Capitol Briefing - News and Analysis From the Hill - June 10, 2007

Forget the Lawmaker, Meet the Chief of Staff

Uncle Chuck Wants You! That's the message jumping out of the latest fundraising letter sent out from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, chaired by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). [Click the image to the right to see the full text.] Don't let Uncle Chuck down! This invite first appeared (in print...

By Paul Kane | June 15, 2007; 3:02 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Fundraising Circuit , Senate
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Disclosure Odds and Ends: From Airline Miles to Calves

Thanks to the Washington Post's Alec MacGillis, Capitol Briefing can give readers the 999,999th example of why members of Congress live, generally, more charmed lives than the rest of us schleps. Take Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), who's holding assets worth between $1.8 million and $5 million, according to the financial...

By Paul Kane | June 15, 2007; 8:31 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Stevens Asks Ethics to Review Finances

Capitol Briefing can report more details on at least one of the extensions granted to lawmakers who did not file personal financial disclosure forms last month: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) asked the Senate Ethics Committee to review his finances from last year before he officially files them. His office declined...

By Paul Kane | June 14, 2007; 7:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Financial Disclosures: A Look at Who Got Extensions

Today is unofficially "Opposition Research Day" here on Capitol Hill, otherwise known as the day when annual financial disclosure forms are due from all 535 members of Congress. Occasionally providing a treasure trove of potential conflicts of interest to be exploited in the next election, financial disclosure forms (FDs in...

By Paul Kane | June 14, 2007; 5:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House , Senate
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Isakson Replaces Thomas on Senate Ethics Committee

The Senate tonight approved Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) as the replacement for the late Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) on the Ethics Committee. Thomas died last week after a seven-month battle with cancer, and Isakson's appointment allows a high-profile probe to move forward. By unanimous consent, Isakson -- a low-key senator...

By Paul Kane | June 13, 2007; 8:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Gore Raising Money for Senate Democrats

Following up on his "Assault on Reason" book tour, former vice president Al Gore has penned an e-mail for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that went out today. Al Gore wants you ... to donate to Senate Democrats. (AP) The timing of Gore's pitch is designed to help drive up...

By Paul Kane | June 13, 2007; 5:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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Political, Legal Factors Surround AG Vote

The Senate fell seven votes short, Monday night, on a measure that would have opened debate on a no-confidence resolution aimed at Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over his handling of the firing of nine U.S. attorneys last year. The overall vote was 53-38-1, with a large number of absentee senators...

By Paul Kane | June 12, 2007; 6:54 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Senate
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House Readies for Earmark Battle

For those of you already going through "Sopranos" withdrawal, the House floor may provide a slight fix this week. House Republicans are planning a series of aggressive tactics later in the week when Democrats try to pass four of the annual appropriations bills, those spending measures that fund the departments...

By Paul Kane | June 11, 2007; 3:46 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: House
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Capitol Briefing: June 10, 2007 - June 16, 2007