John Bresnahan, Politico, Senior Congressional Reporter @BresPolitico
Topic: A series of personal and professional allegations involving Sen. Robert Menendez, including involvement with prostitutes, and intervention with federal agencies on behalf of friend and campaign donor Salomon Melgen, who is under investigation for health care fraud. Menendez is also facing a Senate ethics inquiry about two free trips he took in 2010 on Melgen’s private plane to Melgen’s seaside mansion in the Dominican Republic. Sen. Menendez is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Bob Wheelock, Al Jazeera English, Exec. Producer for the Americas @AJEnglish
Topic: Guest will talk about Al Jazeera’s new U.S.-based news channel, Al Jazeera America, which is launching this summer. He’ll talk about Al Jazeera’s history, funding, and mission, and describe the America channel’s intended audience, journalistic goals and purpose.
Christy Romero, Special Inspecter General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program
Topic: Guest will discuss a recent report released by her office (the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program – SIGTARP) that criticized the U.S. Treasury Department for approving “excessive” pay for executives at firms that received taxpayer-funded bailouts during the financial crisis.
SIGTARP Hotline Phone: (877) SIG-2009
Laudan Aron, Urban Institute Ctr. on Labor, Human Services & Population & Dr. Steven Woolf, Virginia Commonwealth University, Ctr. on Human Needs
Topic: A recent joint report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine: U.S. Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health. Among its conclusions: on average, Americans die sooner & experience higher rates of disease & injury than people in other high-income countries. This health disadvantage exists at all ages from birth to age 75 and at all socio-economic levels. Guests will discuss report findings; causes & recommendations; and policy implications.