This Week's Senate Committee Schedule

Following Alberto Gonzales's lame testimony last week -- and the most transparent lying performance since my little boy ate the last of the Double-Stuf Oreos -- the Senate Judiciary Committee returns for another week of investigations into the Justice Department firings of eight federal prosecutors.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) last week issued subpoenas to George W. Bush's brain, Karl Rove, and White House Deputy Political Affairs Director J. Scott Jennings and the two are due to testify on Thursday. What are the chances that the slippery Rove will actually show -- slim or none?

Also important in Judiciary this week -- given the GOP's penchant for stealing elections and the fact that we have some fairly important ones coming up -- will be hearings on S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007.

Here's the bill's description:

Amends the Revised Statutes and federal criminal law to prohibit any person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, from knowingly deceiving any other person regarding: (1) the time, place, or manner of conducting any federal election; or (2) the qualifications for or restrictions on voter eligibility for any such election. Makes intent to prevent another person from exercising the right to vote an essential element of the offense. Creates a private right of action for any person aggrieved by a violation of such prohibition.

The legislation is authored by Barack Obama (D-IL) and -- surprise, surprise -- not one Republican is among the many cosponsors.

And given that the role of the Justice Department has morphed into it representing the White House and not the American people, the committee will also look at S. 1845, by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), which will "provide for limitations in certain communications between the Department of Justice and the White House Office relating to civil and criminal investigations."

In other key committee meetings, Armed Services will hold a hearing Friday on the treatment of military detainees while earlier in the week -- and how's this for irony? -- the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will look at "Building a Stronger American Diplomatic Presence" to examine "shortfalls in Department of State staffing and foreign language skills and the impact on the ability to conduct U.S. foreign policy."

Though with the sophistication of Team Bush's foreign policy, the primary skill required at the State Department these days is to look good in caveman garb and swing a big club.

And, wait, we're not done with Judiciary!

The committee will take a break from the fired-U.S. Attorney lying festival to examine OxyContin in a hearing called "Ensuring that Death and Serious Injury are More than a Business Cost: OxyContin and Defective Products."

There is no truth to the rumor that comedian Rush Limbaugh will testify on the fear he endures every time he goes down to the corner to score another dose of "Hillbilly Heroin."

On that note, here's the full Senate committee schedule for the week:

Armed Services

Jul 31, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the following nominations:

• Admiral Michael G. Mullen, USN for reappointment to the grade of admiral and to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• General James E. Cartwright, USMC for reappointment to the grade of general and to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Aug 3, 2007 at 8 a.m. To receive information relating to the treatment of detainees.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Jul 31, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the state of the securities markets.

Aug 2, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Randall S. Kroszner, of New Jersey, Larry Allan Klane, of the District of Columbia, and Elizabeth A. Duke, of Virginia, all to be Members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Aug 2, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine reforming key international financial institutions for the 21st century. (Security and International Trade and Finance Subcommittee)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Jul 31, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the following nominations:

• Ronald Spoehel, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• William G. Sutton, Jr., of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce
• Thomas J. Barrett, of Alaska, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation
• Paul R. Brubaker, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Department of Transportation.

Jul 31, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. The Committee will examine three major consumer protection and fraud prevention issues under the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): (1) the effectiveness of the national Do-Not-Call registry and current legislative proposals to improve the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act of 2003; (2) the effectiveness of CROA and possible legislative initiatives to clarify the language of the Act; and (3) telemarketing fraud, particularly against older Americans.

Aug 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. The U.S. Department of Commerce and its component bureaus are responsible for the stewardship, protection, and scientific understanding of our ocean environment and its resources, effective use and growth of the nation’s technological resources, and promoting U.S. trade and tourism. The oversight hearing will examine the Department’s effectiveness in implementing these goals.

Aug 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. Business meeting to consider the following legislation:

• S. 781, To extend the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to collect Do-Not- Call Registry fees to fiscal years after fiscal year 2007
• S. 602, Child Safe Viewing Act of 2007
• S. 1578, Ballast Water Management Act of 2007
• S. 1892, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007

Energy and Natural Resources

Jul 31, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Committee hearing is to receive testimony on renewable fuels infrastructure.

Aug 1, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To receive testimony on recent advances in Clean Coal Technology, including the prospects for deploying these technologies at a commercial scale in the near future.

Aug 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the following legislation:

• S. 1054: A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Inland Empire regional recycling project and in the Cucamonga Valley Water District recycling project
• H.R. 122: Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative
• S. 1472: A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to create a Bureau of Reclamation partnership with the North Bay Water Reuse Authority and other regional partners to achieve objectives relating to water supply, water quality, and environmental restoration
• S. 1475: A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program, and for other purposes
• H.R. 1526: Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Authorization Act of 2007
• H.R. 30: Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project
• H.R. 609: Central Texas Water Recycling Act of 2007
• H.R. 1175: To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to increase the ceiling on the Federal share of the costs of phase I of the Orange County, California, Regional Water Reclamation Project

(Water and Power Subcommittee)

Aug 2, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To Receive Testimony on S.1253, a bill to establish a fund for the National Park Centennial Challenge. (National Parks Subcommittee)

Environment and Public Works

Jul 31, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. The committee will hold a business meeting to consider the following legislation:

• A bill to reauthorize the provision of technical assistance to small public water systems, S. 1429 (Inhofe et al.)
• Ban Asbestos in America Act, S. 742 (Murray, Isakson, Boxer et al. manager’s substitute amendment)
• Toxic Right to Know Protection Act, S. 595 (Lautenberg et al.)
• California waiver decision deadline bill, S. 1785 (Nelson, Boxer et al. manager’s substitute amendment, with technical correction)
• National Infrastructure Improvement Act, S. 775 (Carper, Voinovich et al. manager’s substitute amendment)
• The Multinational Species Conservation Funds reauthorizations, HR 50 and HR 465 (same as S. 1832 with tech corrections, Lieberman-Warner-Boxer)
• The Captive Primate Safety Act, S. 1498, (Boxer, Vitter et al.)

The committee will also examined the following nominations:

• Robert Lyle Laverty to be Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, U.S. Department of the Interior
• Robert Lance Boldrey nominee for reappointment to the Board of Trustees for the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation

Finance

Jul 31, 2007 at 10 a.m. To continue hearings to examine carried interest

Foreign Relations

Jul 31, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine nuclear energy and nonproliferation challenges, focusing on safeguarding the atom.

Aug 1, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the United States Africa Command, focusing on a new strategic relationship with Africa. (African Affairs Subcommittee)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Aug 1, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. Business meeting to consider the following legislation:

• S. 579: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers regarding environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer
• S. 625: A bill to protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products
• S. 1858: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish grant programs to provide for education and outreach on newborn screening and coordinated follow-up care once newborn screening has been conducted, to reauthorize programs under part A of title XI of such Act, and for other purposes

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Aug 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the under-representation of Americans at the United Nations and its organizations; focusing on ways to build a stronger American diplomatic presence. (Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee)

Aug 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (Public Law 109-435), focusing on the services that are provided to customers. (Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security Subcommittee)

Intelligence

Jul 31, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.

Aug 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine the nomination of Donald M. Kerr, of Virginia, to be Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence.

Aug 2, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.

Judiciary

Jul 31, 2007 at 10 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the impact of the Leegin decision.

Jul 31, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine death and serious injury relating to Oxycontin and defective products.

Aug 2, 2007 at 10 a.m. To continue hearings to examine the Department of Justice politicizing the hiring and firing of United States Attorneys, focusing on preserving prosecutorial independence.

Aug 2, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. Business meeting to consider the following legislation:

• S. 1692: A bill to grant a Federal charter to Korean War Veterans Association, Incorporated
• S. 1060: A bill to reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, to improve reentry planning and implementation, and for other purposes
• S. 453: A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections
• S. 1845: A bill to provide for limitations in certain communications between the Department of Justice and the White House Office relating to civil and criminal investigations, and for other purposes

Veterans' Affairs

Jul 31, 2007 at 9:30 p.m. To hold hearings to examine Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense education issues.