WASHINGTON, May 13 (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.
Broadcast news...
The House International Relations Committee has approved a proposal authored by California Republican Rep. Ed Royce to increase U.S. broadcasts into North Korea. Royce's amendment expresses the sense of Congress that Radio Free Asia's broadcasts to the Communist stronghold should be increased to 24 hours each day "This amendment developed as a result of our recent visit to RFA studios in Seoul. Those broadcasts are having a positive impact, countering the North Korean government's stream of lies and propaganda," Royce, chairman of the U.S.-Republic of Korea Interparliamentary Exchange since 1999, said.
Radio Free Asia is a surrogate news service, created to overcome the North Korean government suppression of free speech and its use of indigenous media as a propaganda tool. Royce's amendment also addresses the crucial problem of inserting radios into North Korea, requesting a report detailing U.S. government efforts to maximize the ability of North Koreans access to foreign broadcasts like RFA.
"We are reaching a critical period on the Korean peninsula. In order to ensure his survival, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il keeps a tight reign on information and people -- systemically abuses their human rights," Royce said. "But, things are starting to change because RFA is playing a vital role in countering his lies." Royce represents a sizable portion of the Southern California Korean-American community and is a longtime advocate of increasing U.S. international broadcasting efforts.
Between Iraq and a hard place...
The arrival of Ambassador L. Paul Bremmer in Baghdad as the new chief administrator overseeing the rebuilding of Iraq coincides with the departure of some of the U.S. officials who had been in place on the ground. One of those said to be leaving is U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Margaret Tutwiler. Initial reports predicted Tutwiler would be returning to the U.S. embassy in Rabat, but a trial balloon is in the process of going up suggesting the veteran communications professional as the new head of public diplomacy and public affairs.
The Bush administration's original choice for the job, Madison Avenue veteran Charlotte Beers, resigned after just over two years on the job. She says she left "for health reasons" but a number of people in Washington say things were just not working out. Tutwiler, who was the State Department spokesman in the Bush 41 administration, while regarded with suspicion by some conservatives, is well thought of on Capitol Hill and by reporters, foreign and domestic, who cover foreign affairs and the U.S. State Department.
Ad-verse publicity...
Readers of the New York Times could not miss the full page ad in Tuesday's edition, sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund, a liberal non-profit organization. The ad attempted to pull on the emotional heart strings of readers, saying the Bush administration's proposed tax cut "leaves no millionaire behind ... just millions of children."
According to the ad, the administration intends to "dismantle" the early learning Head Start program along with block grant Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to the states, and "slash and freeze crucial services" to find the money "to pay for massive new tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans hoping that it will spur the economy." The ad also includes an appeal for contributions, which the group points out are tax-deductible.
Smoking gun...
A new report from the anti-smoking Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund and Common Cause, the liberal campaign-funding watchdog, alleges the tobacco industry donated more than $9.4 million in soft money and political action committee contributions to federal candidates, political parties and political committees in the 2001-2002 election cycle.
According to the two groups, the tobacco industry has contributed more than $26.3 million into the political process since 1997 -- including $16.8 million in soft money and more than $9.4 million in PAC contributions.
"The tobacco companies are continuing their decades-long effort to use political contributions to block effective public policies that protect the public health," Campaign President Matthew L. Myers said.
"Today's report reminds us why there has been so little action on tobacco in Congress this year, despite the fact that more than 2,000 kids become addicted smokers every day and more than 400,000 Americans die every year from tobacco use," he said.
Tobacco PACs have donated close to $1 million to non-candidate committees, the report states, including Democratic and Republican party committees and leadership PACs established by individual members of Congress. "Of the total, $755,132 (76 percent) went to the Republicans, $110,500 (11 percent) to the Democrats and $131,050 (13 percent) to non-party committees," it says. All the contributions cited in this reported are based on data released by the FEC as of April 10, 2003.
Teach in...
The Broad Foundation, a philanthropic group working to improve public education in America, and Teach For America, a program to encourage young Americans to enter the teaching profession, have announced that the foundation has increased its commitment to Teach For America to a total of $2.7 million dollars. This new grant of $1.875 million is the second it has made in support of TFA's mission to eliminate educational inequity in the United States.
The grant will enable TFA to increase the number of qualified teachers it places in underserved communities. "I believe public education is the leading civil rights issue of the 21st century. I am pleased to support Teach For America's commitment to eliminate educational inequity in this country," Eli Broad said. "Every child deserves a quality education regardless of their race, where they live, or their parents' income. Teach For America gets the best and brightest into teaching and places them in the most underserved classrooms in America," he said.
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