MOUSSAOUI CASE DOUBTED: The federal judge overseeing the Zacarias Moussaoui case, in which the French Moroccan is charged with conspiring with the 19 September 11 hijackers, cast doubts on Moussaoui's convictability on April 4. Judge Leonie Brinkema wrote in an order that she is "disturbed by the extent to which the United States' intelligence officials have classified the pleadings, orders and memorandum opinions in this case." She also said that she "agrees with the defendant's skepticism of the government's ability to prosecute this case in open court in light of the shroud of secrecy under which it seeks to proceed." Replied Justice Department spokeswoman Barbara Comstock, "We regularly hold terrorists and spies accountable in court while safeguarding both national security and due process."
LINKAGE: Some conservatives have long argued that if the deadline for filing income tax returns were closer to Election Day, elections might result in the victory of more anti-tax candidates. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R.-Md.) plans to revive the drive to move the tax filing deadline by dropping a bill to do just that on April 10. The bill, identical to one from the last Congress, will move the deadline to the first Monday in November. Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) support the effort, said Bartlett spokeswoman Lisa Wright.
TAX RESISTERS: On April 8, 30 House members sent a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R.-Ill.) saying that they will oppose a budget resolution that includes only $350 billion in tax cuts-what was left after the Senate cut President Bush's tax cut package in half-for an economic growth package. Said Republican Study Committee Chairman Sue Myrick (R.-N.C.), "What is astounding to me and many of my colleagues is that some in the Senate want the House to compromise and increase spending, but then turn around and say that the number for the economic growth package has to be their number." Says the letter, "We write to inform you that we cannot support a budget resolution that only provides for $350 billion for an economic growth package. While we are willing to discuss compromises to the House-passed budget, including the reconciliation instructions for an economic growth package, we cannot in good conscience simply accept the Senate-passed tax number."
PERLE STAYS: Despite consulting for satellite maker Loral while chairing the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board, defense expert Richard Perle says he will stay on as a member of the board even though he has resigned as its chairman. Perle contacted Assistant Secretary of State Lincoln Bloomfield in 2001 on behalf of Loral, which was accused of transferring rocket technology to Communist China. Loral had paid a fee to retain Perle before he became board chairman. Though Bloomfield was in charge of Loral's rocket technology case, Perle said that he contacted him on another matter concerning Loral. "He said. . .he was 'not compensated by the company in connection with that activity. . .,'" reported the New York Times on March 29, which adding, "Mr. Perle had been retained by Global Crossing, the communications giant, to overcome Defense Department opposition to its proposal to be sold to a venture led by Hutchison Whampoa, the conglomerate controlled by the Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing." Perle may be advocating a harder line toward Syria-though not military action-after the Iraq war is over. "You can arrive at Damascus and ask a taxi driver to take you to one of several terrorist organizations. It is a country that is host to such groups and is quite open about it," he told the Washington Post (April 8).
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION: On April 9, Rep. Ernest Istook (R.-Okla.) and Rep. Sanford Bishop (D.-Ga.) with 88 co-sponsors introduced the bipartisan Pledge and Prayer Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (HJRes 46). The amendment says, "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: The people retain the right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including schools. The United States and the States shall not establish any official religion nor require any person to join in prayer or religious activity." Said Bishop, "Rarely have we needed the strength and guidance that Americans have historically gained from prayer and other forms of religious expression more than we do right now, and our amendment to protect and clarify the much-challenged right to express our religious convictions is needed more than ever."
