Florida congressman linked to sex harassment payoff of mistress staffer
CNN Oct 14, 08 1:43 AM CDT
(Newser)
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an ethics investigation following a news report that Florida Democrat Tim Mahoney had an affair with a staffer, then paid her $121,000 to dodge a sexual harassment suit. The congressman has also called for an investigation, saying he's confident he will be vindicated.
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UPDATED
Reps who switched vote already spinning change for constituents
Los Angeles Times Oct 3, 08 3:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Less than 2 hours after the House passed the $700 billion bailout bill, President Bush signed it this afternoon. With a stroke of a pen, he set in motion $110 million in tax cuts and sent the legislators on both sides of the 263-171 vote home to explain themselves to their constituents just over a month before Election Day, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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BREAKING
Washington Post Oct 3, 08 12:49 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The House passed the revised $700 billion buyout plan this afternoon, 263-171, raising hopes that the economy will be able to fend off a recession, reports the Washington Post. After 5 days of arm-twisting, 26 Republicans switched their no votes; a total of 91 joined 172 Democrats in backing the legislation today. Within minutes, President Bush said he'll sign it as soon as Congress gets it to him.
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Efforts to sway votes
move into overdrive
as second effort looms
Washington Post Oct 3, 08 1:50 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Leaders and lobbyists are scrambling to marshal support for the revamped bailout bill before it returns to the House at midday today, the Washington Post reports. Democratic and GOP chiefs believe they can sway enough votes to swing it—although only a few have switched so far. Some Republicans who backed it the first time around are considering nixing it this time, annoyed by the tacked-on special-interest tax breaks.
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Politico Oct 1, 08 3:31 PM CDT
(Newser)
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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.
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UPDATED
Discontent on both sides moved House to kill bailout
Washington Post Sep 29, 08 3:12 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The efforts of Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner were not enough to quell a revolt within their parties that killed the financial bailout bill today. The bipartisan opposition to the bill reflected in the 228-205 vote—95 Democrats and 133 Republicans dissented—reflects liberal representatives’ unease with rescuing highly paid executives and the GOP’s displeasure with a decidedly non-free-market solution, the Washington Post reports.
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Current moratorium expires Oct. 1, GOP hails victory
Politico Sep 24, 08 2:30 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Democrats are removing a ban on offshore drilling from the budget resolution to avoid a White House veto, Politico reports. The move aims "to take a budget standoff of the table so we can address the larger Bush financial crisis," said a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelos. A GOP leader hailed the "capitulation" as a "victory for Americans struggling with gas gas prices.”
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GOP pressure, $4 gas behind sea change on energy position
New York Times Sep 12, 08 2:04 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The Democrats are tossing a big part of their environmental policy overboard to reach a compromise on offshore drilling, reports the New York Times . A shift in public opinion, coupled with Republican pressure on the issue, has convinced the party to reverse its long-held opposition to back a deal allowing some new drilling. The compromise bill is tied to clean energy initiatives.
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It's about jobs, Pelosi says
Los Angeles Times Sep 10, 08 9:37 AM CDT
(Newser)
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House Democrats are considering a $25 billion rescue plan for the flagging US auto industry, the Los Angeles Times reports, hoping to speed the measure through Congress in a matter of weeks. “This is very, very important,” said Nancy Pelosi. “It's about jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs.” It’s also about votes —major auto industry centers like Michigan and Ohio are also battleground states.
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Dems warn proposal will be DOA in the House
The Hill May 2, 08 4:13 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The gas tax holiday backed by Hillary Clinton and John McCain will be DOA in the House, lawmakers have warned, reports the Hill . The measure has been left off House energy proposals that could be tacked onto the Iraq spending bill because "there’s no reason to believe that any moratorium on the gas tax would be passed on to the consumer," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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AG calls for 'creative' solution to debate on phone company lawsuits
Reuters Mar 21, 08 8:18 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The nation's top lawman welcomed a deal today on a stalled federal spy bill, Reuters reports. “If somebody has some brilliantly creative compromise, I'm happy to hear that,” Attorney General Michael Mukasey said. A recent House bill would allow lawsuits against phone companies that gave records to Washington, but Bush has vowed to veto it.
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Letter pushes House Dems to pass new wiretapping rules
TPM Muckraker Feb 23, 08 8:45 AM CST
(Newser)
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As House Dems refuse to pass the Senate’s wiretapping bill, the administration is heaping more pressure on them to change their minds, reports Muckraker . A letter to the House intelligence committee from top administration officials claims that the failure to pass the bill is causing “lost intelligence information” as private companies fear the consequences of continued warrantless cooperation.
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Eavesdropping measure expires
at midnight
Associated Press Feb 16, 08 2:30 PM CST
(Newser)
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With a law that expands the government's power to eavesdrop due to expire at midnight, President Bush scolded Congress today for sitting idly by and allowing it to happen. Bush said Congress' failure to act could cause the US to “lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack,” the AP reports. Democrats accused Bush of "whipping up false fears."
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Congress considers refunds of up
to $800 as recession fears grow
Associated Press Jan 17, 08 8:22 PM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush's plan to give the economy a temporary lift favors tax rebates of up to $800 for individuals and tax breaks for businesses, the AP reports. Bush met privately with lawmakers today and will outline his plan tomorrow. Congress hopes to act quickly as fears of a recession grow. The president did not push for a permanent extension of his tax cuts, the AP notes.
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