Daily Briefing: Budget, Money, Budget, Money, God
• Bushrequests $82b for Iraq, Afghanistan, and tsunami relief; total likely to top $300b. [ WP , NYT , WSJ , LAT , USAT ]
•Ex-official claims there was "minimal senior White House commitment to the faith-based agenda." White House stamps out rebuttal. [ WP , LAT ]
•Attorney accuses administration of allowing contractor in Iraq to defraud CPA of millions of dollars: "I wish I could tell you that theBushadministration has done everything it could to detect and punish fraud in Iraq. If I said that to you, though, I would be lying." [ WP ]
•Republicans itchy as Democrats continue stand againstBush's Social Security plan. [ NYT ]
• Bushrenominates judicial candidates for federal seats. [ WP , NYT , LAT , WT ]
• Bushcalls for extension of Patriot Act "to protect the American people." [ NYT ]
•Democrats desperate for C-SPAN coverage. [ WP ]
•Lobbyists blitz as Clean Air bill comes to vote. [ NYT ]
• James Towey, director of Faith-Based Initiatives, is "pro-life Democrat" touched byMother TeresaandBush. [ WP ]