WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- News, notes, political rumors, and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.
Through Roseville colored glasses -- Roseville, Minn., city leaders have "started working with a government guru called in to help the notoriously combative group find 'consensus' and 'karma', according to a story in Wednesday's St. Paul Pioneer Press.
According to the paper, Carl Neu, who is described as "a nationally known consultant from Lakewood, Colo.," has already met with council members one-on-one and that some future encounters will be open to city residents, who are footing the bill for his services that the city manager says will not exceed $6,500.
A registration mecca -- On Friday, Feb. 22, Washington-area Muslims will be offered voter registration materials at a festival celebrating Eid al Adha, the holiday at the end of the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. The registration drive is part of a nationwide campaign by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other Islamic advocacy groups to register 100,000 Muslim voters before the November elections. Similar registration efforts will take place at Eid al Adha festivals in California, Ohio, Missouri, and other areas of the country.
A choice or an echo? -- Voices in support of abortion-rights will be raised up in unusual quarters next week as the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition holds its second annual national conference and lobby day in Washington.
The meeting, which the group is calling "A Salute to Leadership and Freedom," convenes on Feb. 26 and 27 and will feature remarks from senior GOP officials including National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., Maine GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe and Rep. Jim Greenwood, R-Penn.
Also participating on panels are national pro-abortion rights leaders Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARRAL President Kate Michelman, and Ellie Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Check your vouchers at the door -- Anne L. Bryant, the executive director of the National School Boards Association weighed in on Wednesday's Supreme Court hearing on the issue of school vouchers, suggesting voucher supporters could use a reality check.
"Several justices said the reality is that no real choice exists and indeed a Constitutional violation occurs when the only alternative to public schools is for massive amounts of public taxpayer dollars to be funneled toward supporting religious schools. NSBA remains confident that the Court will see beyond the rhetoric and make a decision that favors all children and remains true to the nation's founding principles guaranteeing separation of church and state," she said.
Fork it over -- The fight for paycheck protection -- efforts to protect the wages of unionized workers from being raided by union bosses for political purposes -- may get a shot in the arm in the next few weeks now that AFL-CIO leaders are talking about imposing a mandatory assessment to fund union political and electoral activities.
Claiming they are short on cash for political efforts, the AFL-CIO is considering a mandatory special assessment on each member of its affiliated unions in order to permanently fund their political programs. In the past, the AFL-CIO has asked for voluntary contributions from members of $1 per month over and above their dues payments but, because the political programs are currently under funded and because some union members have reportedly complained about the problem of so-called free riders -- members who allegedly receive the benefit of the political activity without paying into the fund -- this Constitutionally questionable move to force the contributions is being considered.
Forgiveness -- Facing the issue of priestly pedophilia head on, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, has expressed "profound sorrow that some of our priests were responsible for this abuse under our watch."
In a statement on the sexual abuse of minors by priests, Bishop Gregory said, "We understand that your children are your most precious gift."
"They are our children as well, and we continue to apologize to the victims, and to their parents and their loved ones for this failure in our pastoral responsibilities, " he said, speaking on behalf of all of the bishops and as a pastor and a teacher of faith and morals in a statement that was sent to all Catholic Bishops in the United States and widely disseminated elsewhere.
The full text of the statement is below. It is available on the Conference Web site, usccb.org.
Personnel notes -- Dan Peters, formerly of Procter and Gamble, is the new chairman of the Philanthropy Roundtable, replacing Louise Oliver. Adam Meyerson remains president of the Roundtable ... Brent Thompson, formerly with the government relations firm of Barbour Griffith Rogers is now running government relations in Washington for Expedia, Inc. .... Christine T. Dudley, who departs from her post as Midwest regional political director for the Republican National Committee is opening her own government and political affairs firm. Dudley will remain based in Chicago ... Dallas Lawrence, until recently the communications director for GOPAC, is the new press secretary for Montana GOP Rep. Denny Rehberg.
Got a tip for UPI's Capital Comment? E-mail it to [email protected]
