FEC Imposed Record $6.2 Million In Fines — Over Half Against One Company
“The Federal Election Commission more than doubled its civil penalties in 2006, imposing $6.2 million in fines for campaign-law violations.
“More than half — $3.8 million — came from penalties against Freddie Mac, the federal mortgage corporation accused of making illegal contributions to political committees, according to year-end numbers released Thursday. Even without the record Freddie Mac fine, the FEC issued 12 penalties of more than $100,000, or almost a quarter of all six-figure fines in the agency’s 31-year history.” (AP)
Dems Likely To Revisit Detainee Rights Issue
“Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who will take control of the Senate as majority leader next year, “would support attempts to revisit some of the most extreme elements of the bill” including language stripping detainees of habeas corpus rights, although no immediate action is planned, said Reid spokesman Jim Manley.” (AP)
Proposed Travel Limits Won’t Hurt Pro-Israel Groups
“The consensus among Jewish groups is that the new legislation would be an inconvenience, but wouldn’t seriously hamper the trips to Israel that are considered a critical component of congressional support for Israel.
“Nonprofit groups that do not employ lobbyists would still be able to sponsor such tours, according to the United Jewish Communities, the umbrella body for Jewish federations, one of the groups briefed on the new legislation by the office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), incoming speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.” (Jewish Exponent)
New Colo. Ethics Laws Could Bar Scholarships, Nobel Prize Money
“Voter-approved ethics rules intended to bar public officials from taking gifts could also prevent future Nobel Prize-winning university professors from accepting the $1.3 million prize money, the state attorney general said Thursday.
“The rules could also prohibit children of public university employees from accepting many scholarships, a result state Attorney General John W. Suthers called ‘absurd.’
“Suthers said that while some of Amendment 41’s wording was vague, he believes it would prohibit public employees from taking the prize money or those students from accepting many scholarships.
“The measure’s supporters said the intention wasn’t to penalize prize-winning scientists — the University of Colorado at Boulder has produced four Nobel laureates.” (AP)
End Times For The Christian Coalition?
“In reality, the organization hasn’t been the same since Ralph Reed, the organization’s baby-faced point man who garnered serious face time on television pushing the organization’s agenda, and Robertson, the founder and chief operating officer left the coalition.” (Online Journal)
George Ryan Sues For Pension
“Convicted former Gov. George Ryan is suing to keep at least part of his $197,000 state pension, the third of it that he says he earned before the scandals that now have him facing 6 1/2 years in prison.
“Ryan was found guilty in April of mail fraud, money laundering, extortion, obstruction of justice and bribery while he was secretary of state and governor between 1991 and 2003.
“After his conviction, the General Assembly Retirement System board voted to strip him of his entire annual pension.” (AP)
Police Officers Indicted In Katrina Shootings
“Seven police officers were indicted Thursday on murder or attempted murder charges in a pair of shootings on a bridge that left two people dead during the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
“The district attorney portrayed the officers as trigger happy.
“‘We cannot allow our police officers to shoot and kill our citizens without justification like rabid dogs,’ District Attorney Eddie Jordan said.
“The shootings took place under murky circumstances six days after the storm and became one of the most widely cited examples of the anarchy that descended after Katrina.” (AP)
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.