Congress has begun the process of confirming a public printer three months after President Bush nominated Government Printing Office Chief of Staff Bob Tapella for the agency’s top post. [IMGCAP(1)]

The Senate Rules and Administration Committee is holding a confirmation hearing today at 9:30 a.m. in the Russell Senate Office Building, Room 301. The GPO has been without a confirmed head since former Public Printer Bruce James stepped down in January. During the interim, Tapella has worked closely with Acting Public Printer William Turri to oversee GPO’s task of printing and making accessible government documents.

Before joining the GPO in 2002, Tapella worked in the private sector as a strategic communications consultant. He has worked for the House and once as a district representative for then-Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.).

Craig in Court. Sen. Larry Craig’s (R-Idaho) attempt to overturn the guilty plea he entered last month following his arrest in an airport men’s room in June will be heard by a Minnesota court on Sept. 26, The Associated Press reported late Tuesday.

Craig was arrested by an undercover police officer who claimed the Senator was seeking illicit sex in the men’s room. Craig has said that he decided to plead guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge because he was hoping word of his arrest would not leak out.

By fighting to overturn his guilty plea, Craig is making a last-ditch effort to preserve his Senate seat. On Sept. 1, he announced that he intends to resign on Sept. 30. But he has subsequently suggested that he could complete the final 16 months of his term if his name is cleared in the Minnesota case.

— Emily Yehle and Josh Kurtz