Good day . . .
Today's Morning Briefing is a bit later than usual. A commuter crash yesterday sent me scrambling for software, restore discs, and aspirin. Everything is almost back to normal. There are still several software applications to load, but the essentials are back in service.
Wednesday morning a commuter train in Los Angeles ws involved in a horrific accident. The cause was a suicidal man who parked his SUV on heavily traveled tracks. At the last moment he jumped out of the vehicle, but left the SUV sitting on the tracks. The result 11 dead and 100s injured.
Today Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley announced that 10 counts of murder will be filed against Juan Manual Alvarez. Cooley said that the charges will include "special circumstances." The addition of "special circumstances to the charges will make Alvarez eligible for the death penalty.
The New York Times > National > Suspect in Train Crash Is Charged With Multiple Murder Counts
During the last election, I often asked why Senators John Kerry and John Edwards continued to receive their salary from the US Senate. Neither Kerry nor Edwards attended many, if any, Senate session or committee meetings for the bulk of 2004.
According to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) there is an obscure Federal statute that requires members of Congress to forfeit their salary if they are absent except in cases of personal or family illness.
An NTU review of Congressional attendance records shows that from January 2003 to the October 2004 recess, John Kerry missed 146 days of votes without being granted leave, the NTU study shows. His total salary overpayment was $90,932.68.
Sen. John Edwards, Kerry's running mate, compiled 102 days of unexcused absences during that period, for an overpayment of $63,543.16, NTU said.
Edwards and Kerry are at the top of a list that includes other presidential hopefuls.
It is time to pay up.
Politicians Flouting 'No Work, No Pay' Rule, Taxpayer Group Says -- 01/27/2005
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice moved into her new office at Foggy Bottom today. It was Rice's first day on the job following confirmation by the Senate.
'History Is Calling Us,' Rice Tells State Department -- 01/27/2005
More in the Afternoon Update.
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