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NEWS ABOUT: 112th Congress

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Congress Is Done for the Year

Don't expect any major legislation in 2012

(Newser) - It's only February, but most lawmakers expect the payroll tax holiday extension be the last major piece of legislation Congress passes all year, as election year politicking brings the 112th Congress —not exactly known for its blistering pace —to a screeching halt. What will Congress do about... More »

GOP Frosh's Plan to Reduce Debt a Pathetic Gesture

Dana Milbank amused 2010's revolutionaries grand plan

(Newser) - Republicans swept into Washington in 2010 vowing to reduce the debt, and yesterday eight of them unveiled their plan to do so... by returning the unused portion of their office budgets, reducing the debt by all of $1.5 million ... "a whopping .00001% of what the nation owes. The... More »

84% Unhappy With Congress

That's another new record...

(Newser) - For once, a poll finds a new high for Congress rather than a new low. Of course, that high—84%—is the percentage of Americans who disapprove of the job Congress is doing. And many Americans aren't just moderately unhappy: Almost two-thirds of that group "disapprove strongly."... More »

House Passes Spending Bill, But...

...the Senate vows to oppose it, so Oct. 1 shutdown again a possibility

(Newser) - House Republicans got their ducks in a row late last night, passing a spending measure nearly identical to the one that went down in flames Wednesday. But that might not be enough to prevent a government shutdown, because the Senate is drawing a hard line against the bill, the Washington ... More »

Republicans Hand Boehner Embarassing Defeat

It's a setback for speaker as Democrats show rare unity

(Newser) - The House’s failure to pass a Republican spending bill to keep the government running last night was an embarrassing defeat for John Boehner, underscoring that he can’t count on his own caucus, Politico observes—and can't move if Democrats are united against him. “He can’t... More »

Tea Party Frosh Have Voted in Lockstep With GOP

So much for being fiery outsiders

(Newser) - The House’s crop of enraged Tea Party freshmen hasn’t exactly been the independent firebrands they were advertised as, at least as far as their actual voting record is concerned. In more than 100 key House votes, Republican freshmen bucked their party at a rate of about 12.5%,... More »

GOP's New Crusade: Balanced Budget Amendment

Some Democrats amenable to the plan, say insiders

(Newser) - Emboldened after the debt limit fight, Republicans are shifting energies to their quest for a balanced budget amendment—but such a measure faces major hurdles, the New York Times reports. John Boehner has called on congressional Republicans to spend their August recess convincing the public of the importance of such... More »

Debt Talks Bring Out Boehner/Cantor Rivalry

Boehner is more pragmatic; Cantor draws line, refuses compromise

(Newser) - The GOP’s high-wire debt ceiling talks have turned a spotlight on the growing rivalry between John Boehner and Eric Cantor, the Washington Post observes. Until Sunday’s talks, Boehner had been pushing for a grand compromise, while Cantor categorically refused anything involving tax increases. Yesterday, Cantor insisted that he... More »

This Congress Is the Least Productive in Decades

Partisan gridlock leads to few votes, fewer laws: LA Times

(Newser) - The Los Angeles Times takes stock of the accomplishments of the 112th Congress, and it isn't pretty: This Congress "is on pace to be one of the least productive in recent memory—as measured by votes taken, bills made into laws, nominees approved," writes Kathleen Hennessey. It'... More »

Hey, Obama, GOP 'Can't Do It Alone'

This is the president's 'leadership moment'

(Newser) - President Obama's deficit commission co-chairs may think real fiscal responsibility is still possible, but Eric Cantor thinks the president's budget "shattered our best hopes" with its "conspicuous lack of candor." "This is a leadership moment," he writes in an opinion on Politico. "House Republicans... More »

House Passes $60B in Cuts

Measure sets up deep divide between House, Senate

(Newser) - The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed $61 billion in federal spending cuts this morning, burning the midnight oil to hack federal cash going to coal companies, oil refiners, farmers, health care reform, and environmental initiatives. "The American people have spoken. They demand that Washington stop its out-of-control spending now,... More »

Hooray for the Budget Brawl!

This messy stuff is what democracy is supposed to look like

(Newser) - The Washington press corps hasn’t been kind to John Boehner's budget free-for-all , calling it “chaos,” a “headache,” “turmoil,” and worse. “There’s a far better word for what happened: democracy,” writes Kimberly Strassel in the Wall Street Journal . Boehner’s allowed... More »

New Lawmakers Battle Freshman 15

Seriously, does this suit make me look fat?

(Newser) - Being a freshman is tough: Making friends, figuring out where the bathroom is, partying without packing on the pounds. Such are the trials and tribulations of the newest crop of lawmakers, who report that weight gain—thanks in part to frequent cocktail parties—is no joke. “At every event,... More »

House GOP Shows Cracks

Majority isn't united as the old minority

(Newser) - It’s been a really bad week to be John Boehner. The House’s Republican majority looks to be coming apart at the seams already, after a pair of failed floor votes, a backlash from the right over spending cuts, and Christopher Lee’s scandal-fueled resignation , both Politico and the... More »

GOP Reschedules Health Care Repeal Vote

Determined to move back toward business as usual

(Newser) - House Republicans will vote to repeal the health care reform law next week, likely on Wednesday, after a week-long delay in the wake of the Gabrielle Giffords shooting. “It is important for Congress to get back to work,” an Eric Cantor spokesman said, “and to that end... More »

GOP Has Alternate Plan to Kill Health Care Bill

They'd essentially cut off all the money for it

(Newser) - The vote Republicans take to repeal the health care law next week will be purely symbolic—there’s no way repeal would get through the Senate and White House—but Republicans have a Plan B. It's called choke off the money. Congressman Steve King is floating a rule that would... More »

House Republicans Vote Before Swearing In

2 Reps' votes invalidated after blunder

(Newser) - House Republicans were left red-faced yesterday after realizing that two of them had cast votes even though they weren't technically members of Congress. Reps. Pete Sessions and Mike Fitzpatrick skipped this week's official swearing-in ceremony on the House floor to attend a ceremony elsewhere. The eight votes they cast during... More »

GOP Already Breaking Campaign Promises

Legislative rules backtrack on openness pledge

(Newser) - Well, that was fast. Republicans are already backpedaling on a number of provisions of their “Pledge to America,” including promises to cut spending and reform Congressional rules. The GOP had railed against Democrats’ strong-arm legislative tactics, pledging to send all bills through a full committee process and to... More »

GOP Plan: Undo Obama's Agenda in First 20 Days

...At least symbolically, because they don't control the Senate or White House

(Newser) - House Republicans plan to sweep into office today with a 20-day blitz of legislation designed to undo or counteract President Obama’s agenda, starting with the repeal of the Democrats’ health care law on Friday. They’re also planning to identify tens of billions in spending cuts, and propose a... More »

10 Freshmen to Keep an Eye On

Class of 2010 is full of characters

(Newser) - There will be plenty of fresh faces in Washington today. But which ones matter most? The Washington Post selects 10 freshman legislators to keep an eye on:
  • Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH: One of Sarah Palin's "mama grizzlies," Ayotte defeated a Tea Partier to become the only woman elected
... More »

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