Today’s edition of quick hits.<\/p>\n
* Despite some GOP objections, the House passed three bills<\/a> to expand public access to government records, as part of Sunshine Week. As the AP noted, the measures “would force government to be more responsive to Freedom of Information Act requests, make contributions to presidential libraries public and overturn a 2001 presidential directive giving the president authority to keep his records from public view.” The White House has threatened to veto the presidential records bill and voiced opposition to the FOIA legislation.<\/p>\n * The federal government installed three new pumps at major drainage canals just before the start of last summer’s hurricane season — but they were defective<\/a>. “This could put a lot of our people in jeopardy,” Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) said. “It begs the question: Are we really safe?” She called for a congressional investigation into how the Army Corps of Engineers allowed it to happen. It’s not a bad idea.<\/p>\n * NYT<\/a>: “Shameful details continue to emerge on the neglectful care extended to soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army’s inspector general reports that more than nine out of 10 disabled veterans have been kept waiting for benefit evaluations beyond the 40-day limit set by the Pentagon. Some have waited up to a year and a half for benefits.”<\/p>\n * Why is<\/i> Bush so obsessed with what he perceives as ungrateful foreigners? Slate’s Fred Kaplan explains<\/a>.<\/p>\n * Quote of the Day<\/a>, from retired Gen. Tony McPeak: “America has been conducting an experiment for the past six years, trying to validate the proposition that it really doesn’t make any difference who you elect president. Now we know the result of that experiment. If a guy is stupid, it makes a big difference.”<\/p>\n * Michael Crowley reminded me that Alberto Gonzales was, up until fairly recently, considered a likely Supreme Court nominee<\/a>, should Bush get another opportunity. I think it’s fair to say that no one seriously thinks Gonzales will be on the short-list anymore. * NYT<\/a>: “Six weeks after Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order making Texas the first state to require that sixth-grade girls be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, the State House of Representatives voted 119 to 21 yesterday to approve a bill that would nullify the order.”<\/p>\n * Only nine senators<\/a> voted today to block debate on the war in Iraq. They were Sens. Allard (R-CO), Bond (R-MO), Bunning (R-KY), Coburn (R-OK), DeMint (R-SC), Enzi (R-WY), Hatch (R-UT), Inhofe (R-OK), and Thomas (R-WY).<\/p>\n * What a coincidence: when the military needs more soldiers, the military is less likely<\/a> to enforce “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”<\/p>\n * John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Mitt Romney have all responded to the prosecutor purge scandal with the same reaction: No comment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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\n* I mentioned<\/a> earlier that the Congressional Black Caucus had chosen to co-sponsor an upcoming debate with CNN, instead of Fox News. I may have spoken too soon — the CBC has agreed to work with CNN on one<\/i> event, but may partner<\/a> with Fox News on another.<\/p>\n