Wright: No Glee In Gingrich's Travails
FT. WORTH, Texas (AllPolitics, Dec. 24) -- Newt Gingrich led the fight that brought down ex-House Speaker Jim Wright, but don't expect expect Wright to gloat, now that his former nemesis is in trouble. "I have the feeling that every time somebody calls me they want me to say, 'Good for the S.O.B.,' but that wouldn't be very gracious or have any dignity," Wright said. "I don't take any pleasure in the man's misery and discomfort." Wright resigned in 1989, after an investigation determined he had evaded House ethics rules by selling a self-published book to labor unions and others, earning $54,642 in royalties. Gingrich filed the ethics charges that led to Wright's departure.
A White House Menu
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Dec. 24) -- Want to compare your Christmas dinner to the first family's? The White House Press Office has issued the official menu, and here it is: turkey with cornbread and white bread stuffing, peppered ham, gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, relish tray, black cherry Jello, fruit salad, dinner rolls, lemon meringue pie, pumpkin pie and chocolate cake with white icing.
Computer Trouble With Names
LOS ANGELES (AllPolitics, Dec. 24) -- As the nation grows more diverse, the Social Security Administration's computers are having trouble dealing with non-traditional surnames. The effect could be to cheat people out of benefits due them when they retire. According to a report by a Social Security official in Southern California, the computers may not properly recognize surnames with spaces, such as De La Fuente, or names where the family name is not the last name. Workers who fear their wages may not have been reported correctly should contact the agency and get an earnings and benefits estimate statement.