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-Obits-
Sen. Lautenberg dies at 89
2013-06-04
[PHILLY] New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a defiantly liberal Democrat who represented his home state for nearly 30 years, died overnight, his office confirmed Monday morning.
Another Senator-for-Life leaves office feet first...
Lautenberg, the last World War II veteran serving in the Senate, was 89. He died of complications from viral pneumonia at 4:02 a.m. today at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell, according to his office.
"What kinda complications?"
"He pegged out."
Lautenberg had struggled with health issues for months, including a bout of the flu and bronchitis in the winter and pain and weakness in his legs, which have forced him to miss most Senate votes since the end of February.
"He's retired, Jim!"
Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, will appoint a replacement.
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Home Front: Politix
Lautenberg calls Menendez controversy 'a terrible tragedy'
2013-02-02
[Washington Post] Sen. Bob Menendez's (D-N.J.) New Jersey colleague has responded to the growing controversy surrounding the senator's ties to a doctor who was recently raided, and he's not exactly doing Menendez any favors.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), in comments reported by the Star-Ledger, left open the possibility that the allegations against Menendez could have merit:
"If there are infractions as they are reported, it's too bad," Lautenberg told reporters.
...
"There a lot that's said and covered, but I for one know Bob as a very capable United States senator, and I'm sorry to see him in this position," Lautenberg said. "But I can't give you anything more. Don't want to. Don't know to."
...
Lautenberg later added he had not spoken to Menendez about the accusations but called them "devastating."
"(He) has built an almost sterling reputation for a lot of years and our hope is that this, what we're hearing, is not as it's presented," Lautenberg said. "I think Bob will survive this with his good work. This is a terrible tragedy. And we're not yet sure what all of the facts are."
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Home Front: Politix
Cory Booker considering runs for N.J. governor, Senate
2012-12-10
[CBS News] Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker did not skirt the question nor pause for a moment when asked if he had aspirations for higher office. Booker said he is considering running for either the New Jersey Senate seat or governor.

"I am absolutely considering running for governor, as well as giving other options some consideration." Booker said on CBS News' "Face the Nation." He added that he is also considering a run for Senate.

Booker, should he be the Democratic nominee for governor, would run against current governor Chris Christie, who's approval ratings reached 67 percent in a Monmouth University poll last week.

Booker, however, said he needs to decide "in the next few weeks" if he is going to make the move. "[T]here are a lot of very good candidates for governor in New Jersey on the Democratic side and I have to give my party and be a part of my party's push forward, whether me as a candidate or supporting other candidates for that office."

If he instead chooses to run for Senate, it would be for current Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg's seat. Lautenberg is the oldest sitting senator and would be 90 years old on Election Day in 2014, but he has not announced plans to retire.

Democrats consider Booker a rising star - a young African-American politician who has made national news for a range of reasons, including his efforts to turn around crime in his city and for running into a burning building to save a neighbor. He is also an avid conversationalist on Twitter, which led him to a food stamp challenge in which he is currently living off $30 dollars worth of food for one week, the amount the average 46 million food stamp recipients receive. He called it "very challenging."
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Home Front: Politix
Obama will 'evaluate' bill to ban online munition sales
2012-07-31
[Washington Times] White House front man Josh Earnest said Monday that President B.O. will "evaluate" a new bill that would ban online ammunition sales in the wake of the shooting massacre in Aurora, Colo. That left 12 dead and dozens more injured.

During the daily press briefing, Mr. Earnest was asked whether Mr. Obama supports the measure, which aims to end sales of unlimited amounts of ammunition on the Internet and other mail orders. The bill also would force ammunition dealers to report large sales of bullets and other munitions to law enforcement authorities

At first Mr. Earnest said he didn't know if Mr. Obama was aware of a bill sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Democrat from New Jersey, and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from New York. He later amended this remarks to say the White House would evaluate the measure.

"The president's view that have been relayed quite frequently over the last few days, you know, is that he believes in the Second Amendment of the Constitution, in the right to bear arms but he also believes that we should take robust steps within existing law to ensure that guns don't fall in the hands of criminals or others [who] shouldn't have them," he said, referring to gun-control comments Mr. Obama made during at speech at the National Urban League.

The news hound followed up by asking whether the president's push for enforcing existing law would prevent him from supporting the bill banning online munition sales.

"Well, like I said, I haven't seen the specific piece of legislation that has been offered up today. But as those -- as that and other pieces of legislation make their way through the legislative process, you know, we'll consider -- we'll evaluate them as they make their way through the process," he noted.
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Britain
BP Admits It Lobbied British for Libyan Prisoner Transfer
2010-07-15
While seeking a billion dollar oil exploration deal with Libya, BP executives admitted Thursday the company did lobby the British government to enter into a prisoner transfer agreement with the African nation. "BP told the UK government that we were concerned about the slow progress that was being made in concluding a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya," BP said in a statement. "We were aware that this could have a negative impact on UK commercial interests, including the ratification by the Libyan government of BP's exploration agreement."

But the petroleum giant claims it never specifically asked Britain to set free Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi. "BP was not involved in any discussion with the U.K. government or the Scottish government about the release of al-Megrahi," a BP company spokesman said.

He was released on "compassionate" grounds when Scottish authorities said his "terminal" prostate cancer gave the terrorist just three months to live. But a year later Megrahi is free in Libya and the doctor who gave the diagnosis admits the bomber could live 10 or 20 more years -- and that he had been paid by the Libyan government.

Numerous U.S. senators, including Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) now suspect Megrahi's release was connected to BP's goal of securing an oil deal with Libya.

"This is ugly," said Bert Ammerman, the former head of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 group. "It is immoral. It is unethical. It is illegal. And there's no question there is a connection between the BP oil agreement with Libya and the release of al Megrahi." Ammerman added he wants an investigation into what the Obama administration knew about this alleged deal before it happened.

Libyan officials have said any oil deal would be connected to a completed prisoner transfer agreement. Al Megrahi was released last year and was greeted by flag waiving crowds when he arrived home.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday she was reviewing the request by the Senators to investigate the BP oil deal with Libya and any alleged connection to the release of the Flight 103 bomber.

Sue Cohen lost her daughter, Theo, in the bombing over Scotland. And she said she's "not surprised" by the revelations about BP's alleged involvement in negotiations over the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Al-Megrahi. She said she has heard for years that BP had a strong interest in the release, because it would make Libya more receptive to foreign business investment. "There's no question in my mind that BP was involved. The British government was very much influenced by the oil companies, and it's no coincidence that soon after the negotiations BP signed this enormously good deal. This was really a deal for business interests. Western governments seem to be run by one thing now -- the great God money," she said.
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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Dem proposes change to filibuster rules
2010-03-24
Senators who want to use a filibusters to block consideration of a bill would have to actually debate the issues on the Senate floor under a "Mr. Smith bill" introduced today by Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

"Filibusters should happen on Capitol Hill, not from the Capital Grille. If any of my colleagues feel strongly enough about a bill or nomination to stop all work in the Senate, they should have no problem standing on the Senate floor to explain their opposition to the American public," said Lautenberg, D-N.J.
It was the Dhimmicrats who first started doing filibusters long distance ...
While actor Jimmy Stewart immortalized the filibuster in the film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," the Senate no longer operates that way.

Currently, most Senate business operates on "unanimous consent," where a single member can block the chamber from considering a measure or nomination without stating a reason.

To get around an objection, the majority leader wants has to invoke cloture to "end debate," even if the objection has never been stated publicly on the floor. Cloture requires 60 votes, and once granted, several days must pass again before a final vote can occur.

Under Lautenberg's bill, the leader could require when making a cloture motion that anyone objecting to a final vote come to the floor and remain there discussing their objection. Once the speaker or speaker gives up the floor, a vote could be held immediately.

Daniel Foster at National Review notes:

Of course, the rule change would be subject to a 60-vote cloture procedure, and would require 67 votes to pass.
How ironic!
The bar would be lowered significantly at the beginning of the next Congress in January 2011, however. At that point, only a simple majority will be required to change the Senate's standing rules.
In other words, the change could occur just as the Dems slide into minority status and really, really, really need the filibuster bad in order to stop the repeal of Obamacare.
Not likely, but wouldn't that be delicious?
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Home Front: Politix
Frank Lautenberg diagnosed with treatable stomach cancer
2010-02-19
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey's 86-year-old senior senator, was diagnosed with treatable stomach cancer in the last 24 hours and will begin chemotherapy today.

The Democrat still plans to finish out his current term -- his fifth in the Senate -- and seek re-election in 2014.
Medical details in the sidebar at the link for those interested. Let us wish him a speedy recovery with as little suffering as possible under the circumstances.
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Home Front: Politix
U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg is treated for bleeding ulcer
2010-02-16
U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg this morning underwent an endoscopy procedure after being diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer, his spokesperson said.

Lautenberg was taken by ambulance Monday night from his Cliffside Park home to an undisclosed hospital after becoming lightheaded and suffering a fall, said the spokesman, Caley Gray. Gray said the 86-year-old New Jersey Democrat was expected to make a full recovery and will be back to work soon.

Lautenberg was elected to his fifth term in the Senate in 2008, defeating former U.S. Rep. Richard Zimmer with roughly 55 percent of the vote.

Lautenberg returned Friday night from a whirlwind 11-hour trip to Haiti with a congressional delegation that included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He was scheduled to have a news conference Monday in Newark to discuss the trip and state efforts providing relief.
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Home Front: Politix
Democrats Liken Federally Funded Viagra to Federally Funded Abortion
2009-12-10
(CNSNews.com) -- The debate on the Senate floor Tuesday about whether to add an amendment to the Senate health care bill that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion has led some senators to compare a woman getting the procedure to a man who gets a prescription for a sexual enhancement drug such as Viagra or Cialis.

They have also referred to these drugs as part of reproductive health care for men.

"Imagine if the men in this chamber had to fill out a form and get a rider for Viagra or Cialis and it was public." Sen. Barbara Boxer said during debate on the Nelson-Hatch amendment. "Forget about it. There would be a rage in this chamber."

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) also used the comparison, saying that he wanted his daughters and granddaughters to have access to all "reproductive health care."

"What if we were to vote on a Viagra amendment and it had the same limits would apply for abortion?" Lautenberg said during Tuesday's debate, adding that the reaction would be "outrage."

Boxer, Lautenberg and other Democrats opposed the amendment that Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) introduced on Monday which would explicitly ban any federal dollars from being used for abortion. They said that it would discriminate against women by limiting access to abortion while allowing men access to "reproductive health care services," including drugs like Viagra and Cialis.

But Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), co-sponsor of the amendment, said during the debate that the majority of Americans do not support using federal dollars to pay for abortion under any circumstance, especially those who are morally opposed to the procedure.

"Why should people of conscience be forced to participate in any aspect of abortion?" Hatch said.

Nelson rejected the claim by Democrats that the amendment would prohibit women from using their own money to pay for an abortion or an insurance policy that covers abortion or requires them to get a special rider to have it covered in their insurance.

"It only ensures that when taxpayer dollars are involved, people aren't required to pay for other people's abortion," Nelson said.

In a narrow vote of 54 to 45, the Senate on Tuesday evening rejected Nelson's amendment -- a move that could prompt him to fulfill his threat to filibuster the bill unless it includes restrictions on taxpayer-funded abortion.

Seven Democrats, including Sen. Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, voted in favor of the amendment, while two Republicans -- Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins -- voted against it.
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Home Front: Politix
Senate to Consider Stripping Controversial F-22 Money From Defense Bill
2009-07-21
WASHINGTON -- The argument over whether spending $1.75 billion on seven additional F-22 jets makes good economic sense is coming to a head between Congress and the Obama administration.

Lawmakers from states that would benefit from manufacturing the jets want the money pumped into the aerospace and defense industries. Defense Secretary Robert Gates counters that the money would be better spent on ensuring that the military has the tools it needs to fight the unconventional wars taking place in Iraq and Afghanistan.

An amendment to strip the F-22 money from a $680 billion defense spending policy bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate on Tuesday. President Barack Obama has threatened what would be the first veto of his presidency if the F-22 money remains in the bill presented for his signature.

"What I have not heard is substantive reason for adding more aircraft in terms of our strategic needs," Gates said Monday while reiterating his opposition to the purchase.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and the top Republican on the panel, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, sponsored the amendment to take out the F-22 money. But there's strong resistance, particularly from senators representing states where the plane and its parts are made.

According to Lockheed Martin Corp., the main contractor, 25,000 people are directly employed in building the plane, and another 70,000 have indirect links, particularly in Georgia, Texas and California. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a supporter of the program, said there are 1,000 suppliers in 44 states.

Dodd, speaking on the Senate floor last week, questioned why Congress should approve $65 billion to prop up the automobile industry but can't spend $1.75 billion to support an important segment of the aerospace industry.

Supporters of the program also argued that it would undermine the nation's security to terminate the F-22 when China and Russia are both developing fighter jets that can compete with it.

The Senate took up the F-22 issue last week, but then put it aside to deal with two amendments having nothing to do with defense. On Thursday senators voted to adopt a major expansion to hate crimes law, and on Monday they turned to a proposal allowing people with concealed weapons permits in one state to carry their weapons into other states. A vote on the gun law was expected Wednesday.

Its sponsor, South Dakota Republican John Thune, said the permit holder must respect the concealed weapon laws of the state he is visiting, such as bans on firearms in certain locations. There would be no right to carry concealed firearms in the two states that do not allow the practice, Wisconsin and Illinois. The measure is backed by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., a gun control advocate, charged that it was a "reckless amendment that would force states from coast to coast to comply with the weakest concealed carry laws." For example, he said, a state that requires training for those seeking permits would have to allow people from states that don't require training to enter with hidden weapons.

The House last month approved its version of the defense bill with a $369 million down payment for 12 additional F-22 fighters. The House Appropriations Committee last week endorsed that spending in drawing up its Pentagon budget for next year. It also approved $534 million for an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, another program that Obama, backed by the Pentagon, says is unwarranted and would subject the entire bill to a veto.

The defense bill authorizes $550 billion for defense programs and $130 billion for military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other anti-terrorist operations.
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Home Front: Politix
Democratic Senator Predicts None of His Colleagues 'Will Have the Chance' to Read Final Stimulus Bill Before Vote
2009-02-13
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) predicted on Thursday that none of his Senate colleagues would "have the chance" to read the entire final version of the $790-billion stimulus bill before the bill comes up for a final vote in Congress.

"No, I don't think anyone will have the chance to [read the entire bill]," Lautenberg told CNSNews.com.

The final bill, crafted by a House-Senate conference committee, was posted on the Website of the House Appropriations Committe late Thurday in two PDF files.

The first PDF was 424 pages long and the second PDF was 575 pages long, making the total bill 999 pages long. The House is expected to vote on this 999-page bill Friday, and the Senate either later Friday or Saturday. [Editor's note: The first PDF, as posted on the House Appropriations Committee website as of 8:20 AM Friday morning, had grown by 72 pages to 496 pages, increasing the length of the total document to 1,071 pages.]

Of the several senators that CNSNews.com interviewed on Thursday, only Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) claimed to have read the entire bill--and he was speaking of the preliminary version that had been approved by the Senate, not the final 999-page version that the House-Senate conference committee was still haggling over on Thursday afternoon.

When CNSNews.com asked members of both parties on Capitol Hill on Thursday whether they had read the full, final bill, not one member could say, "Yes."
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Investor charged in fraud managed Lautenberg charity
2008-12-13
A Wall Street powerbroker now accused of a massive investment fraud scheme managed a charitable foundation created by Sen. Frank Lautenberg that had nearly $14.5 million in assets.

Bernard L. Madoff, the 70-year-old founder of a self-named investment firm in New York City, was arrested on a securities fraud charge Thursday, The Associated Press reported.

Madoff is accused of running a fraudulent investment business that lost at least $50 billion before he confessed to senior employees it was a "giant Ponzi scheme," The AP quoted authorities saying. Madoff's attorney said he would plead not guilty. "Senator Lautenberg was an investor in Bernard Madoff's investment fund, primarily in the form of his family's charitable foundation," Lautenberg spokesman Scott Mulhauser said.

Newark attorney Michael Griffinger, who was asked to look into the matter for Lautenberg on Friday, said he believed Madoff was the sole manager or at least the primary manager of the foundation's assets. The latest public tax documents available online show those assets totaled more than $14.5 million in 2006. "I'm hesitant to make any bold statements, because there may be some current accounts in the hands of others, but the bulk of the foundation money was in the hands of Madoff," Griffinger said.

He said he has asked that the foundation's financial documents be sent to his office, but he did not expect to have further information Friday.

Mulhauser said the foundation has given to several other charities, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Catholic Relief Services, the NAACP and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement attorneys were in federal court on Friday to seek emergency relief for investors, including an asset freeze and the appointment of a receiver for Madoff's firm, The AP said. The alleged $50 billion fraud that could be the largest ever pinned on an individual, The AP said.

Madoff and family members connected with the firm also made at least $419,000 in contributions to federal candidates since 1986, including the New Jersey Senate campaigns of Lautenberg and Jon Corzine and the presidential campaign of Bill Bradley, according to Moneyline.com. Madoff, a former chairman of the Nasdaq stock exchange, was among the first contributors when Corzine entered the 2000 U.S. Senate campaign. He and Ruth Madoff, who has the same address on Federal Election Commission reports, provided $2,000 of the first $31,000 Corzine raised in August 1999.

Corzine, a millionaire and former Goldman Sachs chairman who is now governor, eventually raised $2.7 million from contributors and put $60.2 million of his own money into the campaign.

A spokesman said Corzine's did not have any personal investments with Madoff.

Madoff and relatives also gave $8,000 in 1999 to former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley's campaign for president, and $13,600 to Lautenberg's 2008 re-election campaign. Bradley did not return a call seeking comment. Mulhauser said Lautenberg would dispose of the contribution, but exactly how would be determined later. Typically campaigns donation questionable contributions to charity.

The biggest recipient of Madoff's contributions was the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which received $100,000 in the past four years. The DSCC chairman during that time was Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who also got $39,000 for his own campaign account from Madoffs since 1998. The current chairman of the DSCC is Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.
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