Negroponte hearings begin

LJWorld.com weblogs Congressional Briefing

Posted by Joel Mathis April 12, 2005 at 9:41 a.m.

Pat Roberts links [(AP) Negroponte Facing Questions From Congress:][1] Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said he's discussed a number of intelligence issues with Negroponte, such as the need for better analysis, improvements in traditional spying and ways to boost the quality of personnel with pay incentives and scholarships. "There are a lot of black eyes" at the intelligence agencies, Roberts said. "The intelligence community can get blamed for things, and there are some very egregious mistakes that they have made. : On the other hand, they have done a lot of things right."Sam Brownback links [(BP News) Land, Brownback, others urge pressure on China to protect North Korean refugees:][2] Newly released video of public executions in North Korea demonstrates the need to pressure China to protect refugees from that repressive regime, a Southern Baptist leader and other human rights advocates say. Richard Land, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, joined Sen. Sam Brownback, R.-Kan., and others at a Capitol Hill news conference in calling for action on behalf of North Korean refugees who escape to China. Some observers rate North Korea, a communist dictatorship ruled over by Kim Jong Il, as the world's most oppressive regime. [(New York Times)Military Bill Carries Range of Extra Spending:][3] Other senators seek to introduce amendments that would make it easier for farms to hire foreign workers. A dozen senators of both parties, including Senator Sam Brownback, Republican of Kansas, and Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, sent a letter to Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the majority leader, on Monday urging him to ensure that the tighter restrictions on illegal immigrants "will not appear in a conference report that returns to the Senate for consideration." [(USA Today commentary) Hail of criticism batters judges, imperils justice:][4] Other GOP lawmakers, including senators Sam Brownback of Kansas and Richard Shelby of Alabama, are sponsoring the ill-conceived "Constitutional Restoration Act," which would restrict federal courts from ruling on anything involving God.How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][5] [1]: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=662622 [2]: http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=20557 [3]: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/12/politics/12spend.html [4]: http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2005-04-11-politics-judiciary-our_x.htm [5]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed