The Senate has passed a bill eliminating their cost of living increase for the year. They did the same last year.

The Senate on Thursday passed legislation to scrap its $1600 cost-of-living pay raise for 2011. Lawmakers automatically receive the pay hike unless they vote each year to stop it. The bill was introduced by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, who has adamantly protested the the annual pay raise since his election in 1992.

Sen. Mark Udall says:

“Coloradans have been fighting to keep their heads above water in a tough economy. Members of Congress shouldn’t get a raise while the constituents who put us into office are struggling to find jobs and afford to pay their bills. This is about doing what is right for the people and the country.”

California's Second Appellate District has denied Roman Polanski's petition for writ of mandate. He filed the petition in March, seeking a sentence of time served in his 1977 sex case, based on new evidence of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct contained in previously undisclosed sealed transcripts of improper communications between the Judge and prosecutors. He also sought to have the new transcripts disclosed to the Swiss.

Also today, the court rejected a bid by the victim to dismiss the case.

The order in Polanski's case reads: (obtained from Court docket): [More...]

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich filed a motion (available here) to have a subpoena issued to President Obama to testify at his upcoming trial. The issue: The vacant Illinois Senate seat. From the motion:

President Barack Obama has direct knowledge of the Senate seat allegation. President Obama’s testimony is relevant to three fundamental issues of that allegation. First, President Obama contradicts the testimony of an important government witness. Second, President Obama’s testimony is relevant to the necessary element of intent of the defendant. Third, President Obama is the only one who can say if emissaries were sent on his behalf, who those emissaries were, and what, if anything, those emissaries were instructed to do on his behalf. All of these issues are relevant and necessary for the defense of Rod Blagojevich.

[More...]

Reuters reports the marijuana growers in Humboldt County fear the Tax and Spend movement because if pot becomes legal, they may lose their position at the top of the illegal grow market as others move in, including tobacco companies.

At least one tobacco company, Reynolds American, says it has no intention of doing so. In other words, there are no plans for "Marlboro Green."

Are the fears justified? No. Just because California votes to legalize possession or cultivation for personal use, it doesn't follow that Congress will pass a law allowing unfettered cultivation. It hasn't even exempted medical marijuana patients from federal prosecution in states where their conduct is lawful. Regardless of what happens in California, the D.E.A. is going to ratchet up grower busts, particularly commercial ones, not look the other way. [More...]

Five Chinese Uighur detainees remain at Guantanamo. They have been cleared for release. A hearing will be held today in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals over whether they can remain free in the U.S. The case is Kiyemba v. Obama.

They can't go back to China where they may be tortured. They don't want to go to Paulau. Why can't they stay here? The trial court judge originally said they could (the ruling is here .) That got appealed and reversed by the D.C. Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court originally accepted the case and set it for hearing, but in March, when a third country agreed to take the Uighurs, vacated the hearing sent it back to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals ruling reversing the trial judge was vacated. Last week, the Court of Appeals ordered a new hearing today. [More...]

I'm very busy today. Will post late this afternoon at the earliest.

Open Thread.

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich came out swinging yesterday in a press conference attacking U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. At a hearing today, the Judge told Blagojevich to let him be the referee. He also refused to grant Blago's brother Robert a separate trial.

The main fight is over what tapes will be played to the jury. The Government wants to play those that fit its theory of guilt. Blagojevich wants them all played. He believes if the jury hears them all, he will be found not guilty. The judge today said he'll be the one to decide which tapes come in.

Blago's lawyer explained after court today that they are upset about what the Government wrote in a footnote to a motion last week. [More...]

[NOTE: Yes this should be at Sports Left, but I have to relaunch it and this is on my mind now.]

The NFL Draft is tomorrow night. Or rather the First Round of the NFL Draft is tomorrow. I'm a sports nut so I watch the NFL draft but honestly, it is amazing that it is being turned into some type of must see event. Watching a bunch of middle aged guys put baseball caps on huge guys in suits can not be compelling television to any normal human being.

The most bizarre part is that one of the biggest stories of this draft is Tim Tebow and whether he will be drafted in the First Round This is a big deal because . . . well, I am not sure why it is a big deal, but whether Tebow will go to the draft tomorrow night is a big story now. (Turns out Tebow said no.) As regular readers know, I live and die with the Gators, but the Gators aren't playing tomorrow night. Other Gator fans see it differently:

So say Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI):

Sens. Sherrod Brown, Ted Kaufman, Robert Casey and Sheldon Whitehouse are introducing a new financial-reform bill, the Safe Banking Act of 2010, to limit the size of the banks -- and, in the process, break up existing firms.

[. . .] The bill's central points:

* Imposing a strict 10 percent cap on any bank-holding-company’s share of the United States’ total insured deposits
* Reducing the maximum amount of non-deposit liabilities at financial institutions (to 2 percent of United States GDP for banks, and 3 percent of GDP for non-bank institutions)
* Setting into law a 6 percent leverage limit for bank-holding companies and selected non-bank financial institutions

These steps would require several of the largest banks to, in effect, break themselves up to come in under the limits that this law would create.

I fully endorse this proposal. It is precisely what is needed.

Speaking for me only

Looks like it was quite the scene outside the state capitol in Denver yesterday, as marijuana advocates celebrated 4/20, known as Marijuana Freedom Day. Inside, legislators were toughening the rules for medical marijuana. It will allow local governments to ban dispensaries, notwithstanding our state constitution. Here's the bill, as introduced. More on the House passage here.

Cadel Evans beat Alberto Contador up an uphill finish at the La Fleche Wallone cycling race. Remarkable.

This is an Open Thread.

If you missed last night's finale of Damages, it was very bloody but tied up all the loose ends. I hate cliff-hangers used as a lure for the next season, and this didn't have any. Also, no ambiguities like the Sopranos. On the other hand, it may be the last season, unless a deal comes along to save it. "24" was really good, and now only 6 hours left.

Tonight will probably see Kate Gosselin (finally) go home on DWTS. And the 7 remaining contestants sing on American Idol.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.