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Drudge banners: "IOU" and links to this LA Times story on the budget crisis in California. And the U.S. says North Korea does not appear to be readying a missile launch in this Bloomberg story is also highlighed on Drudge. ... READ MORE

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The Huffington Post banners: "Obama's first major military operation underway in Afghanistan" and links to this AP story. Unemployment to hit a 9.6 percent, a 26 year high, according to this AP report, highlighted on the HuffPo. And Jesse Berney ... READ MORE

HotAir
The Obama administration doesn't see the contradiction between calling for free elections in Honduras and staying out of the election in Iran, writes Allahpundit. And veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas went "nuclear" on the White House for controlling the ... READ MORE

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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) wants to president but "she couldn't even get her own campaign's scheduling staff to give her enough time to run," writes Jed Lewison. And South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's (R) recent confessions have set off ... READ MORE

Townhall
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's (R) Republican enemies hope he stays in office, writes Matt Lewis. And, drawing on examples from other countries, Carol Platt Liebau writes what ObamaCare "really means." READ MORE

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Advancing the debate over torture is always going to be difficult, writes Daniel de Groot. And Mike Lux takes a look at the fight over a new Pecora commission. READ MORE

RedState
The press is "finally" calling out the Obama administration for controlling the press, writes Paint it Red. And Moe Lane takes a detailed look at the 2010 election and the ages of several Democratic committee chair people. READ MORE

MyDD
Mitt Romney appears to be urging Republicans to stand up to President Obama, writes Charles Lemos. And Lemos also writes that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) must think the Associated Press is a "licensed therapist." READ MORE

Powerline
Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) appeared to open the door to the Obama administration making more demands Israel in the peace process while in the country, writes Paul. And new polling shows that support for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is ... READ MORE

Matthew Yglesias
The entire committee system in Congress "leaves a lot to be desired," writes Matthew Yglesias. And Yglesias also points out a general thought among the punditry right now: Congress is asserting its dominance in setting and controlling the agenda, not ... READ MORE

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January 6, 2009

Leahy, Cornyn Cite Blagojevich to Push Corruption Bill

@ 5:41 pm by Chris Good

In the wake of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's (D) widely publicized Senate-seat-selling scandal, two prominent senators have begun a push for legislation would increase penalties on public officials found guilty of corruption.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) today renewed calls for passage of the Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act, a bill they introduced in 2007 that would authorize funding for more personnel to investigate public corruption, extend the statute of limitations on some corruption offenses, and expands the scope of the term "bribery."

The bill also increases the maximum prison terms for corruption offenses related to bribery, theft and embezzlement of public funds, solicitation of political donations, intimidation to secure political contributions, promise of employment for political activity, and coercion of political activity by federal employees.

Both Leahy and Cornyn offered harsh denunciations of public corruption in a press release announcing their push this afternoon.

"As we have seen in recent months, public corruption can erode the trust the American people have in those who are given the privilege of public service," Leahy said. “If we are serious about addressing the kinds of egregious misconduct that we have recently witnessed in high-profile public corruption cases, Congress must enact meaningful legislation to give investigators and prosecutors the tools and resources they need to enforce our laws. I hope that this year all Senators will support this bipartisan bill and take firm action to stamp out intolerable corruption.”

"There is no greater sin an elected official can commit than to defy the trust that has been bestowed upon him by his constituents. I, along with Chairman Leahy, have been a steadfast advocate of increasing transparency in government for many years and believe that this legislation will ensure authorities have the tools needed to prosecute any official who betrays that trust to the fullest extent of the law," Cornyn said.

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