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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: US Congress

US Congress stories: 26 news summaries

1 - 20 of 26 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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Robert Byrd Now Longest-Serving Legislator Ever

By the senator's count, his career spanned 20,774 days

Nov 18, 09 8:39 AM CST
(AP) - West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd has become the longest-serving lawmaker in congressional history, a milestone to be marked today with a Senate resolution. "I look forward to serving you for the next 56 years and 320 days," Byrd said, adding that he was sorry his late wife... More »

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Senate • West Virginia • US Congress • Robert Byrd • Democratic Senators • milestone

 Obama Lifts HIV+ Travel Ban 

President extends bill funding care for low-income HIV/AIDS patients

Oct 30, 09 1:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - HIV-positive individuals will no longer be banned from visiting or immigrating to the US, President Obama announced today. The president discussed the revocation of the ban, which has stood since 1987, at today's signing of an extension of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS bill. That bill provides funding for HIV/AIDS testing... More »

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Bush administration • travel • HIV • HIV/AIDS • US Congress • George W. Bush • Obama administration • HIV travel ban • President Obama • Ryan White


 57% in Poll Back 
 Public Option 

Last-resort state-run plans gain 76% backing

Oct 19, 09 6:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - A majority of Americans, 57%, support including a public option in health care reform legislation, according to a newly released poll. The public option had the backing of just 52% in a mid-August survey. Forty percent of respondents oppose the public option. And giving people who have no affordable alternatives... More »

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health care reform • Washington Post ABC poll • US Congress • public option

OPINION

Obama's Gandhi Act Ties Supporters in Knots

President seeks a fundamental change in our political discourse: Goodman

Sep 18, 09 2:03 PM CDT
(Newser) - Even President Obama's fans are beginning to wonder when—or even if—his "inner fighter" is going to emerge, writes Ellen Goodman of the Boston Globe. His collaborative style entranced many during the campaign, but supporters are groaning as the president listens calmly to the opposition rather than putting... More »

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Barack Obama • US Congress • Obama administration • President Obama • Mahatma Gandhi • Joe Wilson • civility • You lie

 Economy Wallops 
 Lawmakers' Fortunes  

Combined, members of Congress sough off hundreds of millions

Sep 14, 09 6:16 PM CDT
(Newser) - The 50 richest members of Congress are still rich, but their personal finances show they’re not immune to the economic downturn, Roll Call reports. Together, the pols on the list have lost $275 million in personal wealth since 2007. In 2008, the legislators' combined assets of $1.3... More »

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Congress • John Kerry • Senate • House of Representatives • Jane Harman • Mark Warner • Jay Rockefeller • US Congress • financial disclosure • Darrell Issa • economic downturn • wealthy

Wilson YouTube Video Sparks $200K Haul

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

Sep 11, 09 4:34 PM CDT
(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... More »

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South Carolina • House of Representatives • US Congress • Election 2008 • President Obama • Election 2010 • Republicans • heckling • Joe Wilson • Rob Miller

OPINION

 Leave Wilson Alone: Parker 



Outbursts par for the course in partisan politics

Sep 11, 09 9:38 AM CDT
(Newser) - After Joe Wilson's “you lie” outburst, we may need to add “Joewilsoning” to the lexicon, as in, “OMG, he Joewilsoned right in the middle of the sermon!” writes Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post. Still, the reaction to the outburst seems a wee bit... More »

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Republican • South Carolina • partisanship • speech • US Congress • State of the Union Address • George W. Bush • Kathleen Parker • President Obama • heckling • Joe Wilson

OPINION

 'You Lie' Rep 
 Essentially Right 



Joe Wilson not wrong about Obama wanting to insure illegals

Sep 10, 09 1:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - Give Joe Wilson a break. It’s hard to fit the complexities of policy into an outburst during a presidential address, but the South Carolina congressman has a point: If you connect two of President Obama’s top policy priorities, he does want to give insurance to illegal immigrants. It’... More »

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immigration • Barack Obama • Republican • Senate • South Carolina • House of Representatives • Senate Health Committee • health care reform • US Congress • President Obama • Joe Wilson

OPINION

Obama Speech Effective, No Game-Changer

Vitriol surrounding
health care debate
sure to continue

Sep 10, 09 12:01 PM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama’s speech last night will probably prod Congress into passing health care reform, writes Joe Klein in Time. “But it will not end the public malignancy that has attended this debate, and threatens the democratic fabric of our nation.” Klein attended an Arkansas town hall... More »

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Barack Obama • health care reform • speech • US Congress • Joe Klein • Obama administration • President Obama

analysis

To Dodge Obamacare, Turn Amish (or Mennonite)

Measure based on tax laws aimed at Amish

Aug 3, 09 1:56 PM CDT
(Newser) - Backers of health care reform on Capitol Hill want a plan that mandates insurance for all—but they appear willing to bend the rules for some religious Americans, Maura Reynolds of CQ Politics reports. Current legislation contains a religious exemption based on tax laws meant to give leeway to the... More »

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Congress • religion • legislation • Amish • health care reform • US Congress • Mennonites • Obama administration • religious beliefs • Christian Science

(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... More »

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Congress • House of Representatives • credit card • banking • US Congress • US Senate • Obama administration • banking industry • President Obama • credit card reform

 Burris: 'I Have Done 
 Nothing Wrong' 

He'll comply with perjury review, but no more interviews

Feb 18, 09 3:08 PM CST
(Newser) - Roland Burris today urged his constituents to "stop the rush to judgment" as he denied any wrongdoing in the process of gaining his Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune reports. "If I had done the things I’ve been accused of, I’d be too embarrassed to stand up... More »

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politics • Senate Democrats • corruption • Illinois • congressional Democrats • US Congress • Rod Blagojevich • US Senate • Roland Burris

 Rahm Eyes Future
Return to Congress

He warns contender he may be back one day

Feb 2, 09 2:50 AM CST
(Newser) - White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel may be enjoying his new White House gig, but he hasn't written off a return to Congress, reports the Chicago Tribune reports. Emanuel told Illinois State Representative John Fritchey—one of 11 Democrats bidding for his vacated  Chicago post—that "he may... More »

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politics • Chicago • White House • Democrat • Rahm Emanuel • US Congress • President Obama • chief of staff

Senate Likes Shinseki for Veterans Affairs

War, economy burden system former Army general would inherit

Jan 14, 09 3:06 PM CST
(Newser) - Retired Gen. Eric Shinseki garnered bipartisan support for his Veterans Affairs Secretary nomination today in outlining his priorities before Congress, the Military Times reports. The former Army chief of staff admitted to little experience with veterans issues, but his vows to streamline the agency won support from the likes of... More »

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veterans • Department of Veterans Affairs • Republican Party • Bob Dole • PTSD • US Congress • Iraq war • Afghanistan war • Obama Cabinet • Eric Shinseki

Conyers Raps Obama Surgeon General Pick

Gupta 'lacks the requisite experience,' congressman charges

Jan 8, 09 3:27 PM CST
(Newser) - Barack Obama's apparent choice for surgeon general, Sanjay Gupta, is drawing fire from within his own party, ABC News reports. John Conyers of Michigan, the House Judiciary Committee chair, sent a letter to his fellow legislators today encouraging them to join him in protesting the nomination of the CNN fixture... More »

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House Judiciary Committee • House of Representatives • John Conyers • Sanjay Gupta • Surgeon General • US Congress • US Senate • President Obama

Federal Budget Deficit More Than Doubles, to $407B

Stimulus package contributed; figure is expected to break record in fiscal '09

Sep 9, 08 4:27 PM CDT
(Newser) - The federal deficit will swell to $407 billion in the fiscal year that ends this month, the Washington Post reports, a figure more than twice last year’s total. Congressional budget analysts blamed the surge on weak revenue growth and accelerated spending, including the $168 billion economic stimulus package. They... More »

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Barack Obama • White House • national debt • US Congress • federal spending • budget deficit • economic stimulus package • financial crisis

GOP Finds Hope in Last-Ditch
Fla. Candidate

Prisoner abuse scandal not impeding Congressional bid

Aug 4, 08 7:27 PM CDT
(Newser) - South Florida Republicans are thrilled with Congressional candidate Allen West. They see the black Army veteran as a potential GOP standard bearer. There’s just one problem: In 2003, West was accused of abusing an Iraqi detainee and violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But some Republicans actually see... More »

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Florida • Congress • GOP • Republican Party • South Florida • US Congress • congressional candidates • Republican strategy • congressional seat • Allen West

analysis

Iraqi Visits: Much Ado
but Few Epiphanies

Obama's pledged trip to Baghdad likely won't change his mind

Jul 18, 08 11:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Lawmakers have been flocking to Iraq to assess the situation on the ground, as Barack Obama is about to do, but the visits rarely result in any revelations for them, writes Karen DeYoung in the Washington Post. The itineraries are fairly routine by now—meet the generals, the troops, and... More »

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Iraq • Barack Obama • John McCain • Green Zone • US embassy in Baghdad • US Congress • Iraq war • Iraq exit strategy • political strategy

DNC to File Campaign Fund Complaint Against McCain

DNC says McCain broke campaign finance rules

Feb 25, 08 7:07 AM CST
(Newser) - The Democratic National Committee will file an FEC complaint today against John McCain, accusing the likely GOP nominee of violating policy when he obtained campaign loans by promising to repay them with federal funds, the Washington Post reports. The FEC so far hasn't granted McCain's request to now opt... More »

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John McCain • RNC • campaign finance • Howard Dean • Democratic National Committee • Federal Election Commission • US Congress • public funding

Bush Pushes Abstinence in AIDS Program

In Tanzania, president prods Congress to renew global aid pact

Feb 17, 08 1:21 PM CST
(Newser) - President Bush urged Congress today to “stop squabbling” and renew his global AIDS program, which provides medication and treatment for millions and earmarks funds for abstinence efforts. In Tanzania, his African tour’s second stop, Bush signed a $700 million aid package, saying, “We don’t want people... More »

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Barack Obama • Tanzania • aid • abstinence education • Liberia • Rwanda • abstinence • HIV/AIDS • Ghana • US Congress • Benin • Jakaya Kikwete • AIDS prevention • PEFPAR • George W. Bush

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