Recent news reports have revealed that Americans that travel internationally are being rated under the Automated Targeting System which uses computer-generated scores to rate the risk they pose of being terrorists or criminals.

BNA Money and Politics and Roll Call (subscription required) have reported on the FEC decision to go forward with a pilot program that allows those accused of violating campaign finance rules to have closed hearings whereby the commissioners will decide whether or not to take on the case. This change of enforcement procedures allows the accused to contest the charges. Some feel that this will only slow down the enforcement process. Two other measures were voted on:

The Miami Herald reported that Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics In Washington (CREW) filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint against Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, a foreign national, and Mauricio Claver-Carone, Gus Machado, Cuba Democracy Advocates, Inc. and the US-Cuba Democracy PAC for violations of federal campaign finance law. CREW claims that the Cuban-American lobbying organization that favors tougher sanctions against Cuba broke FEC regulations by having illegal links to the nonprofit group Cuba Democracy Advocates Inc.

It is no secret that House leaders are planning a major ethics reform bill, but the package will be brought to the House floor piecemeal. This will ensure that each important proposal, such as banning gifts from lobbyists, is debated on and receives its own vote. This should also bring about more media attention and hopefully a positive glimpse into how Democrats will act as the majority party.