Congress

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GOP Senator on Obama: 'He Needs to Take a Valium'

Capitol Hill meeting doesn't go so well

(Newser) - President Obama visited Senate Republicans today, but bipartisanship wasn't exactly overflowing, reports Politico . GOP Senator Pat Roberts' take: "The more he talked, the more he got upset. He needs to take a valium before he comes in and talks to Republicans and just calm down." The White House,...

Congressional Death Threats Up 300%: FBI

Most suspects are men with guns, many mentally disturbed

(Newser) - Death threats against members of Congress are up 300% this year, the FBI tells Politico , and almost everyone doing the threatening owns guns. Capitol Police say they've had to dramatically step up security efforts, which were also boosted in 2009. “We have about 12 open cases at any given...

Senate Finance Bill Could Trim Big Banks' Profits 20%

New rules on derivatives could be costly for Wall Street

(Newser) - To their surprise, the financial reform bill approved by the Senate last night has some real teeth, financial analysts tell the Wall Street Journal . Although specifics depend on what emerges from the confab with the House, some of Wall Street's biggest institutions could see profits decline by as much as...

Democrats Retain Murtha Seat in Congress

Mark Critz defeats Republican Tim Burns in Pennsylvania

(Newser) - Democrats will retain control of the seat held for decades by the late Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha after winning a special election to fill the final months of his term. Both parties viewed the contest as a test for the fall. Murtha aide Mark Critz defeated businessman Tim Burns. The...

Obama Shows Congress Who's Boss
Obama Shows Congress
Who's Boss 
analysis
May 17, 2010 5:12 PM CDT

Obama Shows Congress Who's Boss

President takes more hands-on approach to legislation

(Newser) - President Obama is growing more assertive on Capitol Hill. Since he took office, the president's supporters have criticized him for not exerting enough control over the details of legislation, instead letting Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi hammer out specifics—even on major administration goals, like the health care bill. On...

Congress Wants Answers on Low Oil Leak Estimates

Experts say it's much higher than 5,000 barrels per day

(Newser) - News that way more oil than previously reported seems to be gushing out of the burst well in the Gulf of Mexico has caught the attention of Congress. Edward Markey, who chairs a House subcommittee on energy, says he'll ask BP and federal agencies to explain their estimates, reports CNN...

Congress Likes to Hitch Rides With Military to Meetings

Pentagon hauls legislators around DC

(Newser) - Military vehicles routinely haul members of Congress not only to countries around the world but to meetings around Washington. Congressional delegations sometimes ask the Pentagon for expensive military transportation to the White House or ceremonial events in DC, documents obtained by Roll Call show. The military has even provided shuttle...

Congressmen Bet Against Stocks Amid Crisis

All while some were decrying short selling

(Newser) - You know those evil short-sellers at Goldman Sachs and elsewhere that lawmakers have been railing against since around the start of the financial crisis? Well pot, meet kettle. The Wall Street Journal has identified 13 members of Congress who in some way bet against the market during the 2008 financial...

Energy Is Today's Railroad: It Will Change Everything
Energy Is Today's Railroad:
It Will Change Everything
David Brooks
Apr 30, 2010 9:16 AM CDT

Energy Is Today's Railroad: It Will Change Everything

Pass the energy bill as a first step

(Newser) - Unleash the "energy revolution," writes David Brooks today, making his pitch for the Kerry-Lieberman-Graham bill. It's imperfect, but an essential start. "Energy innovation is the railroad legislation of today," he argues, and if the US wants to remain the world's "pre-eminent nation," it needs...

McConnell Shifts, Says Deal on Financial Bill Near

He takes credit, and Chris Dodd laughs

(Newser) - The prospects of financial reform passing the Senate appear to be much better today, with Mitch McConnell making decidedly less confrontational noises, reports the Washington Post and Talking Points Memo . "We believe the process to achieve (a bipartisan bill) has now been reconstituted," said McConnell, who claimed that...

78% of Americans Don't Trust Their Government

Poll finds 'perfect storm' of discontent destroying faith in government

(Newser) - Americans who trust their government are becoming increasingly few and far between, according to a Pew Research Center poll that found that just 22% of those surveyed said they trust the government "just about always" or "most of the time." This is highest level of distrust in...

Obama Signs $18B Benefits Bill
 Obama Signs $18B Benefits Bill  
Apr 15, 2010 10:50 PM CDT

Obama Signs $18B Benefits Bill

Prez urges Congress to work on longer-term fix

(Newser) - President Obama signed an $18 billion bill to give the long-term unemployed a 6-week benefits extension soon after it passed both houses of Congress. The bill—which also includes health subsidies for the unemployed and a restoration of full Medicaid payments to doctors—made it through the House and Senate...

Oops: Congress Might Have Killed Its Own Health Care

Health bill error may leave lawmakers, aides without coverage

(Newser) - If you know exactly how the health care reform bill will impact your coverage, you may be a step ahead of your member of Congress, according to the New York Times . A report from the Congressional Research Service found that—because of imprecise language and a possible drafting error in...

Democrats Could Lose 50-Plus House Seats
Democrats Could Lose 50-Plus House Seats
Nate Silver
Apr 9, 2010 1:57 PM CDT

Democrats Could Lose 50-Plus House Seats

Or worse, if things go really badly

(Newser) - The worst-case scenarios for the Democrats in the midterm elections are bad indeed, Nate Silver warns. He cites "one reasonably well-informed translation of the generic ballot polls" that forecasts a 51-seat loss in the House if the elections were held today. It's not too late to shift the momentum,...

Bart Stupak Will Retire
 Bart Stupak Will Retire 
Apr 9, 2010 8:00 AM CDT

Bart Stupak Will Retire

Michigan congressman say tea partiers didn't run him out

(Newser) - Democrat Bart Stupak, targeted for defeat by Tea Party activists for his crucial role in securing House approval of the health care overhaul, said today he would retire from Congress this year. The nine-term congressman told AP he could have won re-election and insisted he wasn't being chased from the...

Health Reform Doesn't Hurt or Help Dem Popularity
 Health Reform Doesn't 
 Hurt or Help Dem Popularity  
WASHINGTON POST POLL
Mar 29, 2010 10:01 AM CDT

Health Reform Doesn't Hurt or Help Dem Popularity

Pelosi, Obama get slight boost; Reid continues race to bottom

(Newser) - The passage of health care reform hasn’t been a huge boon for Democrats, but it hasn't been a disaster, either. Overall approval ratings have remained stable for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi since January (46% negative, 42% positive), and President Obama got a boost of 5 points on his handling...

Reform Foes Send Condom, Threats to Lawmaker

Betty McCollum also got gas-soaked flag

(Newser) - Threats and abuse aimed at Democratic lawmakers who voted for health care reform continue, as Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum received numerous letters, including one containing a condom and another with a piece of a shredded American flag soaked in gasoline. The letter accompanying the condom reads, “Betty McCollum...

Senate Approves Health Care Fixes

Reconciliation measure now goes back to the House

(Newser) - Democrats muscled legislation through the Senate today reshaping parts of the new health care overhaul law, sending it back to the House for what is expected to be final congressional approval this evening. With Joe Biden presiding in case his vote was needed to break a tie, the Senate approved...

Don't Get Too Excited Over Just One Poll
Don't Get Too Excited Over Just One Poll
NATE SILVER
Mar 24, 2010 1:43 PM CDT

Don't Get Too Excited Over Just One Poll

It's too early to tell if bump in support for reform will stick

(Newser) - Much ado has been made over yesterday's Gallup poll, which showed 49% in favor of the health care bill to 40% opposed, but Republicans shouldn't freak out just yet, writes Nate Silver. Yes, it shows a big increase in support for reform, but it's just one poll, "and even...

Steamed Tea Partiers Vow Revenge

Legislation 'has awakened a giant,' activists warn

(Newser) - The Democrats are in for a rude awakening if they think they can pass health care reform and get away with it, incensed Tea Party leaders warned yesterday. Tea Party groups across the country plan protests and a campaign to force the people who voted for reform out of Congress...

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