COX Newspapers Washington Bureau

Home > Window on Washington > Archives > 2006 > May > 10

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Chuck Norris, Texas lobbyist

By Tara Copp | Wednesday, May 10, 2006, 04:46 PM

“Walker, Texas Ranger,” TV star Chuck Norris pushed Congress Wednesday to fund KICKSTART — a program he started years ago to get kids off the streets and onto the martial arts mat. Norris said the program helps “at risk children” find their self-worth — something Norris said he struggled with as a kid before finding martial arts. “I grew up as an ‘at-risk’ child myself,” said Norris, who was raised by a single mom. He was very shy as a kid, and despite his macho roles today, “grew up non-athletic.” He said he could relate to the “lost souls” who if not helped out, end up “in prison or dead.” “A lot of our kids are potential Columbine-type kids,” Norris said.
Norris and his wife, Gena, used their star power with the Texas delegation to secure between $250,000 and $500,000 in the Health and Human Services appropriations bill to expand KICKSTART nationwide. The program is already in 37 schools in Texas, and over the years has graduated 38,000 students. Norris said 40 percent of his students are girls, and 70 percent of his students are Hispanic. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas (who was a guest star on one “Walker” episode) is backing the money. And, not to make any suggestion that her 5-year-old daughter Bailey is headed in the wrong direction, Hutchison said she’s considering registering her for a martial arts class too. “All my friends say their kids love it,” Hutchison said.

Permalink | |

Abramoff’s White House visits

By Ken Herman | Wednesday, May 10, 2006, 03:54 PM

Secret Service records released today under court order show that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff made only two visits to the White House since President Bush took office in January 2001.

On March 6, 2001, Abramoff entered at 4:23 p.m. and left at 4:49 p.m. On Jan. 20, 2004, he went in at 10:42 a.m. and left at 11:29 a.m. The records do not show who he saw or what the topic was. Bush delivered a State of the Union address on Jan. 20, 2004.

The records were sought by Judicial Watch, a public interest group curious about Abramoff’s White House connections. A federal judge ordered the records released.

Judicial Watch noted today that Secret Service records it procured while President Clinton was in office also showed “visitee” and room number, information not on the records released today.

“At first glance, these documents seem incomplete when compared to other White House visitor logs obtained by Judicial Watch. We therefore have reason to believe there are additional details about Jack Abramoff’s visits to the White House that have not been disclosed,” said Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch president. “However, now we know there are at least two visits by admitted felon Jack Abramoff that the White House must explain. What was Jack Abramoff doing at the White House? With whom did he meet? The public deserves to know answers to these questions.”

White House spokeswoman Erin Healy declined to offer any further information concerning the visits.

Abramoff, once one of Washington’s top lobbyists, pleaded guilty in January to federal corruption charges linked to his congressional lobbying work. He raised more than $100,000 for Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign and had boasted about his close links to the White House.

The administration has downplayed those ties. Spokesman Scott McClellan last week said the Secret Service records should not be viewed as a “complete historical record” of Abramoff’s visits to the White House. McClellan offered no details or explanation. He previously had said Abramoff’s only visits were for “a few staff level meetings” and Hanukkah receptions in 2001 and 2002.

Abramoff told Washingtonian magazine he had nearly a dozen meetings with Bush.

Permalink | |

McClellan Seeks Brownie Points

By Ken Herman | Wednesday, May 10, 2006, 02:08 PM

On the last leg of his last trip on his last day as White House press secretary, Scott McClellan toured Air Force One bearing gifts. After offering them around elsewhere on the plane, McClellan ventured into the press cabin with a tray of brownies, made by his wife, Jill, and always a quick-disappearing favorite in the West Wing.

As usual, the free food was appreciated. Brownies, you’re doing a heckuva job.

McClellan talked about the number of farewell events held in his honor. Another was set for tonight, hosted by the White House Correspondents Association.

McClellan accompanied President Bush this week on a three-day trip to Florida that will mark the end of his stint as White House spokesman. The microphone now passes to Tony Snow, late of Fox News.

Next week, McClellan will show up on network TV as a Tuesday guest on “The Tonight Show.” Speechmaking and perhaps bookwriting also are in his future.

For the record, McClellan’s last Air Force One flight as press secretary was from Orlando to Andrews Air Force Base and landed at 12:43 p.m.

Permalink | |