Beltway roundup [Examiner, The (Washington, DC)]

By s; Examiner Staff Writers, Poliical Correspondent

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CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Obama demands 'strong' UN resolution on Syria

President Obama, in a sweeping address to the United Nations General Assembly, challenged the international body to take "strong" action against Syria's use of chemical weapons or risk becoming irrelevant.

In his first broad foreign policy speech since an Aug. 21 chemical attack carried out by the regime of Bashar Assad, Obama forcefully urged the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution to ensure Damascus gives up its chemical weapons arsenal.

"The Syrian government took a first step by giving an accounting of its stockpiles," he said. "Now, there must be a strong Security Council resolution to verify that the Assad regime is keeping its commitments. And there must be consequences if they fail to do so.

"If we cannot agree even on this, then it will show that the United Nations is incapable of enforcing the most basic of international laws," Obama added. "On the other hand, if we succeed, it will send a powerful message that the use of chemical weapons has no place in the 21st century and that this body means what it says."

In a clear jab at Russian President Vladimir Putin, who criticized the idea of "American exceptionalism" in a New York Times op-ed, Obama also made the case that America will continue to be a global leader.

"The danger for the world is that the United States ... may disengage, creating a vacuum of leadership that no other nation is ready to fill," he said. "I believe that would be a mistake."

"I believe America must remain engaged for our own security. I believe the world is better for it," he continued. "Some may disagree, but I believe that America is exceptional - in part because we have shown a willingness, through the sacrifice of blood and treasure, to stand up not only for our own narrow self- interest, but of the interests of all."

Susan Crabtree, White House Correspondent

SCANDALS

IRS official at center of Tea Party targeting resigns

Lois Lerner, the Obama administration official at the center of the Internal Revenue Service political targeting scandal, has resigned amid a GOP probe of the controversy.

Lerner, who oversaw the IRS's review of applications for tax- exempt status, had been on paid leave since May. The agency acknowledged that officials placed extra scrutiny on Tea Party and other conservative groups seeking tax exemptions.

Lerner chose to remain silent during congressional hearings.

"We can confirm today that Lois Lerner has retired," the IRS said. "Under federal privacy rules, the IRS cannot comment further on individual employee matters."

The IRS revelations came at a particularly difficult time for the administration, as the White House also faced congressional anger over the National Security Agency's surveillance and the Justice Department's subpoenaing of journalists' phone records.

Republican critics seized on the IRS disclosures and questioned when senior administration officials learned about the targeting and what steps they took to stop it.

The scandal led to Commissioner Steven T. Miller's stepping down and his replacement by acting Commissioner Danny Werfel.

Democratic lawmakers have accused Republicans of overplaying the scandal, arguing that progressive groups were also targeted inappropriately by the IRS.

Obama repeatedly referred to the GOP probe as a "phony scandal."

Brian Hughes, White House Correspondent

DIPLOMACY

Cha-ching: Obama fills top ambassador jobs with donors, friends

Despite campaign promises to change Washington's money- influenced ways when he became chief executive, President Obama has embraced the practice of dishing out cushy ambassadorial jobs to major donors and political allies, according to a new analysis.

Since his re-election, Obama has nominated 20 campaign donation "bundlers" who raised at least $13.8 million, and 16 political friends, like Caroline Kennedy, picked to represent the United States in Japan, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

It's a major reversal of Obama's first-term pattern, when 35 percent of his nominees were donors and political associates. According to the American Foreign Service Association, half of the president's second-term ambassadorial picks have been "political," the other half "career."

The practice has irked the Foreign Service, which had hoped that the president would elevate more career diplomats.

In his analysis, CPI's Michael Beckel wrote: "When he was running for president in 2008, Obama pledged to be a different kind of politician and stressed his 'commitment to changing the way business is done in Washington.' The custom of elevating top donors and fundraisers to plum diplomatic posts -- a practice embraced by Democratic and Republican presidents for generations -- wasn't touched, however."

Since he first won the White House, 64 percent of his picks have been career diplomats, 35 percent political. Under former President George W. Bush, even more career diplomats were chosen as U.S. ambassadors, 70 percent versus 30 percent political hires. Former President Bill Clinton did better still, with more than 72 percent career.

The analysis focused on the president's recent picks, including veteran Goldman Sachs executive Bruce Heyman of Chicago. He raised more than $750,000 and was named to be the next ambassador to Canada.

He follows two who each bundled $1.2 million for Obama: Matthew Barzun, currently U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, and attorney Kirk W.B. Wagar, the U.S. ambassador to Singapore.

Paul Bedard, Washington Secrets Columnist

ENVIRONMENT

Former Obama Cabinet members praise fracking as 'safe'

Two former high-profile members of President Obama's cabinet are reassuring the public that hydraulic fracturing -- known as fracking -- is a safe technology for extracting oil and natural gas.

"This is something you can do in a safe way," former Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in Columbus, Ohio. He also said it was a "false choice" to say that the country can either preserve the environment or acquire cheap natural gas.

More than 1,000 miles away, former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was singing the same tune.

"I would say to everybody that hydraulic fracking is safe," Salazar said during a conference in Las Cruces, N.M. He said that fracking was "creating an energy revolution in the United States."

Chu and Salazar joined current Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who recently praised fracking as "a big contributor to our carbon reduction" and "a huge economic benefit."

Obama has praised natural gas, although he hasn't said much in support of fracking. Obama has said America "should strengthen our position as the top natural-gas producer because, in the medium term at least, it not only can provide safe, cheap power, but it can also help reduce our carbon emissions."

Still, state and local governments have been taking steps to stop fracking. New York instituted a moratorium, and Colorado and Pennsylvania have legislation in the works to ban the practice. Gov. Jerry Brown, D-Calif., recently signed a bill that regulates fracking. And several cities and towns across the country have their own bans.

Ashe Schowe, Commentary Writer

HEALTH CARE

Even Bill Clinton'sArkansas school is getting into the Obamacare act

Former President Bill Clinton, tapped to explain Obamacare to the nation, will have his school at the University of Arkansas officially kick off the new era of health care on Oct. 1 in Little Rock.

The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and Arkansas Insurance Department are partners in the trailblazing event and hope it prompts state residents to sign up for coverage.

"We're pleased to join with the Arkansas Insurance Department in hosting an Oct. 1 opening-day enrollment fair for affordable health insurance," Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford said. "Thanks to Governor [Mike] Beebe and the legislature, more than 500,000 Arkansans, including some Clinton School students, are now eligible. It's a big day -- especially for those who have no health insurance and for those with pre-existing conditions who now can be covered."

Cindy Crone, deputy commissioner of the Arkansas Insurance Department, said the Arkansas Health Connector was created by the Arkansas Insurance Department to connect residents to the new Health Insurance Marketplace, where they can access new health coverage options. "We are thrilled to host this opening event in partnership with the Clinton School," she said.

Obamacare begins nationally Oct. 1, when people can first touch base with their state health insurance center. By Jan. 1, every American must have health insurance or pay a fine.

Paul Bedard, Washington Secrets Columnist

CAMPAIGNS

Obama endorses Bill de Blasio for New York City mayor

President Obama endorsed Democrat Bill de Blasio for mayor of New York.

"Progressive change is the centerpiece of Bill de Blasio's vision for New York City, and it's why he will be a great mayor of America's largest city," Obama said.

Obama praised de Blasio's policy agenda, saying it is "marked by bold, courageous ideas that address the great challenges of our time."

De Blasio, whom polls show is the clear front-runner against Republican Joe Lhota, said he was "deeply honored by President Obama's endorsement."

"If I am fortunate to earn the trust of the people of New York on November 5th, I will work every day to advance our shared value of making sure everyone has a fair shot," he continued.

Obama's endorsement comes after former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also threw their support behind de Blasio.

The New York City public advocate won a tough Democratic primary, topping New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson and former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, among others.

Meghashyam Mali, Assistant Managing Editor

TOURISM

Four-hour airport lines prompt 43 percent of foreign visitors to avoid US

Staffing shortages and other problems plaguing U.S. Customs and Border Protection are forcing foreign visitors and business travelers to wait in security lines for up to four hours, 40 minutes at U.S. airports, prompting nearly half to say they will never return, according to a devastating new analysis by the travel industry.

The waits are so long, said the U.S. Travel Association, that just standing in line cost the nation $416 million in lost spending on canceled activities like car and hotel rentals, or about $47 per visitor. Overall, the long lines at U.S. entry points at major airports, resulting in missed connections and business, will cost the U.S. economy $95 billion and 518,000 jobs over five years, the group said.

The report revealed some of the worst peak wait times at five major airport entry points: two hours, 52 minutes at Washington Dulles; three hours, 18 minutes at Los Angeles; three hours, 45 minutes at Chicago O'Hare; four hours, 28 minutes at New York's JFK and four hours, 40 minutes at Miami.

The group is calling on Congress and the Obama administration to help CBP improve and build toward a goal of attracting 100 million visitors to the U.S. annually by 2021.

The analysis reported that 43 percent of overseas travelers who have faced the long lines won't return to the United States. The group figured that the lost business could cost the U.S. $12 billion.

The group also found that 44 percent of business travelers, many coming the U.S. to make major purchases, will not visit the U.S. in the next five years due to the entry process. But, they also found that almost two-thirds said they would reconsider if the U.S. got rid of the long lines.

Paul Bedard, Washington Secrets Columnist

BUDGET

Poll: Most against defunding Obamacare

A new poll finds most Americans oppose Republican efforts to defund Obamacare.

A CNBC All-America Economic Survey finds 44 percent generally oppose defunding President Obama's signature healthcare reform law, with 38 percent in support.

When respondents were asked about the possibility of a government shutdown or default, opposition to defunding Obamacare rose to 59 percent, with 19 percent in favor.

Republicans are generally in favor of defunding Obamacare by a 51- to-36 split. But that support loses ground when GOP voters were asked about a possible shutdown or default. In those scenarios, Republican oppose defunding by 48-36.

The poll has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.

Meghashyam Mali, Assistant Managing Editor

FRAUD

Kickbacks to VA official aided firm claiming disabled veterans' preference

A Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officer accepted nearly $1.3 million in kickbacks to steer construction work to a company falsely claiming a bidding preference reserved for service- disabled veterans, court records show.

Jarod Machinga, a supervisory engineer at the veterans hospital in East Orange, N.J., took the payoffs over a five-year period in which he directed about $6.8 million of work to the company. Machinga pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges.

The jobs involved maintenance, repairs and some new construction at the VA hospital, according to the complaint filed simultaneously with Machinga's plea.

About $3.4 million was awarded in a contract connected to the company's status as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, initially approved in 2009.

The company's owner, who is not identified in the complaint, is not a veteran, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which prosecuted the case.

The rest of the money was paid through purchasing cards that Machinga had the authority to use on smaller jobs.

The preference program for SDVOSBs is meant to give an edge in federal contracting to companies owned and operated by veterans with a service-connected disability. Agencies can limit bidding on contracts reserved for those firms or award sole-source contracts that bypass normal bidding rules.

"When trusted with the important work of serving and honoring our nation's veterans, Jarod Machinga took the opportunity to serve himself," said Paul Fishman, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

Because of his position, Machinga was able to hide the fact that the company was controlled by an owner who did not qualify for the program.

Machinga's lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.

Mark Flatten, Watchdog Reporter

CAPITOL HILL

Gallup poll: Harry Reid is the most unpopular congressional leader

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is the most unpopular of the top four Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress, according to a Gallup poll that suggests the American people might support them more if they got along better.

Just 33 percent of voters approve of Reid's performance, compared with 53 percent of Gallup survey respondents who disapprove, which amounts to a net approval rating of -20. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, fares only slightly better; his 37/54 percent favorable/ unfavorable numbers give him a net rating of -17.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., both have a net approval rating of - 12. McConnell's approval rating (35 percent) is lower than Pelosi's (39 percent), but Pelosi's disapproval rating (51 percent) comes in higher than McConnell's (47 percent).

Joel Gehrke, Commentary Writer

CAREERS

First lady: President wishes he was an architect

First lady Michelle Obama said the president "deep down" would rather have been an architect.

"Really, deep down, he would have been an architect had he been as talented and creative as all of you," the first lady told attendees at the Cooper-Hewitt 2013 National Design Awards ceremony at the White House.

She said President Obama is "so jealous right now, because I always get to host this.

"Every year, when I'm going over my briefing, he's like, 'You're doing that again?,' " she said to laughter. "He's like, 'Well, who's there?' "

The awards are organized by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt Museum and honor the top Americans in design.

"These men and women aren't simply designing beautiful buildings and parks and products, they're also thinking about how they can work to help create more sustainable environments, more vibrant cities and a more active and participatory society," said the first lady, honoring the recipients.

Meghashyam Mali, Assistant Managing Editor

WATCHDOGS

Inspectors general coping with budget cuts, posts left vacant by Obama

Some of the government's front-line watchdogs say sequestration has limited their ability to expose waste, fraud and corruption, according to a survey of inspector general offices.

"Many of the offices we interviewed indicated that they are at stagnant or reduced resource levels at a time when requirements and program complexity are increasing," according to the report by the Association of Government Accountants.

Most of the IGs said their shrinking budgets are one of their top challenges. One office had cut staff by 13 percent, and another said its staff was at its lowest level since 1978, when the IG offices were created.

The reduced staffing levels mean IG offices have cut back on the number and scope of their audits. IGs investigate mismanagement, waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars, and fraud. One notable recent IG report was the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report that showed IRS targeting of conservative groups.

With billions in wasteful spending to trim across government, the IG offices shouldn't be bearing the brunt of across-the-board cuts, Project on Government Oversight spokesman Joe Newman told the Washington Examiner.

"The savings are small, but the impact is huge," he said.

Of more concern are the multiple IG permanent appointments left unfilled by President Obama, said Tom Fitton, president of watchdog group Judicial Watch. The top posts at seven offices are currently held by acting IGs.

Temporary IGs lack the independence of a permanently appointed IG and are more likely than a permanent appointee to release watered- down reports rather than offending superiors, Fitton said.

Michal Conger, Staff Writer

ELECTIONS

Lonegan releases poignant New Jersey campaign ad

New Jersey Senate candidate Steve Lonegan released an inspirational television ad that may give a significant boost to his campaign to defeat the much more widely recognized Cory Booker.

"The American Dream" tells the story of Lonegan's childhood, when his father died and he was diagnosed with a condition that caused him to go blind.

Lonegan's family was told by the New Jersey Commission for the Blind that he would "end up weaving baskets."

"By the time I got out of college, I became a client of the New Jersey Commission for the Blind," Lonegan said, "and a Social Security disability recipient."

But he interviewed at a small cabinet dealership and offered to prove himself by working for two weeks without pay.

"I struggled for years, but I woke up one day in 1988 and I was the largest kitchen cabinet dealer in the tri-state area," Lonegan said.

"I went from being a Social Security disability recipient to a successful businessman. Not because of a government program, but because of the free market economy, because of an opportunity given by business, not by government," he said. "That's what America is all about."

Lonegan, the Republican former mayor of Bogota, trails Democrat Booker by 12 points, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll of likely voters. Booker is mayor of Newark. The most recent previous poll of registered voters showed Booker with a 25-point lead.

Other polls show a larger gap: A Stockton College poll showed Booker with a 26-point lead, and a mid-September Rutgers-Eagleton poll showed Booker leading by 35 points.

The special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg will be held Oct. 16.

Ashe Schow, Commentary Writer

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