Daily news digest 5/12-14/2007
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Today’s complete daily news: http://media.progressnowaction.org/digest/051407.htm
TOP STORIES
Ret. Gen: Iraq straining National Guard
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-05-12-democrats-address_N.htm
The National Guard isn't as strong as it should be because of the war in Iraq and American communities will suffer as a result, retired Air Force Gen. Melvyn Montano said Saturday. Delivering the Democrats' weekly radio address, Montano said the strain means it will take longer for Greensburg, Kan., to recover from a devastating tornado that leveled the town a week ago. "Crucial equipment used by the Guard for disaster relief is now in Iraq instead of standing ready to respond to crises here at home," said Montano, who was once adjutant general of the New Mexico National Guard. "When the tornado struck Kansas last week, the Guard had half the number of Humvees and large trucks they usually would have at their disposal," Montano said. "The recovery process now will take longer."
RELATED: Many Lessons in Disaster Drill
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/13/AR2007051301134.html
In Gulf, Cheney Pointedly Warns Iran
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/11/AR2007051100572.html
Aboard an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf 150 miles off Iran's coast, Vice President Cheney warned Tehran yesterday that the United States and its allies will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, close off vital sea lanes for oil supplies, or control the Middle East. Cheney issued the blunt warning during his Middle East tour, and just two days before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes his own trip to the Gulf. The two visits reflect the growing rivalry between Washington and Tehran for influence in the region.
RELLATED: U.S., Iran Plan Talks on Pacifying Iraq
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/13/AR2007051300304.html
RELATED: U.S., Iran to hold talks on Iraq
Katrina Aid Program Is $2.9 Billion Short
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/11/AR2007051102366.html
The massive federally funded program for rebuilding Louisiana homes is short nearly $3 billion, administrators told a state legislative panel here today, leaving uncertain for now how the owners of roughly 100,000 flood-wrecked houses here will be compensated. The report represented the latest crisis for the aid effort initially created to distribute $6.9 billion in federal money to the owners of homes destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Katrina who lacked enough insurance money to rebuild.
RELATED: Victims of Katrina File Rash of Lawsuits
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/12/AR2007051201186.html
Voter-Fraud Complaints by GOP Drove Dismissals
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/13/AR2007051301106.html
The behind-the-scenes maneuvering to replace U.S. attorneys viewed as weak on voter fraud, from state Republican parties to the White House, is one element of a nationwide partisan brawl over voting rights in recent years. Ever since the contested 2000 presidential election, which ended in a Florida recount and intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court, both political parties have attempted to use election law to tip close contests to their advantage. Through legislation and litigation, Republicans have pressed for voter-identification requirements and other rules to clamp down on what they assert is widespread fraud by ineligible voters. Starting early in the Bush administration, the Justice Department has emphasized increasing prosecutions of fraudulent voting. Democrats counter that such fraud is rare and that GOP efforts are designed to suppress legitimate votes by minorities, the elderly and recent immigrants, who are likely to support Democratic candidates.
Today’s complete national news
Colorado
Former Rep. Schaffer says he'll run for Allard's seat
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/elections/article/0,2808,DRMN_24736_5535957,00.html
Former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer said he plans to seek the GOP nomination for the seat held by retiring U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo. Schaffer, 45, of Fort Collins, made the announcement Saturday to more than 150 people attending a Boulder County Republican Lincoln dinner. "After considerable assessment," Schaffer said, "I've decided I'm going to begin putting a campaign together to run for the United States Senate." Schaffer filed his official statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, according to the FEC's Web site. He said he expected to kick off his campaign next year. In late April, he told the Teller County Republicans' annual Lincoln dinner that he would be a candidate, people who attended the event said. Schaffer declined to confirm those reports.
RELATED: Schaffer makes campaign official
http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070513/NEWS01/705130349/1002/NEWS17
RELATED: Schaffer making bid for Senate
http://www.longmontfyi.com/Local-Story.asp?id=16329
RELATED: State GOP chairman fires up [Routt] Lincoln Day Dinner crowd
http://craigdailypress.com/section/localnews/story/26570
House approves aid money for struggling farmers
http://dailycamera.com/news/2007/may/12/house-approves-aid-money-for-struggling-farmers/
The House has passed legislation that would provide billions of dollars for farmers and ranchers hurt by weather-related disasters — the third time that chamber has approved the farm money in the last two months. Farm-state lawmakers are struggling to find a way to help farmers who have been hurt by flooding, drought and Colorado's devastating blizzards. They are attempting to include the aid money as part of a must-pass war spending bill in an effort to get President Bush to sign it. "That's likely the only way we are going to get it," said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which oversees spending measures. While increasing the bill's chances of success, linking the farm aid with the controversial war funding measure has also complicated its passage.
RELATED: House OKs disaster aid plan despite veto threat
http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1178946000/3
Mother Nature kind to farmers, but farmers say legislators weren't.
http://greeleytribune.com/article/20070514/NEWS/105130150
It's a good thing Mother Nature showed some kindness early this spring because Colorado legislators didn't. That's the feeling of most northern Colorado farmers faced with their irrigation well being shut down, and some of those battles are tied up in a court action that won't be decided soon enough to do any good this year. Others are restricted in the amount of water they will be able to pump to grow their crops this season. David Dechant, who farms between Fort Lupton and Hudson, said he is keeping his fingers crossed that he'll have enough surface water to get through the growing season, but he also realizes he and his brother will have only enough water to get one cutting of alfalfa, instead of three or four, unless spring and summer rains help. He was among the individual farmers and farm organizations who called on Gov. Bill Ritter and the legislature to put a moratorium on the well shutdown last fall to allow those farmers more time to develop water replacement plans for or to directly address the shutdown of some 2,000-3,000 wells since 2002 along the South Platte River. Neither happened, although Ritter did appoint a study group to look at the problem, which does not help farmers needing to pump those wells this spring and summer.
RELATED: South Platte a ‘free river’ -- at least for now
http://www.longmontfyi.com/Local-Story.asp?id=16326
Coffman eyes rules for staff
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5533876,00.html
Secretary of State Mike Coffman launched an internal review Friday of policies dealing with the moonlighting and outside political activities of employees within his department. Coffman said he plans to make it "crystal clear" what activities his workers can engage in outside the office and that the policy would include some of the toughest standards in the nation. Coffman demoted an elections worker and longtime political ally this week who operated a side business selling voter information for mainly Republican interests. The worker, Dan Kopelman, was reassigned from election operations to a job where he will not have access to voter data. His $85,000 annual salary was cut by $9,240.
RELATED: Coffman to eye employee policies
http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_5874061
Today’s complete Colorado news
Today’s complete daily news: http://media.progressnowaction.org/digest/051407.htm
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