WASHINGTON

DOCUMENTS: ABRAMOFF RAN LOBBYING PROCEED THROUGH TAX-EXEMPT GROUP

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his partner created tax-exempt groups to funnel money to themselves from Indian tribes trying to build political support for their casinos, according to documents released at a Senate hearing yesterday. Senator McCain, a Republican of Arizona and chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee,described it as a scheme to bilk millions of dollars from the tribes. “In one case, Mr. Abramoff and partner Michael Scanlon hired a former lifeguard, David Grosh, to head a group billed as an international think tank – the American International Center – to receive payments. Messrs. Abramoff and Scanlon used that think tank and other tax-exempt groups to steer the money from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other tribes, according to documents released by the committee.

– Associated Press

FEW PALATABLE OPTIONS FOR BUSH ON ENDING SENATE STALEMATE ON BOLTON

President Bush is left with few options for reviving his stalled nomination of John Bolton to be U.N.ambassador. And all carry potential political liabilities, including what might be his last resort: an end run around the Senate with a recess appointment. Increasing pressure on Senate Majority Leader Frist for an up-or-down vote, as the president did on Tuesday, seems unlikely to pay off and could keep the Senate bogged down.

“He asked that we continue to work,” Dr. Frist said after lunch with the president. “And we’ll continue to work.”

Yet there was no indication Mr. Bush or Dr. Frist could pick up support to end the Democratic blocking tactics. Instead, the trend seemed heading the other way.

Senator Voinovich, a Republican of Ohio who voted last month to break the filibuster, sided with Democrats on Monday’s 54-38 vote.That was six short of the 60 required to break a filibuster.

– Associated Press

SENATE DEFEATS PROPOSAL TO CAP GREENHOUSE GASES

The Senate soundly defeated a proposal yesterday for mandatory reductions in heat-trapping pollution that may be warming the Earth. Supporters managed to get five fewer votes than they did two years ago.The proposal to cap greenhouse gases at 2000 levels, within five years, lost by a 60-38 vote. It was a victory for President Bush’s policies that focus on voluntary actions by industry to address the problem.

Separately, the Senate agreed to give Washington clear authority to override states’ objections to the location of liquefied natural gas terminals.Senators rejected, by 52-45, an amendment to a broad energy bill that would have allowed governors to veto a federal permit for such a terminal because of state concerns about safety or environmental harm.

– Associated Press

CONSERVATIVE GROUP LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN ON SUPREME COURT NOMINEES

A conservative group is launching a $700,000 television, radio, and e-mail ad campaign today that proactively rebukes Democrats for future criticism of President Bush’s Supreme Court nominees. “Some Democrats will attack anyone the president nominates,” said Progress for America’s television commercial, which will air on Fox and CNN until July 1. “A nominee deserves real consideration, instead of instant attacks.” The campaign is part of $18 million that Progress for America has earmarked to defend Mr. Bush’s nominees in a Supreme Court confirmation battle, spokeswoman Laura Dlugacz, said, adding that the organization will spend more if necessary. She said the campaign’s goal is to reach out to the general public and “opinion elites” in Washington, such as senators, journalists, and policy-makers.

Ms. Dlugacz said the group expects Democrats to run a smear campaign against Republican nominees, as they have in the past. The message to Democrats is: “We know what you’re going to do. Just think twice about it,” she said. Elliot Mincberg, vice president and legal director of People for the American Way, a group that has historically opposed Mr. Bush’s judicial nominees, said the ad campaign wrongly assumes that Democrats will oppose any nominee. “What is backwards is assuming the Democrats have predetermined what to do,” Mr. Mincberg said.

– Special to the Sun

WEST

REPORT: NO DISCRIMINATION, BUT RELIGIOUS INSENSITIVITY AT ACADEMY

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – A Pentagon investigation into complaints that evangelical Christians at the Air Force Academy have bullied Jews and cadets of other faiths found no overt discrimination, but “certainly insensitivity,” military officials said yesterday.”There is a lack of awareness on the part of some faculty and staff, and perhaps some senior cadets, as to what constitutes appropriate expressions of faith,” said the Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel, Lieutenant General Roger Brady. The investigators’ report said academy leaders and the Air Force should clarify policies on religious expression so religious minorities do not feel discriminated against or pressured. Seven incidents were referred up the chain of command for possible investigation, but General Brady did not provide details.

– Associated Press

NORTHEAST

MAN ACCUSED OF TAKING DRUNKEN RIDE IN STOLEN PLANE

An intoxicated 20-year-old man stole a small plane in Connecticut and took two friends on a three-hour joyride early yesterday that somehow ended with a safe landing at a darkened Westchester County Airport, authorities said. When an airport security car met the four-seat Cessna at 4:15 a.m. and the plane doors opened, “a significant number of beer cans” spilled to the ground, the county executive, Andrew Spano, said. The pilot, Philippe Patricio, of Bethel, Conn., was arrested with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 – nearly double the legal limit for driving in New York state, said county Police Commissioner Thomas Belfiore. Mr. Patricio’s two 16-year-old passengers were not charged or publicly named.

– Associated Press