Federal Daily - July 23, 2008
Groups Encourage Voter Registration at VA Facilities
A coalition of voting rights groups on July 21 urged Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary James Peake to
reverse a ban that prohibits VA offices and facilities from offering voter registration services which
potentially could register tens of thousands of veterans. The American Association of People with Disabilities
(AAPD), Common Cause, Demos and the League of Women Voters (LWV) called on Peake to approve future
state requests to allow voter registration at VA installations. On May 1, Peake ruled against a request
by California Secretary of State Debra Bowen to use VA facilities in California as voter registration
sites. Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz made a similar request on July 2. The voting
rights groups also sent letters to chief election officials in each state, calling on them to request
that VA agree to the designation of its offices and facilities in their states as voter registration
agencies. “Designation of VA facilities as voter registration agencies is the single most important
action that can be taken to help veterans participate in our nation’s elections,” said
Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause. “We will be working with state election officials to make
this a reality.” To see more, go to: www.demos.org, www.commoncause.org, www.aapd.com or www.lwv.org.
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Lawmaker Renews Call For Bloch’s Resignation
Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., renewed his call for the resignation or ouster of Special Counsel Scott Bloch,
who has been accused of allegedly letting a political agenda get in the way of fulfilling the mission
of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). In a July 21 letter to Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman
of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Davis—ranking member of the committee—asked
that a committee probe into Bloch’s activities move forward. “I wonder if we are approaching
the point where people will have to question why the Committee has turned a blind eye to Mr. Bloch’s
apparent transgressions,” Davis wrote, “when others have become targets of the Committee’s
investigative attentions based on far less substantial claims.” Davis noted that Bloch’s
top deputy, James Byrne, recently resigned and accused his former boss of abusing the power of the
OSC. In his letter of resignation, Byrne said, “Upon my departure, I am obligated to note that
the mission, independence and very existence of the Office of Special Counsel are—and shall remain—at
risk unless and until this agency is afforded a presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed leader who
is capable of putting OSC’s mission and OSC’s people ahead of political and personal vendettas.” To
see more, go to: http://republicans.oversight.house.gov/Media/PDFs/
20080721BlochLetter.pdf.
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Gifts to Army Web Site Launched
The Army on July 21 launched a new Web site, “Gifts to Army,” that will streamline the
process of giving gifts to benefit soldiers and their families, the Army said in a statement. The new
Web site, http://giftstoarmy.army.mil, provides
a central source of information to refer those interested in contributing to and supporting soldiers
and Army families. The Army Gift Program was significantly broadened this year with the Fiscal Year
2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which expanded the Army’s authority to include acceptance
of gifts on behalf of wounded soldiers, wounded civilian employees and their families. Contribution
options addressed in the Web site include support for the Army, soldiers and families, wounded servicemembers
and Army installations, for example. Joyce Morrow, administrative assistant to the Secretary of the
Army, said the site “is not intended as a solicitation, but merely as a way to provide information
on the options and programs available to those who have expressed a desire to make a donation.” To
see more, go to: www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2008/07/21/11060-gifts-to-army-web-site-launches-july-21.
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