Prez will promote stimulus plan, Iraq
war in tonight's talk
Politico Jan 28, 08 6:25 PM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush will slam Democratic spending in favor of his own multi-billion-dollar proposals in his last State of the Union speech, scheduled for 6 p.m. EST tonight. He plans to promote his $150 billion stimulus package, and reiterate the need to fight in Iraq—recently valued at another $108 billion—while demanding an $18 billion cut in domestic plans and threatening to veto bills that don't slash pork-barrel projects by 50%, Politico reports.
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Will stress need for recession-buster measures
CNN Jan 28, 08 4:36 AM CST
(Newser)
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During his final State of the Union address tonight, President Bush isn't expected to announce any dramatic new policy initiatives—but will emphasize the need for government action to ward off a recession. The speech, entitled “Trust and Empower,” will call on Congress to permanently extend his $1.6 trillion in tax cuts. He's also expected to ask lawmakers to back wide-ranging federal authority to carry out wiretapping surveillance.
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Workings of US democracy capture global attention
New York Times Jan 26, 08 2:30 PM CST
(Newser)
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They may not have any say in its outcome, but people all over the world are giving the race for the White House an almost unprecedented level of attention, reports the New York Times , with a special focus on the Democratic contest. Many hope a new president will bring fresh policies. "There is a desperate sense of need that there must be something better than Bush out there,” said a European expert.
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20 million seniors could still be left out of final bill
Washington Post Jan 26, 08 6:10 AM CST
(Newser)
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Senators are balking at yesterday's pleas from President Bush for speedy action on the economic stimulus bill, planning substantial additions and changes, reports the Washington Post. Proposed additions include $12.5 billion in unemployment benefits, $5 billion in food stamps. and $800 million for winter heating for the poor. And the resistance to rubber-stamping is bi-partisan: GOP senators are holding out for tax breaks for corporations that reinvest overseas profit back in the US.
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Bush, Congress bask in the brief glow of cooperation, but can it last?
Washington Post Jan 25, 08 1:15 PM CST
(Newser)
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The $150 billion package of tax breaks for consumers and businesses rolled out yesterday was the first show of bipartisan cooperation sans bloodletting since the Democrats won control of Congress a year ago, the Washington Post observes . It took panic over a looming recession to make it happen, and it could still be undone in the Senate.
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Poll shows majority fear for future
Los Angeles Times Jan 25, 08 3:34 AM CST
(Newser)
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The vast majority of Americans are convinced the nation is sinking into a recession—but most are not feeling the pinch themselves and have no plans to tighten their belts just yet, according to a Los Angeles Times/ Bloomberg poll. A year ago a similar poll showed widespread confidence that the economy was in good shape.
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$8.5M campaign aiming to keep president's approval ratings in the toilet
Associated Press Jan 24, 08 7:34 PM CST
(Newser)
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A liberal advocacy group plans to spend $8.5 million to keep President Bush's approval rating low, the AP reports. Americans United for Change will focus on what it perceives as Bush's failures in Iraq and at home, a move the group hopes will benefit Democrats in the upcoming election while preventing a repeat of Ronald Reagan's 21% end-of-term approval bounce.
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Parties in sync now,
but 'Act 2' sure to be partisan bickering
Politico Jan 23, 08 2:41 PM CST
(Newser)
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Get ready for that glow to wear off: The good feeling on Capitol Hill over a stimulus package will end as soon as the first deal is done, with Republicans and Democrats digging in on various economic cures. The next legislative round, Politico reports, will likely see GOPers fighting to extend tax cuts and Dems pushing a huge infrastructure package.
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False statements by Bush, top officials were 'orchestrated campaign'
Associated Press Jan 23, 08 9:09 AM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush and top administration officials made hundreds of false statements—932, to be exact—about the national security threat from Iraq following 9/11, report two nonprofit journalism organizations. In the two years after the attacks, Bush and top officials stated at least 532 times that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, was trying to make or get them, or was linked to al-Qaeda, the study found.
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Gives bipartisan lawmakers 3 weeks
to forge accord
Washington Post Jan 22, 08 6:47 PM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush pushed his fiscal stimulus plan with lawmakers today and vowed the bipartisan group will find "common ground," the Washington Post reports. The economic boost—which he set at $150 billion—will not kick in overnight, he warned, but said congressional leaders must reach an accord in 3 weeks. That means checks would reach taxpayers and businesses in 5 or 6 months, analysts say.
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Millions of messages missing despite court orders to fix system
Washington Post Jan 22, 08 1:39 PM CST
(Newser)
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The ongoing controversy over the potential disappearance of millions of White House emails stems from an inadequate archiving system that has not been brought up to snuff despite court orders to do so, the Washington Post reports. In fact, the White House scrapped a system put in place by the Clinton administration but has not replaced it.
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