Congress

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'Sweeping' House Deal Would Expand Spy Powers

Long-awaited compromise would offer telecoms immunity

(Newser) - House leaders brokered a long-awaited compromise on spy powers today, bringing much of the post-9/11 NSA activities—illegal at the time—under law and granting a qualified immunity to telecom companies that participated in the extra-FISA program, the Wall Street Journal reports. The “most sweeping rewrite” of spy law...

Party Leaders in House Reach Deal on War Funds

Bipartisan agreement allocates $163B for Iraq, Afghanistan through early 2009

(Newser) - A two-year fight between the White House and Democrats over war funding has been resolved, the New York Times reports. House leaders reached a deal to allocate $163 billion for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year. The measure, expected to be approved by the full House...

After Decline, Congress' Earmarking is Back

Legislators pledged to shrink such spending last year

(Newser) - Though Congress vowed last year to reduce earmarking—the process of directing funds to projects at home with little scrutiny—recently there’s been a jump in such spending, the Washington Post reports. A House defense bill’s earmarked funds rose 29% last month, and the Senate bill looks as...

As Prices Soar, Congress Aims at Speculators

Out-of-control traders may be driving up oil, food costs, pols say

(Newser) - Congress is blaming rampant commodity speculation for rocketing gas and food prices, and berating regulators for letting it happen, the New York Times reports. Unless watchdog groups like the Commodities Futures Trading Commision crack down, Carl Levin says, "we don’t have a cop on the beat.." Joe...

China Hackers Target Critical Congressman

GOP's Wolf, tough on human rights, says FBI traced cybercrime

(Newser) - Chinese hackers infiltrated four computers belonging to a member of Congress who is an outspoken critic of that country's human rights record, the Los Angeles Times reports. The FBI discovered that Republican Rep. Frank Wolf's machines had been "compromised" by hackers stationed in China, beginning as early as 2006;...

War Spending Strategy: Soak the Grandkids
War Spending Strategy: Soak the Grandkids
OPINION
Jun 11, 2008 11:47 AM CDT

War Spending Strategy: Soak the Grandkids

War without taxes defies all of US history. Why are we allowing it?

(Newser) - As Congress tackles the latest "emergency" spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing the total to more than $860 billion, Ruth Marcus notes in the Washington Post: "For the first time in American history, every penny of that amount will have been borrowed. For the first time, billions...

Detroit Mayor's Blunders Hurt Mom's Reelection Chances

Democratic foes using tough tactics to unseat US Rep. Cheeks Kilpatrick

(Newser) - She’s a popular 11-year incumbent with a $500,000 war chest facing two cash-strapped two opponents, but Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick still faces a challenge in defending her House seat, the Detroit Free Press reports. Why? Her son is Kwame Kilpatrick, the Detroit mayor recently charged with perjury in...

Kucinich Moves to Impeach Bush

Ohio rep accuses prez of misleading Congress into war

(Newser) - January 2009 can't come soon enough for Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich. The onetime presidential hopeful read 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush into the Congressional record last night, Politico reports, but House leaders say the idea is “off the table." Kucinich, who has previously sought to impeach...

Senate Moves to Privatize Anemic Restaurants

Move takes money- losing subpar eateries off the taxpayer dime

(Newser) - The Senate has voted to privatize its restaurants after decades of losing money, the Washington Post reports. The decision comes after much wrangling among Democrats, split between the $250,000 taxpayer subsidy that keeps the restaurants afloat and the lower wages workers would receive. “You cannot stand on the...

Clinton Took to Heart Blunt Talk From Friends

Rangel, Frank among those who finally swayed her to pull the plug

(Newser) - For Hillary Clinton, it was the candor of longtime supporters such as Charlie Rangel and Barney Frank that told her it was time to go. Politico offers more details from Clinton's conference call with House members, which began with deference but ultimately spelled out the political reality in blunt terms....

Mayor Mike's Gun Suit a Model for Other Cities
Mayor Mike's Gun Suit a Model for Other Cities
OPINION
Jun 6, 2008 8:57 AM CDT

Mayor Mike's Gun Suit a Model for Other Cities

Times applauds Bloomberg for cutting illegal weapons trade

(Newser) - Mike Bloomberg’s quest to curb the gun trade in New York gets a round of applause from the Times today, after 20 out-of-state dealers settled rather than face trial for illegally selling weapons that caused violence in New York. Bloomberg found the loophole in what the Times calls "...

Times Editorial Has White House Seeing Red

Response to editorial swift and sharp

(Newser) - The New York Times lambasted President Bush in an editorial today for opposing the new GI Bill, and the White House swiftly fired back, the Hill reports. The paper “irresponsibly distorted” Bush's opposition to the bill, said a statement from press secretary Dana Perino, who said the editorial "...

Congressional Screwup May Force Farm Bill Do-Over

Pages missing from bill sent to Bush

(Newser) - A paper-shuffling error may force Congress to repeat its work on the $289-billion farm bill already passed—and vetoed by President Bush. The version of the bill sent to the president was missing a section, Reuters reports. That makes the president’s veto theoretically invalid. House Democrats tried to re-insert...

House Overrides Farm Bill Veto; Senate to Follow

Bush says $300B measure too wasteful

(Newser) - The House today overrode President Bush's veto of the $307 billion farm bill, and the Senate is expected to follow suit tomorrow morning, the Washington Post reports. Bush issued the 10th veto of his presidency this afternoon, complaining that the wide-ranging measure gives too much money to rich farmers and...

How Bad Is It, Doc?
 How Bad Is It, Doc? 
May 20, 2008 3:52 PM CDT

How Bad Is It, Doc?

Kennedy's glioma, depending on size of tumor, could affect speech, memory, movement

(Newser) - While doctors know that Sen. Ted Kennedy has the most common form of brain cancer, the positioning, type and size of the tumor will determine the degree of danger and side effects from surgery, CNN reports. Kennedy’s glioma is in the left parietal lobe, which is involved in speaking...

Kennedy Diagnosis Still in Works

Explanation could come today as senator remains in Boston hospital

(Newser) - Sen. Ted Kennedy remains in a Boston hospital today, four days after a seizure whose cause remains undiagnosed, the Herald reports. Results of medical tests done on the 76-year-old Democrat are expected today; Kennedy is likely to stay at Massachusetts General for a few more days before returning to his...

Pelosi Becomes a Believer on Baghdad Trip

Staunch war critic optimistic about upcoming election

(Newser) - Nancy Pelosi visited Iraq today, and the staunch war critic said she liked what she heard. After meeting with several top Iraqi and US officials, including Nouri al-Maliki and David Petraeus, Pelosi emerged optimistic about the upcoming provincial elections. She also praised Baghdad for passing a budget and oil legislation,...

House Rejects $162.5B Bill to Fund Wars

Republicans abstain in protest, leading to surprise defeat

(Newser) - The House today shot down a $162.5 billion bill to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into next year after a surprise tactic by angry Republicans, the Washington Post reports. The bill failed by a vote of 148-141 after 132 members of the GOP abstained. By doing so,...

House Passes Farm Bill With Veto-Proof Margin

It now goes to Senate and is expected to become law

(Newser) - The House today passed a $300 billion farm bill by a lopsided vote of 318-106, more than enough to override a threatened veto from President Bush, the New York Times reports. The measure now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass with even stronger support. Bush has...

Quick Iraq Exit Would Trigger New 9/11: Bush

It would 'embolden' US enemies, prez says

(Newser) - A withdrawal from Iraq next year would be a disaster that would likely trigger another 9/11, President Bush warns in an interview with Politico. "It would shake everybody's nerves. It would embolden the very same people we're trying to defeat" and "would eventually lead to another attack on...

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