Federal Politics
Wall Street Journal praises Wyden health care bill
The Wall Street Journal ran a lengthy editorial today praising Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) for a health care bill he created as an alternative to the public plan being proposed by Barack Obama, praising it as bipartisan. However, labor unions are opposed and one blogger points to hefty campaign contributions given to Wyden by health care industry lobbying groups.
Fast track to college for well-connected at Illinois
The Chicago Tribute reported Friday that the University of Illinois has an institutional apparatus for admitting students with friends in high places. The system, Tribune writers Jodi S. Cohen, Stacy St. Clair and Tara Malone wrote, was used by disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich to secure admission for a relative of influence peddler Tony [...]
Where is the stimulus money going?
Here’s a general breakdown, courtesy of University Media Relations, of where the $2.9 million Uncle Barry’s giving to the University is going.
Mechanical Upgrades and Replacement Projects
1. Pacific Hall Sprinkler – 1st and 2nd Floor (new fire sprinkler system to the building)
2. Steam and Chilled Water Control Valves [...]
Leiken to run for Congress
Springfield, Ore., Mayor Sid Leiken has announced he will run for the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon’s fourth district, which contains Eugene and Springfield. The seat he’s after is currently occupied by the popular Peter DeFazio, so it seems at first that he faces a difficult race.
However, analysts theorize that the move is calculated [...]
SDK gives $2,300 to Obama
According to CampaignMoney.com, someone named “Sam Dotters Katz” donated $2,300 to Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008. The contributor is listed as “not employed/student,” and the site lists “Eugene, OR” as the location, so I imagine it’s the ASUO president.
Specter switches parties, swells Dems' majority
Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania has switched from the Republican to the Democratic party, giving the Democrats the possibility of a filibuster-proof 60-person majority if Al Franken of Minnesota is seated. Read more from the New York Times and follow updates on MSNBC.
Specter says he has been a Republican since the sixties, but has switched [...]
