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HavenWorks.com/georgia Georgia News |
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Georgia News, Georgia State News, Georgia capital: Atlanta, GA News |
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 US
States
Georgia capital: Atlanta US
Capitals
GA: Georgia State
Abbr.
Georgia state is bordered by the states of Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 
Georgia state is also bordered by the Atlantic Ocean . GA News ~~~~~~~ |
 Georgia
GEORGIA News:
 Food
-  Safety
-  Manufacturers
-  Federal
- Inpectors
-  Corporate
-  Law
- Ga
"Salmonella found at Ga. plant as early as 2006: Owner Stewart Parnell refused to testify at hearing; 9 have now died." ... "See the jar, the congressman challenged Stewart Parnell, holding up a container of the peanut seller's products and asking if he'd dare eat them. Parnell pleaded the Fifth." ... "The owner of the peanut company at the heart of the massive salmonella recall refused to answer the lawmaker's questions — or any others — Wednesday about the bacteria-tainted products he defiantly told employees to ship to some 50 manufacturers of cookies, crackers and ice cream." ... ""Turn them loose," Parnell had told his plant manager in an internal e-mail disclosed at the House hearing." ... "Shortly after Parnell's appearance, a lab tester told the panel that the company discovered salmonella at its Blakely, Ga. [Georgia], plant as far back as 2006. Food and Drug Administration officials told lawmakers more federal inspections could have helped prevent the outbreak." -AP -MSNBC 
 Pete
Sessions -  Michael
Steele -  Terrorism
-  Radio
- Government
- Economic
- Legislation
-  Job
-  Tex
- Ga
-  Maryland
- 2006
Election
 "Republicans
See Long-Term Victory in Defeat on Stimulus Plan."
... "GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican] Sees Positives In Negative Stand:
Leaders Seize On Spending Issue." ... "After giving the package zero [Republican]
votes in the House, and 0 with their [Republican] counterparts in the Senate
likely to provide in a crucial procedural vote today only the handful of
votes needed to avoid a filibuster, Republicans are relishing the opportunity
to make a big statement. [Texas Republican Representative] Rep. Pete Sessions
(R-Tex. [Representative-Texas]) suggested last week that the party is learning
from the disruptive tactics of the Taliban, and the GOP these days does
have the bravado of an insurgent band that has pulled together after a
big defeat to carry off a quick, if not particularly damaging, raid on
the powers that be." ... "And it means rallying to Rush Limbaugh, who has
put himself forward as a de facto party leader, penning an op-ed article
in the Wall Street Journal and accepting the on-air apologies of [Georgia
Republican Representative] Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga. [Republican-Georgia]),
who criticized the radio host and paid for it in a deluge of angry calls."
... "[Republican National Committee chairman Michael S. Steele congratulated
congressional Republicans in some of his first remarks as Republican chairman,]
"The goose egg that you laid on the president's desk was just beautiful,"
he told them. "You and I know that in the history of mankind and womankind,
government -- federal, state or local -- has never created one job. It's
destroyed a lot of them."" ... "Steele is also facing a distraction --
a federal inquiry into allegations that his 2006 [election Maryland] Senate
campaign paid a defunct company run by his sister for services that were
never performed. The campaign's finance chairman made the allegations to
federal prosecutors last year as he sought leniency during plea negotiations
on unrelated fraud charges." -By Alec MacGillis and
Perry Bacon Jr. -WashingtonPost
Criminal
- Food
- Safety
-  Science
- Consumers
-  Health
- Ga
-  Agricultural
- Corporation
- Plant
"FDA: Plant knew peanuts laced with salmonella." ... "As far back as 2007, salmonella-laced products were shipped by a Georgia peanut company [owned by Stewart Parnell] that knew the peanuts probably were tainted and sometimes after tests confirmed that contamination, inspection records show." ... "Federal law forbids producing or shipping foods under conditions that could make it harmful to consumers' health." ... "Food and Drug Administration officials earlier had said Peanut Corp. [Corporation] of America waited for a second test to clear peanut butter and peanuts that initially were positive for salmonella. But the agency amended its report Friday, saying that the Blakely, Ga. [Georgia], plant actually shipped some products before receiving the second test and sold others after confirming salmonella." ... "The salmonella outbreak has been blamed for at least eight deaths and 575 illnesses in 43 states. The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation. More than 1,550 products have been recalled." -By Brett J. Blackledge and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar with contributions by Mary Clare Jalonick -AP via -Yahoo
Food
- Safety
- Manufacturing
- Company
- Government
- Law
- Georgia
"FDA Alleges Company Knowingly Sold Peanut Products Containing Salmonella." ... "There is new information available about the recent salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter from a plant in Georgia." ... "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said at least 12 times over the past two years the Peanut Corporation of America has knowingly sold products that had tested positive for salmonella." ... "The FDA also claimed the company did nothing to improve its manufacturing and sanitation practices after salmonella was found in its plant, and that is a clear violation of the law." ... "More than 500 people have gotten sick and the outbreak may have contributed to at least eight deaths. " -ByLee Sausley -KRISTV.com via -MSNBC 
 Bob
Corker -  Richard
Shelby -  Jim
DeMint -  Mitch
McConnell -  Foreign
- Money
-  Politicians
-  Auto
- Makers
-  Michigan
-  US
- Workers
- Emergency
- Law
-  Tennessee
-  Alabama
-  Kentucky
-  South
Carolina - Georgia
-  Japanese
-  German
-  South
Korean
"Meet the GOP's [Republican's] wrecking crew: Why did a small group of Southern Republicans turn the auto bailout into a demolition derby? Introducing the senators who hate unions and love foreign cars." ... "On July 15, [Tennessee Republican Senator] Bob Corker was a happy man." ... ""I cannot think of a more exciting day, even more so than Election Night, for me," the Republican senator from Tennessee said in a conference call that day. The reason for his elation was the announcement that [German automaker] Volkswagen, lured by up to $500 million worth of incentives from the state government, had agreed to build a $1 billion plant near Chattanooga, Tenn. [Tennessee.] That is, not just in his home state, but in the suburbs of the city he once served as mayor." ... "Add VW [Volkwagen] to [Japan automaker] Nissan, which already has two plants and its North American headquarters in Tennessee, and you begin to see why Corker was so aggressive this month about trying to block -- or at least dramatically rewrite -- a proposal to float billions of dollars in emergency loans to domestic automakers. Most of the focus during this debate has been on lawmakers who represent Michigan, the home of the Big Three -- Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. But Corker represents the other side of the coin: Tennessee and other Southern states have recently come to depend on foreign automakers and their non-union factories. If you're from those parts, what's good for American car companies may no longer be what's good for the country -- because your economy now depends on their foreign competitors instead." ... "Expect to hear more not just from the very vocal Bob Corker, but from the rest of a core group of Southern senators whose bread is buttered by the Japanese, Germans and Koreans. Here's a guide to the major players."
"As mayor of Chattanooga, he [Corker] reportedly conceived the idea for the site that will soon become home to the [German automaker] Volkswagen plant, and was instrumental in its development. He organized efforts to lure [Japanese automaker] Toyota to the area, and when that failed, he had VW execs [executives] and other top state politicians over to his house for dinner." ... "Georgia's two Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isaakson, both voted against the plan as well. Their state has a big [South Korean automaker] Kia factory coming in soon." (1, 2) -By Alex Koppelman and Mike Madden with contributions by Vincent Rossmeier and Gabriel Winant -Salon 
 Jeff
Sessions - Auto
- Makers
- Workers
- Health
Care -  Pension
- Politics
- Federal
- Economy
-  2010
Election - Michigan
-  Ohio
- US
- Foreign
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Japan
- South
Korea
"It's North vs. South in Big Three bailout fight." ... "Should taxpayers in Alabama be required to bail out [American] automakers whose plants are concentrated in Northern states like Michigan and Ohio?" ... "Alabama is home to three Honda [Japan automaker] and Hyundai [South Korea automaker] plants. And just across the state line in Georgia, a new Kia [Hyundai] plant is set to open and will likely employ many Alabamans." ... "[Alabama Republican Senator] Sen. Jeff Sessions, R- Ala. [Republican-Alabama], told reporters Wednesday, “I can not imagine a real justification for a worker in Alabama who does not have any health insurance at his company to be taxed to maintain a Cadillac health care plan for somebody in Detroit [Michigan].”" ... "The struggle over whether Congress should make the loan is a classic regional battle: North vs. South, unionized states like Michigan vs. mostly non-union ones like Alabama." ... "“There are some states that might think there’s a competitive advantage for them if the Big Three don’t make it,” [Michigan Democratic Senator] Sen. Carl Levin, D- Mich. [Democratic-Michigan], a Big Three ally, told reporters Tuesday." ... "[Kentucky Republican Senator] Sen. Jim Bunning, R- Ky. [Republican-Kentucky], who is up for re-election in 2010, said Wednesday, “It’s not a balancing act. It’s whether the federal government should intervene in the private-sector economy. And I believe it should not. I am very concerned that people as hard-headed as the three people who spoke to us yesterday would not have a plan in place and not have any concession to make, but they would just want the money so they can burn through it. That’s unacceptable.”" ... "And if Chrysler and General Motors go into bankruptcy or liquidation?" ... "“I think that’s probably the best thing that can happen,” [Kentucky Republican Senator] Bunning replied. “Then there will be a reorganization and they’ll be able to jettison things they couldn’t ordinarily jettison, like health care benefits, like pension benefits and there will be someone to pick those up like the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. And then they will be able to restructure their salaries to get more in line with foreign producers and they may come out of bankruptcy a heck of a lot better off than they go into it.”" (1, 2) -By Tom Curry -MSNBC 
Georgia
-  Nevada
- 2008
Election - Politics
"RNC gives NRSC $2 million for GA runoff." ... "[Nevada Republican Senator] Sen. John Ensign said Wednesday that the Republican National Committee (RNC) has transferred $2 million earmarked for the Senate runoff in Georgia to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which was $4 million in debt after [2008] Election Day." ... "The committee has already launched a $700,000 ad buy in the Georgia race, which pits [Georgia Republican Senator] Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga. [Republican-Georgia]) against former state [Georgia State Democratic Representative] Rep. Jim Martin (D [Democratic])." -By Aaron Blake -TheHill.com
Political
- Corporate
-  Television
-  Media
- Michigan
-  Massachusetts
-  New
York -  Arizona
- Georgia
-  Louisiana
- Alabama
"More Muscle." ... "TPM Reader RS ..." "Here is something progressives really need to address. On Sunday morning political shows, three Democrats are confirmed as guests: [Michigan Democratic Senator] Carl Levin, [Massachusetts Democratic Representative] Barney Frank, and [New York Democratic Representative] Charlie Rangel. It's as if Democrats didn't just win huge electoral advances in the Presidential, House, and Senate elections. So we get the same thing we've had the past 8 years--republican hegemony on Sunday. [Arizona Republican Senator Jon] Kyl? Check. [former Georgia Republican Representative Newt] Gingrich? Check. [Republican Michael] Steele? Check. [Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby] Jindal and [Alabama Republican Senator Richard] Shelby? Check and check? Just look at The Page for the whole list. When is the "liberal media" going to give some of the oxygen to Democrats?""This is unquestionably true. The bookers and producers of the Sunday shows are committed to the continuing dominance of conservative/Republican marquee guests. No question about it. And this is going to be one part of the rewiring of Washington that will take longer and face more resistance than possibly any other. The big interests and institutions that go to Washington to buy influence are quickly reacting to the changing political complexion of the city. The TV bookers and opinion act like nothing's happened." -By Josh Marshall .TalkingPointsMemo
 Don
E Siegelman -  Karl
Rove -  Michael
Mukasey -  Leura
G Canary -  Bob
Riley - Criminal
- US
Attorney - Politics
- Federal
- Law
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Michigan
"More Allegations of Misconduct in Alabama Governor Case." ... "Next month in Atlanta [Georgia's capital], a federal court will hear the high-profile appeal of former [Democratic] Alabama governor Don E. Siegelman, whose conviction on corruption charges in 2006 became one of the most publicly debated cases to emerge from eight years of controversy at the [Republican President] Bush Justice Department. Now new documents highlight alleged misconduct by the Bush-appointed [United States] U.S. Attorney and other prosecutors in the case, including what appears to be extensive and unusual contact between the prosecution and the jury." ... "The documents, obtained by TIME, include internal prosecution e-mails [PDF] given to the Justice Department and Congress by a whistle-blower during the past 18 months. [Michigan Democratic Representative] John Conyers, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which investigated the Siegelman case as part of a broader inquiry into alleged political interference in the hiring and firing of U.S. Attorneys by the Bush Justice Department, last week sent an eight-page letter [PDF] to Attorney General Michael Mukasey citing the new material." ... "Conyers says the evidence raises "serious questions" about the U.S. Attorney in the Siegelman case, who, documents show, continued to involve herself in the politically charged prosecution long after she had publicly withdrawn to avoid an alleged conflict of interest relating to her husband, a top GOP operative and close associate of Bush adviser Karl Rove. Conyers' letter also cites evidence of numerous contacts between jurors and members of the Siegelman prosecution team that were never disclosed to the trial judge or defense counsel." ... "Critics, including a bipartisan group of 52 state attorneys general, have raised numerous questions, including the allegation that Siegelman was prosecuted at the insistence of Bush-appointed officials at the Justice Department and Leura G. Canary, a U.S. Attorney in Montgomery [Alabama] whose husband [William "Bill" Canary] was Alabama's top Republican operative and who had worked closely with Rove for years." ... "The documents — whose authenticity is not in dispute — include e-mails written by Canary, long after her recusal, offering legal advice to subordinates handling the case. At the time Canary wrote the e-mails, her husband — Alabama GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican operative William J. Canary — was a vocal booster of the state's Republican governor, Bob Riley, who had defeated Siegelman for the office and against whom Siegelman was preparing to run again. Canary also received tens of thousands of dollars in fees from other political opponents of Siegelman." ... "A key prosecution e-mail describes how jurors repeatedly contacted the government's legal team during the trial to express, among other things, one juror's romantic interest in a member of the prosecution team." ... "What's more, when prosecutors conducted their own investigation of suspected improper conduct by jurors after the trial, two of them were interviewed, despite instructions from the judge that no contact with jurors should occur without his permission. Those interviews were not publicly disclosed until nearly two years later, when the head of the [Department Of Justice] DOJ's criminal division belatedly wrote all parties, including the appeals court in Atlanta, to inform them." ... "Further undisclosed evidence of prosecution team members speaking with jurors following the verdict emerges in [Justice Department staffer Tamarah] Grimes' written statement to the DOJ." -By Adam Zagorin -TIME.com
 John
McCain -  Ralph
Reed -  Jack
Abramoff - Criminal
Investigation - Religion
- Politics
- Georgia
- 2008
Election
"McCain nets $1.75 million at Reed-linked event." .. "[2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate] John McCain raised more than $1.75 million for Republicans Monday at a fundraiser [in Georgia's capital Atlanta] clouded by confusion over the role of a political operative connected to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff." .. "The downtown event was promoted by Ralph Reed, a former head of the Christian Coalition. McCain's campaign said the event was organized by the Republican National Committee — not Reed, who was linked to the Abramoff scandal that McCain investigated in the Senate." .. "A House investigative committee in 2006 did not call Reed as a witness, but concluded that he interceded with the [Republican President] Bush White House to help some of Abramoff's clients. Reed's public relations firm also received $4.2 million from Abramoff to mobilize Christian voters to fight the opening of casinos that could compete with Abramoff's Indian tribe clients." .. "Abramoff went to prison for conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion." -By Philip Elliott -AP via -Yahoo
John
McCain - Ralph
Reed - Jack
Abramoff - Money
- Religion
- Georgia
- 2006
Election - 2008
Election
"Protesters mark McCain’s visit to Atlanta for fund-raiser." ... "More than 50 protesters marched in front of the Marriott Marquis [in Georgia's capital Atlanta] on Monday, shouting “Bush, McCain, same thing!”" ... "Across Peachtree Center Avenue, Georgia Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kidd and state [Georgia Democratic state Senator] Sen. David Adelman (D-Atlanta) held a news conference to add a more official voice of protest." ... "Kidd blasted McCain for only coming to the state to raise money and not to meet with regular voters." ... "“Instead of listening to Georgians, John McCain chose to talk with people who have given him thousands of dollars,” she said." ... "That includes Ralph Reed, said Adelman." ... "Reed is the former head of the Christian Coalition who in 2006 [election] lost a bid for the Georgia GOP [GOP=Grand Old Party=Republican] nomination as lieutenant governor after he was implicated, but not charged, in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal in Washington." ... "Reed e-mailed supporters and friends to urge them to give to the [2008 Election Republican Presidential Candidate John] McCain campaign. Reed also instructed potential donors to send contributions directly to him. Reed told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he sent the e-mail at the request of the campaign and was given boilerplate language to use. He said he has no role in the campaign or in this event, something the McCain campaign confirmed." ... "But Reed’s involvement in raising money has been a source of ridicule and scorn from Democrats." ... "Reed, Adelman said, “has sold his influence with Christian conservative voters to the highest bidder.”" -By Aaron Gould Sheinin -AJC
John
McCain - Ralph
Reed - Jack
Abramoff -  Grover
Norquist
- Politics
- Georgia
- Arizona
- 2008
Election
"McCain ignoring calls to cancel controversial fundraiser." ... "[2008 Election] Republican presidential candidate John McCain so far is ignoring calls from several watchdog groups to cancel an Atlanta [Georgia] fundraiser promoted by [Georgia Republican] Ralph Reed, a longtime friend and business partner of imprisoned [Republican] lobbyist Jack Abramoff." ... "Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and Campaign Money Watch are urging the Arizona senator to cancel plans for the [August] Aug. 18 fundraiser at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta and remove Reed from McCain’s Victory 2008 Team." ... "Reed lost his 2006 campaign for Georgia lieutenant governor in large part because of details about his relationship with Abramoff — much of the information uncovered by McCain’s Indian Affairs Committee investigation into the wide-ranging lobbying corruption scandal." ... "The Senate probe discovered $4 million in payments Reed accepted to run a bogus anti-casino campaign aimed at reducing gambling competition. An Indian tribe with a competing casino made payments to Reed, which according to the Senate investigation’s final report, were “passed through” Abramoff’s firm, Preston, Gates, Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds, and another organization, Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform." -By Susan Crabtree -TheHill.com
 Homes
- Nevada
-  Florida
- Phoenix
- Arizona
- Los
Angeles - San
Diego - San
Francisco -  California
- Florida
- Michigan
-  Minnesota
-  Illinois
- Ohio
- Georgia
- New
York - Seattle
-  Washington
- Massachusetts
- Portland
-  Oregon
-  Colorado
- Texas
-  North
Carolina
"Home prices down 15.8% in past year, S&P says: Seven of 20 cities tally monthly price gains in May, Case-Shiller data show." ... "Prices in 10 cities fell 16.9% in the past year." ... "Prices thus are at the same levels as they were in the summer of 2004, which means four years of appreciation have been effectively wiped out. Prices are down 18.4% from peak levels seen two years ago." ... "Here's a list of the 20 cities in the Case-Shiller index with the annual decline through May: Las Vegas [Nevada], down 28.4%; Miami [Florida], down 28.3%; Phoenix [Arizona], down 26.5%; Los Angeles [California], down 24.5%; San Diego [California], down 23.2%; San Francisco [California], down 22.9%; Tampa [Florida], down 20.2%; Detroit [Michigan], down 17.4%; Washington [DC], down 15.4%; Minneapolis [Minnesota], down 14.8%; Chicago [Illinois], down 9.4%; Cleveland [Ohio], down 8%; Atlanta [Georgia], and New York [City, New York], both down 7.9%; Seattle [Washington], down 6.3%; Boston [Massachusetts], down 6.2%; Portland [Oregon], down 5.2%; Denver [Colorado], down 4.8%; Dallas [Texas], down 3.1%; and Charlotte, N.C. [North Carolina], down 0.2%." -By Rex Nutting -MarketWatch
 Gordon
Smith - Abramoff
-  John
Roberts - Ore
- Ariz
- Nev
- Georgia
- US
-  UK
Scotland -  Sports
-  History
- Politics
"Gordon Smith says he is missing the links." ... "He [Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith] once paid $1.25 million for four really vintage golf clubs - including a putter owned by King James IV in 1504 - and can speak at passionate length about golfing in Scotland [UK], having done so several times." ... "Golf Digest says it ran into a lot of this reticence in [Washington Top 200 golf list] its survey this year." "In the wake of the [Jack] Abramoff scandal, there's a greater-than-ever hesitancy among golfers to admit they play. [Republican lobbyist Jack] Abramoff is the former high-powered lobbyist who pleaded guilty in 2006 to charges involving fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Luxury golf junkets to Scotland were among the things that got him in trouble." ... "For now, mum's the word among many D.C. golfers. Even Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, a longtime player whose 14.5 Index hasn't been updated since 2000, declined to approximate his handicap, saying he hasn't been playing enough to have one. Same for [Oregon Republican Senator] Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore. [Republican-Oregon]) and [Arizona Democratic Representative] Rep. Ed Pastor (D-Ariz. [Democratic-Arizona]). Freshman [Nevada Republican Representative] Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev. [Republican-Nevada]), a member of the Republican "Ryder Cup" team, also declined to reveal a handicap. [former Georgia Republican Representative] Newt Gingrich, a proud 47-handicapper as a new golfer in 2005, doesn't admit to playing, either."" -By Jeff Mapes -Oregonian
|
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Money
- Politics
- Federal
- Housing
- Legislation
- 
New
Jersey - Georgia
- California
- Texas
- 
Utah
- Maryland
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Washington
- 2004
Election - US
- 
Netherlands
- "Lender
Lobbying Blitz Abetted Mortgage Mess: Ameriquest
Pressed For Changes in Laws; A Battle in New Jersey." ... "During the housing
boom, the subprime industry succeeded at more than just writing mortgages.
It also shot down efforts by some states to curtail risky lending to borrowers
with spotty credit." ... "Ameriquest Mortgage Co. [ACC Capital Holdings],
until recently one of the nation's largest subprime lenders, was at the
center of those battles. Working with a husband-and-wife team of Washington
lobbyists, it handed out more than $20 million in political donations and
played a big role in persuading legislators in New Jersey and Georgia to
relax tough new laws. Those victories, in turn, helped blunt efforts by
other states to crack down on reckless lending, critics of the industry
contend." ... "Home loans made by Ameriquest and other subprime lenders
are defaulting now in large numbers, roiling global credit markets and
sparking debate about whether regulators and lawmakers should have anticipated
the mess and taken action. A close look at Ameriquest's lobbying and political
donations shows how the subprime industry maneuvered to defeat legislation
that might have contained some of the damage." ... "Data from federal and
state campaign-finance records, Internal Revenue Service filings, and the
National Institute on Money in State Politics show that from 2002 through
2006, Ameriquest, its executives and their spouses and business associates
donated at least $20.5 million to state and federal political groups. In
comparison, over the same time period, Countrywide Financial, another large
subprime lender, gave about $2 million in campaign gifts, and spent an
additional $6.7 million lobbying in Washington, records indicate." ...
"Some of the giving by Ameriquest executives and associates was high-profile.
[Republican] President Bush received more than $200,000 for his 2004 re-election
campaign, and Ameriquest founder Roland Arnall and his wife, Dawn, contributed
more than $5 million to political organizations that backed the president.
Last year, [Republican] President Bush appointed Mr. Arnall ambassador
to the Netherlands, and his wife took over as chairman of Ameriquest's
parent company. California [Republican Governor] Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's
campaigns received at least $1.4 million, along with stacks of tickets
to a Rolling Stones concert that were used to lure big donors." ... "Last
year, ACC Capital, its [Ameriquest Mortgage Company] parent company, agreed
to pay $325 million to settle regulators' claims that it charged excessively
high mortgage rates and didn't adequately disclose loan risks. Some of
the state attorneys general who signed the settlement, including Greg Abbott
of Texas, received campaign donations from the firm. Utah's attorney general,
Mark Shurtleff, received a $1,000 contribution and Rolling Stones tickets."
... "Ameriquest also handed out Rolling Stones tickets to state legislators
in Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and California,
according to ethics records and local news accounts." ... "Federal lawmakers
didn't pose much of a threat to the subprime industry in recent years.
Members of Congress received at least $645,000 in donations from Ameriquest
and large sums from other big subprime lenders, Federal Election Commission
records indicate." ... "ACC Capital, Ameriquest's parent company, and its
executives gave more than $350,000 to Texas politicians in 2006, including
$100,000 to [Republican Governor] Gov. Rick Perry, according to state records."
-By Glenn R. Simpson -WSJ.com
Rudy
Giuliani- Federal
- 
Energy
- Legislation
- Politics
- 
Wind
- Technology
- 
Environment
- 2008
Election - Massachusetts
- Georgia
- Ohio
- "Giuliani
Firm, Utilities Team Up to Fight Renewable-Energy Plan."
... "A lobbying blitz by some of the U.S.'s biggest utility companies is
likely to strangle the most potent provision in energy legislation that's
making its way through Congress." ... "[Atlanta, Georgia-based] Southern
Co., [Ohio based] American Electric Power Co. and other producers hired
top Washington lobbyists, including [2008 Election Republican Presidential
Candidate] Rudy Giuliani's firm, to help defeat a measure that would force
them to boost electricity generated by wind, solar and other forms of renewable
energy to 15 percent of the U.S. total by 2020. That's up from less than
2 percent today, and is a move the industry says would cost at least $67
billion." ... "The Senate failed on Dec. 7 to get the 60 votes needed to
move the legislation, a day after the House of Representatives approved
it. To get the bill to [Republican] President George W. Bush's desk this
year and steer clear of a White House veto threat, the Senate will probably
have to pass a weakened measure." ... "``The lobbying effort led by Southern
Co. is the principal obstacle to America unleashing a renewable-electricity
revolution,'' says Representative Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat[ic
Representative] who has led the fight for a federal standard on the new
energy sources." ... "The legislation pits the utilities and oil companies
against wind and solar-electricity producers, as well as venture-capital
firms such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, where former [Democratic]
Vice President Al Gore is a partner. Those firms have made billions of
dollars in clean-energy-technology investments, which would pay off if
the bill becomes law." -By Daniel Whitten and Tina
Seeley -Bloomberg
Alphonso
Jackson
- Criminal
- Corporate
- Federal
- Housing
- Politics
- Law
- New
Orleans - Louisiana
- Georgia
- 
Virgin
Islands - SC
- "A
Helping Hand." ... "By all accounts, Housing Secretary
Alphonso
Jackson is a tough, hands-on manager who gets what he wants. "He's
not flying at the 50,000-feet level," says a former senior official in
the Housing and Urban Development Department. "He is definitely into the
weeds." Yet when it comes to dealing with contracts at HUD, Jackson insists
he never gets involved -- "I don't mess" with contracts, he said in a sworn
interview with federal investigators last year. But his record as secretary,
and as deputy secretary before that, suggests otherwise." ... "Behind the
scenes, Jackson has helped to arrange lucrative contract work running into
the hundreds of thousands of dollars for friends and associates who went
to work at HUD-controlled housing authorities in New Orleans [Louisiana]
and the Virgin Islands, according to people familiar with his actions.
Indeed, one of Jackson's good friends, Atlanta [Georgia] lawyer Michael
Hollis, appears to have been paid approximately $1 million for managing
the troubled Virgin Islands Housing Authority. Before landing at the authority,
some sources said, Hollis had no experience in running a public housing
agency." ... "Jackson's past efforts to aid his friends are causing him
no end of headaches. For several months, a federal grand jury, Justice
Department prosecutors, the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation], and
the HUD inspector general's office have been exploring Jackson's role in
contracting decisions at the housing department. According to people familiar
with the investigation, federal agents are focusing on Jackson's relationship
with one friend in particular, William Hairston, a stucco contractor
from Hilton Head Island, S.C. [South Carolina.]" ... "In interviews several
weeks ago with National Journal, Hairston acknowledged that Jackson
had helped him land a lucrative job around January 2006 at the Housing
Authority of New Orleans, or HANO. HUD and a former HANO official have
said that Hairston was paid about $485,000 for working as a construction
manager at HANO during an 18-month period. As it turns out, new information
uncovered by National Journal suggests that Hairston was paid even
more than that. HSD, a Georgia company that was affiliated with Hairston,
was paid $186,280 under a direct contract with HUD, federal procurement
records show. A HUD document identified Hairston as a representative of
HSD." ... "Federal investigators are digging deep into Jackson's relationship
with Hairston, a sometime golfing buddy of the secretary's. According to
the people familiar with the inquiry, federal investigators are also reviewing
allegations that Hairston did work on Jackson's vacation home in Hilton
Head." ... "Simply put, investigators are exploring whether Jackson lied
when he said he did not get involved in HUD contracting. Federal criminal
investigators would not comment on their inquiry." ... "At least four associates
of Jackson have benefited from contracts awarded at the New Orleans and
Virgin Islands housing authorities." -By Edward T.
Pound -NationalJournal
2008
Election - John
Edwards
- NC
- NY
- Georgia
- "2008
and counting: Edwards hits Clinton on red-state credibility."
... "[2008 election] Democratic presidential candidate and former [North
Carolina Senator] Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) is stepping up his attacks
on front-runner [New York Senator] Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (N.Y.)
ability to compete in so-called red states, implicitly accusing her of
being a drag on the ticket next year." ... "The Edwards campaign on Thursday
announced its “True Blue Majority” initiative, which will start next week
and feature events with elected officials from red and battleground states
talking about why only Edwards can “ensure that Democrats maintain and
expand Democratic majorities in Congress” from the top of the ticket."
... "“We need a leader who can compete anywhere in America, and win,” former
Georgia [Governor ] Gov. Roy Barnes said in a statement. “Some pundits
say that a Democrat can’t win in some places in the South, Midwest or West.
But they’re wrong. The right Democratic presidential nominee — one who
shares our values, understands our issues and offers real and bold solutions
— can win these states. That candidate is John Edwards.”" -By
Sam Youngman -TheHill.com
Water
- Emergency
- 
Weather
- Environment
- History
- Farm
- Animals
- Food
- Georgia
- Alabama
- North
Carolina - Tennessee
- Kentucky
- "Southeast
drought hits crisis point." ... "Outdoor watering
bans already cover the northern third of Georgia and dozens of cities,
counties and towns in surrounding states. Farmers are selling cattle because
pastures have dried up. Alabama's Elmore County had to bring in floating
pumps and barges to extend its water intake pipe farther out into shrinking
Lake Martin. Georgia might have to do the same at Lake Lanier, Atlanta's
main water source." ... "Although rain is due today across parts of the
region, it will barely dampen the 16-month drought. Through September,
it is the region's driest year in 113 years of record-keeping. In five
of the six worst-hit states, rain totals this year are close to a foot
below normal." ... "It is the driest year on record for North Carolina
and Tennessee, second-driest in Alabama and third-driest in Kentucky. A
tree-ring study this summer of Tennessee's rainfall history shows this
is the third-driest year for the state in at least 350 years, behind only
1839 and 1708." -By Patrick O'Driscoll and Larry Copeland
with contributions by Jordan Schrader, Marty Roney, Leon Alligood, Ron
Barnett, Jessie Halladay, Matt Reed, and Jennie Coughlin
-USATODAY
Georgia
- Alabama
- Florida
- History
- "Southeast
withers from 16 months of drought woes." ... "Atlanta
[Georgia] has long relied on 38,000-acre Lake Lanier north of the city
to supply its tap water. But as Georgia became one of the nation's fastest-growing
states, its capital grew to more than 4.5 million people, and the '50s-era
reservoir simply could not keep up." ... ""Atlanta is one of the largest
metropolitan areas on one of the smallest watersheds in the country," says
Jill Johnson of Georgia Conservation Voters. "As we've continued to grow,
our demand has increased. So there are more people using more water than
ever before. But the amount of water available to us in the watershed didn't
change."" ... "Atlanta [Georgia's capital] sought to increase its water
draw from Lake Lanier in 1989. The state unveiled a plan for 12 new reservoirs
on the Chattahoochee River to supply future needs. After years of eyeing
Atlanta's increasing thirst, neighboring Alabama and Florida sued to protect
their own water needs downstream." ... "The "Tri-State Water War" has been
winding through the courts ever since." -By Larry
Copeland and Patrick O'Driscoll with contributions by Jordan Schrader,
Marty Roney, Leon Alligood, Ron Barnett, Jessie Halladay, Matt Reed, Jennie
Coughlin -USATODAY
J
Dennis Hastert - 
DeLay
- 
Foley
- 
Cunningham
- 
Ney
- Legislation
- History
- Illinois
- Texas- Ga
- La
- Florida
- California
- Ohio
- "Hastert
Planning to Retire at End of 2008, GOP Sources Say."
... "After less than a year as a rank-and-file House member, former Speaker
[Illinois Republican Representative] J. Dennis Hastert is expected to call
an end to a political career that made him the longest serving Republican
Speaker in the history of the House of Representatives." ... "Hastert,
65, was first elected to Congress in 1986 after GOP [Illinois Republican
Representative] Rep. John E. Grotberg retired. He quietly worked his way
up the ranks in the House, propelled into the Republican leadership in
1994 by then-Rep. [Texas Republican Representative] Tom DeLay, R-Texas."
... "Hastert ran DeLay’s successful upstart campaign for majority whip
after Republicans captured control of Congress, and DeLay in turn named
Hastert as his chief deputy. Four years later, in 1998, DeLay helped to
elevate Hastert to Speaker after [Georgia Republican Representative] Newt
Gingrich, R-Ga., stepped down following the loss of GOP seats in that year’s
elections and [Louisiana Republican Representative] Robert L. Livingston,
R-La., withdrew abruptly from contention after acknowledging an extramarital
affair." ... "Throughout his time as Speaker, Hastert was personally popular
with rank-and-file Republicans, who never saw him as part of the ethics
problems that plagued DeLay and former [Florida Republican Representative]
Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla. (1995-2006), or the criminal misdeeds of former
[California Republican Representative] Reps. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Calif.
(1991-2005) and [Ohio Republican Representative] Bob Ney, R-Ohio (1995-2006)."
... "He also set a standard for the GOP majority by only allowing legislation
on the floor of the House that was backed by the “majority of the majority,”
[of Republicans] an approach that all but denied Democrats a chance to
help shape legislation." ... "The minority party had little say in conferences
with the Senate during Hastert’s tenure, because conference committees
became an after-the-fact formality that rubber-stamped deals worked out
by a handful of House and Senate Republican members who operated under
the thumb of party leaders." -By Jonathan Allen with
contributions by Alan K. Ota, Martin Kady II, and David Nathe
-CQPolitics.com
US
- 
Saudi
Arabia - 
Military
- Terrorism
- Oil
- Politics
- Japan
- 
Italy
- Germany
- Georgia
- History
- "Gingrich
says war on terror 'phony': Former speaker says energy
independence is key." ... "Former House Speaker [Republican] Newt Gingrich
said Thursday the [Republican President] Bush administration is waging
a "phony war" on terrorism, warning that the country is losing ground against
the kind of Islamic radicals who attacked the country on Sept. 11, 2001."
... "A more effective approach, said Gingrich, would begin with a national
energy strategy aimed at weaning the country from its reliance on imported
oil and some of the regimes that petro-dollars support." ... ""None of
you should believe we are winning this war. There is no evidence that we
are winning this war," the ex-Georgian told a group of about 300 students
attending a conference for collegiate conservatives." ... "He was unstinting
in his criticism of his fellow Republicans, in the White House and on Capitol
Hill." ... ""We were in charge for six years," he said, referring to the
period between 2001 and early 2007, when the GOP controlled the White House
and both houses of Congress. "I don't think you can look and say that was
a great success."" ... "He reserved his most pointed criticism for the
administration's handling of the global campaign against terrorist groups."
... ""We've been engaged in a phony war," said Gingrich. "The only people
who have been taking this seriously are the combat military."" ... ""We
used to be a serious country. When we got attacked at Pearl Harbor, we
took on Imperial Japan, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany," he said, referring
to World War II." ... ""We beat all three in less than four years. We're
about to enter the seventh year of this phony war against ... [terrorist
groups], and we're losing."" ... ""First of all, we have to have a national
energy strategy, which basically says to the Saudis, 'We're not going to
rely on you,' " he said." ... "The United States imports about 14 million
barrels of oil a day, making up two-thirds of its total consumption." -By
Bob Deans -AJC
