Congressman Danny K. Davis' Criminal Justice Reform Committee Meeting

Congressman Danny K. Davis 7th District of Illinois Criminal Justice Reform Advisory Committee Meeting Monday, March 16, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. at the office of Congressman Danny K. Davis, 3333 W. Arthington   For additional information, please RSVP to Tumia Romero, Deputy Chief of Staff, 773-533-7520 or tumia.romero@mail.house.gov.   Ms. Tumia Romero Office of Congressman Danny K. Davis Deputy Chief of Staff 3333 W. Arthington, Suite 130 Chicago, IL 60624 773-533-7520 (office) 773-533-7530 (fax) tumia.romero@mail.house.gov

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. IBD editorial blamed Frank for "nix[ing] reforms" of Fannie and Freddie in '02 and '03 -- when GOP controlled House An Investor's Business Daily editorial stated, "Starting in the early 1990s," Rep. Barney Frank "(and other Democrats) stood athwart efforts by regulators, Congress and the White House to get the runaway housing market under control." It specified that "[i]n 2002, Frank nixed reforms" of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and that in 2003, "led by Frank, Democrats stood as a bloc against any changes" that President Bush proposed making to Fannie and Freddie. But in 2002 and 2003, Republicans controlled the House and could have passed legislation regarding Fannie and Freddie in the House without the support of Frank or any other Democrats. Read More AP continues to omit that many omnibus bill earmarks -- including one of two specified in latest article -- were sponsored by Republicans An AP article reported that Republicans criticized the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress for containing "7,991 earmarks" but did not note that roughly 40 percent of those earmarks were reportedly requested by congressional Republicans, or that one of the two specific earmarks mentioned in the article was sponsored by Republicans. Read More NY Times reported GOP senators' "threat" to filibuster judicial nominees, but not their prior claims that tactic violates Constitution A New York Times article reported that President Obama faces a "threat from Senate Republicans, who earlier this month threatened ... to block his judicial nominees by filibuster." But the Times failed to point out that several of the same Senate Republicans who signed onto the letter "threaten[ing] ... to block [Obama's] judicial nominees by filibuster" have previously challenged the constitutionality of filibustering judicial nominees. Read More Fox News hosts tout myth that 60 or more Gitmo detainees are known to have returned to battlefield Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Brian Kilmeade advanced the myth that 60 or more former Guantánamo Bay detainees are known to have, in Hannity's words, "gone back to the battlefield." However, according to the Pentagon, only 18 former Guantánamo detainees have been "confirmed" to have "return[ed] to the fight," while an additional 43 former detainees are "suspected" of having done so. Even the Pentagon's "confirmed" figure has been questioned by analysts. Read More Hannity misrepresents source of editorial to claim that "liberal media" outlet claimed Obama has "embarrassed America" On his radio show, Sean Hannity asserted that "the solid wall of the liberal media, in terms of support for [President Obama], may be starting to crack" and then read from what he claimed was a San Francisco Chronicle editorial criticizing Obama to support his claim. In fact, the editorial from which Hannity read was not from the Chronicle, but rather The San Francisco Examiner, which endorsed Sen. John McCain in the 2008 presidential election. Read More CNN's Blitzer, Keilar don't challenge latest GOP claim that spending bills amount to "$24 billion a day, a billion dollars an hour" On The Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer did not challenge a Republican talking point repeated by Rep. Eric Cantor that the cost of the omnibus appropriations bill and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act amounts to $24 billion a day, a billion dollars an hour." That calculation is based on dividing the costs of the two bills over 50 days. But as Time's Michael Scherer noted, "[t]he omnibus is a spending bill to run the government over the course of an entire year. ... The stimulus will be paid out over several years, with most of the money going out the door over the next 18 months." Read More Baier did not report that aircraft requests "from Pelosi's people" included trips with Republicans On Special Report, Bret Baier reported on emails from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office concerning requests for air transportation for congressional delegation trips, citing one email calling a lack of a certain type of plane "totally unacceptable" and saying, "The Speaker will want to know where the planes are." But Baier failed to report that according to ABC's The Note, the email in question "came in reference to planes available for bipartisan trips by congressional delegations -- not the speaker's personal travel" or that Republicans participated in several of the congressional delegations for which Pelosi's office requested transportation. Read More CBS' Couric, Reid report omnibus is "loaded," "filled," and "stuffed" with earmarks, don't note they are less than 2 percent of bill On the CBS Evening News, Katie Couric stated that the omnibus spending bill was "filled with earmarks," and Chip Reid reported that the bill was "loaded with about eighty-five hundred pet projects known as earmarks, inserted by members of Congress without legislative review." But at no point did they note that according to most estimates, earmarks constitute less than 2 percent of the bill's total spending. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

AP continues to omit that many omnibus bill earmarks -- including one of two specified in latest article -- were sponsored by Republicans

Media Matters - AP continues to omit that many omnibus bill earmarks -- including one of two specified in latest article -- were sponsored by Republicans

An AP article reported that Republicans criticized the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress for containing "7,991 earmarks" but did not note that roughly 40 percent of those earmarks were reportedly requested by congressional Republicans, or that one of the two specific earmarks mentioned in the article was sponsored by Republicans.

IBD editorial blamed Frank for "nix[ing] reforms" of Fannie and Freddie in '02 and '03 -- when GOP controlled House

Media Matters - IBD editorial blamed Frank for "nix[ing] reforms" of Fannie and Freddie in '02 and '03 -- when GOP controlled House

An Investor's Business Daily editorial stated, "Starting in the early 1990s," Rep. Barney Frank "(and other Democrats) stood athwart efforts by regulators, Congress and the White House to get the runaway housing market under control." It specified that "[i]n 2002, Frank nixed reforms" of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and that in 2003, "led by Frank, Democrats stood as a bloc against any changes" that President Bush proposed making to Fannie and Freddie. But in 2002 and 2003, Republicans controlled the House and could have passed legislation regarding Fannie and Freddie in the House without the support of Frank or any other Democrats.

2 properties near McCormick Place face foreclosure - Chicago Real Estate Daily

2 properties near McCormick Place face foreclosure - Chicago Real Estate Daily

A lender has filed a $39-million foreclosure suit against the owners of properties near McCormick Place once envisioned as sites for two major developments, including 1,500 hotel rooms.

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. By focusing on earmarks -- less than 2 percent of spending bill -- media allow bill's opponents to dictate debate Numerous media outlets have devoted significant coverage to the earmarks contained in the pending omnibus appropriations bill, even though, according to most estimates, earmarks constitute less than 2 percent of the total spending in the bill. In many instances, the media have allowed attacks by Sen. John McCain and other opponents of the omnibus bill to dominate their coverage of the legislation -- at times themselves characterizing the bill as laden with "pork." Read More WSJ falsely suggested a secret ballot is currently required for employees to gain union representation The Wall Street Journal falsely suggested that a secret ballot election is currently required before workers can form a union, asserting that the Employee Free Choice Act "would allow unions to organize workers without a secret ballot, giving employees the power to organize by simply signing cards agreeing to join." In fact, current law already allows a union that shows it has the support of a majority of workers to represent the workers if their employer voluntarily agrees to recognize the union. Read More More Fox News revisionism: Baier ignored Limbaugh assertion that he hopes stimulus "prolongs the recession" On Special Report, Bret Baier reported that Rush Limbaugh "has been under fire for saying he wants President Obama to fail. Limbaugh has since explained he was talking about the president's policies and not the president specifically or the economy." In fact, Limbaugh has said he hopes the economic recovery package "prolongs the recession" and has also repeatedly said he wants Obama specifically to fail. Read More Morning Joe cropped Buffett's comments on the "obligation" of Dems and Republicans in "economic war" MSNBC's Morning Joe aired Warren Buffett's statement on Democrats and Republicans that "if you're in a war -- and we really are on an economic war -- there's a obligation to the majority to behave in ways that don't go around inflaming the minority," but omitted Buffett's subsequent remark that Republicans "really do have an obligation to support things that in general are clearly designed to fight the war in a big way." Read More Fox News' Kelly falsely suggested Employee Free Choice Act would eliminate secret ballot elections On America's Newsroom, Megyn Kelly claimed that "the Democrats and the country's biggest unions today [would be] kicking off an effort to kill a worker's right to a private ballot" and later asserted that the Employee Free Choice Act could be called the "Kill the Private Ballot Doctrine." In fact, EFCA would not eliminate employees' rights to a secret ballot; as The New York Times reported, "Business groups have attacked the legislation because it would take away employers' right to insist on holding a secret-ballot election to determine whether workers favored unionization." Read More Fox News allowed Diaz to criticize EFCA without noting his affiliation with group opposing it Fox News hosted Republican strategist Danny Diaz, who criticized "Democrats and their union friends" for "pushing legislation like card check legislation" -- the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) -- at the expense of the economy. However, at no point during the segment did Fox News disclose Diaz's affiliation with the Workforce Fairness Institute, which is "[c]urrently ... focused on educating the public on the damaging effects of the deceptively named 'Employee Free Choice Act' or 'card check.' " Read More Despite reported "updates" to "style," Wash. Times repeatedly refers to "illegals" in headlines The Washington City Paper quoted from a 2008 "memo" from the "regime" of Washington Times executive editor John Solomon, which stated that as part of "recent updates to TWT style," "We will use illegal immigrants, not illegal aliens." Nonetheless, a Media Matters review indicates that in the past month alone, six Washington Times articles have referred to undocumented immigrants as "illegals" in their headline or subhead, while seven articles have been posted on the paper's website with "illegals" in their headline or subhead. Read More Fox's Wilson aired economist's attacks on EFCA without noting her study's industry funding On Special Report, Brian Wilson stated of EFCA, "[O]ne economist warned of what would happen if the bill passed and met its predicted goal of growing unions by 5 to 10 percent," and then aired a video clip of Anne Layne-Farrar testifying to Congress: "This would result in an increase in the unemployment rate of around 1 and a half to 3 percentage points." Fox's on-screen graphic identified Layne-Farrar only as "Economist." At no point did Wilson note that Layne-Farrar's testimony was based on the results of a study conducted by Layne-Farrar and funded by industry groups that oppose EFCA. Read More Blitzer, Blankley falsely claimed Obama was calling NY Times back "to clarify" he's not a socialist On The Situation Room, Tony Blankley and Wolf Blitzer mischaracterized President Obama's call back to The New York Times following an interview during which Obama was asked if he was a "socialist." Blankley asserted that Obama originally "answered and didn't like his answer and called back," to which Blitzer replied, "To clarify, to clarify." In fact, Obama explicitly made the point during the initial interview that he was not a "socialist"; rather, in his follow-up call, Obama criticized the Times' question. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

USA Today , Politico repeated their previous falsehood that a secret ballot is currently required to form a union

Media Matters - USA Today , Politico repeated their previous falsehood that a secret ballot is currently required to form a union

A USA Today blog and the Politico both repeated the false suggestion that a National Labor Relations Board election is currently required before obtaining union representation. In fact, current law already allows a union that shows it has the support of a majority of workers to represent the workers if their employer voluntarily agrees to recognize the union.

Scarborough mischaracterizes Obama proposal as "nationaliz[ing] health care"

Media Matters - Scarborough mischaracterizes Obama proposal as "nationaliz[ing] health care"

On Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough mischaracterized President Obama's proposal for health care reform, claiming that Obama has "cho[sen] this time to nationalize health care." In fact, as PolitiFact.com noted, Obama's health care reform proposal "leaves in place the private health care system" and "is very different from some European-style health systems where the government owns health clinics and employs doctors."

Fox & Friends ' Carlson, AP advance earmark promise falsehood

Media Matters - Fox & Friends ' Carlson, AP advance earmark promise falsehood

Echoing a falsehood advanced by numerous media figures, Fox News' Gretchen Carlson falsely claimed that President Obama "pledged that he was going to get rid of all these earmarks." Additionally, an AP article reported that the "$410 billion spending bill includes the kinds of lawmakers' pet projects that Obama pledged as a candidate to eliminate." In fact, Obama actually promised to reform the earmark process and cut wasteful spending.

CHICAGOBUSINESS — POWERED BY CRAIN'S — Daily Business Briefing CRAIN'S LISTS SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTIMEDIA WEEKLY JOB CHANGES TOP HEADLINES Monday, March 9, 2009 · U.S. to closely watch Illinois stimulus spending · Judge denies Blagojevich request to remove Fitzgerald · CF Industries rejects buyout offer · Judge chews out Chicago police chief · McD's cautions on 1Q revenue, margins · Stocks falter as investors battle uncertainty · Job losses hurt suburban apartment occupancy, rents · General Growth to ask bondholders for extension: report · Fortune Brands chief gets $8.3M in 2008  · Quinn signals support for tax hike, high-speed rail: Hinz blog · Rockit expanding to Wrigleyville: Taking Names blog · Big player for Bulls.com: Sam Smith: Biz of Sports blog  Final Markets Dow Jones 6,547.05 -79.89 -1.21% NASDAQ 1,268.64 -25.21 -1.95% Crain's Index 49.95 -0.52 -1.03% » View Other Top Headlines ADVERTISEMENT The info session for the Brennan School of Business is your opportunity to see everything we have to offer. The programs. The faculty. The convenient location. Come to Dominican University's Main Campus on Saturday, March 21st 10 a.m. till 12 noon. See for yourself. CLICK HERE Crain's Chicago Business | 360 N. Michigan Ave. | Chicago, IL 60601 ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S FEATURES Best Places to Work Confessional What do employees really think about working for the Best Places? We asked workers from three companies on our list to get the dish straight from the source. Is beer really the key to employee happiness? Read More · Which company is Chicago's #1? · Best New Restaurants for Business · Check, Please! visits Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab · Chicago Business Today - March 9 SIGN UP FOR CUSTOM ALERTS Industries Companies Executives » Account Settings LISTEN LIVE: Traffic, weather and news from our news partner WBBM-AM.

USA Today attributes claims of E-Verify errors to interest groups, but government reports support criticism

Media Matters - USA Today attributes claims of E-Verify errors to interest groups, but government reports support criticism:

"USA Today attributed the claim that federal databases used by the E-Verify program are 'riddled with errors that could result in millions of workers being wrongly identified as not authorized for work' to 'business groups and immigrant advocacy groups.' In fact, federal government reports also state that E-Verify databases contain errors.USA Today attributed the claim that federal databases used by the E-Verify program are 'riddled with errors that could result in millions of workers being wrongly identified as not authorized for work' to 'business groups and immigrant advocacy groups.' In fact, federal government reports also state that E-Verify databases contain errors."

Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells

Obama overturns Bush policy on stem cells

Reversing Bush policy, President Barack Obama on Monday cleared the way for a significant increase in federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research and promised no scientific data will be "distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda."

Blagojevich fails to get prosecutors off his case

Blagojevich fails to get prosecutors off his case

A federal judge has turned down a request from impeached former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to have Chicago's top federal prosecutor and his staff thrown off the corruption case against him.

General Motors more open to bankruptcy reorganisation | The Australian

General Motors more open to bankruptcy reorganisation The Australian

While the company still wants to avoid bankruptcy, the new view represents a reversal from GM's position late last year, when it sought a federal bailout. The change in thinking, combined with the disclosure that GM's auditor has raised "substantial doubt" about the carmaker's ability to keep going, appears to move GM closer to the possibility it will file for reorganisation.

Citi spends $3.5M to reward Smith Barney brokers

Citi spends $3.5M to reward Smith Barney brokers

Embattled banking giant Citigroup Inc. spent about $3.5 million to provide rewards for top-performing advisers at its Smith Barney brokerage unit.

The payments are in lieu of three trips Citi usually plans for its top revenue-generating advisers in the division. Those trips were canceled earlier in the year as Citi attempts to slash costs amid the ongoing economic downturn. Citi has posted five consecutive quarterly losses and received $45 billion in government assistance during the ongoing credit crisis and recession.

The Politics Behind Obama's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Decision - God & Country (usnews.com)

The Politics Behind Obama's Embryonic Stem Cell Research Decision - God & Country (usnews.com)

Host of Fox's media analysis show claimed "[w]e don't have any idea" what Biden said to AFL-CIO, but transcript is available

Media Matters - Host of Fox's media analysis show claimed "[w]e don't have any idea" what Biden said to AFL-CIO, but transcript is available

Jon Scott, host of Fox News' weekly media analysis program, Fox News Watch, claimed that Vice President Joe Biden's appearance at the AFL-CIO executive council meeting was "closed to the press," adding, "We don't have any idea what he said there." In fact, the White House released a transcript of Biden's AFL-CIO speech, and "a pool of print reporters" reportedly covered the speech at the request of the White House.

Matthews echoed Kurtz's baseless claim that Limbaugh's ratings have recently "doubled"

Media Matters - Matthews echoed Kurtz's baseless claim that Limbaugh's ratings have recently "doubled"

Chris Matthews asserted that Rush Limbaugh's ratings have "doubled," echoing a claim by The Washington Post's Howard Kurtz, who wrote in an article that Limbaugh's numbers "have nearly doubled since his feud with the White House burst into the media limelight." But the Post later reported that "there's no actual survey data to support such a figure." Moreover, Limbaugh himself has reportedly stated that the "latest numbers" he has seen for his show were for January, "well before this kerfuffle began."

Covering for Limbaugh, Wallace ignores radio host's repeated statements that he hopes Obama "fails"

Media Matters - Covering for Limbaugh, Wallace ignores radio host's repeated statements that he hopes Obama "fails"

On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace purported to correct Gov. Tim Kaine's statement that Rush Limbaugh "has been saying that he wants the president to fail" by asserting that "Limbaugh says -- and I think if you read what he says, he wasn't saying, 'I want the president to fail' -- he was saying, 'I want his policies, his agenda to fail,' and that he disagreed with them and thought they were bad for America." In fact, Limbaugh has repeatedly said he wants President Obama to fail while also specifying that he wants Obama's policies to fail.

Wallace allowed McCain to falsely claim CBO says spending will "cause us to have a negative ... GDP growth"

Media Matters - Wallace allowed McCain to falsely claim CBO says spending will "cause us to have a negative ... GDP growth"

Chris Wallace allowed Sen. John McCain to falsely claim that, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), "[a]ll of this spending, all of this debt, all of the policies" will, "in the long term, cause us to have a negative ... GDP growth." In fact, CBO has predicted a slight reduction in long-term GDP growth when compared to current projections -- though not enough to result in negative GDP growth -- due to the "crowding-out" effect of the increase in government debt resulting from the economic recovery act.

Memo to Roberts: Obama was criticizing NY Times with call back

Media Matters - Memo to Roberts: Obama was criticizing NY Times with call back

On ABC's This Week, NPR's Cokie Roberts falsely claimed that following his interview with The New York Times, President Obama "call[ed] the reporter back to say, you know, I -- basically, I am not a socialist." In fact, in the follow-up call, Obama criticized the Times' question, stating, "It was hard for me to believe you were entirely serious about that socialist question." Obama later said: "I think that it's important just to note when you start hearing folks throw these words around that we've actually been operating in a way that is entirely consistent with free-market principles and that some of the same folks who are throwing the word socialist around can't say the same."

Like O'Reilly, Hannity misrepresented Obama remark to falsely claim he made a "campaign promise" to allow "no earmarks"

Media Matters - Like O'Reilly, Hannity misrepresented Obama remark to falsely claim he made a "campaign promise" to allow "no earmarks"

On his Fox News program, Sean Hannity falsely claimed that President Obama made a "campaign promise" to allow "no earmarks." Hannity then aired a clip of Obama stating his desire to "ban all earmarks" from the economic recovery package, falsely suggesting that Obama was referring to banning all earmarks in general.

Media claim White House has thrust Limbaugh into limelight -- but Limbaugh and GOP have done this for years

Media Matters - Media claim White House has thrust Limbaugh into limelight -- but Limbaugh and GOP have done this for years

Recently, many in the media have echoed the charge by the GOP that the White House is shining the spotlight on Rush Limbaugh in order to distract attention from the country's problems. In fact, Limbaugh and the GOP have demonstrated repeatedly over the years that they don't need assistance from Democrats for the spotlight to shine on Limbaugh. The party has honored and defended him repeatedly, the media have praised him, and Limbaugh has thrust himself into the spotlight countless times through his outrageous comments and conduct.

MSNBC continues to use misleading charts suggesting Obama is responsible for Dow's decline

Media Matters - MSNBC continues to use misleading charts suggesting Obama is responsible for Dow's decline

In the past few days, MSNBC has repeatedly used misleading graphics of the Dow Jones industrial average showing a decline since the beginning of November 2008, suggesting that the drop started with the election of President Obama. In fact, the Dow was on a downward trajectory months before the election, dropping 3,738 points from May 2, 2008, to November 3, 2008.

AP's Raum suggested Obama at fault for mounting job losses, but even Larry Kudlow disagrees

Media Matters - AP's Raum suggested Obama at fault for mounting job losses, but even Larry Kudlow disagrees

In an AP "analysis," Tom Raum suggested that President Obama is to blame for job losses since he took office -- an argument rejected even by conservative CNBC host and National Review Online economics editor Larry Kudlow.