QUOTE OF THE DAY “The health-care law guarantees millions
of women access
to recommended preventive services at no cost.” Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department Article, this pageIRS’ Lerner waived rights, panel says
WASHINGTON - A House panel Friday determined that Internal Revenue Service official Lois Lerner waived her right against self-incrimination by making a statement professing innocence before refusing to answer questions.
The Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted 22-17 in a party-line vote. The committee’s action sets up a confrontation with Lerner that could land in federal court if she still refuses to respond to questions about her role in applying tougher scrutiny to Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status.
Committee members from both parties said Lerner has information that’s crucial to the panel’s inquiry into the IRS. They parted over how far they were willing to go to force her to testify.
Lerner appeared before the committee May 22 and invoked her right to avoid incriminating herself under the Fifth Amendment.
Judge halts law on Michigan benefits
A Michigan law prohibiting public employers from extending employee benefits to anyone living with a government worker who isn’t a spouse or legal dependent has been temporarily suspended by a federal judge.
U.S. District Judge David Lawson in Detroit on Friday rejected arguments by Gov.
Rick Snyder’s administration that the law was a cost-saving measure and didn’t target same-sex couples. Lawson said five such couples who sued last year would likely prevail on claims the measure violated their constitutional right to equal protection under the law.
“The plaintiffs have shown that the defendant’s justifications for the discrimination wrought by Public Act 297 are so insubstantial that animus against same-sex couples remains as the only genuine justification,” Lawson said.
Lawson cited in his ruling Wednesday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Gay couples are prohibited from marrying in Michigan by a 2004 amendment to its constitution that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. The legislation subject to Friday’s ruling doesn’t directly refer to samesex couples, according to the judge’s 51-page decision.
Colonel testifies
against Manning
FORT MEADE, Md. - Pfc. Bradley Manning’s former commander in Iraq said Friday that he was stunned and morale among his troops “took a hit” after they learned Manning was suspected of leaking classified documents.
“The last thing I anticipated was an internal security breach from one of our own,” Col. David Miller said as the fourth week of Manning’s court-martial drew to a close.
“My read of my staff at that time was it was like a funeral-like atmosphere fell over that crowd,” said Miller, commander of the brigade in which Manning served as an intelligence analyst in 2010 in Iraq. “That’s the best way I would describe it - they were angry, sad … frustratedall at the same time.”
Manning’s fellow troops felt the allegations were a blemish on the otherwise good work they’d done in the war zone, Miller said.
Miller was testifying at Fort Meade near Baltimore at Manning’s trial on charges of aiding the enemy.
Front Section, Pages 5 on 06/29/2013