The simmering dispute between two senators and the U.S. Court ofAppeals for the 9th Circuit over a judicial conference in Maui inAugust doesn't seem headed for resolution anytime soon.
The Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican, Sen. CharlesGrassley(Iowa), and his counterpart on the Budget Committee, Sen.Jeff Sessions(Ala.), wrote the circuit's chief judge,Alex Kozinski,on May 18 asking why, in these tough budget times, the yearlyconference had to be held in a pricey 'island paradise.' It's at theHyatt Regency Maui.
The 2010 conference in Hawaii cost more than $1.1 million 'fortravel and accommodation expenses alone,' they noted, demandinganswers to a series of questions about costs and such.
The senators helpfully noted the available 'activities' theconference offers, such as sport fishing, golf, yoga classes,surfing lessons, tennis, a catamaran snorkel trip and Zumba, whichis 'an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspiredcalorie burning dance fitness program.'
The most obvious cost concern might be transporting many of themainland's 150 or so 9th Circuit district and appellate judges (fromCalifornia, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho andMontana) - plus a similar number of judicial employees andgovernment lawyers - to Hawaii rather than have the Hawaii's fivefederal judges fly to the mainland. (More than half the circuit'sjudges are in California.)
Kozinski submitted a 13-page response, meeting the June 15deadline the senators had given him.
'Our conferences are renowned for the quality and depth of theireducational program,' Kozinski said, explaining in some detail howthe conference was put together and the various cost options. And henoted that conference attendees 'are reimbursed for their travel inaccordance with judiciary travel policies.'
Supreme Court JusticeAnthony M. Kennedy- the justice assigned tothat circuit - and JusticeSamuel A. Alito Jr.are scheduled toattend.
In a statement, a circuit official said 'the conference is costefficient and a productive investment into the administration ofjustice in the western states.'
Grassley and Sessions issued a statement Monday saying that theywere reviewing Kozinski's letter but the it appeared the circuitofficials 'remain defiantly unapologetic about the conference'sscale, location, and itinerary in our current hour of financialcrisis.'
Stay tuned. (Zumba?)
Lobbing softballs
Typically, members of Congress and the media keep their naturalenmity in polite check. But the gloves are coming off - or rather,they're going on - as lawmakers and the journos who cover themprepare to face off at Wednesday's fourth annual CongressionalWomen's Softball Game.
And as ugly as things might get on the diamond, it's all for agood cause: Proceeds go to the Young Survival Coalition, a nonprofitorganization dedicated to young women affected by breast cancer.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), a breast cancer survivor,should get a spot in the event's Hall of Fame for a play in theinaugural game in which she broke her leg sliding into second.
Batter up - and let the trash talk begin.
The lawmakers are feeling confident that they can repeat lastyear's victory against the reporters at the game, which will beplayed at Watkins Recreation Center on Capitol Hill. 'We've reallygelled as a team in the last few years,' Wasserman Schultz boasts.'When we shred [them], it's going to be because of our teamwork,hitting and superior fielding skills.'
Plus, she thinks politicians have a built-in advantage over thenewsies. 'We eat, breathe and sleep strategy all day long,' shesays.
But the media team, dubbed the Bad News Babes, has beenpracticing 'like crazy,' boastsJennifer Benderyof the HuffingtonPost. Evidence of their commitment: team membersBrianna Keilarof CNNand Shawna Thomas of NBC have been stuck in Cabo covering PresidentObama at the G-20 summit, but they've been sending teammatespictures of their practice sessions on the beach.
'The Bad News Babes are just generally committed to delivering aresounding defeat this time around,' Bendery says.
Braggadocio aside, Wasserman Schultz notes that the event hasgrown since its scrappy beginnings. 'The congressional family hasrallied behind this game, and it's become an institution,' she says.'And that's because we are so committed to fighting breast cancerand raising awareness, particularly among young women. . . . It'sreally been incredible.'
The Loop will bring you full coverage of the action on and offthe field Wednesday night. Meanwhile, feel free to suggest playernicknames by sending an e-mail to intheloop@washpost.com or leavinga comment online.
Green and the greens
Washington is fully focused on the November electoral showdown.
But savvier folks know that life - and political fundraising -won't end Nov. 6. On the contrary, lawmakers can never stop thinkingabout hitting up contributors for cash. Even if they've got a safeseat.
For example, Rep. Pat Tiberi(R-Ohio) is thinking about 2014. Andhe's got a great fundraiser, the '11th Annual Pebble Beach GolfWeekend,' planned for Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 at the fabled Californiacourse.
Our invitation last week says former House member (now lobbyistat Nixon Peabody)Tom Reynolds(R-N.Y.) and his longtime House aideand chief of staff Sally Vastola (who's also at the firm) arehosting a fundraiser for Tiberi. Only $5,000 for a PAC and $2,500for an individual. (And the money raised can be used for thiscampaign cycle.)
'Each package includes one round of golf at Pebble Beach GolfLinks' and 'optional golf' - which apparently will cost you optionalmoney - at two nearby courses.
But hurry. 'As usual, space is very limited,' says the invitesent out by Bill Oorbeek, so 'Let me know TODAY if you can join usin Monterey.'
And keep those wallets open.
With Emily Heil
kamena@washpost.com
The blog:washingtonpost.com/intheloop. Twitter:@InTheLoopWP.
