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TOP STORIES
McConnell Seeks to Boost U.S. Spy Powers
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/04/10/national/w141401D66.DTL&type=politics
President Bush's spy chief is pushing to expand the government's surveillance authority at the same time the administration is under attack for stretching its domestic eavesdropping powers. National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell has circulated a draft bill that would expand the government's powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, liberalizing how that law can be used. Known as "FISA," the 1978 law was passed to allow surveillance in espionage and other foreign intelligence investigations, but still allow federal judges on a secretive panel to ensure protections for U.S. citizens — at home or abroad — and other permanent U.S. residents. The changes McConnell is seeking mostly affect a cloak-and-dagger category of warrants used to investigate suspected spies, terrorists and other national security threats. The court-approved surveillance could include planting listening devices and hidden cameras, searching luggage and breaking into homes to make copies of computer hard drives. McConnell, who took over the 16 U.S. spy agencies and their 100,000 employees less than three months ago, is signaling a more aggressive posture for his office and will lay out his broad priorities on Wednesday as part of a 100-day plan.
Report focuses on displaced families
Relentless violence, malnutrition, overtaxed hospitals, contaminated drinking water and chronic power shortages are "inflicting immense suffering" on Iraqis, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a report to be issued early today. "Civilians bear the brunt of the relentless violence and the extremely poor security conditions that are disrupting the lives and livelihoods of millions," the report concludes. Grim reports on the conditions of Iraqi life are not new, but the Red Cross is considered an objective organization that has been one of the few major international humanitarian groups to maintain a presence throughout Iraq as security has deteriorated.
Senate renews debate on stem-cell research
In 2003, federal officials inspected California-based Advanced Cell Technology. They rummaged through refrigerators, scrutinized labs and checked microscopes to make sure the firm wasn't using federally funded equipment to work on embryonic stem cells. Similar scenes have played out across the U.S. since President Bush issued an executive order banning federally funded research on embryonic stem cells created after 2001. The president and other religious conservatives believe such research is unethical. Scientists like those at Advanced Cell Technology, meanwhile, say that the limitation has hampered the search for cures and put them at a competitive disadvantage. That debate played out on the floor Tuesday as the Senate began two days of debate on stem-cell research, the latest battleground on which Democrats are challenging the president.
RELATED: Stem cell research on lengthy agenda
RELATED: Stem cells shown to rein in Type 1 diabetes
Panel Said to Alter Finding on Voter Fraud
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/11/washington/11voters.html?ref=washington
A federal panel responsible for conducting election research played down the findings of experts who concluded last year that there was little voter fraud around the nation, according to a review of the original report obtained by The New York Times. Instead, the panel, the Election Assistance Commission, issued a report that said the pervasiveness of fraud was open to debate. The revised version echoes complaints made by Republican politicians, who have long suggested that voter fraud is widespread and justifies the voter identification laws that have been passed in at least two dozen states. Democrats say the threat is overstated and have opposed voter identification laws, which they say disenfranchise the poor, members of minority groups and the elderly, who are less likely to have photo IDs and are more likely to be Democrats. Though the original report said that among experts “there is widespread but not unanimous agreement that there is little polling place fraud,” the final version of the report released to the public concluded in its executive summary that “there is a great deal of debate on the pervasiveness of fraud.”
Edwards touts gay supporters
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-04-10-edwards-gay-supporters_N.htm
U.S. presidential candidate John Edwards is touting prominent gay supporters who have signed on to the Democrat's presidential campaign, including a former adviser to President Bill Clinton. Businessman David Mixner is one of 25 people listed on a news release the Edwards campaign distributed Tuesday, along with a statement from the candidate saying he is honored to have the support of so many respected gay leaders. "They work hard every day to make our country a better place and I am proud to join with them to fight for equal rights for all Americans," Edwards said. Edwards is making a push for gay support in the competitive Democratic presidential primary. In February, he came out in support of legislation that would end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevents people who are openly gay from serving in the military.
Today’s complete national news
Colorado
Environmentalists to Ritter: Reconsider roadless petition
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/04/11/4_11_1b_Roadless_plan.html
As the fate of some of Colorado’s most wild country becomes mired in a maelstrom of legal challenges, conservationists are urging Gov. Bill Ritter to say nothing to the federal government about how Colorado’s more than 4 million acres of roadless land should be managed. Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said Tuesday the governor could decide as early as this week whether to submit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture a petition outlining the state’s desires for the fate of its roadless areas. Former Gov. Bill Owens submitted a petition reflecting the Colorado Roadless Area Review Task Force’s recommendations for the roadless areas, but once Ritter took office, the USDA decided to let Ritter submit his own petition, even though a federal judge last year deemed illegal the rule allowing the agency to solicit state roadless area petitions.
RELATED: Gov. Ritter plans roadless petition
Ag leaders: Disaster program needed in 2007 Farm Bill
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20070411/NEWS/104110108
A permanent disaster program, conservation and nutrition programs highlighted a 2007 Farm Bill listening session hosted by U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., in Greeley on Tuesday. About 75 people attended the 90-minute program at the 4-H Building in Island Grove Regional Park, where representatives of several Colorado farm organizations offered their input on what should be contained in a new farm bill that Congress will debate beginning later this session. Musgrave told the crowd she appreciated the comments, noting that food safety is an important issue. "How would we be if we depended on foreign nations for our food supply?" she asked. She added that imported food, which represents about 51 percent of the food consumed in America, is not produced under the same regulations American farmers deal with on a daily basis.
RELATED: Farm agencies brace for scarce funds in 2007 Farm Bill
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20070411/NEWS/104100120
RELATED: Musgrave visits Greeley
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20070411/NEWS/104090113
RELATED: A working vacation
http://www.longmontfyi.com/Local-Story.asp?id=15685
Ritter retools freeze on taxes
http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_5637387
Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter is revamping his proposal to freeze property-tax rates for school districts in an attempt to win political support from wavering Democrats and rural legislators. The new plan reduces property-tax rates in 33 districts while locking rates at current levels in the remaining 145 districts. The proposal would let school districts keep an extra $55 million, relieving the state from stepping in to pick up some of costs from local school districts. "This is a way to address inequities in school districts that are suffering under exorbitantly high tax rates," said Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Ritter. Homeowners in the Lone Star school district in Washington County would see the biggest drop in their tax rates. Their property tax rate would be reduced from $37.875 per $1,000 of taxable value to $27 per $1,000 of taxable value.
RELATED: Governor advocates a tax freeze to fix school fund shortfalls
http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1176301137/4
Voting panel cites deficit of machines
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5477452,00.html
Douglas County's 2006 election woes happened because there weren't enough voting machines, a cause cited four months ago before a volunteer panel convened to examine what went wrong during the election. The county had 300 machines on hand Nov. 7, but to eliminate the long lines that had some voters waiting past midnight to cast their ballots, nearly 400 more machines might be needed at the county's vote centers for the next election, Jack Arrowsmith, the county's new clerk and recorder, said Tuesday. "No. 1, the overriding factor in Douglas County was that we simply did not have the capacity to accommodate all the voters," Arrowsmith said after a presentation to county commissioners on the findings of the 11- member fact-finding panel created after the November election.
RELATED: Douglas weighs vote fix
http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_5638797
Senate Republicans pull state seal from Web site
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5477035,00.html
McElhany said he removed the Colorado seal from coloradosen atenews.com after Secretary of State Mike Coffman reminded party caucuses April 2 they can't use the seal in communications. It's a felony to use the state seal for anything but official documents. This isn't the first time Republicans violated the state's strict rule about misusing the seal. Former Republican Senate President John Andrews was forced to pull the seal from a GOP political Web site called coloradosenate.com in 2003. McElhany said liberal blogs and the press are "making a mountain out of molehill" over the Senate Minority's relationship with Web-designer Jones. "He has no access to the content," McElhany said. "He's just a vendor." But a government watchdog said she's troubled by lax rules that allow lawmakers to use campaign money to create a Web site that is staffed by state-paid employees.
Today’s complete Colorado news
Today’s complete daily news: http://media.progressnowaction.org/digest/041107.htm
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