Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak launches the Chicago Sun-Times/University of Illinois at Chicago Lecture Forum at an April 19 panel analyzing Washington policies and politics.
"We are pleased to embark on our inaugural panel series with UIC. Our long-term commitment will be to address topics that reflect the diverse communities and cultures that both the university and the Sun-Times serve," said John Cruickshank, Chicago Sun-Times Publisher.
"We welcome the opportunity to join with one of the nation's major newspapers in hosting a forum that will give the public the opportunity to hear from, and question, leading experts from academia and journalism on vital issues of the day," said UIC Chancellor Sylvia Manning.
PRESS AVAILABILITY WITH PRESIDENT BUSH, PRESIDENT FOX OF MEXICO, AND PRIME MINISTER HARPER OF CANADA
The three leaders talk about border issues and immigration as the U.S. is wrestling with what could be historic legislation.
The Senate this week declined to pass a tough package of ethics and lobbying reform, favoring a watered-down package instead. The House is working on its version of the same legislation.....with that in mind, read on.... This just in from the Justice Department..
WASHINGTON - Former lobbyist Tony C. Rudy pleaded guilty to conspiring with Jack Abramoff, Michael Scanlon and others to commit honest services fraud, mail and wire fraud, and a violation of conflict of interest post-employment restrictions, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) skips a funder for Senate Dems tonight in Chicago to head to Florida to whip up advance sales for his second book, ``The Audacity of Hope'' at a sales meeting staged by his publisher.
And, as he does when he travels, he'll raise money for his HOPEFUND. Sharon Stone lands in Chicago next month for Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) Sweet column below
But first, these BLOG SPECIAL items:
*Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in Chicago area tonight to keynote a funder for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) warchest.
* Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) coming out with a book co-written with Bruce Reed who served as a domestic policy advisor in the Clinton White House, where Emanuel also worked.
After next week, Congress goes on break for two weeks for the Easter recess.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at her briefing today called on Congress to log more hours in Washington.
Said Pelosi, `` The American people have uncertainty about their economic situation. There's a middle-class squeeze on. There's uncertainty about access to health care and whether they can afford it. The cost of higher education for their children, the flat purchasing power of the minimum wage -- they expect Congress to do something that is relevant to their lives. They have to work five days a week. I don't know why we shouldn't.''
The Illinois senators split on Wednesday's vote on lobbying and ethics reform. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) who in January was named the Democratic lead on ethics reform, in the wake of GOP lobbying scandals, voted no because the bill was not tough enough. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the number two Democrat in the Senate, voted for the measure, which does include a variety of improvements on the current situation, such as forcing more lobbyist disclosure.
The full Obama statement and rollcall vote follows.
The Senate on Wednesday passed an ethics and lobbying bill that fell short of the loophole closing measure reform advocates wanted. Senators kept a perk which allows them to take cut-rate flights on corporate aircraft paying only a fraction of the price, equal to a first class fare.
From the Department of Justice...the prison time for convicted former lobbist Jack Abramoff...
MIAMI-Jack A. Abramoff and Adam R. Kidan were sentenced to 70 months in prison followed by three years supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Paul C. Huck, R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge of for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today. In addition, the defendants were ordered to pay restitution to Foothill Capital in the amount of $21,701,015.45. The defendants were also ordered to complete 750 hours of community service during their supervised release period.
The White House did not want Democrats to dominate the news cycle talking about national security.
Vice President Cheney gave a telephone interview to Fox's Tony Snow where they talked about, among other items, the censure call made by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.)
Feingold did not find many Democrats joining him in his censure bid.
Cheney suggested the Republicans may want to call Feingold's bluff.
Said Cheney: `` I, for one, am inclined to think that the best way to treat it is with a certain amount of contempt. My guess is that if it were to come to a vote, and that were the issue, then, in fact, a vast majority of Democrats would vote against it. I think they'd be embarrassed to have to even consider it.''
Republicans did not wait much to reply to the Democratic roll out of their national security iniatives today.
Below, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.) talks about the Democratic approach, with counters from House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and others.
He will meet with the Mexican president and Canadian prime minister.
In an interview with CNN ESPAÑOL, Bush said, `` Well, I think it's very important for the three of us to continue to commit ourselves to a relationship that -- a commercial relationship based upon trade, free and fair trade, a security relationship based upon kind of mutual understanding of how we can cooperate.''
I'll be at a breakfast briefing Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi were I figure they will want to talk about their rollout today of their national security proposals.
This from the Dems:Washington, D.C.-House and Senate Democrats will hold a major event today at 1 p.m. to unveil the comprehensive Democratic plan to protect America: Real Security. Despite their tough talk, Republican's incompetence has made America less safe. Democrats will offer tough and smart policies to provide the real security that Americans expect and demand.
The volume in the heated House duel between Democrat Tammy Duckworth and Republican Peter Roskam was cranked up Tuesday as Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) became a factor in the race.
This react on the White House shake up just in, from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
Durbin is skeptical whether the departure of Chief of Staff Andy Card will put the Bush White House on the right course.
``They picked the wrong person to toss overboard,'' Durbin said.
UPDATE: House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) praises Card in his statement.
UPDATE 2: Durbin on Card resignation and more in interview on CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.
