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October 6, 2008 1:23:50 PM CDT



Congress track this thread

Started by D Lim; Last updated Feb 28, 08 4:17 PM CST by D Lim | View history

Congress

"Congress consists of one-third, more or less, scoundrels; two-thirds, more or less, idiots; and three-thirds, more or less, poltroons." -H.L. Mencken

Stories

Stories 261 - 280 of 323

  • June 2007
    • Senate Kills Immigration Bill

      Senate Kills Immigration Bill

      (Newser) - In a serious setback for the Bush administration's second-term agenda, the Senate effectively killed the immigration-reform bill today, voting 53-46 to keep the legislation from going forward. The president had actively promoted the bipartisan measure, going so far as to lobby senators by phone this morning, but with his influence at a low ebb, the effort fell short. More »

    • Three Freshmen Dems Balking at Immigration Bill

      Three Freshmen Dems Balking at Immigration Bill

      (Newser) - Three Senate Democrats--all newly elected in close races--are lining up against  the controversial immigration bill championed by President Bush and Democratic leaders. They and eight other Democratic naysayers could be crucial in determining the fate of the bill, reports the New York Times . A vote in the Senate could come as soon as tomorrow. More »

    • Senate Revives Immigration Bill

      Senate Revives Immigration Bill

      (Newser) - The Senate breathed new life into the stalled immigration bill today, voting to resume debate on the signature legislation of President Bush's second term. With a slew of amendments waiting in the wings, passage is hardly a sure thing, the Times reports, but the bipartisan coalition that crafted the measure took heart. More »

    • Dems Threaten to Pull VP Funds

      Dems Threaten to Pull VP Funds

      (Newser) - Angry Democrats are threatening to ax Dick Cheney's budget if the vice president continues to defy regulations on classified documents, the Hill reports. Executive branch agencies are required to provide reports justifying secret documents to an oversight office; Cheney has refused, claiming that his office is neither solely executive nor legislative. More »

    • Senate Passes Energy Bill

      Senate Passes Energy Bill

      (Newser) - The Senate gave a green light to an energy plan that would pump total fuel-economy standards to 35 mpg by 2020, and require vehicles to run on 85% ethanol by 2015. Democrats say the bill will reduce America's reliance on foreign oil, help control gas prices and counteract the effects of global warming, while analysts say it's a blow to Detroit. More »

    • Bush Kills Stem-Cell Bill

      Bush Kills Stem-Cell Bill

      (Newser) - President Bush delivered the expected veto of a stem-cell research bill this afternoon, issuing instead an executive order to encourage the development of non-embryonic stem cells. "I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line," Bush said, setting off a predictable firestorm of protests from Dems. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton called the veto "ideology before science." More »

    • Bush Prepares to Re-Veto Stem Cell Bill

      Bush Prepares to Re-Veto Stem Cell Bill

      (Newser) - President Bush plans to sic the third veto of his presidency on a new bill that would soften restrictions on stem-cell research. Congressional Dems sent the bill to the president this week, and it looks eerily similar to one Bush sent back to fail a congressional override in January. More »

    • Energy Bill Faces Fierce Floor Fight

      Energy Bill Faces Fierce Floor Fight

      (Newser) - The Democrats' energy bill is under attack on two fronts in the Senate—automakers want to weaken fuel efficiency standards, and the coal industry is looking for tax breaks for making diesel. The Wall Street Journal predicts a ferocious floor fight over the proposed package that would set a 45 mpg standard for cars by 2005. More »

    • Immigration Bill Brings Out 'Best,' 'Worst' of America

      Immigration Bill Brings Out 'Best,' 'Worst' of America

      (Newser) - Calling the immigration bill currently fighting its way through the Senate "the best that liberals are likely to get," the New Republic 's editors tepidly endorsed the legislation that would bring 12M laborers closer to US citizenship even as they condemned the implications of the bill's proposed guest-worker program. More »

    • Senate Puts Blackstone on Notice

      Senate Puts Blackstone on Notice

      (Newser) - Less than 2 weeks ahead of Blackstone's IPO, bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate yesterday threatens to hamper or halt the avidly anticipated stock sale. The private equity behemoth's tax bill would more than double if the measure—under which partnerships like Blackstone would pay the 35% corporate rate rather than the 15% capital gains rate that currently applies—passes. More »

    • Senate Leaders Reach Deal to Revive Immigration Bill

      Senate Leaders Reach Deal to Revive Immigration Bill

      (Newser) - Derailed last week, the controversial immigration bill will get a second chance, Senate leaders from both parties announced last night. The statement followed days of closed-door negotiations, the AP reports, and a personal pledge from President Bush to immediately provide $4.4 billion for border security—a key concern of conservative Republican Senators.  More »

    • Democrats Don't Live Up to Hype

      Democrats Don't Live Up to Hype

      (Newser) - Seven months after wresting control of Congress from Republicans, Democrats have failed to make good on their promises, writes the Economist . Almost none of the bills introduced in the first "100 hours" has become law, AG Alberto Gonzalez still has a job, and an Iraq pullout is nowhere in sight. More »

    • Bush Lobbies for Immigration Bill

      Bush Lobbies for Immigration Bill

      (Newser) - President Bush took the unusual step of climbing Capitol Hill today to pressure members of his own party on the stalled immigration bill. After a lunch meeting with GOP senators, CNN reports, the president warned that passing the signature legislation of his second term will take "a lot of effort"—as will persuading 15 senators to change their votes. More »

    • Vote on AG Derails in Senate

      Vote on AG Derails in Senate

      (Newser) - A no-confidence vote on Alberto Gonzales failed to get out of the Senate today when a procedural vote to cut off debate failed by seven votes. Both sides proclaimed partial victory: Republicans had blasted the vote as a stunt, but Democrats lured seven GOP senators across party lines to support going forward with the vote on the nonbinding motion. More »

    • Jefferson Pleads Not Guilty

      Jefferson Pleads Not Guilty

      (Newser) - In his first public appearance since being indicted Monday, Rep. William Jefferson pleaded not guilty in federal court in this morning. The Louisiana Democrat, facing a laundry list of charges including bribery, racketeering, and obstruction of justice, then held a press conference in which he reeled off his family's achievements and called on his constituents to "keep an open mind." More »

    • Dems Withdraw Immigration Bill

      Dems Withdraw Immigration Bill

      (Newser) - The hotly contested immigration reform bill collapsed on the Senate floor Thursday, after appearing to survive challenges from detractors in both parties. The measure fell 15 votes short of a move to curtail debate and move toward a final vote. That leaves it stalled, although the New York Times reports it may be revived later this year. More »

    • House OKs Stem Cell Bill; Veto Expected

      House OKs Stem Cell Bill; Veto Expected

      (Newser) - The House approved the stem cell bill today by a wide but not veto-proof margin, sending the legislation to the White House to await rejection by President Bush. The bipartisan bill, which loosens restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, passed the Senate in April and sailed through the House by a 247 to 176 vote. More »

    • Alaska Rep. Earmarks Cash for Florida