WASHINGTON – Lawmakers convicted of crimes such as bribery, fraud and perjury will be stripped of their congressional pensions under legislation the House passed Tuesday in the latest effort by Congress to refurbish its scandal-scarred image. The 431-0 House vote comes just four days after former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, received a 30-month prison term for taking political favors from Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist whose influence-peddling tactics helped make political corruption a major issue in the November elections.
Georgia: Passport rule takes effect
A new rule requiring U.S. airline passengers to show a passport upon their return from Mexico, Canada or the Caribbean took effect Tuesday, with few reports of stranded travelers. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest, reported no problems by midday. “I think we’re looking at 100 percent compliance,” a Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman said. Travelers who forgot about the requirement were allowed to enter after receiving a warning and a passport application.
Virginia: Episcopals move on rebels
Episcopal leaders are moving to strip clergy members at breakaway conservative churches of their licenses to practice in the Diocese of Virginia. They warn that such clergy members have six months to reverse their decision to abandon the church before they are removed from the ministry. The breakaway churches have cited disagreements with the denomination’s views on homosexuality. Last week, the diocese said it would take action to secure land and buildings from the breakaway churches, believed to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
California: $800 million citrus loss
Citrus growers said Tuesday they lost at least $800 million during a recent five-day freeze, the most devastating blow to the industry in more than a decade. The report by California Citrus Mutual is the first detailed accounting of the cold snap – originally estimated to cost nearly $1 billion – that is expected to leave 12,000 workers out of jobs and increase fruit prices.
Florida: Airline evicts tantrum tot
AirTran Airways on Tuesday defended its decision to remove a Massachusetts couple from a flight after their crying 3-year-old daughter refused to take her seat before takeoff. AirTran officials said they followed FAA rules that children age 2 and above must have their own seat and be wearing a seat belt upon takeoff. She was removed because “she was climbing under the seat and hitting the parents and wouldn’t get in her seat” during boarding, a spokeswoman said.
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