John Elwood, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice, testifying at a hearing of the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee on “Secret Law and the Threat to Democratic and Accountable Government,” says that legal justifications for implemented policies are available to Congress, since operative policy is “law.” However, he says there is a confidentiality interest in the legal opinions written by the OLC while they are advising among policy choices. (0:54)

 

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Congressman Bruce Braley (D-IA) announced his endorsement for Barack Obama today adding another superdelegate to Obama’s list. This was the third superdelegate vote from a member of Congress that Obama received today alone, making this lead 140 and on their way to the 285 delegate votes they need.

Braley was introduced as a champion for workers and families. His work to raise minimum wage and trade laws that benefit workers was also noted. Braley said that he initially pledged his superdelegate vote to John Edwards, but when he dropped out of the race, Braley decided he would take his time on making his decision as to who his vote would go to. After much deliberation, he decided to endorse Obama, making him the 19th superdelegate that had supported Edwards and now supports Obama.

Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, introduced legislation to improve credit card billing, marketing and disclosure regulations and practices today at a press conference. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act (C.A.R.D.), is set to strengthen industry regulation and supervision, prevent increases in interest rates and terms, and prohibit exorbitant and unnecessary rates and fees, among other things.

Upon becoming chairman, Dodd put credit card companies “on notice” in 2007 and with this legislation is hoping to create “fairness and transparency for consumers.” Last year 700 million credit cards were given out that allocated about $9,000 of debt per household, due to, as Dodd said,“mostly excessive fees and exorbitant interest rates.” (more…)

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) says at a press conference to discuss Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s (D-NJ) new aviation safety bill that America will “have a crisis in the skies” if safety concerns are not met, and says that “if the president wants to go toe-to-toe with us on that, I say fine, let’s do it.” (0:27)

 

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At a press conference to discuss his new aviation safety bill, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) says that he opposes President Bush’s nomination of Robert Sturgell to the Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration because of the “lack of effective leadership at the FAA.” (0:24)

 

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Reviewing stand where President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai was attacked

Building from which attack on Karzai was launched

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Kabul, Afghanistan…. Muhammed Usman, 27 years old, is a thin, wiry, clean-shaven young man with nervous eyes that dart towards loud sounds and sudden movements. He works as a guide and interpreter for the Afghan Tourist Organization, part of the government’s Ministry of Information. He is careful, streetwise, and smart. He is a survivor in a region that values survivors.

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David Schroeder, president of the American Enterprise Bank, speaking on behalf of the Independent Community Bankers Association, says that “policymakers must also focus on the needs of the small business sector during this economic slowdown.” He says Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs should “bolster small business credit in economic slowdowns,” but instead the number of SBA loans being made is plummeting. (0:26)

 

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Chairwoman Melissa L. Bean (D-Ill.) of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Finance and Tax says that as banks and other institutions struggle, they are pulling back on lending, which makes credit harder to access for small business. She quotes a survey that says one-third of small business owners find credit more costly, less available, or both. (0:46)

 

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Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell gave a quick availability after a ceremony with the Secretary of Defense laying a wreath on a memorial for Mexican WWII veterans. Despite the desire from Pentagon public affairs that emphasis be placed on the trip to Mexico, the subject stayed squarely on the Middle East.

Morell said that everyone from the Secretary of Defense to the Chairman if the Joint Chiefs of Staff has acknowledged what a problem Iranian involvement in Iraq is and is determined to deal with it inside Iraq.

Morrell said that he is not aware of ramping up or revision of war plans for Iran. The focus of U.S. efforts is that Iranian arms and training of terrorists by Iran be dealt with within the confines of Iraq, Morrell said. He warned against the perception of an uptick in Iranian actions in Iraq, though he said, “We are seeing evidence that it continues.”

He also said that since the Basra incursion the Iraqi military has made great strides since the fighting a few weeks ago. One example of progress was the development of a concerned local citizens group called “sons of Basra,” paid by the Iraqi government to protect their neighborhoods.