Benghazi Select Committee Updates

The Speaker of the House John Boehner named the Republican members of the Select Committee on Benghazi, but it is still unclear whether Democrats will participate in the process. In addition to refusing to name their own Members to the Committee, party leaders have rejected the rules the Republicans proposed for the panel. The Democratic leaders have said they would only participate if they deemed the process to be fair. The Speaker has pledged that the panel would be fair, but also that its work would begin even if the Democrats refused to participate.

The Hill: Benghazi Panel in Recess Limbo

Although it remains to be seen whether House Democrats will participate in the Benghazi Committee, no Senator from either party will have the opportunity to sit on the panel. On Monday, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas requested that the Senate consider joining the House, but his effort was blocked. Last week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid flatly refused to consider Senate participation.

Politico: Cruz’s Benghazi Push Blocked

Michael Morell, the former Acting Director of the CIA recently said that he thought the creation of the Benghazi Committee was a good idea. “It might be surprising for you to hear me say this, but I am a supporter of the creation of this committee because I want all the facts to come together in one place and be presented as one—by one entity as one thing, so the American people can see all of this”, he told an audience at The Panetta Institute for Public Policy. The Benghazi attacks occurred during his tenure as Deputy Director of the CIA. He said he had a hand in editing the talking points the CIA drafted, but not those from Ben Rhodes then-Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice.

Politico: Morell Endorses House Benghazi Committee

Boehner: Republicans Want Immigration Reform But Don’t Trust President

Speaker of the House John Boehner yesterday reiterated his assertion that House Republicans would reform the American immigration system, but do not trust the President to enforce the law. According to Roll Call, he said, “We’re at a point where my colleagues don’t trust that the president will implement the law the way we would see it passed. So I put the ball back in the president’s court. He’s going to have to do something to demonstrate his trustworthiness”. The Speaker also reiterated that he would prefer a piecemeal approach, rather than comprehensive reform.

Roll Call: Boehner: Most Republicans Want to Deal With Immigration

Poll: Women Voters Prefer Democrats, But Signs of Discontent

Ahead of the 2014 midterm elections, Democrats will likely try to cut their losses by energizing a key constituency: women voters. A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll has found that, overall, 49 percent of women would prefer a Democrat-controlled Congress, and 39 percent would support a Republican-controlled legislature. However, breaking down the group into smaller demographics shows some pockets of discontent with Democrats. Among white women, 58 percent are unsatisfied with the way President Barack Obama has handled the economy. Also, 46 percent of the same would prefer a Republican-controlled Congress, whereas only 43 percent would give it to Democrats.

Wall Street Journal: Why Democrats Are Courting Women Voters

And for our latest post: Using the “Pen and Phone” to Blur the Separation of Powers