Congress

Stories 1641 - 1660 | << Prev   Next >>

Payback Time for Meanest Man in Congress
Payback Time for Meanest Man in Congress
Opinion
Jul 30, 2008 7:29 AM CDT

Payback Time for Meanest Man in Congress

Stevens bullied his way into power, and now maybe to disgrace

(Newser) - Few tears were shed on Capital Hill when Ted Stevens was indicted yesterday. Alaska’s celebrated senator spent 4 decades bullying Congress, writes Michael Crowley in the Washington Post, rising ever higher in the ranks by making politics personal. “I'm a mean, miserable SOB,” he’d boast, sporting...

House Measure Apologizes for US Slavery

Resolution marks first official expression of regret for divisive past

(Newser) - The House has apologized to black Americans for the wrongs committed against them and their ancestors who suffered under slavery and Jim Crow segregation laws. Today's resolution marks the first time Congress has ever formally apologized for America's past history of enslaving and discriminating against blacks.

Congress Moves to Ban Toxin Found in Toys

Bush could yet veto bill including measure to keep phthalates away from children

(Newser) - Congressional negotiators have agreed to ban a group of toxins common in children’s toys, part of a consumer-protection bill, the Washington Post reports. The ban mirrors tougher standards at big retailers like Wal-Mart and Toys R Us, and, like those bans, wouldn’t take effect until after the holiday...

Dems Fail to Override GOP's Bill-Blocker

Reid's bundled bill designed to trump Coburn falls short

(Newser) - A bill aimed at trumping one senator’s efforts to block dozens of pieces of legislation was itself halted yesterday, the Washington Post reports. Sen. Tom Coburn has held up some 80 bills to prevent spending he considers unnecessary; Democrat Harry Reid's legislative omnibus, which contained 35 bills in one,...

Democrats Out to Thwart Senate's 'Dr. No'

Big bill combines measures all blocked by prickly Coburn

(Newser) - While the Senate has long been in the business of passing catchall “omnibus” legislation, now Democrats are trying out the Tomnibus, a bill loaded with measures that have all been blocked by one man: Tom Coburn, alias Dr. No. The Oklahoma Republican wields Senate procedure like a deathray—he...

Iraq Needs Its No-Bid Oil Contracts
Iraq Needs Its No-Bid
Oil Contracts
Opinion
Jul 26, 2008 3:15 PM CDT

Iraq Needs Its No-Bid Oil Contracts

Deals aren't exploitative, argues energy adviser

(Newser) - US lawmakers have been raging against no-bid deals struck by foreign oil companies in Iraq—but impeding them would be pure folly, energy consultant Raad Alkadiri argues in the Washington Post. Most of these companies have already advised Iraq on its oil fields for free; Baghdad only sought to formalize...

Senate Passes Massive Housing Relief Bill

Bush is expected to quickly sign the measure into law

(Newser) - Congress has passed a housing rescue bill aimed at sparing 400,000 struggling homeowners from foreclosure. President Bush is expected to sign the measure quickly. The Senate passed the legislation by a 72-13 vote in a rare Saturday session. The measure lets homeowners who cannot afford their monthly payments refinance...

Menthol Debate Splits Black Caucus
Menthol Debate Splits Black Caucus
Jul 25, 2008 2:28 AM CDT

Menthol Debate Splits Black Caucus

Tobacco row erupts over exemption from cigarette flavoring ban

(Newser) - The exemption of menthol from a bill banning flavored cigarettes is causing a rift in the Black Congressional Caucus, the New York Times reports. Some members of the caucus, which has strong financial ties to tobacco companies, argue that menthol cigarettes cause disproportionate harm to blacks and are pushing for...

Mukasey Can't Reach Dems Across Gulf on Terror Law

Disgust, distrust on policy has attorney general's push falling on deaf ears

(Newser) - The refusal by Democrats to give Michael Mukasey a hearing during a Hill appearance yesterday is evidence of a “huge and poisonous gulf” between the legislative and executive branches that threatens to delay action on judicial process until 2009, Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball write in Newsweek. The attorney...

Feds Let Troops Fight, Won't Help Them Vote

White House, Pentagon, Dem-controlled Congress all dragging heels to make voting easier

(Newser) - The Pentagon has long dragged its heels on making it easier for US troops overseas to have their votes count back home, columnist Robert Novak points out in the Washington Post. There’s little appetite in a Democratic-controlled Congress to kick-start the process, Novak notes, as evidenced by the “...

Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked
Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked
Opinion
Jul 24, 2008 11:54 AM CDT

Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked

Outspoken activist succeeds in unifying lawmakers against her

(Newser) - Don’t ask Elaine Donnelly what she thinks of gays in the military—she’ll tell you. Congress made that mistake yesterday, and the anti-gay activist let out what Dana Milbank of the Washington Post calls an “extraordinary exhibition of rage.” Donnelly warned the panel of the “...

Your Tax Dollars Put Their Names in Concrete
Your Tax Dollars Put Their Names in Concrete
Opinion
Jul 19, 2008 6:33 PM CDT

Your Tax Dollars Put Their Names in Concrete

Lawmakers refuse to face widespread 'edifice complex'

(Newser) - Not long ago, a lawmaker had to be dead to put his or her name on something, but these days every two-bit representative in Congress has a building, bridge, or monument, complains John Fund in the Wall Street Journal. These “honors” are almost always paid for with tax dollars,...

Hatch Pens Ditty for Teddy
 Hatch Pens Ditty for Teddy 
Jul 16, 2008 3:53 PM CDT

Hatch Pens Ditty for Teddy

GOP senator's ballad may be played at Democratic convention

(Newser) - Orrin Hatch is not only a veteran senator but also a songwriter, and he’s put pen to paper again—this time for longtime friend Ted Kennedy, who’s battling cancer. The Utah Republican was approached by several senior Democrats, and the resulting song, Headed Home, could be played at...

Obama Campaign Insular, Arrogant, Hill Dems Complain

Lawmakers cite lack of coordination with presidential candidate

(Newser) - Some Congressional Democrats say they're not feeling the love from Barack Obama's campaign, Politico reports, with the candidate inattentive to broader election strategy and his camp uncommunicative on the day-to-day message blitz. "They think they know what’s right and everyone else is wrong on everything,” one senior...

Rangel's Fundraising for 'Me' Monument Questioned

Solicits cash from firms linked to his panel

(Newser) - New York Rep. Charles Rangel has raised eyebrows with fundraising efforts for a new center Republicans labeled his “Monument to Me.” After securing a $1.9 congressional earmark, Rangel is soliciting money from firms affected by his House Ways and Means Committee to build the Charles B. Rangel...

It's Google's Turn on the Hot Seat
It's Google's Turn on
the Hot Seat
Opinion
Jul 14, 2008 2:10 PM CDT

It's Google's Turn on the Hot Seat

Microsoft off the hook as Congress goes after its archrival

(Newser) - You have to forgive Microsoft if it indulges in some schadenfreude today, writes Brier Dudley of the Seattle Times. Archrival Google is facing a peril that’s all too familiar in Redmond. Steve Ballmer can sit back tomorrow as Google’s top execs go before the Senate subcommittee on antitrust,...

Lieberman a Sore Subject With Dems

Stumping for McCain moves onetime veep nominee further from former party

(Newser) - Joe Lieberman, long at odds with his party over his outspoken support for the war in Iraq, has become so estranged from his Democratic colleagues since he began campaigning for John McCain that the New York Times wonders if the strained relationship is heading for a divorce. While, for example,...

Senate Confirms Iraq Generals in New Jobs

Petraeus now Middle East chief; Odierno takes over in Baghdad

(Newser) - The Senate today confirmed Gen. David Petraeus as the top commander in the Middle East and Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno to replace Petraeus as the chief military officer in Iraq. Last year, Petraeus helped to tame growing opposition to the Iraq war in Congress by providing measured assessments of progress...

Furious Voters to Congress: Lower Gas Prices Now!

Constituents turn up heat on lawmakers

(Newser) - Lawmakers who returned to their districts for the 4th of July break have been pushed back to Congress with a resounding order to take action to lower gas prices. Angry and anxious taxpayers have made it clear that soaring energy prices are their chief concern, giving their representatives fresh impetus...

War Power Must Be Jointly Held
War Power Must Be Jointly Held
OPINION
Jul 8, 2008 12:05 PM CDT

War Power Must Be Jointly Held

Ex-State chiefs propose bill requiring Congress, prez to have defined, cooperative roles

(Newser) - Calling the current system “ineffective at best and unconstitutional at worst,” two former Secretaries of State propose a sweeping update of law governing powers to declare war—whereby the president would be required to seek permission from Congress for “significant armed conflict” (lasting more than a week)....

Stories 1641 - 1660 | << Prev   Next >>