Congress

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Frenetic White House Braces for Congress' Roadblocks

Long-term push for big items will go with day-to-day small initiatives

(Newser) - They knew it would happen: Despite impressive speed out of the blocks, the Obama administration now faces the inevitable slowdown to a typical congressional crawl, as its agenda meets resistance from members of both parties. Energy and global warming plans are likely to be the toughest sell, Mike Allen writes...

Raul Castro Holds First Meeting with US Leaders

Holds 'constructive dialogue' with six congresspeople

(Newser) - Raul Castro met with six visiting members of the Congressional Black Caucus for more than four hours yesterday in his first face-to-face discussions with US leaders since he became Cuba's president last year, the AP reports. Castro spoke with Rep. Barbara Lee, a California Democrat, and other members of the...

Treasury Helps Companies Skirt Bailout Rules

(Newser) - The Obama administration has devised a maybe-legal method of avoiding Congress’ restrictions on companies that accept bailout funds, including limits on executive pay and a requirement that taxpayers get an ownership stake in the firms, the Washington Post reports. To sidestep the restrictions, the administration has created special entities to...

Fading Radio, Recording Outfits Clash Over Royalties

(Newser) - The recording industry and radio-station owners are clashing in Washington over the issue of royalties, Bloomberg reports. Both sides have spent tens of millions on lobbying, and contributed to the campaigns of legislators of both parties. At present, radio stations pay royalties to songwriters and publishers, not artists. “This...

Senate Panel's Tax Scrutiny Hampers Confirmations

(Newser) - The sheer number of tax-related problems that have slowed confirmation of Obama nominees has some insisting the process has become tougher, Time reports. Not so, says Sen. Charles Grassley. “We are vetting nominees for the current administration the same way we vetted nominees for the previous administration,” said...

Senate Follows House to Back $3.5T Budget

Approval of $3.5T budget clears way for Obama's agenda

(Newser) - The Democratic-controlled Senate has passed a budget drafted to President Barack Obama's specifications, voting a few hours after the House approved a similar plan. The budget calls for spending of $3.5 trillion for the year beginning Oct. 1 and has a deficit projected at $1.2 trillion. The Senate...

House Dems Pass Obama's $3.5T Agenda

(Newser) - President Obama's ambitious national agenda cleared its first hurdle this evening. The House, as expected, passed a $3.5 trillion spending plan that follows the broad outlines of Obama's plan. The 233-196 vote fell along party lines, the Washington Post reports. The Senate is expected to follow suit, possibly late...

AIG Gaffe Puts Dodd 16% Behind GOP Challenger: Poll

(Newser) - The AIG bonus scandal has battered Connecticut Democrat Chris Dodd’s Senate reelection chances, the Hartford Courant reports. A new poll shows the five-term incumbent trailing GOP challenger Rob Simmons by 16%, a deficit one analyst calls “staggering.” Overall, Dodd’s approval is at 33%. And since AIG,...

US Puts UAE on Fast Track to Nuclear Power

Abu Dhabi could have electricity program by 2017

(Newser) - An Arab state may be on the fast track to developing nuclear power—with the help of the US, the Wall Street Journal reports. American experts have been jetting to Abu Dhabi in recent few months to support the UAE’s nuclear aspirations, which could be speedily realized by 2017...

Don't Let Dems Steal NY Election: GOP to Donors

(Newser) - Republicans are rallying donors behind Jim Tedisco in preparation for a possible legal battle over the results of yesterday’s US House election in upstate New York, the Hill reports. In an email to donors today, GOP leaders say Democrats are preparing to “steal” the seat. Democratic candidate Jim...

Supreme Court Rules for Power Plants, Against Fish

EPA regulators can perform cost-benefit analysis before ordering upgrades: ruling

(Newser) - Federal regulators may perform cost-benefit analysis on new power plant equipment designed to protect fish, and decide whether to require the equipment based on that analysis, the Supreme Court ruled today. The 6-3 decision overturns an appellate court ruling that barred the EPA from performing cost-benefit analysis because it wasn't...

GOP Pushes Budget With Tax Cuts, $500B Deficit

Alternative budget overhauls Medicare but repeals Obama spending

(Newser) - House Republicans are pushing an alternative budget plan that would cut income tax rates and radically overhaul Medicare, the AP reports. The plan unveiled today by Paul Ryan of Wisconsin also freezes overall spending on domestic programs and repeals most of the spending in President Obama's recently passed economic stimulus...

Lawmakers Spent Taxpayer Money on $9.1M in Bonuses

Aides rewarded with surplus cash from lawmakers' expenses

(Newser) - The lawmakers blustering about corporate bonuses haven't shied away from using government funds to reward their own staffers, a Wall Street Journal look at the records reveals. More than 200 House lawmakers from both parties paid $9.1 million in bonuses to 2,000-plus staff members in 2008—one of...

Who Wins the Midterms? Obama's Ratings Will Tell All

(Newser) - Forget the old saw that the state of the economy dictates who wins in midterm elections. There are too many exceptions. The better predictor is presidential popularity, writes Nate Silver in Esquire. The correlation between a president's Gallup rating immediately before the midterms and his party's performance is "very...

Ruling Gives Franken Big Lift in Senate Race

(Newser) - Al Franken may have moved a decisive step closer to the Senate today, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. A three-judge panel ruled that only 400 disputed absentee ballots will be reviewed, making it highly unlikely that Norm Coleman will be able to erase Franken's 225-seat margin in the Minnesota race....

Senate Dems Are Tanking the Party... Again
Senate Dems Are Tanking
the Party... Again
OPINION
Mar 30, 2009 1:06 PM CDT

Senate Dems Are Tanking the Party... Again

Why the left can't seem to govern

(Newser) - Congressional Democrats killed Bill Clinton’s agenda, and Jimmy Carter’s agenda, and it looks like they’re gunning for Barack Obama’s, too, writes Jonathan Chait in the New Republic. George Bush didn’t win the popular vote and had just 50 GOP Senators, but was still able to...

GOP's Bachmann Not Exactly Lying Low

Bachmann strays off message with new round of bizarre attacks

(Newser) - Controversial Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is making headlines again, despite promises to keep a low profile and stay on message. The Minnesota Republican infamously endangered her reelection last year by demanding an investigation of "anti-American" members of Congress. Now, she's drawing attention for warning of "nefarious activities" in...

Navy Award for Murtha Sparks Marine Furor

40K sign petition against rep who cried murder in Haditha

(Newser) - Sailors and Marines are up in arms over a Navy commendation to Rep. John Murtha, who has accused servicemen of murdering Iraqi civilians, the Navy Times reports. Outgoing Navy Secretary Donald Winter awarded Murtha the Distinguished Public Service Award earlier this month for his work on a House subcommittee. The...

Liberal Groups' Attack Ads on Moderate Dems Not Helpful: Reid

MoveOn should back off, majority leader says

(Newser) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says left-wing groups shouldn’t run ads pressuring moderate Democrats into backing President Obama’s budget, Politico reports. “I think it’s very unwise and not helpful,” Reid said today of the efforts by Moveon.org and Americans United for Change to convert...

Senate Panel Clears $3.6T Budget Plan

Spending blueprint leaves president's agenda mostly intact

(Newser) - President Obama's spending plans have passed a major hurdle in the Senate, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Senate Budget Committee passed a plan largely similar to Obama's  $3.6 trillion request in a 13-10 vote split along party lines. The House committee passed its version Wednesday, clearing the way...

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