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Politics

Congress approves new tool to help keep track of government spending

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 14, 2006

WASHINGTON - Curious how much of your money is going to encourage hydroponic tomato production in Ohio - or to build bridges to nowhere in Alaska? A user-friendly Web site is going to help you find out.

The House on Wednesday passed a measure to create a Google-like search engine that will help interested citizens track some $1-trillion in federal grants, contracts, special projects and loans.

The Office of Management and Budget is to create the database, with a Jan. 1, 2008, target for opening it to the public.

Bill to limit tribal casinos fails

WASHINGTON - Republicans tried Wednesday to curb the explosive growth of Indian gambling by prohibiting tribes from building casinos away from their reservations, but the effort failed in the House.

Lawmakers voted 247-171 for the bill, but that was short of the two-thirds majority needed.

Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., said he had hoped the legislation would stop "reservation shopping," a growing trend. Tribal gambling has become a $22-billion-a-year industry.

Plame sues Armitage over leak

WASHINGTON - Former CIA officer Valerie Plame on Wednesday sued the former No. 2 official at the State Department, accusing him of violating her privacy rights.

The suit does not accuse Richard Armitage, who was deputy secretary of state, of participating in an conspiracy to blow her cover.

Plame added Armitage's name to a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Vice President Dick Cheney, his former chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby and White House adviser Karl Rove.

[Last modified September 14, 2006, 05:37:36]