California Scheming

From the Los Angeles Times:

Under President Bush, California Democrats often felt like Rodney Dangerfield.

But with Barack Obama headed to the White House — giving their party control of both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time in 14 years — lawmakers from one of the nation’s bluest states are looking to gain more than just respect. They expect to wield more political clout as well.

Not only will House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco preside over a bigger Democratic majority with a friendlier president, but Californians will chair four House committees, more than any other state.

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Offshore Shilling

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

On the surface, President Bush’s decision Monday to lift the presidential moratorium on offshore drilling – a policy initiated by his father and extended by Bill Clinton – appeared only to embolden Democrats in their efforts to preserve the 27-year-old federal ban.

Congress has renewed its ban on drilling on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts every year since 1981, and top Democrats said Monday they will do so again this year, despite the pressure from Bush. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Bush’s action a hoax that “will neither reduce gas prices nor increase energy independence.”

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Bribed and Groomed

From North County Times:

SAN DIEGO — Showing no emotion and still denying the charges, former defense contractor Brent Wilkes was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years for bribing U.S. Rep Randy “Duke” Cunningham with cash, lavish vacations and evenings with prostitutes.

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Fussbudget

From The Examiner:

WASHINGTON (Map, News) – Since January, President Bush has been publicly condemning Congress for what he describes as wasteful spending on “earmarks,” money for projects back home that lawmakers insert into spending bills.

But presidents, including Bush, play the earmark game, too. Bush stuffs his budget with billions for pet projects very much like the ones he attacks when they originate on Capitol Hill, according to taxpayer groups and members of Congress.

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Are We Having Funds Yet?

From the Los Angeles Times:

Setting up another confrontation with congressional Democrats over the war in Iraq, President Bush on Monday sent Congress a $45.9-billion emergency funding request for expenses related to U.S. military campaigns around the world.

The request, which comes on top of $147.5 billion sought by the administration earlier this year, pushes the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to more than $600 billion.

It also appears certain to further inflame tensions between the president and his Democratic critics on Capitol Hill, who are locked in a rancorous debate over federal spending bills as well as the war.

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