Congress

Stories 1221 - 1240 | << Prev   Next >>

Democrats Lose Patience Over Wars, Gitmo

Support ebbs on left as Obama's security plans look uncertain

(Newser) - Democrats are having misgivings about the war in Afghanistan and the shuttering of Guantanamo Bay, particularly in the more liberal House, the New York Times reports. Though Congress is sure to approve another $96.7 billion in war funding, the House took out $80 million to close Guantanamo, saying the...

Rove: Pelosi's an Accomplice to Torture
Rove: Pelosi's an Accomplice to Torture
OPINION
May 14, 2009 6:50 AM CDT

Rove: Pelosi's an Accomplice to Torture

'Someone appears not to be telling the truth' about waterboarding

(Newser) - Karl Rove indulges in a bit of revenge on Nancy Pelosi in his Wall Street Journal column today, writing that "the political persecution of Bush administration officials she has been pushing may now ensnare her." As evidence mounts that the CIA told her as early as 2002 about...

Anti-Torture Memo May Embarrass Bush Camp
Anti-Torture Memo May Embarrass Bush Camp
analysis
May 13, 2009 4:52 PM CDT

Anti-Torture Memo May Embarrass Bush Camp

(Newser) - Probably the most newsworthy item out of today’s Senate hearing into alleged torture techniques is that a memo written by a former State Department counselor who questioned their legality has been located and may be released, writes Zachary Roth for Talking Points Memo. Philip Zelikow’s memo, which he...

It's a Boy for Rep. Sanchez
It's a Boy for Rep. Sanchez
May 13, 2009 2:12 PM CDT

It's a Boy for Rep. Sanchez

Newly married Calif. Democrat is 8th to have a baby while in office

(Newser) - California Rep. Linda Sanchez gave birth to a boy today, the eighth lawmaker to do so while in office, CNN reports. “Mother and baby are both happy and healthy,” her husband said in a statement. Two other congresswomen have had babies in the past year, the AP notes;...

Obama Wants Health Care Bill by Year's End

(Newser) - President Obama today called on lawmakers to send him a health care reform bill before the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We've got to get it done this year,” the president said in a meeting with House Democrats. “We don't have any excuses,...

GOP Blocks Obama Interior Dep't Pick
GOP Blocks Obama Interior Dep't Pick
May 13, 2009 11:31 AM CDT

GOP Blocks Obama Interior Dep't Pick

Rejection of top deputy marks first Republican KO of nominee

(Newser) - Republicans have blocked President Obama's pick for the No. 2 job at the Interior Department because of a flap over oil leases in Utah. In a 57-39 Senate vote, Democrats fell short of the 60 votes they would have needed to advance the nominee past GOP obstacles. It's the first...

GOP Blasts Pelosi as Dems Rip CIA Over Torture

(Newser) - Republicans are slamming Nancy Pelosi for saying she felt she had no recourse when informed of harsh interrogation tactics in 2003, Politico reports. “If she felt it was wrong, she should have acted,” John McCain said. Some critics suggest the House speaker could have written a letter or...

Congress Weighs Soda Tax
 Congress Weighs Soda Tax 

May 12, 2009 7:41 AM CDT

Congress Weighs Soda Tax

A few cents on every can could improve health

(Newser) - With health care reform expected to run the government around $1.2 trillion, Congress is looking for ways to pay for it. A new idea bouncing around Capitol Hill is a soda tax, reports the Wall Street Journal. “Soda is clearly one of the most harmful products in the...

Gender Gap in GOP Is Striking, Problematic
Gender Gap in GOP Is Striking, Problematic
ANALYSIS
May 11, 2009 12:15 PM CDT

Gender Gap in GOP Is Striking, Problematic

Women compose 10% of GOP House, Senate; Dems are 23% female

(Newser) - Women may make up the majority of America, but they comprise just 10% of the GOP House and Senate—compared to about 23% for Dems—and that gender gap "could make the Republicans’ climb back to power even steeper," writes Erika Lovely in Politico. It's not that the...

Ridge Won't Challenge Specter for Seat

Former Pa. gov was encouraged to run for Senate by GOP brass

(Newser) - Former Pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will not seek the Republican nomination for senator from that state, the Hill reports. Party leaders had urged him to run against newly minted Democrat Arlen Specter. Ridge was in a good position to run, polling just 3 points behind Specter....

GOP Looks to Centrists for 2010
 GOP Looks to Centrists for 2010 
ANALYSIS
May 7, 2009 10:29 AM CDT

GOP Looks to Centrists for 2010

Candidates should 'fit their states': Cornyn

(Newser) - As the GOP eyes 2010, it’s turning to centrist candidates to restore its health—despite a “good riddance” attitude to the departure of moderate Arlen Specter, Politico reports. “I’m absolutely committed to recruiting candidates around the country that fit their states,” said National Republican Senatorial...

Congress Nears 'Cash for Clunkers' Deal

Compromise would put voucher at $4,500, nix buy-American clause

(Newser) - Congress is nearing agreement on a “cash for clunkers” plan that would pay Americans to give up their gas-guzzling vehicles. A House plan outlined yesterday focuses on cars and light trucks that yield less than 18 miles per gallon. Owners who junk those will receive a $3,500-$4,500...

Dems Promised Me Seniority: Demoted Specter

(Newser) - Arlen Specter, demoted to junior spots on Senate committees after switching to the Democratic Party, thought things would be different, he told CNN today. Majority Leader Harry Reid “said that I would maintain my committee assignments,” Specter said, “and that my seniority would be established as if...

AIG's 2008 Bonus Pool Rises to $454M

Company gives congressman the biggest figure yet

(Newser) - Lawmakers and journalists keep pressing AIG about how much it paid out in bonuses in 2008, and the number keeps getting bigger, reports Politico. In response to a query from Rep. Elijah Cummings, the company now says it paid $454 million, about 4 times the figure it told Politico in...

Bernanke Sees Economy Stabilizing

But not going to improve quickly

(Newser) - It looks like the economy is stabilizing, Ben Bernanke told the congressional Joint Economic Committee today, but recovery won’t be quick, and there are still “sizable job losses” on the horizon. “We continue to expect economic activity to bottom out, then to turn up later this year,...

Bill Would Keep ED Ads Off TV at Most Hours

Viagra, Cialis ads could be restricted to between 10 pm and 6 am

(Newser) - A bill proposed in the House would ban advertising for drugs to treat erectile dysfunction from airing in the daytime and prime time, the Hill reports. The “Families for ED Advertising Decency Act” would confine such “indecent” advertising to between 10pm and 6am. Under the bill, the makers...

States, Congress Mull 'Silver Alert' for Missing Elderly

(Newser) - States across the US are moving to create procedures that would alert the public about older people in the grips of dementia who’ve gone missing, the AP reports. The so-called “Silver Alert” system has already been taken up by 15 states, and the House has approved a national...

Hispanic Groups Urge Obama to Pick Latino for High Court

Caucus says Hispanics underrepresented in federal courts

(Newser) - Even before David Souter’s retirement plans became public, leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent President Obama a letter asking him to fill any Supreme Court vacancy with a Latino justice, the Hill reports. Wednesday’s missive praises Obama for appointing Hispanics to key positions—including two Cabinet posts—...

House Approves Credit Card Reform

(Newser) - The House today approved legislation to protect credit card holders from hidden fees and sudden rate hikes, Reuters reports. Legislators voted overwhelmingly for the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights, a measure banks complain will tighten the amount of credit available and make holding a card more expensive. The Senate is...

NC Rep Calls Shepard Murder a 'Hoax'
NC Rep Calls Shepard Murder a 'Hoax'
Apr 30, 2009 12:57 PM CDT

NC Rep Calls Shepard Murder a 'Hoax'

Republican cops to 'poor choice of words' in House debate

(Newser) - A North Carolina congresswoman is backtracking after saying during a House debate that the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard was a “hoax” used by gay-rights activists, WTVD-TV of Raleigh-Durham reports. Arguing against a new hate-crimes bill, Republican Virginia Foxx said the highly publicized killing of Shepard—whose mother was...

Stories 1221 - 1240 | << Prev   Next >>
Most Read on Newser