Peace Group Sues Bush Administration, Charging Iraq War Is Unconstitutional
An anti-war activist group sued President Bush in U.S. District Court in Newark on Tuesday, seeking a declaratory judgment that the war in Iraq is illegal and unconstitutional. The suit, New Jersey Peace Action et al. v. Bush, represented by the Constitutional Law Clinic at Rutgers University Law School-Newark, alleges that the war violates article I, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which assigns to Congress the authority to declare war.

Bush administration has reportedly cut off Chalabi. (Think Progress)
NBC News reports “that as of this week American military and civilian officials have cut off all contact with controversial Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi” due to “‘unauthorized’ contacts with Iran’s government, an allegation Chalabi denies.” Chalabi has been a darling of the administration’s neocons, drumming up reports of WMDs during the lead-up to the Iraq war and, more recently, promoting the surge. As recently as October, administration officials were promoting Chalabi as “a central figure in the latest U.S. strategy” and “an important part of the process” in Iraq.

E-mail from VA worker says to avoid PTSD diagnosis
WASHINGTON – An internal e-mail written by a Veterans Affairs Department employee suggested avoiding a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans and instead considering a diagnosis that might result in a lower disability payment.

Emergency network plan revived
WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission agreed unanimously Wednesday to try again to create a nationwide emergency communications network after an earlier plan failed to attract sufficient support from private investors.

U.S. Using Food Crisis to Boost Bio-Engineered Crops
The Bush regime has slipped a controversial ingredient into the $770 million ‘aid’ package it recently proposed to ease the world food crisis, adding language that would promote the use of genetically modified crops in food-deprived countries. The value of genetically modified, or bio-engineered, food is an intensely disputed issue in the U.S. and in Europe, where many countries have banned foods made from genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

West Coast lawmakers blast federal fishery officials over salmon losses
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats on Thursday angrily accused federal fishery officials of using scientific reports to cover up the depth of the risks to salmon populations from the diversion of river water to farming on the West Coast.

House panel rejects Rove’s offer on Siegelman case
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have rejected Karl Rove’s offer to provide written responses to questions about the federal prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. In a letter to the former White House adviser’s attorney, Committee Chairman John Conyers and several other Democrats said Rove’s written responses would not allow for ‘give-and-take’ questioning. They asked Rove to reconsider his refusal to testify in person and under oath, asking him to respond by May 21.

Conyers: ‘We’re closing in on Rove’
Just off the House floor today, the Crypt overheard House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers tell two other people: “We’re closing in on Rove. Someone’s got to kick his ass.” Asked a few minutes later for a more official explanation, Conyers told us that Rove has a week to appear before his committee. If he doesn’t, said Conyers, “We’ll do what any self-respecting committee would do. We’d hold him in contempt. Either that or go and have him arrested.” Conyers said the committee wants Rove to testify about his role in the imprisonment of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, among other things. “We want him for so many things, it’s hard to keep track,” Conyers said.

Democrats drop first-responder bill
WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats on Thursday dropped a bill allowing all police, firefighters and other first responders to unionize after Republicans complained they didn’t get enough time to offer amendments.

Housing rescue deal stalls in Senate
WASHINGTON – A key senator postponed action Thursday on a homeowner rescue package that could help half a million strapped borrowers get government-backed mortgages, as negotiators inched toward a bipartisan deal.

Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Bill Creating Dozens New Judgeships (by Jeralyn at TalkLeft)
The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved a bill that would create dozens of new federal judgeships. I hope the full Senate holds off on passing the bill until we have a new President. These are lifetime positions and the President makes the nominations. The independence of our federal judiciary is one of the most important reasons we need a Democrat to be elected President. After 8 years of the appointment of conservative judges, the pendulum needs to swing back. This is just another reason why when all is said and done with the presidential nomination, Democrats need to quickly come together to ensure that the party’s candidate wins in November.

Afghan narco-terrorist convicted on drug charges
WASHINGTON – A federal jury has found an Afghan enemy combatant guilty of drug charges in what the Justice Department calls the first convictions under new narco-terrorism laws.

Appeals court halts logging in California forest
In a resounding repudiation of the Bush administration’s national forest management, a three-judge federal panel has ordered a halt to three major logging projects in the Plumas National Forest.

Gay marriage legal in California, court declares
SAN FRANCISCO – A deeply divided California Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in an opinion issued Thursday morning.

Floridians pushing gay-marriage ban think decision will help
TALLAHASSEE — Florida supporters of a proposed constitutional ammendment to ban same-sex marriages said they’re hopeful that the California Supreme Court’s ruling that gay marriage is legal there will help galvanize support for their measure.