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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 1 - 20 of 924

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June 2009
- Why Health Reform Will Happen—And Why It Won't
  
  Time | Jun 18, 09 6:02 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - With the Obama administration stepping up its push for health-care reform, Mark Halperin, in Time , lists five reasons why it will, and won't, get done. The pros: The industry is "still on board." "Barack Obama doesn't fail too often." It's a must-win for the entire White House agenda. Congressional Democrats are "remarkably united" on the issue. There's enough big-name Republicans who want a deal. More »
- Senate OKs $106B for Wars
  
  The Hill | Jun 18, 09 5:08 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Senate today overwhelmingly passed a bill authorizing $106 billion to fund the nation’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Hill reports. It now goes to President Obama for his expected signature. The vote had been delayed by wrangling over how to keep detainee abuse photos under wraps. Yesterday, the Senate passed a stand-alone law on the matter, and Obama assured senators he would issue an executive order if necessary. More »
- Senate Apologizes for Slavery
  
  CNN | Jun 18, 09 1:45 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Senate today apologized for slavery and civil rights abuses against African-Americans, CNN reports. The unanimous gesture—it comes on the eve of Juneteenth, which marks the end of the Civil War—carries a disclaimer that it's not meant to authorize reparations, notes the Chicago Tribune . The House will vote on its own measure, but because it's a non-binding resolution, it won't require the signature of the nation's first black president. More »
- Lieberman, Dems Heal Old Wounds
  
  The Hill | Jun 18, 09 7:45 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The rift between Joe Lieberman and his former party, which stretched wide after the senator supported John McCain for president, is closing, the Hill reports. The Connecticut independent, who caucuses with the Democrats, has been "critical" to the party, the majority whip says—Lieberman has praised the president on national security and foreign policy, and worked closely with the White House on banning the release of detainee-abuse photos. More »
- Ensign Quits Senate GOP Leadership Post
  
  Associated Press | Jun 17, 09 12:20 PM CDT
  
  (AP) - Sen. John Ensign has stepped down from his leadership post a day after admitting an affair with a woman who was on his campaign staff. He conveyed his decision in a phone call with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said he had accepted the resignation. Ensign was chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the fourth-ranking spot in the leadership. More »
- Obama Clashes With Rural Democrats
  
  Politico | Jun 17, 09 11:15 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Democrats from rural areas aren’t pleased with President Obama, and they’re threatening to show it by revolting against key parts of his domestic agenda, Politico reports. The tension boiled to the surface last week when rural and moderate Democrats decried plans to close 3,400 General Motors and Chrysler dealerships, but many are also angry about new regulations from Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency. More »
- Why This Affair Won't Be the End of Ensign
  
  FiveThirtyEight | Jun 17, 09 10:01 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - News of his affair with a campaign staffer won't force Nevada's GOP Sen. John Ensign out of office, predicts Nate Silver in FiveThirtyEight.com, even though he has frequently preached about the ethical lapses of others. A resignation by Ensign would prompt a special election in 2010, and Ensign's party is still struggling to find a good Republican candidate to take on Harry Reid that year, even though the Senate majority leader is considered vulnerable. More »
- House Dems Clear $106B War Funding Bill
  
  Associated Press | Jun 16, 09 9:53 PM CDT
  
  (AP) - War-funding legislation survived a fierce partisan battle in the House today, a major step in providing commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan the money they would need for the coming months. Democratic leaders pushing the $106 billion measure had to overcome an unusual alliance. Anti-war Democrats opposed continued war spending, and Republicans condemned $5 billion in the measure to secure a US line of credit to the International Monetary Fund for loans to poor countries. More »
- Pa., NY Dems Ignore Obama, Ready Senate Primary Bids
  
  Politico | Jun 15, 09 10:01 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Two House Democrats look ready to stage Senate primary challenges in 2010—even if the White House doesn’t like it, Politico reports. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania says a presidential intervention wouldn’t change his mind about a run against Arlen Specter; New York’s Carolyn Maloney is “way past” concern for what the president thinks, says her likely strategist, as she targets Kirsten Gillibrand’s seat. More »
- Obama's Cell Phone Plea Helps Clear War Funds
  
  Politico | Jun 12, 09 7:02 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Congressional leaders settled on a $106 billion spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan last night, but it took a last-minute intervention by President Obama via Rahm Emanuel's cell phone. When talks got bogged down over the release of detainee photos, Emanuel rushed to the Capitol and had Obama assure lawmakers via speaker phone that he would do everything in his power to block their release, reports Politico. More »
- Senate OKs Tough New Tobacco Regulations
  
  Associated Press | Jun 11, 09 2:41 PM CDT
  
  (AP) - Congress struck the US government's strongest anti-smoking blow in decades today with a Senate vote to give regulators new power to limit nicotine in cigarettes, drastically curtail ads, and ban candied tobacco products aimed at young people. Cigarette foes say the changes could cut into the 400,000 deaths every year caused by smoking and reduce the $100 billion in annual health-care costs linked to tobacco. More »
- Cornyn, Schumer Travel in High Style
  
  Politico | Jun 11, 09 11:10 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Senators John Cornyn and Chuck Schumer have done a lot of jet-setting on the company dime, Politico reports. Each has spent more than $140,000 on travel this year alone, as much as 10 times what some colleagues spend. Cornyn, a Republican, racked up the biggest bill, which included the tab for taking 59 staffers on a $38,000 Maryland retreat. He also routinely takes pricey, multi-city charter flights through Texas. More »
- Coleman Owes Franken $95K
  
  Minnesota Independent | Jun 10, 09 7:32 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - We still can't say for certain who will be Minnesota's next senator, but at least some of the legal bills are being straightened out. A Minnesota elections court ordered Norm Coleman to pay Al Franken nearly $95,000 to cover trial costs, reports the Minnesota Independent . Coleman must pay up because the court ruled against him. There's still no word, meanwhile, on when the state's highest court will issue its big decision. More »
- 6 Conservatives Worth Obama's Time
  
  The Atlantic | Jun 10, 09 2:48 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - There are a few in the conservative camp who the Obama administration respects. “By respect, I mean, quite simply, the degree to which the White House responds to their worries and needs and believes that the time spent responding is useful and necessary,” Marc Ambinder writes in the Atlantic . Here’s a list of six: The Maine senators: "On major issues where a 60-vote supermajority is needed for cloture," Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are "the only Republicans who matter." More »
- Republicans See Rising Debt as Obama's Soft Spot
  
  Politico | Jun 10, 09 11:38 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Republicans think they’ve found one chink in President Obama’s armor: public fear over rising national debt. Some 51% of Americans disapprove of Obama’s efforts to control federal spending, according to a recent poll. In every other area, Obama enjoys positive ratings. “The president is still popular, but his policies are catching up with him,” Sen. Lamar Alexander told Politico. “When that happens, it helps us make our points.” More »
- Corruption Trial of Ex-Louisiana Rep Kicks Off
  
  New Orleans Times-Picayune | Jun 9, 09 1:59 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Jury selection began today in the trial of former Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. The Democrat is charged with taking bribes and using his office to set up business deals in Africa. “It is good to have my family with me,” he said as he arrived at the courthouse in Virginia. In 2005, federal investigators traced $90,000 from an informant to Jefferson’s freezer. More »
- Pentagon Drops Ball on Contractor Oversight: Report
  
  Associated Press | Jun 9, 09 9:33 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Though US defense contracting has reached “unprecedented proportions” in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Defense Department isn’t adequately monitoring the contracts, according to an independent watchdog. A report to be presented to Congress tomorrow says the government lacks central records showing the identities, activities, and pay of some 240,000 private workers contracted for tens of billions of dollars, the AP reports. More »
- Report Seeks More Bank Stress Tests
  
  Washington Post | Jun 9, 09 8:52 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The US should run a second round of bank stress tests if it turns out the government was overly optimistic about the economy in the first round, says a report to be presented to Congress today. The Congressional Oversight Panel, which monitors the bailout, applauded the tests thus far, but noted that they were based on the assumption that this year’s jobless rate wouldn't climb past 8.9%. Unemployment soared to 9.4% last month, the Washington Post reports. More »
- Senate Poised to Pass Tough New Tobacco Law
  
  USA Today | Jun 9, 09 2:54 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The Senate is expected this week to pass sweeping new legislation to regulate tobacco, reports USA Today . The bill, which may go to a vote as soon as today, gives the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco and will require larger health warnings on packets, end the use of claims like "light" and "mild" for cigarettes, and further restrict advertising. More »
- GOP Senator Blasts Obama on Twitter
  
  Associated Press | Jun 8, 09 2:20 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Sen. Chuck Grassley slammed the president in angry Twitter messages yesterday, saying Barack Obama has "nerve" for declaring "it's time to deliver" on health care while vacationing in Paris. Grassley is a crucial Republican ally on health care reform, which Obama has said needs bipartisan support. But Obama's increased involvement with the issue seems to be diminishing any hope of that, AP reports. More »

Stories 1 - 20 of 924

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Reflection

Reflection ((c) Poldavo (Alex))

Congress Column

Congress Column ((c) ricardo.martins)

DC 027.jpg

DC 027.jpg ((c) clyderob)

Congreso Entrance

Congreso Entrance ((c) puroticorico)

Congreso Facade

Congreso Facade ((c) puroticorico)

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Background

United States Congress
Wikipedia

The United States Congress is the legislature of the U.S. federal government. It is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives and Senate. The House of Representatives has 435 voting members, each representing a congressional district and serving a two-year term. House seats are apportioned...

» Read more about United States Congress at Wikipedia

Recommended Reading

Government

United States House of Representatives
U.S. House of Representatives

United States Senate
U.S. Senate

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