WASHINGTON, July 22 (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.
An honor overdue -- The House Judiciary Committee Wednesday affirmed -- by a voice vote -- a resolution originally sponsored by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., to confer honorary U.S. citizenship to one Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, better known to Americans as the Marquis de Lafayette. The resolution praises the marquis' many accomplishments during the War of Independence and the esteem in which he is held in the hearts of the American people. It reminds that Lafayette "voluntarily put forth his own money and risked his life for the freedom of Americans," and that "an American flag has flown over his grave in France since his death and has not been removed, even while France was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II."
Calling him "forever a symbol of freedom," the committee proclaimed him an honorary citizen. The resolution must now be approved by the full House.
A star-studded extravaganza -- The Democratic Leadership Council will have the 2002 National Conversation in New York City from Sunday through next Tuesday. More than 300 elected officials from across the country are expected to attend the event which will feature remarks from DLC Chairman Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind.; Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.; House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo.; and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. Also joining the 2002 National Conversation will be several members of the DLC leadership team including Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del.; Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.; Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif.; Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.; Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and Wisconsin State Rep. Antonio Riley. Serving as chairman of the event is Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Act fast -- The National Association of Manufacturers, a trade association based in Washington, is urging Congress to reach a quick and balanced compromise on an accounting reform package. NAM says, "The public needs to be reassured that false and misleading corporate profit statements are an exception to the norm and will not be tolerated. Corporate executives need to be reassured that Congress will not go overboard and impose unworkable restrictions. New, ill-defined personal liabilities for chief executive officers and chief financial officers could make it much harder for companies to attract strong leadership. Congress should proceed quickly but with due deliberation." NAM wants the conference committee to address four issues, including the accounting oversight board, the mandates on independent audit committees, increasing the budget of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the creation of mechanisms "guaranteeing accurate, complete and timely corporate financial information" which the group says are very important to restore investor confidence in the market.
It takes a lot of brass -- NATO has appointed U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones, Jr., to succeed Gen. Joseph W. Ralston of the U.S. Air Force as supreme allied commander, Europe. Ralston was released from his post in response to a letter from President George W. Bush that also suggested Jones as his replacement. The president has also nominated Jones for assignment as commander, U.S. European Command. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Personnel note -- Brian Burns, most recently a deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services dealing with information technology issues, has been named the chief information officer for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
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