WASHINGTON, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors, and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.
Once a week until further notice ...
The Brookings Institution, America's premier liberal think tank, kicks off a new weekly briefing series on Iraq and policy issues related to the looming war on Thursday. This inaugural briefing is scheduled for the day after Secretary of State Colin Powell made the case for world intervention against Iraq before the U.N. Security Council.
"Showdown with Iraq" kicks off at 2 p.m. and will feature comments from, among others, Amatzia Baram, a visiting fellow of Brookings' Saban Center for Middle East Policy; David Kay, a senior fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and former U.N. chief nuclear weapons inspector in Iraq; and Kenneth Pollack, senior fellow for foreign policy studies and director of research at the Saban Center.
In and out ...
U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., says he will no be joining the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga. U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., the most liberal member of the Republican delegation in the House, is already in the race. Conservatives are waiting to see which of the remaining members of the delegation, specifically Mac Collins or Jack Kingston, gets into the primary against Isakson.
Isakson's departure from the House creates a vacancy in what is probably the most Republican district in the south. Several potential candidates have been mentioned for the seat included former Cobb County Commission Chairman Bill Byrne and State Sen. Chuck Clay, but it appears the momentum may be gathering behind former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, who lost his seat in a primary against fellow Republican U.S. Rep. John Linder after the congressional redistricting placed them together in the same district. Barr was a highly visible presence at last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference and would only say that he was "seriously considering" the race -- with a twinkle in his eye.
AFT's ABC's ...
Sandra Feldman, the national president of the American Federation of Teachers union, is making scathingly critical comments about the White House's proposed budget for fiscal year 2004. "President Bush's budget proposal amounts to little more than a shell game played on the American people," Feldman says. "The administration moves funds around from one program to another, claiming overall increases, while hacking away at many crucial programs, hoping no one notices. "
According to the union leader, Bush's proposed budget "shortchanges 45 education programs, including funding for after-school learning initiatives, safe and drug-free schools, and community technology programs, among others."
"It is just plain wrong," she says, accusing the president of doing little for "America's neediest students while providing another round of indefensible tax cuts that would benefit America's wealthiest citizens."
The AFT represents more than 1.2 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.
Limited term limits ...
U.S. Ken Lucas, D-Ky., who had been mentioned as a potential candidate for governor in 2003 or for U.S. Senate against Republican Jim Bunning in 2004, has renounced his pledge to serve no more than three terms in Congress after hearing President George W. Bush's State of the Union address. "I have reflected on his words and his call for bipartisan cooperation on the great challenges that face us," Lucas said. "I believe that I can play a unique role in working with my conservative Democratic colleagues to responsibly and effectively support our president. Therefore, I am now compelled to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004."
Right moves ...
Former Lubbock, Texas, Mayor David Langston has announced he is switching to the GOP in preparation for a run in the 19th Congressional District's special election to be held later this year. Langston says he now feels the Republican Party "best represents my views as well as the people of West Texas." Incumbent U.S. Rep. Larry Combest, R-Texas, is retiring.
Personnel notes ...
President George W. Bush has announced his intention to nominate Stephen A. Cambone to be undersecretary of defense for intelligence. Cambone currently serves at the U.S. Department of Defense as special assistant to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and director for program analysis and evaluation ... Diana Furchtgott-Roth has moved from the White House to the U.S. Department of Labor, where she becomes the agency's new chief economist ... U.S. Rep. Robert Matsui, D-Calif., has named Jim Bonham, his congressional chief of staff, to the post of executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ... Across the aisle U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., has named his congressional chief of staff, Sally Vastola, to the post of executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Reynolds also announced that political director Mike McElwain and communications director Steve Schmidt would retain their posts for the next cycle.
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