Supreme Court Upholds McCain-Feingold

Supreme Court Upholds McCain-Feingold,
Political 'Soft-Money' Contributions Banned
Those donations, called "soft money" and totaling hundreds of millions of dollars,had become a mainstay of modern political campaigns, used to rally voters to the polls and to pay for sharply worded television ads. Congress may regulate campaign money to prevent the real or perceived corruption of political candidates, the court ruled in a 5-4 decision. "Soft money" is a catchall term for money that is not subject to existing federal caps on the amount individuals may give and which is outside the old law prohibiting corporations and labor unions from making direct campaign donations. The court barred all national political parties from raising this kind of money, and said their affiliates in the individual states may not serve as conduits for soft money. Without soft money, politicians and political parties may only take in donations that are already allowed in limited amounts, such as a private individual's small re-election donation to his or her local member of Congress.

Supreme Court Revisits Scope of Miranda Rights
WASHINGTON -- Several Supreme Court justices expressed concern yesterday about a new police tactic that they called an "end run" around the requirement that officers inform suspects of their rights. But it was not clear whether a majority of the court would vote to stop the practice. The tactic, described in some police training manuals and promoted on a website on policing, involves two rounds of questioning of a suspect at the police station -- the first to get a confession without advising the suspect of the right to remain silent and have a lawyer, the second to have the confession repeated after giving what are known as Miranda warnings.

Taiwan Says Bush Out of His Mind
TAIPEI -- Brushing aside a warning from George W. Bush, Taiwan's president reiterated his plan to hold a referendum alongside elections next March, but said neither independence nor the status quo with China would be at issue. Chen Shui-bian, addressing a news conference on Wednesday after Bush delivered his surprise warning during a White House visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, did not say what the referendum would be about. But earlier he suggested it would pressure China to remove missiles aimed at the island, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province that must one day, even by force, be returned to the fold.

In This Case, a Two-China Policy for U.S.
After the opening speeches, the 50 or so American executives gathered at the Hotel Pennsylvania in Manhattan were invited to divide up. Those interested in investing in China - putting an operation there and hiring Chinese workers - were to go across the hall to the Penntop North conference room. Those who wanted help in exporting to China were to stay seated in Penntop South. Half or more went across the hall. What was surprising was the presence of the United States Commerce Department at the conference.

Muslims Kill Two More U.S. Soldiers
BAGHDAD -- Two American soldiers were killed Wednesday in separate attacks in Iraq. One soldier died and three were wounded when a roadside bomb hit their convoy in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the U.S. military said. "One soldier was killed and three were injured," said a spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division in the city. In the northern city of Mosul, another soldier was killed when insurgents fired upon troops guarding a gas station, the U.S. Army said. Another U.S. soldier was wounded in the incident. "One of the two soldiers has died," said Maj. Trey Cate, spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul.

U.S. Shuts Out France, Germany for Iraq Work
WASHINGTON -- Citing national security reasons, U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has ruled that prime contracts to rebuild Iraq will exclude firms from nations such as France and Germany that opposed the U.S. war. In a policy document released on Tuesday, Wolfowitz said he was limiting competition for 26 reconstruction contracts worth up to $18.6 billion that will be advertised in coming days.

Canada Slams Iraq Shut-Out
Washington - The Pentagon drew criticism from one US ally after formally barring companies from countries opposed to the Iraq war from bidding on 26 lucrative reconstruction contracts. The ruling bars companies from US allies such as France, Germany and Canada from bidding on those contracts - worth $18.6 billion - because their governments opposed the American-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein's regime.

Senate OKs Oil Lobbyist for Saudi Post
WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Texas oil lobbyist James Oberwetter to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Oberwetter, 59, promised in his confirmation hearings to encourage democratic reforms and tolerance for other religions if confirmed. But he'll also be expected by some in Congress to foster more cooperation from Saudi Arabia in fighting terrorism.

2 Stories by Malvo the Focus of Trial
CHESAPEAKE, Va. - In many ways, the trial of sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo comes down to his word against his word. After his arrest last fall, Malvo told investigators in lengthy confessions that he pulled the trigger in all of the sniper shootings. But in meetings with a court-appointed psychologist this past summer, Malvo withdrew those confessions and said he was not the triggerman.

Suspicious Packagecloses Post Office
PHOENIXVILLE - The Phoenixville Post Office was closed for more than two hours after a suspicious package was discovered in the side parking lot Tuesday morning. According to Police Chief John Kalavik, a post office employee discovered the 3'x2'x3' U-Haul cardboard box near the chained fence in the parking lot around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday. "We immediately closed off access to the front of the post office," he said. "Personnel inside the Verizon Building, the church, and the post office were immediately evacuated." Kalavik said a similar type of box was discovered in Philadelphia three weeks ago, and there was an explosive device inside that one.

Posted by Editor at December 10, 2003 10:22 AM