• Heard on the Hill: Ken Mehlman goes to a birthday party at the Rock and Roll Hotel, awkward time had by all. Extensive quoting of Biggie… “Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), ranking member on the Government Reform Committee, sent a letter to Mehlman on Monday asking him to ‘fess up about whether he took U2 concert tickets from Jack Abramoff“… [Roll Call]
• Yeas and Nays: Male politicians make numerous amusing grooming faux pas… “Meet the Press” producer Betsy Fischer threw a cocktail party with Dina Powell, assistant secretary for educational and cultural affairs at the State Department. Everyone in bed with everyone story #5,673. [Examiner]

Rep. Henry Waxman (D - CA) wants to know why FEMA is paying Carnival Cruise Lines so much to rent three cruise ships to house Hurricane Katrina evacuees. In 2002, Waxman discovered, Carnival had gross revenues of $150 million over six months. In 2005, it’s charging the federal government $238 million for the same time-period, even though for this particular journey, it doesn’t have to burn any fuel (the ships are docked) or pay as many employees as usual (the bars and casinos are closed). MORE »

• Page Six: “Judy Miller does not have speaking engagements booked through 2007. She has few, if any, on the calendar at this point,” says Times flack. . . Howard Wolfson to teach the “Art of Managing the Political Process” at the New School. . . Jim McGreevey busy dating. [NYP, NYP, NYP]
• Inside the Beltway: Nancy Pelosi, Henry Waxman introduce Anti-Cronyism and Public Safety Act. [WT]