A federal judge Thursday dismissed on jurisdictional grounds the lawsuit filed by former CIA agent Valerie Plame (in photo) against the Bush administration, which she claims ruined her career by blowing her covert status in retaliation for her husband’s criticisms of the Iraq war. It’s worth noting, though, that the ruling didn’t absolve the White House of ethical wrongdoing. The judge called the alleged smear tactics "highly unsavory" and stressed that the couple’s allegations "pose important questions relating to the propriety of actions undertaken by our highest government officials."
Posted by Randy Scholfield
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is at the center of another storm: Turns out agency lawyers silenced field workers who warned in early 2006 that FEMA-supplied trailers emitted dangerous levels of formaldehyde gas. The agency didn’t want to be liable for any damages.
As many as 120,000 families could have been exposed to the fumes, which FEMA measured at 75 times the safe level. Hundreds of people reported illness and at least one person was found dead after complaining about fumes.
Congressional lawmakers this week expressed outrage about the revelations.
So will FEMA be in charge of evacuating the 60,000 families still living in these trailers?
Another question Congress might pursue: Why do trailers emit high levels of dangerous gases?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
The pay of Kansas legislators is among the lowest in the nation, Associated Press reported — but it’s even less than it appears. More than half of the approximately $17,000 that legislators receive for the 90-day session is to help cover their meals and lodging in Topeka. And when the session ends, their work doesn’t stop; they continue to help constituents and meet with groups throughout the year — usually without additional pay.
Lawmakers who serve in some leadership positions get paid a little more. But Rep. Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said that the average legislator’s taxable salary for a full 90-day session and for serving on interim committees (which pay extra) is only $8,650.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Through June, Kansans had contributed more than $730,000 to 16 candidates in the 2008 presidential race. Predictably, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback had benefited the most from Kansans’ largesse, taking in $297,436.
Other contribution totals from Kansans for the campaign so far include, as reported by Harris News Service: Rudy Giuliani, $96,450; Mitt Romney, $78,150; Barack Obama, $76,596 (whose mom was a Kansan); John McCain, $45,645; John Edwards, $34,327; and Hillary Clinton, $29,660 (looks like her credential as former first lady of nearby Arkansas doesn’t count for much). Kansans’ contributions represented less than 0.3 percent of the $262.8 million individuals have given to candidates nationwide.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Conventional wisdom is that politicians who support merit pay for teachers aren’t supported by teachers’ unions. But even after bringing up the issue recently at the National Education Association convention, Sen. Barack Obama is escaping that fate — so far. It helps that Obama frames it as about setting “professional standards” for teachers. Said Reg Weaver, NEA president: “Any time you hear the word merit pay, many of us in the profession, an antenna goes up. Because the way merit pay has been used it has been abused; it has done nothing to enhance student learning. It seems every so often a lawmaker brings it up, but no one has brought it up like Obama has. He said he wants to do it with us, not to us.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
