CSM: It's going to be a banner year of dramatic hearings in Congress

[ProSense]

Coming to the Hill: lots of hearing-room drama
Probes of war policies will begin amid ethical scrutiny of members.
By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

WASHINGTON - It's going to be a banner year for C-SPAN. That's because Congress is gearing up for the most dramatic slate of hearings since the Clinton impeachment fracas.

Snip...

GOP moderates are teaming up with Democrats to push for a second investigation by the Select Committee on Intelligence. In a Dec. 20 letter, GOP Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe of Maine joined Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California, Carl Levin of Michigan, and Ron Wyden of Oregon in calling for an "immediate inquiry" on whether the president exceeded his authority by authorizing wiretapping without a warrant.

Behind the scenes, a battle is also raging on how aggressively to push the White House on reports of secret CIA prisons abroad. Before breaking for the holidays, both the Senate and House called for the director of national intelligence to submit a classified report to the intelligence committees on secret prisons. At the 11th hour, the provision was stripped out of the FY 2006 Defense Authorization bill, with the understanding that the issue would be taken up directly by the intelligence panels.

If GOP chairmen fail to take up the issue, Democrats say they will use it in this year's midterm elections. "Twice now, Congress has overwhelmingly voted to require classified reports on the alleged secret prisons," says Sen. John Kerry (D) of Massachusetts. The Senate vote was 82-9. The House vote, which was nonbinding, was 228-187. "People are going to have to choose between doing what's right for our country and doing the administration's bidding, and if they choose to roll over, then Americans have every right to hold them accountable," he adds.

Snip...

In the run-up to Mr. Abramoff's expected trial date on Jan. 9, members in both parties are returning campaign contributions associated with his name. Since 1999, at least 250 members of Congress have accepted campaign funds from Abramoff or his American Indian clients, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

"This could be the biggest investigation of 2006," says Stephen Hess, professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University.

more...

from the January 03, 2006 edition -
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0103/p01s03-uspo.html

[wryter2000]

1. I'm not as optimistic

I don't think we're going to have squat unless we win at least one house of Congress in 2006. You can count all the reasonable Republicans on the fingers of one hand (maybe fewer). That's not enough to make a difference.

[ProSense]

2. The Republicans

will start jumping ship when the indictments start flying and will do everything necessary to distances themselves.

[wryter2000]

3. I hope you're right

IMHO, this country will never heal until the decent Republicans reclaim their party.