Clinton-era law gives Congress power to overturn regulations
Politico Nov 12, 08 1:58 PM CST
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The Bush White House thought it was pretty clever rushing to get all its so-called midnight regulations finalized by Nov. 1 so they couldn't be immediately overturned by the next president, as many of Bill Clinton's parting gifts were. But congressional Democrats say they've found an obscure Clinton-era law that will allow them to strike down the rules anyway.
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Waxman aims to bump Dingell out of key chairmanship
Politico Nov 6, 08 9:40 AM CST
(Newser)
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Tuesday's votes were still being counted when House Democrats started wrangling over leadership positions, Politico reports. Henry Waxman has launched a challenge for chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee, aiming to take out John Dingell of Michigan, whose support is eroding. Says a lobbyist: "He has done nothing on energy because he is in the pockets of the auto companies, and that hurt us this year."
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Democrats say bipartisan, White House support crucial to measure
Reuters Nov 5, 08 3:56 PM CST
(Newser)
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Nancy Pelosi says she hopes to quickly push through a $61 billion economic stimulus package but will need the support of President Bush and the current crop of Senate Republicans, Reuters reports. Pelosi said a "lame duck session" could come as early as Nov. 16. "It depends on what the White House is going to do," she said of the prospects of getting a bill signed.
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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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Prez resists suggestions that new report undermines his rhetoric
Associated Press Dec 4, 07 10:05 AM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush insisted today that Iran is still a threat, despite a new NIE report released yesterday concluding that the country shut down its nuclear weapons program in 2003. "Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous, Iran will be dangerous," he said in a news conference. The report should be read as a warning, he said: Iran had the program, halted the program, and could restart the program, the AP reports.
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Lawmakers vow to tackle rate hikes, reform arcane fee system
Washington Post Dec 1, 07 7:44 PM CST
(Newser)
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Dem lawmakers vow to finally rein in credit card companies after years of consumer complaints, the Washington Post reports. They want lenders to scrap random rate hikes and inscrutable fees, and plan to tackle it in a hearing next week; one rep has already drawn up legislation. But industry lobbyists are crying foul. “They’re getting oversight, and they don’t like it,” said one advocate.
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President wants money before Christmas
Associated Press Nov 29, 07 4:33 PM CST
(Newser)
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President Bush demanded today that Congress approve funding for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before members leave for the holidays, despite repeated assertions from congressional Democrats that's not in the cards. "Let us tell our men and women in uniform that we will give them what they need to succeed in their missions, without strings and without delay," Bush insisted.
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They represent 58% of wealthy districts: study
Washington Times Nov 25, 07 5:53 AM CST
(Newser)
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Apparently it's not such an anomaly when Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer comes to the defense of private equity partners fighting to keep their tax breaks. Contrary to their reputation as the champions of the poor and middle class, Democrats now represent a majority of the nation's richest congressional districts, according to a study by the Heritage Foundation reported in the Washington Times .
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CNN Oct 17, 07 11:20 AM CDT
(Newser)
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George Bush ripped Congress today, in a bruising opening to a press conference, saying Democrats had largely wasted their first nine months in power. “The clock is winding down,” the president said, alleging lethargy on issues like health care, education, veterans and security. He then attacked the Armenian genocide resolution that enraged Turkey, saying, “one thing Congress should not be doing is sorting out the historical record of the Ottoman Empire.”
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Children's health veto, spate of retirements damage Republican image
New York Times Oct 14, 07 7:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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GOP lawmakers admitted to low morale when they met with Bush the other day, the New York Times reports. A spate of retirements, and bad PR over Bush's stance on children's health care, have recently stung the party. “The president has let the debate on health care down by not offering an alternative,” says one rep. “We are not happy, no doubt about it,” admits a senior GOP aide.
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Plan has two-thirds majority in Senate, but not in House
Los Angeles Times Oct 3, 07 11:10 AM CDT
(Newser)
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President Bush today struck down a bipartisan compromise to expand a federal initiative providing care for children whose parents can’t afford it, the Los Angeles Times reports. Bush called the bill too costly, and said he would rather renew the current plan for five years; Democrats are unenthused, and said they will pursue winning enough House votes to override the veto.
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How a weak president scored a surprising win
New York Times Aug 11, 07 1:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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It was a closed-door briefing last month, in which lawmakers were told of a stunning drop in intelligence, that suddenly broke the Democratic opposition to a new spying bill passed last week, the New York Times reports. The Times does a post mortem on the 11th hour passage of the bill—one Democrats had resisted for months—that broadens the White House's power to conduct warrantless eavesdropping.
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Prez blasts Congress, warns Iran over Iraq, asks Sarkozy to lunch
New York Times Aug 9, 07 5:51 PM CDT
(Newser)
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President Bush today rejected a gasoline tax increase that would raise money for bridge repairs across the country, saying Congress should reevaluate the way it allocates tax revenues now. In a wide-ranging press conference before departing for vacation in Maine, he continued to defend Alberto Gonzales and fielded numerous questions about Iraq, the Times reports.
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