CNN all over pensions for convicted congressmembers, but ignored Dem bill last March

[blm]

that would have stopped those pensions when it was presented by Democrats.

Seems to me they want to impugn the Democrats NOW in power as if they are the ones who allowed it to happen, and indeed are focusing their storylines on Dem members, and completely ignoring the fact that Democrats already put up a bill last March.

Remember CNN's detailed coverage of THIS story? Neither do I.



3/03/2006
John Kerry on Duke Cunningham’s $40,000-a-Year Prison Sentence Perk




Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry on former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham’s sentencing today. Kerry has authored two ethics reform measures in the Senate, one of which would take away Cunningham’s Congressional pension.
“Even after Duke Cunningham’s prison sentencing today, he’ll still be getting a perk most Americans only dream of – $40,000 a year, courtesy of taxpayers. It is disgusting that hardworking taxpayers are funding the retirement of convicted criminals like Duke Cunningham. No wonder people look at Washington and know this city is broken.

“We need serious changes in Washington but few are willing to buck the system. It makes me wonder what they’re hiding. The resistance to reform makes the case for change powerfully. Think about the fact that there is no congressional investigation of Congressional ties to Jack Abramoff. Duke Cunningham was convicted of a crime, but he wasn’t sanctioned by the House.

“No wonder people look at Washington and know this city is broken.”

Banning Taxpayer-funded Pensions for Criminals

John Kerry’s Congressional Pension Accountability Act – or “The Duke Cunningham Act” – would deny taxpayer-funded pension benefits to Members of Congress who are convicted of crimes such as bribery, conspiracy, or other serious ethics offenses. Under current law, only a conviction for a crime against the United States, such as treason or espionage, causes U.S. Representatives and Senators to lose their Congressional pensions. Unless the law is changed, Cunningham will be allowed to receive his Congressional pension of approximately $40,000 per year. Inspector General for Congress

John Kerry has introduced legislation to establish an independent Congressional Inspector General to investigate violations of the law and ethics rules by Members of Congress and Congressional staff.

Kerry’s legislation creates an independent Congressional Inspector General, similar to those at federal agencies. The Inspector General would conduct investigations into ethics abuses and provide a public report to the Justice Department or ethics committees describing any credible evidence of improper conduct or illegal activities. Any person—including the public—would be able to request an investigation by providing a sworn statement made under penalty of perjury. The Inspector General would release an annual report of violations by Members of Congress and Congressional staff.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. What about the missing 9 billion bucks in Iraq?

If CNN wanted to do a REAL public service, they would investigate WHERE 9-fucking-billion-dollars went.:shrug:

The congressional pensions are a mere pittance to that.

[blm]

2. Point is that the corpmedia wants to make this a Dem stain TODAY when they wouldn't report

it at all when Dems crafted the legislation that would cut off these pensions last year.

This is about the blatant corpmedia complicity with the GOP and their sleight-of-hand reporting in a way that spins the story against Dems.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. I know - I was screaming at the TV during the prettyboy's report...

...that he was wasting his journalistic talents (cough) on horseshit that had little-to-no bearing on today's Federal fiscal mess. Funny how they talked about nothing but disgraced Democrats, when the greatest governmental larcenies of the last 100 years happened on the Republican's watch...:grr:

[blm]

5. Thanks for noticing - this is one of the not so subtle ways that GOPs still control

perception where they can. After all, they didn't buy up most control of broadcast media in the 80s and 90s so the public could get unvarnished information, did they?

[beachmom]

3. You might want to e-mail them this "tip"

I tend to toggle back and forth whether the media has a conspiracy against liberal Democrats or that they're just plain too lazy to really do their job.

[w4rma]

7. The owners are actively against progressives. They choose to hire lazy reporters. (nt)

[blm]

10. And choose to hire COMPLIANT figures who will speak their lines

the lines given them by those unseen production figures actually doing the writing.

[EC]

6. Aren't they forgetting that the only ones CONVICTED have

been Republicans? Yet they kept mentioning the money in the fridge, there is no conviction or even arrest that I'm aware of with Jefferson....

[beaconess]

8. They ignored a major point - this is a statutory matter that can't be fixed in a couple of days

This will need to go through hearings and a markup in the House Administration Committee -- THAT's why the Dems didn't include this provision in their 100-hour strategy. They're still planning to do it, just not in the first 100 hours.

It's hilarious, though, watching the Republicans wring their hands that the Dems aren't going far enough on ethics reform. What a joke.

[blm]

9. What's NOT funny is CNN helping to promote the GOP storyline on this - as usual.

The bill CNN claims is needed was sent up by Democrats in March 2006 and they refused to give it airtime and discussion back then.