Congress

Countrywide 'Bailout' Is Dem Chicanery

Wall Street Journal  |  Jun 18, 08 1:33 PM CDT

(Newser) - Congressional Dems are selling their $300 billion bill granting new taxpayer loan guarantees as a boon to homeowners, but Dick Armey sees more cynical motives in the “bailout” legislation. The former House majority leader writes in the Journal , pegging the recent revelations of sweetheart Countrywide loans for top (Dem) “banking players” to the active legislation, charging that “it’s all too clear who is being rescued.” More »

GOP Hesitates on Call for Mortgage Probe

Politico  |  Jun 17, 08 5:11 PM CDT

(Newser) - GOP lawmakers are leery of investigating mortgage deals Countrywide may have arranged for members of Congress, even though a fellow Republican is leading the charge, Politico reports. More Democratic ties to the troubled lender would give the GOP ammo in a cycle seemingly stacked against it—but the people who must pull the trigger are apprehensive about “opening Pandora’s box,” said one aide. More »

After Decline, Congress' Earmarking is Back

Washington Post  |  Jun 13, 08 10:46 AM CDT

(Newser) - Though Congress vowed last year to reduce earmarking—the process of directing funds to projects at home with little scrutiny—recently there’s been a jump in such spending, the Washington Post reports. A House defense bill’s earmarked funds rose 29% last month, and the Senate bill looks as though it will follow the trend. “Parties talk a good game,” said an analyst, “but at first opportunity, the House larded up.” More »

House Votes to Extend Jobless Benefits

Associated Press  |  Jun 12, 08 5:00 PM CDT

(AP) - The House today approved an extra three months of jobless benefits for all unemployed Americans, knowing the plan's chances are slight in the Senate. After failing to get a veto-proof two-thirds margin by three votes yesterday, Democrats got an exact two-thirds margin with a 274-137 vote—the amount needed to overcome a threatened presidential veto. More »

Congress: No More Scribbled Scrips, Doc

Chicago Tribune  |  Jun 12, 08 4:29 PM CDT

(Newser) - Senators from both sides of the aisle are pushing doctors away from their prescription pads and towards electronic prescribing, the Chicago Tribune reports. Politicians and lobbyists hope the new system will cut down on mis-filled prescriptions and harmful, but avoidable, drug interactions. More »

GOP Lawmakers Holding Out on McCain

The Hill  |  Jun 12, 08 2:12 PM CDT

(Newser) - At least 14 GOP lawmakers are refusing to publicly support John McCain’s White House bid, and more than a dozen more are keeping mum about whether they back the senator, the Hill reports. A few say they are supporting their party’s candidate without going so far as endorsing him. Many refused to say why they were holding out, though some offered as reasons differences on Iraq and energy policy. More »

Kucinich Moves to Impeach Bush

Politico  |  Jun 10, 08 6:00 AM CDT

(Newser) - January 2009 can't come soon enough for Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich. The onetime presidential hopeful read 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush into the Congressional record last night, Politico reports, but House leaders say the idea is “off the table." Kucinich, who has previously sought to impeach Dick Cheney, accused Bush of war crimes, and other illegal acts. More »

More White House Links to Abramoff Revealed