Watchdog Blog

Fireworks, Barbecue and a Vote for DC

As we celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, cookouts and a relaxing day off of work, the promise of our democracy remains unfulfilled for many.

More than half a million people live in the capital of the United States without voting representation in Congress. Citizens of the District of Columbia pay U.S. taxes, fight and die for the U.S. during wartime, and are governed by the laws that Congress passes.  And yet, shockingly, DC citizens have only a non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives.

This gross injustice could be righted soon - but we need your help.  The Senate is considering a floor vote on the DC Voting Rights Act, which the House passed in April.  There are some senators who are considering blocking this bill, even after it passed overwhelmingly out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.   Senators have not blocked a piece of voting rights legislation since the days of Jim Crow.  Now is not the time to turn back the clock.

Citizens in the District of Columbia don't have senators of their own to call, so they need you to stand up for them and our democratic values.  Contact your senators today and urge them to vote for the DC Voting Rights Act!

We can't claim democracy for other countries or hope to clean up Washington if taxpayers in the nation's capital continue to be disenfranchised.

Let your senators know that it's high time that DC citizens have voting representation in Congress.  It's the patriotic thing to do.

Gillespie, A Revolving Door Lobbyist in the White House

Listen to our own Laura MacCleery discuss Bush’s new counselor, Enron and Viacom lobbyist Ed Gillespie on NPR’s Marketplace.   As Laura notes, Enron indirectly paid Gillespie $700,000 in 2001 alone, through several conservative front groups, enabling Gillespie to publicly flack for the White House Energy plan.  In addition, Public Citizen found that Viacom, the parent company of the CBS and UPN networks, retained Quinn Gillespie for two years – and $720,000 – to push for relaxed rules on the number and reach of television stations a single company could own.

Public Citizen’s Joan Claybrook had this to say about the Gillespie appointment:

We are disappointed that the president has appointed a lobbyist who has represented the narrow interests of business to be White House counselor, rather than someone who could bring a broader perspective to the White House. Given President’s Bush’s abysmal poll results, he needs someone with a different view.

Ed Gillespie has long been part of the Bush money machine, helping to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from business interests for Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign. Gillespie’s lobbying clients have included some of the nation’s business giants. He fought on behalf of Enron against efforts to re-regulate the electricity market, which would have ended Enron’s price-gouging. He pushed for the energy legislation enacted in 2005, which included some $25 billion in corporate subsidies for oil, gas nuclear and coal interests. On behalf of financial service clients, he pushed for watering down accounting reforms. On behalf of Chrysler, he fought against improvement of fuel economy standards. On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, he fought for limiting citizen access to the courts. In his new position as counselor to the president, he will be forging policy that likely will undermine public needs.

By moving from lobbyist to chair of the Republican National Committee, back to lobbyist and then to White House counselor, he is a prime example of a revolving door that has spun out of control.

Learn more about Gillespie’s lengthy history [pdf] working for corporations to dismantle government oversight and advantage clients in consumer complaints and federal fiscal policy. 

Bush continues to co-opt the government for big corporate interests by appointing cronies and hacks to offices of influence.  The consolidation of private interests in the public domain is hobbling consumer protections for health and safety.  It’s dangerous, and expensive.  In 2006, taxpayers paid $64 billion dollars in earmarks for special interests.

We Rallied and Took Action to Restore Habeas Corpus

Yesterday's sweltering heat in the nation's capital did not stop the approximately 4,000 activists from around the country from gathering for the Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice and demanding the restoration of habeas corpus, which was stripped away for some in a law passed last year. 

I was blown away by the size and passion of the crowd.  We met with many enthusiastic attendees at the Public Citizen table.

The masses cheered loudly for all of the speakers, but especially for Sen. Leahy (D-Vt.), a champion of constitutional rights and a leader on restoring the writ of habeas corpus. He spoke with authority about the importance of the Constitution, and how "it's hard to defend the higher ground by taking the lower road." Public Citizen and the coalition of organizations sponsoring the event, presented Sen. Leahy with the more than 250,000 petition signatures calling for the restoration of law and justice.  Our very own Linda Andros stood beside the senator as he held up and waved the Public Citizen petition to restore habeas corpus as evidence that Americans will not stand idly by while some non-citizens are denied protection from arbitrary arrest, disappearance and indefinite confinement without charge or trial.

Immediately following the rally, we stormed the Hill and took our petitions to all 535 members of Congress.  We delivered the message to Congress loud and clear: The writ of habeas corpus must be restored now!

Reform-minded Senators Call for Strong Bill

Eleven senators, led by Senators Russ Feingold (D.-Wisc.) and Barack Obama (D.-Ill.), and all of the freshman Senate Democrats — Senators Brown, Cardin, Casey, Klobuchar, McCaskill, Tester, Webb and Whitehouse — as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I.- Vt.), sent a letter to leadership asking them to preserve the strong medicine for corrupt government in S.1, the Senate's landmark lobbying and ethics reform bill. The bill is on its way to conference.

The senators called on the leaders to maintain support in conference for all of the significant achievements of the bill, including:

• A strong gift ban;
• Restrictions on corporate jet flights;
• Disclosure of bundling by lobbyists; 
• The revolving door language that is in the Senate's version of the bill;
• Limits on privately funded travel;
• Restrictions on lavish convention parties; and
• Improvements in legislative transparency.

We applaud these senators for their leadership and vision.

Another attempt to lead us down a blind alley from PRI

Pacific Research Institute (PRI) last Friday launched another in a series of briefing papers that advance the interests of its business sponsors.  Need a study that shows expanding health insurance coverage for children is actually bad?  Look no farther than PRI.

The latest pen-to-paper embarrassment from this flack shop is the just-released U.S. Index of Health Ownership by John R. Graham. While it purports to promote health care ownership, its clear purpose is to roll back government. Although it bills itself as non-partisan, PRI’s bias against single payer systems is blatant:  “PRI also demonstrates why a single-payer, Canadian model would be detrimental to the health care of all Americans.” 

Within a section full of self-praise for its index, PRI quotes Newt Gingrich:  “How free are we to control our own health care?  That’s the question the Pacific Research Institute boldly answers in this state by state ranking of health freedom.  While others advocate ‘universal health care’ through greater government control, PRI stands up for ‘universal choice’ where the patient and the doctor are back in control.”

Cheney Battles Executive Branch Agency Trying to Collect Classified Data

Vice President Dick Cheney must love his secrets. He doesn’t even like to share with his own team.

Check out the latest: Apparently, Cheney has exempted himself from the PRESIDENTIAL order setting up procedures for protecting classified information, according to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

For the past four years, Cheney’s office has refused to cooperate with a National Archives and Records Administration office charged with monitoring classification in the executive branch, according to stories in the June 22 Washington Post and New York Times. 

Not only did the vice president’s office not comply with a routine annual request for data on staff classification of internal documents, but in 2004, it also blocked an on-site inspection of records that other executive branch agencies go through, according to a letter to the vice president [pdf] sent by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

And after the Archives office continued to complain about the matter, Cheney’s staff proposed eliminating the office.

“I know the vice president wants to operate with unprecedented secrecy,” Waxman told The New York Times. “But this is absurd. This order is designed to keep classified information safe. His argument is really that he’s not part of the executive branch, so he doesn’t have to comply.”

Loss of a Great Mind

On June 8, American philosopher Richard Rorty died of pancreatic cancer.

I was among those privileged to have been a student of his, as he was my thesis adviser while an undergrad at University of Virginia. I also went to hear him often as a lecturer after he moved to Stanford while I was in law school there. He was a tremendously gifted, unassuming and generous teacher, and had an enormous intellect and appetite. Many times, I saw him invite spirited and fascinating debate with students and his many critics in academe. He was a pragmatic moralist of the left who resisted all ideology, replacing it with the contingency of democratic institutions and an unflagging compassion for human suffering.

This video shows him confronting the great evil of Bush's post-911 "crypto-fascist" state with a characteristically radical but clear-eyed assessment of our shared peril. A world bereft of his insight is a poorer one for it.

Hearing on Fair Elections

Ordinary voters are being drowned out by corporate and wealthy special interests that co-opt our elected officials and raid the treasury for earmarks and tax breaks.  The result is policy for Big Pharma, Big Oil and Wall Street.  We can change all that with the Fair Elections Now Act.

The Senate Rules Committee is holding the first congressional hearing in more than a decade on publicly funded elections.

Watch it live on June 20, 10:00 a.m. EST!

Take a minute to become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of the bill and tell your Senators to break free from corporate and wealthy special interests.

Why do you think publicly funded elections are so important?

UPDATE: You can still watch the hearing at the link above.

Bork Sues for Punitive Damages

Robert Bork is suing the Yale Club of New York City for $1,000,000 plus punitive damages.  The former federal appeals court judge and failed nominee for the Supreme Court slipped and fell while ascending a dais at the Yale Club.  Although he did hurt his left leg and head, he went on to deliver a speech.  You can read his complaint here [pdf].

To call this ironic fails to capture the full scope of its absurdity.

For those who don't know, Bork has spent his career denouncing "lottery-like windfalls" offered by juries to injured victims.  That he is now seeking such a large sum in compensatory and punitive damages is baffling.  Perhaps this is a sign he is mellowing with old age.

A leading proponent of tort reform, Ted Frank, is equally puzzled by this: "I find Judge Bork's slip and fall suit against the Yale Club embarrassingly silly... it's beyond me what his lawyers are thinking in asking for punitive damages."

We wish Bork a speedy recovery and a fair trial.

Rally in Washington to Restore Habeas Corpus!

Eight months ago, the 109th Congress passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and the President signed it into law.

The bill [pdf] suspended habeas corpus for non-citizens deemed "enemy combatants" by the President.  Such people can now be detained in prison indefinitely because the government need not bring any formal charges against them in court. 

The stakes are high. This bill attacks one of the cornerstone principles upon which this country was founded.  And it will not secure us from future terrorist attacks:

As Senator Patrick Leahy said last year, “Passing laws that remove the few checks against mistreatment of prisoners will not help us win the battle for the hearts and minds of the generation of young people around the world being recruited by Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda.”

Thankfully, legislation being sponsored by Sens. Leahy and Specter would restore habeas corpus.  You are invited to join this growing dissent by coming to Washington, D.C. for a rally and lobby day on June 26th.  Also, sign our petition to restore habeas corpus, which we will hand deliver to your members of Congress.

Colbert on Revolving Door

The much touted lobbying & ethics bill is heading to committee to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House versions and one of the key provisions we have been fighting for may not survive.  Is it too much to ask for slightly stricter revolving door provisions?  Can't members of Congress wait one more year before they cash-in on K Street and turn around to lobby their former colleagues?

Apparently not.

Stephen Colbert finds this debate ridiculous.  Let's demand this reasonable and necessary reform.

Libby Lied, but Justice Served

Yesterday, some justice was served when I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for lying and otherwise obstructing the investigation into the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. The former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, Libby was one of the highest-ranking officials in the government. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton noted that "individuals have to understand that when you transgress the law there are consequences," stressing the seriousness of Libby's crimes as a reason for the stiff sentence, according to NPR.

Libby will find out next week when he has to report to prison. On June 14, the judge will decide whether Libby can remain free while appealing the verdict. In the meanwhile, I imagine the White House will be diverting attention from the possible pardon they will give Libby.

Forgive me, but a presidential pardon would be inexcusable.

Time for Jefferson to Go

Yesterday, Representative William Jefferson (D LA) was indicted on 16 counts of bribery and corruption.  If Jefferson is found guilty, it will be one of the most blatant examples of criminal conduct by a member of Congress.  It also could be one of the most damaging to Congress, if he remains in office much longer.

Jefferson should step down now.  The people of New Orleans and the rest of Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District need and deserve a representative in Congress focused on their concerns instead of his own.   

If he refuses to leave Congress, the Democratic leadership should push for an immediate review and decision in the ethics committee, which has been mulling over the $90,000 found wrapped in aluminum foil in Jefferson's freezer since 2005.  Yet another reason why we need a truly independent ethics review process - like that provided by an Office of Public Integrity.

To Speaker Pelosi's credit, she did remove Jefferson from the powerful Ways and Means Committee.  But now that the grand jury has indicted Jefferson, leadership should move quickly to protect the integrity of the institution.

The "cleanest Congress" must not allow Jefferson's cloud of corruption to sully the important reforms now under consideration.  The Democrats should show that they will not tolerate impropriety and indictments on either side of the aisle.

Time to clean House - again.

Claybrook Conversation on Moyer's Blog

Joan Claybrook's post on the Bill Moyers Journal Blog is generating a lively conversation about the need for lobbying and ethics reform in Congress.  Not surprisingly, there are many reflections on the impact of corporate interests, and public funding of elections came up quickly as the ultimate antidote. 

You can check it out and join in, or pick up the thread here. 

If you haven't yet had a chance to see the "Cleaning House" segment of the Bill Moyers Journal that we announced here on the Watchdog Blog, you can watch it below:

Joan Claybrook and Bill Moyers on What’s at Stake

Tune in tonight when award-winning journalist Bill Moyers sits down with Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook for an in-depth examination of what makes the lobbying and ethics reform bill the single most important piece of legislation Congress can enact. Bill Moyers Journal airs on PBS. Check your local listings for the exact time of the broadcast or watch online afterwards and learn what is at stake.

Here’s a preview of the Moyers show.  Here’s what you can do.

Gotcha! Senator Secret is Senator Kyl

Senator Kyl finally confirmed that he is the senator with the secret hold on the OPEN Government Act.  We first blogged about the ironic secret hold on this transparency bill last week.  Since then, our activists and others like the Chamber of Commerce have been sending letters and flooding the Senate with calls to smoke out the senator in hiding.

Kyl (R AZ) finally buckled under the pressure yesterday, admitting he placed the secret hold because of Department of Justice concerns.  We have plenty of DOJ concerns ourselves.  It’s clear DOJ under Attorney General Gonzales is opposed to any transparency and accountability. 

Shame on DOJ, shame on Senator Kyl.