In this morning’s LA Times, Attorney General Anthony Mukasey discusses the critical importance of Congress renewing the Protect America Act.  This act closes a dangerous gap in our intelligence capabilities created by the expansion of new technologies since the original passage of FISA legislation in 1978, and applies only to intelligence targets overseas.  The Senate intelligence committee has passed a bipartisan bill by a vote of 13-2 that will preserve our intelligence gathering capabilities and protect telecommunications companies assisting the US government by providing vital information.  Unfortunately, the House is considering two bills to extend this act that do NOT adequately address either the gaps in intelligence or protecting companies that assist U.S. authorities, and time is running out.

Mike Soraghan reports in The Hill on dramatic increases in office spending by Congressional leadership over previous years.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi spent $16,000 in taxpayer money over the last year on flowers for her office, and increased the staff in the Speaker’s office from 35 to 51.  Overall, Pelosi’s office spending increased 63% during her first year in office from Hastert’s final year, with Minority Leader Boehner’s spending rising 12%.  Its no wonder that Congress has been unable to gain control over earmarks and runaway spending while our national debt continues to skyrocket.