AUSTIN (AP) -- The Texas Legislature's long-standing practice of hiring full-time employees at part-time hours and pay -- may be nearing an end. The Austin American-Statesman has reported that at least 12 House employees are paid less than $300 a month and work other jobs. But those employees have been enjoying the insurance and other benefits of full-time employment. Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick has ordered a review by the House Investigations and Ethics Committee. House Administration chairman Tony Goolsby asked lawmakers to review their records, noting that such arrangements would violate House rules and state law. The newspaper reported that Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle also is investigating the practice for possible criminal violations. Earle's office would not confirm such an investigation. Texas House rules allow each lawmaker to hire and supervise his employees, but the rules also define full-time status as 40 hours per week. . ... more » |
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Obama gets big welcome and fresh support on Capitol tour
CAPITOL HILL (AP) -- Barack Obama has picked up the support of at least two more superdelegates after making the rounds on Capitol Hill Thursday. Congressmen Brad Miller of North Carolina and Rick Larsen of Washington announced their support for his presidential campaign. Obama was surrounded by well-wishers as he made a surprise visit to the House floor. The visit had the look and feel of a victory lap, with members reaching out to pat him on the back and some calling him "Mr. President. "
But Obama himself says he's not taking anything for granted. He's predicting Clinton will win the next two contests in West Virginia and Kentucky, while he'll win others. Still, Obama's lead in pledged delegates is enough that Clinton can't catch him, shifting much of the focus to the 260-plus superdelegates who have not yet declared their intent. . ... more » |
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Black lawmakers consider bids for Congress as independents
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- Three black state lawmakers say they are weighing whether to run for three U. S. House seats this fall as independents, a move that could splinter Democratic support in the races. Senator Don Cravins Junior, Senator Lydia Jackson and Representative Michael Jackson say the state and national Democratic parties have failed to recruit and support black candidates to run for federal and statewide offices. They said there's disparity between how the party treats black and white candidates. Louisiana has only one black member of Congress: U. S. Representative William Jefferson, a Democrat who represents a majority black district. All seven of Louisiana's U. S. House seats come up for election in November. Cravins said he is considering a run as an independent for the 7th U. S. Congressional District that is held by U. S. Representative Charles Boustany Junior, a Lafayette Republican. Though he said the Democratic Party supports him as a state senator in a majority black district, Cravins said he worries that financial and organizational help would evaporate once he ventures into a congressional district that is majority white. . ... more » |
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Texas superdelegate backs Clinton
AUSTIN (AP) -- Another Texas Democratic superdelegate has decided to endorse Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the party's presidential primary. McAllen attorney Jaime Gonzalez Junior confirmed today that he's endorsing Clinton. He says he based his decision, in large part, on Clinton having won the Texas primary and the Hispanic voters who came out to vote for her. Gonzalez is one of 32 Texas superdelegates targeted by the campaigns of both Clinton and rival Barack Obama over the past weeks and months. Clinton appears to have a slight edge among Texas superdelegates. Twelve have told The Associated Press they've pledged to her, while 10 say they're supporting Obama. Clinton leads among superdelegates nationally, though Obama has been closing in. . ... more » |
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