Conyers Raps Obama Surgeon General Pick

(AP) - Congress has sent President Obama a bill with sweeping new rules for the credit-card industry that will affect just about every American. The House approved the measure this afternoon, 361-64. The Senate OK'd it yesterday, 90-5. The new restrictions will protect debt-ridden consumers from many of the surprise charges common in the industry, like over-the-limit fees and a charge to pay by phone. More»

'Washington Post' finds 16 members of Congress engaging in practice

(NEWSER) - A Washington Post investigation finds that 16 members of Congress have sent tax dollars, sometimes in the millions, to companies or other organizations with links to their family trees. Through direct funding or earmarking, these lawmakers have boosted the budgets of Pentagon programs, environmental groups, schools, and other places where their spouses, children, or parents have been employed, sat on the board, or worked as lobbyists. In interviews, the lawmakers insist the actions were meant to assist organizations that, in turn, help residents of their districts. Indeed, congressional committees have found that such practices are fine as long as the money doesn't directly or solely benefit the lawmakers' relatives. More»

What would happen if majority of members killed, incapacitated?

(NEWSER) - The Washington Post points to an important question that failed to get asked after the FBI arrested Rezwan Ferdaus for allegedly planning an attack on the US Capitol: Is Congress prepared for a catastrophic terrorist strike? If more than half of the members of the House or the Senate were incapacitated or killed, no laws could be passed. How quickly could the chambers mobilize in such an event? More»

Proposal would match debt ceiling relief to debt reduction

(NEWSER) - After weeks of posturing and pleading, with threat of a default just days away, news of a possible debt ceiling deal is dribbling out of Washington, first reported by ABC 's Jonathan Karl. The deal would raise the ceiling by $2.4 trillion in two phases, enough to last into 2013, in exchange for up to $2.4 trillion in cuts—$1 trillion over the next 10 years agreed to now, with up to $1.6 trillion in deficit reduction to be named later. The final amount in cuts would match the amount the debt ceiling is raised. More»

But 'You lie' rep's foe raises $750K, leads in poll

(NEWSER) - Joe Wilson has raised more than $200,000 since he shouted "you lie" during President Obama's speech Wednesday—but his Democratic opponent has pulled in more than three times as much, CNN reports. Even worse for the Republican, opponent Rob Miller leads the incumbent, 44%-43%, in a poll conducted after the outburst. And two-thirds of Wilson's constituents say they disapprove of his actions, the Chicago Tribune reports. More»