'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Congress this week approved a bill to free thousands of federal government employees from having to disclose their financial dealings online, rushing the bill through the Senate late Thursday and through the House on Friday. But the push to undo the online reporting requirement is proving to be controversial.
A $60.4 billion spending bill for Superstorm Sandy relief washed up on Capitol Hill in the middle of the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, forcing Republicans to grapple with whether to demand spending cuts to offset the storm bill or approve the money and clear the decks for bigger fights.
The FBI is preparing a timeline of its criminal investigation that brought to light CIA Director David Petraeus' extramarital affair so the bureau can respond to members of Congress asking why they and the White House weren't notified of the probe months ago.
Ex-CIA director David Petraeus has told friends he was shocked to find that his biographer and girlfriend, Paula Broadwell, was suspected of sending anonymous, threatening emails to a Petraeus friend she saw as a romantic rival.
While Congress is facing several unresolved issues in a potentially busy post-election lame duck session, finding additional disaster relief money for Hurricane Sandy likely won't be on the list, as FEMA and lawmakers say available funds should be sufficient.
Presidents are identified in the history books by their accomplishments, if they have any.
"In December when we extended the Stock Act deadline of public disclosure for financial disclosure, we required a study by the nonpartisan and independent National Academy of Public Administration," said Rory Cooper, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican. "This was their recommendation and the House and Senate agreed it was the best course of action for the time being."
Congress votes to shield top officials' financial disclosures →
Cooper said Cantor believed that if national security was affected, the FBI would, as obligated, inform the congressional intelligence committees and others, including House Speaker John Boehner.
