QUOTE OF THE DAY

“There is no right in our democracy more basic than the right to participate in electing our political leaders.”

Chief Justice John Roberts, in the lead opinion on a Supreme Court ruling that struck down decades-old limits on the total amount donors can give to federal candidates and political parties Article, 1A

House GOP pushes ahead on budget cuts

WASHINGTON - Republicans who control the House Budget Committee pressed ahead Wednesday on a budget-balancing plan that cuts spending on transportation, health-care programs for the middle class and the poor, food stamps and other domestic initiatives.

The plan by Rep. Paul Ryan, the committee chairman, promises $5.1 trillion in cuts to help put the government’s ledger in the black by 2024. His approach leaves in place Medicare cuts and tax increases engineered by President Barack Obama to pay for the new health law, but repeals the law’s benefits.

Congress uses a nonbinding measure known as a budget resolution to set out goals for future taxes, spending and deficits. Follow-up legislation usually is limited to one-year appropriations bills rather than more difficult measures to deal with the government’s long-term financial challenges.

Ryan, R-Wis., is pushing wide-ranging cuts to programs such as food stamps and government-paid health care for the poor and working class. While that’s a nonstarter with Obama, Ryan is pitching his plan as a party-defining document outlining where Republicans would take the nation if they return to power after November’s elections.

Jobless-aid renewal advances in Senate

WASHINGTON - Legislation to resurrect benefits for the long-term unemployed took an essential step Wednesday toward likely Senate approval in the next several days, despite complaints from Republicans that Democrats refuse to allow changes designed to stimulate job creation.

The vote was 61-38, one more than the 60 needed for the bill to advance. Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas voted to advance the bill, while Republican Sen. John Boozman was opposed.

The bill would renew benefits for the long-term unemployed, generally those who have been off the job for more than 26 weeks. An estimated 2.7 million workers have been affected since the program expired at the end of last year.

Ex-analyst gets prison for N. Korea leak

WASHINGTON - A federal judge has sentenced a former State Department intelligence analyst on North Korea to 13 months in prison for passing classified information to a journalist.

In a court proceeding Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said Stephen Kim’s criminal act was “a very serious one” committed by a national security expert who lost his “moral compass.”

“I take full responsibility,” Kim said.

The case is the latest taken to conclusion by President Barack Obama’s administration over leaks of classified information.

The case against Kim stems from a June 2009 story by Fox News journalist James Rosen, who reported that U.S. intelligence officials warned the president and senior U.S. officials that North Korea would respond to a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning nuclear tests with another nuclear test.

Kim’s actions were driven “by his own ego and desire for professional advancement,” federal prosecutor G. Michael Harvey told the judge.

‘Pot’ cookie cited in student’s fatal leap

DENVER - A Wyoming college student visiting Denver on spring break jumped to his death after eating a marijuana cookie that his friend legally purchased in one of Colorado’s recreational pot shops, authorities said Wednesday.

An autopsy report lists marijuana intoxication as a “significant contributing factor” in the death of Levi Thamba Pongi, 19, a native of the Republic of Congo who fell from a motel balcony March 11.

Pongi’s friends told investigators he ate the cookie and “exhibited hostile behavior” that included pulling things off walls and speaking erratically, the report said.

Attempts by the three friends to calm Pongi seemed to work until he stepped out and jumped over the balcony railing, according to the report.

Denver police ruled the death an accident and their investigation remains open.

Colorado law bans the sale of recreational marijuana products to people under 21. Possession by people under 21 is also against the law. Authorities said one of Pongi’s friends was old enough to buy the cookie from a marijuana shop.

Front Section, Pages 4 on 04/03/2014