Jim McElhatton
Articles by Jim McElhatton
Judge: Discrimination suit against Rep. Jackson Lee can proceed
A judge has refused to dismiss a federal lawsuit accusing Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of discriminating against and mocking a disabled staffer — charges the Texas Democrat denies. Published October 22, 2013
Lawmakers ‘cringe’ at Senate’s pork-laden spending deal
The debt deal reopening the federal government, hurriedly written Wednesday afternoon, began to rot in the sunlight Thursday as lawmakers distanced themselves from some of the pork projects and other goodies tossed in to sweeten the bill for lawmakers. Published October 17, 2013
Fed shutdown forces courts into ‘limbo land’
With many of its lawyers on furlough during the government shutdown, the Justice Department on Tuesday sought to delay a long-running False Claims Act case accusing a company of fraud to win millions of dollars in hurricane-reconstruction work. Published October 15, 2013
Commodities watchdog shuttered by shutdown
While the financial markets are closely eyeing the shutdown of the government, Wall Street itself is barely being monitored by one of its federal watchdogs, who says it's had to furlough most of its staff. Published October 11, 2013
Christmas spirit dies at White House as ornament-hawking gift shop goes broke
In another sign of the tough times in Washington these days, the White House Gift Shop has gone broke. Published October 10, 2013
Biodefense, weather, space projects hit hard
The nonprofit Aerospace Corp., which works on GPS, weather and military satellites projects for the Air Force, has laid off more than half its staff as the federal shutdown enters its second week. Published October 9, 2013
Feds hang ‘help wanted’ sign for thousands of open jobs amid shutdown
The federal government is shut down, but that hasn't stopped agencies from running lots of "help wanted" ads. Published October 8, 2013
Postal Service ‘welcome kit’ raises questions; White House now cites Privacy Act
The White House has secretly questioned the U.S. Postal Service about whether its change of address "welcome kit" program used by tens of millions of Americans violates the federal Privacy Act. Published March 4, 2013
Solar firm reportedly was aware of defects
Abound Solar, propped up by tens of millions of dollars in federal loans that remain unpaid, acknowledged defects in the solar panels it was selling before the Colorado company went bankrupt, according to a customer. Published February 27, 2013
Lew’s Treasury nomination goes to full Senate
The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved Jack Lew as the nation’s next secretary of the Treasury amid a bruising confirmation process that delved into his years as a Wall Street executive and a million-dollar payout he received from a bailed-out bank. Published February 26, 2013
U.S. joins fraud lawsuit against Lance Armstrong
Citing "years of broken promises," federal prosecutors on Friday confirmed they're putting the muscle of the U.S. Department of Justice behind a civil lawsuit accusing disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong of bilking the U.S. Postal Service of tens of millions of dollars. Published February 22, 2013
D.C. nonprofit can’t say how it spent $25M
A D.C. government-funded nonprofit group entangled in a theft scam that saw a D.C. Council member go to federal prison reported receiving $25 million in a newly filed report with the Internal Revenue Service, but officials won't say how they spent all of that cash. Published February 20, 2013
Fisker Automotive files $90M claim for A123 battery contract
Government-backed luxury carmaker Fisker Automotive has bought thousands of batteries from A123 Systems under an exclusive supply deal, but now the auto company may have to look for another power source for its high-end, plug-in hybrid Karma vehicles — and at a hefty cost. Published February 19, 2013
Postmaster asks for flexibility
The move by the U.S. Postal Service to a five-day delivery week would close just a fraction of the $20 billion shortfall already facing the nation's mail service, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on Wednesday. Published February 13, 2013
Lew pressed by Senate, but he stays on track for Treasury post
Jack Lew, President Obama's pick to head the Treasury Department, faced several uncomfortable moments over his brief stint in the private sector, but he emerged from a Senate hearing Wednesday apparently still on track for a relatively quick confirmation by the full Senate in the coming weeks. Published February 13, 2013
Postal chief pushes Congress to endorse Saturday mail cut
The move by the U.S. Postal Service to a five-day delivery week would close just a fraction of the $20 billion shortfall already facing the nation's mail service, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on Wednesday. Published February 13, 2013
Creditors ask for info on alleged tampering in A123 sale
Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls recently lost out to a Chinese competitor in its bid for bankrupt high-tech battery-maker A123 Systems, but creditors are still demanding details about whether a secret Johnson-led lobbying campaign took place behind the scenes in Washington aimed at derailing the sale. Published February 12, 2013
Postal Service hit with $1.3 billion loss
Days after unveiling plans to eliminate Saturday mail delivery for the first time in more than a century, the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service announced a loss of $1.3 billion for the first three months of fiscal 2013. Published February 8, 2013
Postal chief expects fight on Saturday delivery halt
U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe's historic decision to end Saturday mail delivery drew mixed reaction on Capitol Hill — and outright anger from the letter carriers union, which called for his resignation. Published February 6, 2013
Pro-Menendez Hispanic media outlet suddenly, strangely goes quiet amid scandal
The news organization Voxxi prides itself as an independent source of journalism for Hispanics across the United States unafraid to tackle issues ignored by the mainstream media, but there is one big story the online media outlet has all but steered clear of in recent days. Published February 4, 2013