Don’t get caught flat-footed in front of the press!  Below is a quick rundown of today’s “must reads.” – John T. Doolittle, House Republican Conference Secretary

The Morning Murmur – Thursday, March 30, 2006

1.  Abramoff Gets Nearly 6-Year Sentence Yet Remains Free While Aiding Corruption Investigation - Associated Press
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former partner were sentenced to nearly six years in prison on fraud charges but were allowed to remain free while they help a corruption investigation that has embroiled Congress.

2. House Members Want 'Abortion Pill' Off the Market - Human Events
Yesterday Rep. Chris Smith (R.-N.J.), co-chairman of the Pro-Life Caucus in the House of Representatives, along with seven other House Republicans, led the charge to take off the market an abortion pill they say is deadly.

3.  McKinney Said to Strike Officer - Roll Call
A U.S. Capitol Police officer is considering filing assault charges against Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) following an altercation yesterday in which she allegedly hit him after he asked to see identification.

4.  Consumer Confidence Advances to Highest Level Since May 2002 - Wall Street Journal
U.S. consumer confidence jumped to nearly a four-year high as households were cheered by a strong start for economic growth in 2006 and an improving job market, the Conference Board reported.

5.  Editorial was Inexcusable - Rep. Richard Pombo
Rep. Pombo responds to a Roll Call editorial: Repeating baseless charges of wrongdoing is one thing, but failing to include the facts is inexcusable.

For previous issues of the Morning Murmur, go to www.GOPsecretary.gov

FULL ARTICLES BELOW:

1.  Abramoff Gets Nearly 6-Year Sentence Yet Remains Free While Aiding Corruption Investigation - Associated Press

By CURT ANDERSON
Associated Press Writer

MIAMI (AP) -- Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former partner were sentenced to nearly six years in prison on fraud charges but were allowed to remain free while they help a corruption investigation that has embroiled Congress.

U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck sentenced Abramoff and Adam Kidan to five years and 10 months behind bars on Wednesday for concocting a fake $23 million wire transfer during the 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos.

The judge agreed to postpone the prison reporting dates for the men to allow them to continue cooperating in both the Washington bribery investigation and the 2001 killing of former SunCruz owner Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis. Both deny having any role in the death.

Ultimately, if prosecutors are satisfied with Abramoff's and Kidan's cooperation in the other investigations, the sentences - the minimum recommended under federal guidelines - could be reduced.

"They are both trying to atone for their conduct by cooperating with the government," said Lawrence LaVecchio, an assistant U.S. attorney. "I have every reason to believe they will continue to cooperate."

Hours after the sentencing, the Senate voted 90-8 to bar its members from accepting gifts or meals from lobbyists, and to require lobbyists to reveal more information about their contacts with lawmakers. Critics are seeking deeper changes, including a ban on privately funded travel and the creation of an independent office to investigate possible ethics violations by senators.

The House has yet to take up similar legislation, but House and Senate leaders have made lobbying and ethics reform a priority in light of the Abramoff scandal and the recent bribery conviction of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.

In addition to the prison sentence, Huck ordered Abramoff, 47, and Kidan, 41, to pay $21.7 million in restitution to lenders victimized by their fraud scheme. Both must serve three years' probation after they get out of prison.

Abramoff, dressed in a dark business suit, said in brief remarks prior to sentencing that the day was "incredibly painful" for himself, his friends and family but that he intended to make amends.

"I am much chastened and profoundly remorseful over the reckless and hurtful things I have done in my life, especially those which have brought me before you today. I can only hope that the Almighty and those whom I have wronged will forgive me my trespasses," Abramoff said.

Kidan also expressed remorse, saying his goal in life now is to become a better role model for his 2-year-old daughter. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about it and wish it would have turned out differently," Kidan told the judge.

Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud for concocting the wire transfer to make it appear they were contributing a sizable stake of their own money to the $147.5 million SunCruz purchase. Based on the transfer, lenders gave the pair $60 million in financing.

The same week in January that Abramoff pleaded guilty to the SunCruz fraud, he entered guilty pleas to three federal charges as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe that could involve up to 20 members of Congress and aides, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. No date has been set for his sentencing in that case.

That investigation arose from Abramoff's representation of six Indian tribes, which he and a partner billed for $80 million between 2001 and 2004. They directed the tribes to give thousands of dollars in political campaign contributions. Tribal leaders have said in many cases they were unaware of what was happening to their money.

In addition, Abramoff and Kidan are expected to give statements in the investigation into the Feb. 6, 2001, slaying of Boulis. He was gunned down at the wheel of his car on a Fort Lauderdale street amid a power struggle over control of the gambling fleet.

Three men face murder charges, including one who worked for Kidan as a consultant at SunCruz and who allegedly has ties to New York's Gambino crime family. They could get the death penalty if convicted.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LOBBYIST_FRAUD?SITE=WRKO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

2.  House Members Want 'Abortion Pill' Off the Market - Human Events

by Ivy J. Sellers
Posted Mar 29, 2006

Today Rep. Chris Smith (R.-N.J.), co-chairman of the Pro-Life Caucus in the House of Representatives, along with seven other House Republicans, led the charge to take off the market an abortion pill they say is deadly.

The drug, known officially as Mifeprex or RU-486, is used by women hoping to terminate an unwanted pregnancy; but, at this point, it's not only killing their unborn babies, it's killing the women who use it as well.

Recently it was reported that two more women have died as a result of taking the pill -- making a total of seven known deaths in the U.S. and at least three overseas since the drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000.

"Sadly, the tragic and preventable deaths of these two women remind us that not only is RU-486 used to kill babies, it is a poison that continues to harm women," said Smith at today's Capitol Hill press conference. "Even proponents of RU-486, such as Planned Parenthood, have recognized the danger that it has caused to women. How many deaths, investigations and warnings will it take before RU-486 is properly labeled as lethal and removed from the market?"

For this reason, GOP Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (Md.), Joe Pitts (Pa.), Mike Pence (Ind.), Phil Gingrey (Ga.), Trent Franks (Ariz.), Jeff Fortenberry (Neb.) and Jean Schmidt (Ohio) stood with Smith at a press conference today to demand the House take action and vote on "Holly's law" (H.R. 1079) -- a bill authored by Bartlett that would suspend FDA approval of RU-486.

Representatives from Concerned Women for America, the National Right to Life Committee, the Susan B. Anthony List, Democrats for Life, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and American United for Life were also present at the press conference to voice their support for Holly's law.

Holly's law was named for 18-year-old Holly Patterson who died Sept. 17, 2003. Cause of death: septic shock as a result of taking RU-486, according to the coroner's report.

Holly's parents, Monty and Helen Patterson, requested the law be named for their daughter, stating in a 2003 letter pushing for the law's approval that, "As parents, we cannot allow our beautiful Holly's horrible death to be in vain. RU-486 has caused serious injury and has been implicated in the deaths of other young women. Now it has killed our daughter."

The couple also expressed their disappointment in a government regulation system that failed to do its job.

"The FDA has failed to carry out its mission of ensuring RU-486 is a safe and effective abortion drug regimen," they wrote. "According to the FDA, it is 'responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.' Holly has already paid the ultimate price."

Smith and his colleagues are now asking the FDA to act responsibility and admit the drug was never thoroughly tested.

"RU-486 was pushed through the approval process under intense political pressure during the Clinton Administration," he explained, "which shows clear and apparent negligence" on the part of the FDA to allow this "untested and very lethal drug to be brought to the market."

Smith said the FDA regulation was set aside and instead, RU-486 approval was expedited in what would normally be seen as an "extreme procedure" used only in emergency situations to save lives -- something RU-486 definitely does not do.

Not only does the drug kill, negative side effects include "hemorrhaging, infections ... lives destroyed," Schmidt pointed out during her remarks.

But Planned Parenthood, the drug's biggest proponent, continues to insist the drug does more good than harm while the FDA continues to turn look the other way.

"This is a classic case where the politics of abortion has trumped women's health in America," Pence said.

Franks also commented on "abortion politics."

"The reason that we are blind and change a lot of the way we look at RU-486 as opposed to other drugs is because it is associated with abortion," he said. "And you see, we have to blind ourselves to abortion in this country because we've had, in this short time since Roe v. Wade, 45 million abortions, 45 million dead children and it is hard for society to face that. It's hard for this generation to realize, and to really admit that we have presided over the greatest human holocaust in the history of mankind. That's difficult to do. But to ignore it is to only exacerbate it."

In the Senate, Republicans Jim DeMint (S.C.) and Tom Coburn ( Okla.) have co-sponsored the RU-486 Suspension and Review Act (S. 511), which would suspend sales of RU-486 until the pill, and its process of approval, can be more thoroughly scrutinized.

3.  McKinney Said to Strike Officer - Roll Call

By Elizabeth Brotherton
Roll Call Staff

March 30, 2006

A senior Capitol Police official said charges were not likely to be filed against Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) after she allegedly struck a Capitol Police officer in the chest with her mobile phone Wednesday.

The altercation between the officer and McKinney took place when the officer asked her to go through the magnetometer at a security checkpoint.

Members are not required to pass through magnetometers, but, according to the police source, the officer did not recognize McKinney, who apparently was sporting a different hairstyle than she usually does.

Details of the event were still unclear at press time, but according to the source, the unidentified officer asked McKinney to go through the magnetometer at one of the House Office Buildings "a couple times," but she refused.

The officer then grabbed McKinney's arm and restrained her, which prompted her to yell: "Don't touch me." McKinney then hit the officer in the chest with her phone, the source said.

It was unclear if McKinney had on her Congressional lapel pin, which is one method that officers use to identify Members.

"She certainly can be charged over this, but I don't know it warrants that action," the source said.

Sources on both sides of the aisle confirmed that the officer involved had met with outgoing Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer and House Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Livingood afterwards to discuss the incident.

McKinney , who has been a lightning rod for controversy in her tenure on Capitol Hill, had no comment as Roll Call went to press Wednesday.

The Capitol Police remained officially mum about the incident.

"The matter has been brought to our attention and is currently under investigation," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, the agency's public information officer. "I don't have any specific information."

Rumors about the incident rapidly spread via e-mail across Capitol Hill Wednesday, as staffers on both the House and Senate side traded gossip about the incident.

Republicans had a field day.

The National Republican Congressional Committee pointed out that the incident occurred on a day when Democrats unveiled their agenda on national security.

"Today's ironic one-two punch from National Democrats trying to look tough on security finds Cynthia McKinney attacking a member of the law enforcement community," NRCC Director Carl Forti said in a statement. "When we said Democrats were all talk and no action on security, we did not mean to provoke them to take matters into their own cell phone-clutching hands."

Sean Spicer, communications director for the House Republican Conference, echoed Forti's sentiments.

"It is just ironic that on a day that they were trying to gather for a media stunt on the issue of security, one of their Members struck a Capitol police officer, who puts his life on the line every day to secure this building, Members and staff," Spicer said. "I don't care what day of the week it is, you don't ever treat a law enforcement officer with that type of treatment."

The senior police source said that while Wednesday's event was unfortunate, the issue had basically been settled.

"This is an incident that shouldn't have happened," the source said. "She shouldn't have behaved that way, and the officer was absolutely correct in his actions. But I don't think we need to spend much more time on it - I think she recognizes what she did was wrong."

John McArdle and John Bresnahan contributed to this report.

ttp://rollcall.com/issues/51_103/news/12726-1.html

4.  Consumer Confidence Advances to Highest Level Since May 2002 - Wall Street Journal

By MICHAEL S. DERBY
March 29, 2006; Page A2

U.S. consumer confidence jumped to nearly a four-year high as households were cheered by a strong start for economic growth in 2006 and an improving job market, the Conference Board reported.

The private research group said its index of consumer confidence for March exceeded forecasters' expectations, rising to 107.2, from a revised 102.7 seen in February. Economists had expected a March reading of 102.

March was the second consecutive month of growth in the index, and the March index was the highest reading since May 2002, when the index hit 110.3.

The Conference Board said its present-situation index, which measures consumer perceptions about business conditions and employment, rose to 133.3 in March from a revised 130.3 in February. Meanwhile, the expectations index, which measures perceptions about business conditions, employment and income six months into the future, rose to 89.9 from February's revised 84.2.

"The improvement in consumers' assessment of present-day conditions is yet another sign that the economy gained steam in early 2006," said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board's Consumer Research Center. But she added, "consumer expectations, while improved, remain subdued and still suggest a cooling in activity in the latter half of this year."

Economists generally expect that economic growth will ease in the second half of the year amid higher interest rates and a cooling housing market. Still, analysts said that they expect consumer spending to hold up in 2006 with the support of job and wage growth.

The Conference Board said that in its survey, the proportion of those who deem current economic circumstances as "good" moved up to 28.3% in March from 26.4% in February. The proportion of those who saw conditions as "bad" fell to 14.7% from 15.4%. The proportion of survey respondents who said jobs are "plentiful" stood at 28.4%, up from 27.4%.

ttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB114355258602810015.html?mod=economy_lead_story_lsc

5.  Editorial was Inexcusable - Rep. Richard Pombo

Roll Call Letters

Dear Editor:

Yesterday's editorial (Start Your Engine) outlined some of the work facing the House ethics committee, but it truly ran out of gas in suggesting that I be investigated for allegedly misusing franking privileges.

Repeating baseless charges of wrongdoing is one thing, but failing to include the fact that said complaints were dismissed by the Committee on House Administration nearly one year ago - citing the facts, rules and piles of precedent - is inexcusable.

It is also inexplicable.  Roll Call itself reported the dismissal of the charges on July 14 th, 2005.  And well before that, on April 6 th, you editorialized that "under the current rules, the [franking] panel would find nothing amiss" with the franked mail in question.  These inconsistencies and omissions of fact are egregious, especially in light of the seriousness of the suggestion made in your editorial.

Frankly, this suggestion is as frivolous and irresponsible as the Minority Leader's in January of this year, when she penned a letter to the Speaker asserting that I and other GOP members be should be investigated for "egregious violations" of House rules.

When asked to elaborate, Ms. Pelosi told reporters, "I am not familiar with the facts of the case, I really am not.  I only know what I have read in the paper."

Readers expect more from Roll Call than the trumpeting of inane, vacuous, election-year character assassination tactics.  Report the facts.  Educate the Minority Leader.  She only knows what she reads in the paper.

Sincerely,

Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R-CA)

###