Capitol Briefing - News and Analysis From the Hill - May 4, 2008

Player of the Week: Vito Fossella

The scandal-plagued members of the 110th Congress have been something of a motley crew. They've come from north, south, east and west, the House and Senate, red states and blue. They've -- allegedly, of course -- inserted shady earmarks into bills, shaken down land developers, engaged in "very serious sin"...

By Ben Pershing | May 9, 2008; 4:06 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: 2008 Campaign , Ethics and Rules , Player of the Week
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Burning Cash in Mississippi

Another high-profile special election looms next Tuesday in Mississippi's 1st congressional district, on the heels of last Saturday's contest in Louisiana. The Mississippi matchup, a runoff between Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers (D) and Southaven Mayor Greg Davis (R), has by a wide margin already drawn more cash from...

By Ben Pershing | May 9, 2008; 12:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: 2008 Campaign
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Iraq Money Faces More Delays in the House

"My patience is growing thin," Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) growled today, and he wasn't referring to the typically glacial pace of the World's Greatest Deliberative Body. Instead, Byrd was looking askance across the Capitol at House Democratic leaders, who have been dragging their feet on one...

By Ben Pershing | May 8, 2008; 6:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Dem. Leaders , Iraq , Purse Strings
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Senate Ethics Dismisses Vitter Complaint

The Senate Ethics Committee informed Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) today that it was dismissing a complaint against him for his alleged patronage of a call-girl service that emerged from the so-called "D.C. Madam" scandal. The letter explained that the panel was dismissing the matter because "the conduct at issue occurred...

By Ben Pershing | May 8, 2008; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Ethics and Rules
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Is Rep. Gary Miller Next to Come Under Scrutiny?

Today's Post reports that "a disgruntled former employee," Laura Flores, has accused Reps. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) of forcing staff to do personal and campaign business for them on official time. Flores, who has pleaded guilty to fraud charges for embezzling money from her employers, is reportedly...

By Ben Pershing | May 8, 2008; 12:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Ethics and Rules
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A Celebrity in the House

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) just caused a brief stir in the House by strolling onto the chamber floor during a vote to talk to lawmakers/superdelegates. Obama appeared to speak mostly with Pennsylvania Democrats, including Reps. Paul Kanjorski, Tim Murphy and John Murtha. Obama briefly stopped his conversations to sign autographs...

By Eric Pianin | May 8, 2008; 11:16 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)

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