Obama to Name NY Republican Army Secretary

GOP blocks measure; parties can't agree how to pay for it

(NEWSER) - Hope your federal student loans are paid off, kids, because Washington appears deadlocked over legislation that would prevent their rates from doubling this July. A Senate bill to do so failed in a 52-45 vote along party lines today, failing to get the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster, the Hill reports. Republicans objected to Democrats' method of paying for the bill, namely closing tax loopholes enjoyed by S-corporations . More»

Obama team surprised by unified Republican opposition in House

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's failure to snag a single vote from House Republicans for his economic stimulus package underlines the tough task the president faces in winning bipartisan support for his plan, notes Politico. Obama aides were surprised by the vote but expressed confidence that some Republicans will eventually come around. More»

(NEWSER) - The Senate version of the bailout bill has ballooned to more than 400 pages as legislators flesh out details in hopes of gaining passage as soon as tonight, Politico reports. The marquee measure boosts FDIC coverage of individual accounts from $100,000 to $250,000, with numerous lower-profile provisions intended to speed passage and increase pressure on the House to get moving. More»

Mike Coffman already backpedaling after bringing up birther issue

(NEWSER) - Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado is already backpedaling furiously after being caught on tape bringing up President Obama's citizenship and questioning his patriotism. "I don't know whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America. I don't know that," Coffman said at a fundraiser last week, according to NBC 9 News . "But I do know this, that in his heart, he's not an American. He's just not an American." More»

Republicans accuse agency of waste

(NEWSER) - The Transportation Security Administration stashed $184 million worth of equipment in a Texas warehouse instead of sending it to the airports it was intended for—and then tried to hide it from Congress, House Republicans allege. In a report presented today at a joint hearing of the Oversight and Transportation committees, lawmakers accuse the agency of "wasting millions of taxpayer dollars by inefficiently deploying screen equipment," the Washington Post reports. More»