The Daily MuckThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ignored warnings of a looming subprime loan collapse in the U.S. housing market, sticking with outdated policies that allowed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to net billions by providing low-cost loans. (Washington Post)
Human Rights Watch is reporting over two-thirds of detainees at Guantanamo Bay have shown signs of mental health problems because of their living conditions. Many of the prisoners, the report claims, have already been cleared for release or not charged at all yet continue to be held in cramped cells for nearly 22 hours a day. (Reuters)
As the Bush administration attempts to negotiate with Congress for retroactive immunity for telecom companies that complied with government-ordered warrantless wiretapping, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is demanding further review of a potential waiver for the companies. “It seems to me that it’d be very difficult to grant retroactive immunity when you don’t even know for sure what you’re giving retroactive immunity for,” Specter said Monday, sharing a view unpopular among Republicans. (Washington Independent)
Knik Arm Bridge, the albatross earmark in Alaska pushed in Congress by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), is now in jeopardy after years of delays and a mounting price tag. The bridge was long said to cost around $600 million, but current estimates project a possible $1 billion will be needed to complete the project. (Fort Mills Times)
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK) will brief committee members on an internal audit of the organization detailing the money embezzled from it by former treasurer Christopher Ward. Ward used the money to fund the remodeling of his home. (Roll Call sub. req.)
A group of Native Americans filed a class-action lawsuit in 1996 calling for compensation in the sum of $58 billion for resources such as oil, gas, timber and other royalties that were taken from them by the Interior Department since 1887. Now government lawyers argue the price tag in the suit is wildly overblown. The Native Americans are claiming the money should have gone into Indian accounts. (Associated Press)