Results tagged “Maxine Waters” from South Bay Pipeline

Though the House passed its health care reform bill last night on a 220-215 vote, it was not an entirely joyous moment for the body's liberal Democrats.

The House first passed an amendment, 240-194, that would prohibit coverage for abortion in the newly formed health insurance exchanges. Federal funding for abortion is already prohibited, and supporters of the Stupak amendment say they are merely extending that prohibition to the new health care plan.

But opponents of the amendment -- including the South Bay's three Democratic representatives, Jane Harman, Laura Richardson and Maxine Waters -- say it is a significant expansion of the Hyde amendment of 1977, and would prevent women even from spending their own money on health insurance that includes coverage for abortion.

Each South Bay Democrat voted against the Stupak amendment before voting for the full bill. (Waters cast the 218th vote for the full bill, putting it over the top.) The South Bay's lone Republican representative, Dana Rohrabacher, voted the for the Stupak amendment and against the full bill -- as did all other Republicans except one.

In a statement, Harman says she will have to reconsider her support for the health care bill if the Stupak amendment is contained in the version approved by the conference committee. Full statement after the jump.

Rep. Jane Harman has received assurances that she is not under an ethics investigation, following the disclosure last week that the House Ethics Committee looked into her wiretapped phone call.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who chairs the committee, wrote to Harman this week stating that "the Committee is not conducting an investigation regarding your conduct."

If that sounds familiar, recall that the Justice Department also sent Harman a letter in June stating that she is not the subject of a criminal inquiry into the matter.

This goes back to April, when CQ Politics published a story claiming that Harman had been taped agreeing to press for leniency in an espionage case against two former AIPAC officials in exchange for support in her bid to become chair of the Intelligence Committee. Harman has said she never intervened in the case and has called the disclosure an abuse of power.

According to a document obtained last week by the Washington Post, the Ethics Committee subpoenaed Harman's wiretapped call. The Post also reported that the Justice Department denied the request.

Recall for a moment that South Bay Reps. Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson were not initially investigated by the Ethics Committee, but rather by the semi-independent Office of Congressional Ethics. So why didn't the OCE also look into the Harman wiretapping? Who knows, but it's interesting to note that the co-chair of the OCE is Porter Goss, who has a not-insignificant role in the whole affair.

Read the full Ethics Committee letter after the jump.

Politico goes there, citing unnamed black lawmakers who see a racial disparity in the recent actions of the House Ethics Committee. South Bay Reps. Laura Richardson and Maxine Waters were referred for full investigations last week, bringing the number of black lawmakers under scrutiny to seven:

What especially galled black lawmakers was that the ethics committee voted to move forward with the Waters and Richardson probes following the OCE referrals, while Graves -- who OCE also thought should be investigated by the ethics committee -- saw his case dismissed...

"It is kind of crazy," said an aide to one senior black Democrat. "How can it be that the ethics committee only investigates African-Americans? It doesn't make sense."

Waters, who voted against the creation of the Office of Congressional Ethics, is said to particularly livid that her case was referred.

What a day for the South Bay's representatives in Congress.

First, Reps. Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson were referred for full Ethics Committee investigations.

Now comes word that ethics investigators also looked into the wiretapping of Rep. Jane Harman. Due to a file-sharing error, the Washington Post today got its hands on a secret Ethics Committee memo that detailed investigations into more than 30 members.

Here's the part of the Post story about that document that deals with Harman:

The committee on June 9 authorized issuance of subpoenas to the Justice Department, the National Security Agency and the FBI for "certain intercepted communications" regarding Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.). As was reported earlier this year, Harman was heard in a 2005 conversation agreeing to an Israeli operative's request to try to obtain leniency for two pro-Israel lobbyists in exchange for the agent's help in lobbying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to name her chairman of the intelligence committee. The department, a former U.S. official said, declined to respond to the subpoena.

Harman said that the ethics committee has not contacted her and that she has no knowledge that the subpoena was ever issued. "I don't believe that's true," she said. "As far as I'm concerned, this smear has been over for three years."

Harman also requested transcripts of her intercepted phone call, but did not receive a response from the Justice Department. She was informed that she was not a target of a criminal investigation.

The Harman wiretap story is complicated enough to make the allegations against Richardson and Waters look simple and straightforward by comparison.

The House Ethics Committee has just announced that it will launch full-blown investigations of Reps. Laura Richardson and Maxine Waters.

Richardson is being investigated for 1) failing to list property and liabilities on her financial disclosure form; and 2) possibly receiving preferential treatment from Washington Mutual regarding the foreclosure on her Sacramento home.

Investigators are looking into whether Waters broke any ethical rules related to her advocacy on behalf of OneUnited Bank, a company in which her husband held stock.

UPDATE: Richardson responds:

"Like 4.3 million Americans in the last year who faced financial problems because of a personal crisis like a divorce, death in the family, unexpected job and living changes and an erroneous property sale, all of which I have experienced in; the span of slightly over a year, I have worked to resolve a personal financial situation.

"But unlike other Americans, I have been subjected to premature judgments, speculation and baseless distractions that will finally be addressed in a fair, unbiased, bi-partisan evaluation of the facts.

"I hope that the Committee, despite its full schedule, now can quickly close the book, while I keep working on the issues that matter to my constituents: enacting the most historic healthcare coverage in decades, facilitating over eight secretary and chairman visits, and delivering over 32 million dollars that will be used to build roads, create job centers, and strengthen businesses and schools."

UPDATE 2: Waters' statement:

"Today I received notification that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct voted to empanel an investigative subcommittee to review allegations regarding my arranging a meeting with the Treasury Department on behalf of the National Bankers Association, which represents minority banks in this country.

"My longtime advocacy on behalf of women- and minority-owned institutions is well known and appreciated by these institutions, which have been historically denied access to government regulators to address their concerns.

"I am confident that as the investigation moves forward the panel will discover that there are no facts to support allegations that I have acted improperly or violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation or other standard of conduct in performing my duties and discharging my responsibilities as a United States Representative."

House ethics investigators have been looking into the circumstances surrounding Laura Richardson's house in Sacramento for a while. Now comes word from Politico that the Ethics Committee is scheduled to take up the issue tomorrow.

Much is shrouded in secrecy, but it seems the committee will have to decide whether to dismiss the case or pursue a full-blown investigation, and that an announcement should come out by next Wednesday.

For those late to the story, Richardson defaulted on her home in Sacramento last year. Her lender, Washington Mutual, scheduled a foreclosure auction and sold the house to an investor, but later rescinded the sale when Richardson complained. The investor sued WaMu, and there was an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum.

Richardson kept the house, but has since had some difficulty maintaining it to the standards to which the neighbors are accustomed. Some neighbors have mowed the lawn themselves when they see the grass getting high.

The questions here would be A) whether Richardson received preferential treatment from WaMu, and B) whether the neighbors' acts of kindness constitute illegal gifts under House rules.

Politico got a big "no comment" from Richardson's office.

Also up for consideration is an ethics complaint against Rep. Maxine Waters over her efforts on behalf of OneUnited Bank, which is a whole other kettle of fish.

The ethics issues surrounding Charlie Rangel have been simmering for quite a while, but they came to a boil this week when Republicans pressed a resolution to remove him from the powerful chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Our own Rep. Maxine Waters has taken the lead in defending Rangel from the various charges, which include failing to disclose bank accounts, failing to disclose rental income on a Dominican villa, and failing to pay taxes on that rental income.

Waters -- who made this year's "most corrupt" list -- has issued a defense along the lines of "everybody does it":

"I want to tell you, there are many members who, if you go back over all of
their records, over all of the years, you're going to find that there were
disclosures that were not made," Waters said on MSNBC.

The Republican motion to remove Rangel failed, but for Democrats there remains a risk that the issue could haunt them in next year's election.

Here's the video of Waters:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has issued its annual list of the most corrupt members of Congress, and this year both Laura Richardson and Maxine Waters made the cut.

And in both cases, the allegations can be traced to the foreclosure crisis.

Richardson is on there for her personal mortgage problems. (She also made the 2008 list for the same reason.) As everyone knows, Richardson lost her Sacramento home in a foreclosure sale last year, then got it back when Washington Mutual intervened, raising at least the appearance of preferential treatment. She also defaulted on two homes in Long Beach and San Pedro, and failed to pay $9,000 in property taxes on the Sacramento home. (The taxes were later repaid by WaMu, which itself went belly-up soon after.) For a time the neighbors were complaining about Richardson's untended lawn, but those problems appear (fingers crossed) to be behind her. Though there have been reports that the House Ethics Committee is looking into the matter, Richardson says she has righted her financial ship.

Waters is back on the list after a two-year absence due to her efforts to help OneUnited Bank, where her husband used to serve as a board member. Last fall, as the global economy was melting down, Waters helped arrange for a meeting between Treasury Department officials and the leadership of OneUnited Bank. The meeting was supposedly intended to address the broad concerns of minority-owned banks, but Treasury officials said that it turned into a plea for a bailout for OneUnited, which had incurred major losses due to the failures of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. OneUnited was later reprimanded by the FDIC for excess executive compensation and shoddy lending practices. It was also given $12 million in TARP funds. Waters used to own $250,000 to $500,000 worth of stock in OneUnited, and her husband still holds a sizable investment in the bank. Waters said her conduct in this case was wholly consistent with her advocacy for minority-owned banks.

CREW is generally thought of as a left-leaning organization, but this year Dems outnumber Reps on the list (8-7).

Rep. Maxine Waters will be discussing health care on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" on Sunday morning.

Looks like Waters, D-L.A., will be representing the left side of the spectrum, with Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., holding down the right. Fireworks will ensue. Also on the panel will be former Sens. Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, who will play the role of the Senatorial saucer that cools the hot passions of the House.

Also, as a kind of warmup, tonight Waters will be on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" on MSNBC.

Rep. Maxine Waters:

It was with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of Senator Kennedy. I offer my condolences to his family and friends, and also to his millions of admirers and supporters, and I will keep them all in my thoughts and prayers.

There was no one else like Senator Kennedy, and there never will be. The causes he championed during almost half of a century of public service are strong proof that he kept the interests of the most vulnerable Americans in his heart and in his mind, and he applied his pen to these causes, authoring and helping to pass some of our nation's most important pieces of legislation.

He got right to work upon entering the Senate in the early 1960's and was instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and the Fair Housing Act - landmark laws that gave minorities a platform on which they could not only stand but from which they could hold their heads high and assert their political strength. Later in his career he helped establish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, wrote the Americans with Disabilities Act and the bill to create the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and pushed legislation to raise the federal minimum wage.

As a California State Assemblywoman in 1980, I was impressed by Senator Kennedy's legislative record, his idealism, his concern for those in need, and because of his forward-thinking attitude about what our country could be, and therefore I decided to support him as he pursued the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.  I was a delegate at the Democratic Convention and I had the great of seconding his nomination.

When Senator Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama for President last year, he said '[Obama] is a fighter who cares passionately about the causes he believes in without demonizing those who hold a different view.' Those words could also have been used to describe Senator Kennedy. He was proud to champion liberal policies and passionate about the issues but always willing to listen to others respectfully and willing to negotiate to find common ground when needed.

My life was enriched by knowing and working with the 'Lion of the Senate'. Though deeply upset by his loss, I am comforted in part by knowing that his legacy will endure, and I will join with fellow progressives in carrying on his work, particularly fulfilling 'the cause of his lifetime' by passing meaningful health care reform.

My heart goes out to his wife Victoria, his children - including my colleague, Congressman Patrick Kennedy - his grandchildren, and the many other family members, friends, and supporters who are mourning his loss today.

Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor:

Today, the over 800,000 workers of the Los Angeles Labor Movement mourn the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

The last time I met Senator Kennedy was during his visit to East Los Angeles College in February 2008, when we both were campaigning for President Obama-his mere presence told me that he was champion for working men and women.

No political leader of our time more selflessly defended over as many decades the civil and labor rights of minorities and all working people than Senator Ted Kennedy. Most recently, he co-authored the Employee Free Choice Act and actively fought for national healthcare reform.

Senator Kennedy also authored the comprehensive immigration reform bill for all immigrant workers with Senator McCain and was a leading author of the AgJobs immigration reform measure for farm workers.

From the 1960s on, Senator Kennedy and his late brother, Senator Robert Kennedy, never judged our struggles or tried to tell us what we should do or how we should do it. When they supported our cause, all they wanted to know was what were the problems and what we needed for them to do. That's how the Kennedy brothers earned the affection and respect of Latinos and other poor working people.

Rep. Laura Richardson:

Senator Kennedy was a giant: one with great skills not surpassed by humility and tremendous personal and political resilience.  If there was ever an ambassador for the American people to the halls of legislative power, it was Senator Ted Kennedy.

Over a lifetime of service, Senator Kennedy's work, his commitment to everyday Americans and his unique political prowess produced a wealth of accomplishments that ranged from expanding children's healthcare to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and beyond, which are evident in neighborhood living rooms all across this country.

I first met Senator Kennedy (and his two dogs, Sunny and Splash) when I visited Washington as a member of the California State Assembly in April 2007.  After listening carefully about my district and our challenges, we ended the meeting with Sunny giving me his seal of approval by a kiss of support.

Later, when I was elected to Congress in September 2007, Senator Kennedy sent me a copy of the book Women in Congress 1917-2006, wished me well, and offered his assistance.  I was fortunate again to share a few moments with him in April of 2008 when Pope Benedict visited Washington, DC in the new stadium.  We talked about my family's origins from back east, my nephew being named after him and then we closed by worshipping and experiencing the historic moment together.

Senator Ted Kennedy has touched millions of lives throughout his historic career as a public servant and our country is a far better place today because of him.  My thoughts and prayers are with his devoted wife Vicki, his son and my colleague Patrick and the entire Kennedy family.

Readers, let's get to the news:

A surprise donation to the South Coast Botanic Garden has caused a flap on the Hill. 

The Cash for Clunkers program has been a boon for car manufacturers and local new vehicle dealers, but others lower in the auto chain might have a different take on the federal stimulus program that ends today.

Speaking of it, we checked in with local dealers Sunday, the last weekend day of the program. Scroll through pictures too.

Cal State Dominguez Hills' ladies soccer team is shooting to replicate the success of their male counterparts.

Check out pictures of Hot Pedro Night's classic car cruise up Pacific Avenue.

A rise in complicated births -- likely attributed to obesity, later motherhood and more C-sections -- has prompted a local hospital to expand its neonatal intensive care unit for newborns.

Rep. Maxine Waters held her own town hall Saturday to discuss health care.

A terminally ill woman who served more than 25 years in prison for her role in killing an abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend could soon be released to her sisters in Carson, the governor announced last week.

Last month, Maxine Waters was named by The Hill as one of the Capitol's 50 most beautiful people. Sadly, I was on vacation, so I didn't get to blog about that.

But now we have something almost as good: Washingtonian has a profile of "Belle," a 27-year-old Capitol Hill staffer who writes an anonymous blog about D.C. fashion. The writer asked her for her "top style mavens on the Hill":

"Dana Bash always looks great. And Congresswoman Jane Harman is an inspiration. I would love to raid her closet."

So would Porter Goss, but for different reasons.

As an added bonus, here's what Belle had to say about Waters showing up on the 50-most-beautiful list:

Rep. Waters is a very regal woman, but I don't know that she belongs at number five.  My guess?  They had a Congressman in the top ten, so they added a Congresswoman for balance.  Lastly, could someone please rescue her from that sharp looking necklace that is precariously close to slicing through her jugular, please?

I suspect that neither one could hold a candle to the late Juanita Millender-McDonald.

The news from the weekend is that the Obama administration seems to be backing away from the public option -- a government-run insurance program that would compete with private health insurers.

Blue Dogs in the House and conservative Democrats in the Senate have objected to the idea, and it looks like their objections are carrying the day at this point. But in order to pass a health care bill will need support from liberal members as well. So, will the Progressive Caucus vote for a bill without a public option?

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-L.A., says no:

"As I have said before, particularly in conjunction with my colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I will not be able to support a health care reform bill that does not guarantee the creation of a public option that will provide an alternative for the 47 million uninsured Americans and millions more who face rising premiums, deductibles and co-pays."

Waters' full statement after the jump.

Rep. Maxine Waters is apparently a hottie on the hill.

The Hill has named the South Bay legislator, who represents the 35th Congressional District from Westchester to Gardena, as one of the 50 most beautiful bureaucrats.

Though no Vogue, the paper reports that Waters, known for stylish spectacles and hair-dos, also deftly rocks four-inch stilleto heels thanks to a regular exercise regimen:

"Her leg strength must come from years as a runner. But because of an injury, Waters has recently switched to swimming as her exercise of choice. Most of her cardio, though, surely comes from her first love in personal activities: antique shopping."

Waters -- who apparently collects antique perfume bottles, scales, furniture and ethnic dolls -- also knows the power of beauty rest and keeping hydrated.

"I bathe in moisturizer," she told the paper.

The L.A. Times today takes a closer look at the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, which could lose a $1 million earmark because it's named for Maxine Waters.

Recall that last week Waters got into a fight with (and may have shoved) Rep. David Obey, the appropriations chairman, because Obey is cracking down on so-called "monuments to me." Obey angrily rejected Waters' pleas to allow funding for the job-training center, which is in Watts.

Her argument is that while other politicians may use these earmarks for political advantage, that is not the case here. The center was named for Waters when she was a state legislator, and in her view it is urgently needed to combat poverty and unemployment in Watts.

All of which leads one to wonder: if it's that important, and if Obey seems unlikely to budge, then why not change the name? It could go back to being the Watts Skills Center -- which is what it was called from 1966 to 1989, when it was renamed for Waters -- or it could be renamed for someone else.

Well, they've thought of that:

After Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) drew criticism for steering federal money to the Doyle Center for Manufacturing Technology, he asked that his name be dropped from it.

But Waters said that even if her name was removed from the vocational center, there was no guarantee it would receive federal money.

She added, "It would cost money to change the name."

True enough, but think about how it would look. Waters might get more credit for removing her name from the building than she gets for having it up there.

Did Maxine Waters shove the chair of the Appropriations Committee over an earmark for the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center?

That's what Politico says:

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey (D-Wis.) and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) engaged in a late-afternoon shouting match on the House floor after Obey reportedly rebuffed Waters on an earmark request, aides and witnesses said.

Witnesses, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it appeared that Waters pushed or shoved Obey. The pair were seen shouting at each other and had to be separated by members -- who were crowded on the floor casting final votes before heading off to a party at the White House.

Waters' staff claimed that Obey had pushed her. Waters herself later had to explain the incident to the New York Times:

"Chairman Obey was angry, and shouted that he didn't care about my plea," Ms. Waters said. "This is a prime example of how the system often works against the well-being of the poorest and neediest people in our country."

Make of this what you will:

This week, Reps. Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson are joining with actress Mia Farrow in a fast to bring awareness to genocide in Darfur.

About a dozen members of the Congressional Black Caucus are taking turns doing a one-day fast. Richardson did hers on Tuesday. It's not clear when Waters will take part, but her spokesman says it may be next week. Says Waters:

Mia Farrow has demonstrated true dedication to this cause by making a personal sacrifice, and I will be honored to join her and do my part.

Waters' representative says the Congress members do actually go a full 24-hour period without eating anything, but they do drink water.

Rep. Maxine Waters will be hosting two town hall meetings this Saturday, the 16th, to discuss the stimulus package.

10am to 12pm
Rowley Park Gymnasium
13220 S. Van Ness, Gardena

2pm to 4pm
Westchester Christian Church
8740 La Tijera Blvd., Westchester

This is your chance to ask her a question or give her some tea.

If you thought the recent stories about Maxine Waters' ties to troubled OneUnited Bank would make her think twice about supporting minority-owned financial firms, think again.

As Politico is reporting, Waters is urging federal officials to include minority- and women-owned banks in its bailout plans.

"We are not going to sit back and allow billions of dollars to be dumped into this economy and watch the same old players be advantaged by it," Waters said. "We're not going to sit back and watch some of the players who are responsible for the economic mess we're in today be the recipients of these taxpayer dollars and provide services and make even more money despite the fact they have mismanaged their own businesses."

Waters took some heat three weeks ago for setting up a meeting between Treasury Department officials and representatives of minority-owned OneUnited Bank. Waters and her husband have both invested in the firm, which was seeking a $50 million federal bailout due to its losses on investments Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Waters' husband served on the board of the bank, which has been criticized by the FDIC for shoddy lending practices and for its executive compensation, which included a Porche SUV and a beachfront home for its CEO. Despite its problems, OneUnited ended up with $12 million in TARP funds.

Waters and the Congressional Black Caucus remain concerned, however, that minority- and women-owned banks will be left out when the government seeks private partners to invest in toxic securities. From a press release:

Congresswoman Waters cautioned against relying solely on a handful of major firms to fix the financial markets.  "It doesn't make sense to trust just a few of the same old Wall Street firms with trillions of taxpayer dollars, especially since some of them are the same ones responsible for the crisis Americans are in now," she said. 

She emphasized that our nation cannot afford to return to business as usual and must not exclude the talents of anyone.  "In recent weeks, we have heard much about prominent banks and other institutions being 'too big to fail'.  Today America's minority- and women-owned business enterprises are exclaiming, 'We have experience and qualifications that can help America out of the economic crisis, and we are too numerous to ignore,' and the CBC will make sure this does not fall on deaf ears."