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Congress

Started by D Lim; Last updated by D Lim

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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 21 - 40 of 924

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June 2009
- Dems Rip GOP for Sharing Interrogation Secrets
  
  The Hill | Jun 5, 09 7:36 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Democrats are seething today after Republicans told the press about classified intelligence gleaned in a closed-door briefing about interrogation techniques. GOP members told the Hill they were informed that harsh techniques led to information that prevented terrorist attacks. That led Democrats to blast their rivals for disclosing secret information, triggering a full political brawl. More »
- Black President, Sure; Alabama Governor? We'll See
  
  New York Times | Jun 4, 09 4:59 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - In the post-Obama political landscape, a young congressman is attempting a feat perhaps more difficult than putting a black man in the White House, writes Robbie Brown in the New York Times . That would be putting a black man in the Alabama governor’s mansion. “Yes, it will be hard,” said Artur Davis, a four-term congressman and a star of last year’s Democratic convention. “But God has blessed us through that which is hard before.” More »
- House to Post Expenses Online
  
  Wall Street Journal | Jun 4, 09 1:21 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The House is planning to put lists of lawmakers' expenses online in an effort to share more information with the public, the Wall Street Journal reports. The move, announced by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday, will give taxpayers easy access to details on lawmakers' expenses, which run up to $1.9 million a year. Until now, records have only been available in hefty bound volumes kept at the Capitol. More »
- Bernanke Sees Slow Recovery, Despite Positive Signs
  
  CNNMoney | Jun 3, 09 10:40 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The US has a long way to go before the economy returns to full health, despite hopeful signs, Ben Bernanke told the House budget committee today. “Recovery will only gradually gain momentum and that economic slack will diminish slowly,” the Fed chairman said. With businesses cautious, “the unemployment rate is likely to rise for a time, even after economic growth resumes”—which he still believes could happen at year’s end, CNNMoney reports. More »
- Pawlenty Won't Run Again in Minn.; Prez Push Possible
  
  Minneapolis Star Tribune | Jun 2, 09 4:36 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Tim Pawlenty will not seek a third term as Minnesota governor, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. Pawlenty is seen as a probable Republican candidate for 2012, but he was mum on the subject. “I don’t have any plans beyond serving out my term,” he said today. “I’m not ruling anything in or out.” He said he was leaving office to open up the field to others. More »
- Sotomayor Visits Senators, Explains 'Wise Latina' Remark
  
  Politico | Jun 2, 09 12:42 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Sonia Sotomayor made her first trip to Capitol Hill today, and had heart-to-hearts with Harry Reid and assorted members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, explaining the “wise Latina” remark that has drawn so much attention to chairman Patrick Leahy, Politico reports. Though everyone has a different background, the Supreme Court nominee told Leahy “there is only one law,” and she would follow it “ultimately and completely.” More »
- Sotomayor Will Likely Get Some GOP Votes
  
  New York Times | Jun 1, 09 10:55 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Despite loud opposition from the likes of Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh, many Republican senators may vote for Sonia Sotomayor, the New York Times reports. Strategists on both sides suspect that at least a third of the upper house’s 40 Republicans will back the Supreme Court nominee, including the seven who voted to confirm her to the federal appeals court. More »
- Senate Recount Case Goes to Minn. High Court Today
  
  Minneapolis Star Tribune | Jun 1, 09 10:24 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Minnesota’s Supreme Court will hear arguments today in the Senate seat dispute between Al Franken and Norm Coleman, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. If the court goes Franken’s way, he could be seated in Washington; if the five justices find for Coleman, “recounting-type” hurdles will remain before he could head to DC, said a legal expert. The decision could come in days—or months. More »
May 2009
- Like Father, Like Son: Dodd Fights for Future
  
  Newsweek | May 31, 09 4:32 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - For the second time in recent memory, a Senator Dodd from Connecticut is accused of corruption and faces a rocky political future, Newsweek reports. The current senator, Chris Dodd, is a 28-year veteran and former presidential candidate, but after devising an AIG loophole and appearing to make shady housing deals, he faces 54% of voters who say they don’t find him “honest or trustworthy.” More »
- Coleman-Franken Fight Heads to Minn.'s Top Court
  
  The Hill | May 31, 09 9:40 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Norm Coleman and Al Franken take their protracted election battle to Minnesota's Supreme Court tomorrow, reports the Hill, in what could be its final stage. Lawyers on both sides have spent some 6 weeks readying their arguments—including Coleman, himself a lawyer. Franken, meanwhile, holding to a slim ballot advantage, has instead played the role of incoming senator. More »
- US Taxpayers, Too, Billed for Lawmakers' Cars, Cameras
  
  Wall Street Journal | May 30, 09 8:34 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - No moat-cleaning, but there were cameras, TVs, and fancy cars among the expenses members of Congress have charged to taxpayers recently, a Wall Street Journal investigation inspired by the British expenses scandal finds. House members are given up to $1.9 million a year and senators get up to $4.5 million to spend on job-related expenses, but, the Journal reports, the accounting is often opaque. More »
- Boehner's No. 1 in Obama's Online Suggestion Box
  
  Politico | May 29, 09 10:13 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - House Minority Leader John Boehner didn’t like how the House Democrats were operating, so where did he appeal? The White House, of course. More specifically, reports Politico, Boehner used the White House online suggestion box to ask the president to back a 72-hour review period before any spending bill is passed. And Boehner's suggestion has gotten more votes than any other of the online ideas, though not all are exactly models of seriousness. More »
- Obama Loses 'Empathy' Line After GOP Sullies Phrase
  
  New York Times | May 28, 09 12:58 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - “Empathy” was a key part of President Obama’s vocabulary when he first started talking about his Supreme Court nominee, Sheryl Gay Stolberg writes in the New York Times , but the word has disappeared. “Conservatives have hijacked empathy and turned it into an epithet,” Stolberg writes. When introducing Sonia Sotomayor, Obama spoke in “long-winded phrases” that can’t “be reduced into a convenient buzzword for the opposition.” More »
- Pinning Burris for Perjury Difficult: Experts
  
  Politico | May 28, 09 9:11 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Controversy surrounding Roland Burris' appointment to the Senate has heated up after the release of his conversations with Rod Blagojevich’s brother, taped by the FBI, but a criminal case against him is still iffy, Politico reports. The possibility of perjury charges over inconsistencies in Burris’ statements is slim, experts say, because they leave room for debate. Indeed, Burris told reporters yesterday he was only trying to "placate" Blago's brother by discussing, but not committing to, a fundraiser for the cash-strapped governor. More »
- Sotomayor Vote Carries Risks for These Senators
  
  Politico | May 28, 09 9:02 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation looks likely, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some drama between here and there. Politico runs down which senators have the most to win—and the most to lose: Patrick Leahy: Facing his first nominee as judiciary chairman, Leahy’s eager to get Sotomayor through ASAP, but risks Republican wrath if he rushes. More »
- Democratic Congressman Plans Run Against Specter
  
  CNN | May 27, 09 8:20 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Geez, what's a guy got to do to win some love from his own political party? Even though Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania switched parties to become a Democrat, he's still going to face a big-name challenger in a party primary. Rep. Joe Sestak told Wolf Blitzer on CNN today that he plans to run. “I don’t think that a D next to your name makes you a Democrat,” he said. “It’s about whether Arlen will fight for the right issues." More »
- Hyperbolic Newt's Antics Highlight Desperate GOP
  
  American Prospect | May 27, 09 2:13 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Newt Gingrich is back, and he’s here to stay. “It’s Gingrich time,” Paul Waldman writes for the American Prospect . That’s not a good thing, for the Republicans or the country. “This is Newt's time again not only because there's a leadership vacuum in the GOP but because the Republicans are back in opposition, and nobody opposes quite like Newt,” Waldman writes. “He is a master of the contemptuous sneer.” More »
- Policymakers Float Federal Sales Tax Idea
  
  Washington Post | May 27, 09 11:10 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A federal sales tax has long been seen as politically off-limits, but the massive deficit has some in Washington pushing for it. “It's common to the rest of the world, and we don't have it,” a tax analyst tells the Washington Post . In dire times, “fundamental tax reform” may be needed, said the chair of the Senate Budget Committee. A VAT has “got to be on the table.” More »
- Congress Mulls Tighter Offshore Drilling Rules
  
  ProPublica | May 27, 09 10:27 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A bill pushed by Dick Cheney 4 years ago freed natural-gas drillers from clean-water laws, but pollution concerns are driving congressional Democrats to rethink the matter, ProPublica reports. They’ve drafted legislation that would end the natural-gas exemption and require drillers to reveal the chemicals they use in their work, some of which can lead to cancer. More »
- Blago Brother's Talk With Burris Fair Game for Inquiry
  
  The Hill | May 26, 09 1:32 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - FBI recordings of a conversation between Sen. Roland Burris and the brother of disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich can be released to the Senate Ethics Committee, a judge ruled today. The committee is investigating Burris’ appointment by the now-impeached governor, made after Blagojevich was indicted, the Hill reports. The taped conversation occurred before the impeachment and the appointment. More »

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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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