BeltwayBlips - Latest Congress News Articles

Burris reproved by Senate ethics panel

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:13:39 +0000

Sen. Roland W. Burris (D-Ill.) has been admonished by the Senate ethics committee for his public comments about his controversial appointment to the seat previously held by President Obama.

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Nelson to Vote to Advance Health Bill

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:42:34 +0000

Sen. Nelson said he will vote to advance the Senate health-care bill in a crucial procedural vote, the first of three Democratic holdouts to back the measure.

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Auto bailout still a sore spot for GOP

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:11:23 +0000

Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) traded barbs this week over Chrysler's fate.

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Two Southern moderates key to Saturday vote

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:52:51 +0000

Landrieu and Lincoln hold the keys to the kingdom.

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Lawmaker asks people to stop complaining, and gets an earful (McClatchy Newspapers)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:46:00 +0000

McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver wanted people to stop complaining for a day and count their blessings.

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What to expect in Senate's Saturday health care vote

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:24:09 +0000

Sens. Jack Reed, left, Dick Durbin and Robert Menendez, right, hold a news conference about health care Friday at the Captiol. Washington (CNN) – To debate or not to debate the Senate's health care reform bill; that is the question. The legislative body on Saturday is expected to vote on whether to begin debate - also known as invoking cloture - on its version of the health care bill, which was introduced Wednesday by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Reid says the 2,074-page bill would expand health insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans at an estimated cost of $849 billion over 10 years. A House bill was passed nearly two weeks ago. Proceedings begin at 10 a.m. and will last through the early evening. Around 8 p.m., the Senate will hold a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture. Reid needs 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to overcome a certain GOP filibuster attempt and open the chamber's debate on the bill. It would take another 60 votes to ...

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Health care bills differ

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:49:01 +0000

Embedded video from CNN Video

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High-Income Tax May Be Needed for Afghan War Cost, Levin Says (Bloomberg)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:28:57 +0000

Bloomberg - Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said higher-income Americans should be taxed to pay for additional troops sent to Afghanistan and that NATO should provide half of the new soldiers.

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Gregg: 'Political pandering' on Fed

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:10:15 +0000

Gregg says he’s worried that politicians on the Hill are sacrificing the Fed’s historic independence.

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Sanford impeachment measure to be formally considered

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:59:22 +0000

Sanford impeachment measure to be formally considered. (CNN) – A special House committee in South Carolina will formally consider an impeachment resolution against Gov. Mark Sanford for the first time next Tuesday, the Republican chairman of the committee told CNN Friday. The resolution, filed by a handful of House Republicans earlier this week, will be examined by an ad hoc committee of seven lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The group will meet for the first time next week, after Sanford provides the legislature with the results of a state Ethics Commission investigation into the governor's travel expenses, Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Harrison said. The first meeting of the special committee on Tuesday will likely focus on Sanford's infamous trip to Argentina this summer, which led to revelations of an extramarital affair and calls for his resignation. Harrison said the group will then spend the Thanksgiving holiday poring over the Ethics Commission ...

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Featured Advertiser

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:53:59 +0000

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Rep. Reyes not under investigation, House panel says

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:53:59 +0000

The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has said it is not investigating Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex.), chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, who was the subject of a complaint last year involving contact between his office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enfor...

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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:53:12 +0000

Washington (CNN) – Call it the New York-23 effect: Both the Democratic and Republican congressional re-election committees spent more money than they took in last month. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported Thursday that it raised $3.76 million in October, but spent $3.98 million. A similar story from the National Republican Congressional Committee, which said it brought in $3.4 million last month, but spent $3.6 million. So where did the money go? Both committees infused campaign cash into the special election in New York's 23rd congressional district. The race, to fill the seat left vacant when Republican congressman John McHugh stepped down to become Secretary of the Army, turned into a three-way contest between official GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava, Conservative Party candidate Dough Hoffman, and Democrat Bill Owens. Scozzafava dropped out of contest three days before the election, after conservatives in the GOP backed Hoffman's bid. Owens ended up ...

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Senate Leaders 'Not Assuming a Thing' About Health Bill Vote (CQPolitics.com)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:17 +0000

CQPolitics.com - The Senate opened a two-day debate on its health care overhaul bill amid indications Friday morning that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is closing in on the 60 votes he needs to overcome an anticipated Republican filibuster and bring the measure to the floor.

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Pelosi calls Karzai 'unworthy partner'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:41:23 +0000

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an "unworthy partner" who does not deserve a big boost either in U.S. troops or civilian aid, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

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Nelson's a 'yes'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:37:00 +0000

From NBC's Ken Strickland As was expected after Sen. Ben Nelson 's (D-NE) statement yesterday explaining what a vote for cloture would mean, he has now released a statement saying that he will vote with Democrats. His full written statement after the jump: ...( read more )

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Lincoln 'still reviewing' health bill

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:33:00 +0000

From NBC's Ken StricklandAfter reading reports that Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) has already told Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) how she'll vote tomorrow on issue of whether to bring the healthcare bill to the floor, Lincoln's office was quick respond. "No other Senator speaks for Senator Lincoln," Lincoln's spokeswoman told NBC in an email. "She is still reviewing the bill." Earlier in the day, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat Dick Durbin told several reporters that Lincoln had already...( read more )

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West Virginia governor to approve pension rescue, new bonds

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:26:25 +0000

MIAMI (Reuters) - West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin expects to sign bills giving the state's large cities pension-funding relief and approving the sale of $225 million in stimulus bonds, a spokesman said on Friday.

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Sen. Nelson to Vote to Advance Health Bill

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:20:51 +0000

Sen. Nelson said he will vote to advance the Senate health-care bill in an initial procedural vote, the first of three Democratic holdouts to back the measure.

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Moderate Sen. Nelson will vote to let health care bill proceed (McClatchy Newspapers)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, one of three moderate Democrats wavering on whether to allow debate on health care legislation to proceed, said Friday that he would vote to move the bill forward.

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Pelosi calls Afghan Karzai "unworthy partner"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:41:50 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an "unworthy partner" who does not deserve a big boost either in U.S. troops or civilian aid, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

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Pelosi calls Afghan Karzai "unworthy partner" (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:41:50 +0000

Reuters - Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an "unworthy partner" who does not deserve a big boost either in U.S. troops or civilian aid, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

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Senate panel clears Burris of legal wrongdoing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:41:35 +0000

The Senate Ethics Committee issued a letter Friday clearing embattled Illinois Sen. Roland Burris of any legal wrongdoing.

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Sen. Nelson a 'yes' on health care test vote (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:10 +0000

AP - Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is a "yes" in a crucial weekend test vote on health care.

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Nelson to support motion to proceed

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:12:26 +0000

Washington (CNN ) - Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson announced Friday that he would be supporting the motion to proceed that would allow the Senate to begin debate on the Democrats' health care reform legislation. "Throughout my Senate career I have consistently rejected efforts to obstruct," he said in a statement. "That's what the vote on the motion to proceed is all about. It is not for or against the new Senate health care bill released Wednesday. It is only to begin debate and an opportunity to make improvements. If you don't like a bill why block your own opportunity to amend it?"

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Ethics committee admonishes Burris

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:09:51 +0000

Ethics panel concludes the Illinois senator used “inappropriate” and “less than candid” statements.

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Ethics committee: No punishment for Burris (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:46:29 +0000

AP - The Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee didn't recommend any punishment.

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Ethics panel clears Sen. Burris of wrongdoing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:42:18 +0000

The Senate Select Committee on Ethics has closed its inquiry into Roland Burris, clearing the Illinois lawmaker of any legal wrongdoing.

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Senate Ethics Committee clears Burris of legal wrongdoing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:36:05 +0000

Washington (CNN) - The Senate Ethics Committee issued a letter Friday clearing embattled Illinois Sen. Roland Burris of any legal wrongdoing. The committee admonished Burris, however, for failing to meet "a much higher standard of conduct."

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Democrats slam GOP as party of 'fear' in health care debate

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:34:36 +0000

Washington (CNN) – Traditional Senate decorum yielded to brass-knuckle politicking in the health care debate Friday as top congressional Democrats sought to close party ranks before a key procedural vote this weekend. Senate Democrats slammed their Republican colleagues as leaders of a counterproductive party of fear caught in an obstructionist mindset dating back to the New Deal. Republicans, in turn, ripped Democrats for pushing a bill that conservatives claim will force millions of Americans to drop insurance plans they like while jacking up premiums and doing nothing to slow spiraling medical costs. The harsh rhetoric served as a backdrop for a rare Saturday night Senate vote on whether to formally proceed with floor debate on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's sweeping $848 billion health care bill. If Republicans stay unified in opposition to the bill, Reid will need the support of all 58 Senate Democrats along with independent Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Joe ...

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Senator Reid and the Power of Persuasion

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:18:24 +0000

How do Senate leaders persuade fence-sitters to vote against their own political instincts?

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Durbin: Lincoln has told Reid

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:51:00 +0000

From NBC's Ken StricklandAt a news conference this morning, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) pre-emptively gave the his answer to the question everyone's been asking over the past few weeks: does Majority Leader Harry Reid have the 60 votes needed to bring the healthcare bill to the floor. "We're not assuming a thing," Durbin said, "we're working hard to bring all Democrats together for the 60 votes necessary to proceed to this historic debate." But it's possible Durbin and Reid are playing coy and already...( read more )

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Attack ad star defends Reid on public option

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:16:43 +0000

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee will begin making robocalls encouraging Reid to stand strong. WASHINGTON (CNN)– The day before Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opens the debate on health care reform, a group of liberal activists who once attacked the Nevada Democrat announced they will begin making robocalls encouraging Reid to stand strong in the fight for health care reform and the public option. In the calls, longtime Nevada nurse Lee Slaugher - the star of an attack ad released late last month which questioned Reid's political strength, tells residents in her state to stand behind their Senator. "I'm very thankful that Senator Harry Reid has included a public health insurance option in his health care bill. He shocked the political world by being so bold on this issue." Slaughter says in the calls released by The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a liberal political action committee with the express goal of electing progressive candidates to ...

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Reid, as Legislative Tactician, Takes Ownership of Health Care Overhaul

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:55:28 +0000

The Senate majority leader’s deep personal involvement in assembling the overhaul of the health care system has led the measure to the brink of a historic Senate debate.

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U.S. resetting its relationship with Karzai

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

When a team of senior U.S. officials led by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton entered the presidential palace in Kabul on Wednesday for a dinner meeting, they had little indication of what Afghan President Hamid Karzai planned to discuss, or whether questions about corruption and governance...

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An opaque transparency

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

As the first congressional investigation of the Fort Hood massacre began Thursday, a curious collection of witnesses assembled in the committee room.

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McCain doesn't love climate bill

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:41:38 +0000

“Their start has been horrendous,” McCain says of the climate bill effort. “Obviously, they’re going nowhere.”

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Hispanics blame Rahm for immigrant ban

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:40:59 +0000

Members of the Hispanic Caucus says Emanuel's mark is all over the push to block insurance for illegals.

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Senate Health Care Bill Faces Crucial First Vote

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:33:06 +0000

Senator Harry Reid scheduled the first crucial procedural vote on the major health care legislation for Saturday, after what is expected to be two marathon days of debate.

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UN committee criticizes NKorea rights violations (AP)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:27:14 +0000

AP - A key U.N. committee expressed "very serious concern" Thursday at widespread reports of torture and other grave human rights violations in North Korea and strongly urged the government to put an end to the violations.

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Lieberman opens Hill's first public hearing on Fort Hood

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:20:50 +0000

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman gaveled into session Capitol Hill's first public hearing on the Fort Hood attack, promising Thursday to run his investigation from exactly where he sat on the dais -- the center.

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Pentagon opens 2 probes in Fort Hood shootings

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:20:50 +0000

The Pentagon is launching an urgent review of whether military procedures hinder the identification of service members who pose a threat to their fellow troops.

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Obama faces congressional anger about economy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:20:50 +0000

Growing discontent over the economy and frustration with efforts to speed its recovery boiled over Thursday on Capitol Hill in a wave of criticism and outright anger directed at the Obama administration.

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Alan Blinder: Danger lies in threat to Fed independence

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:07:19 +0000

Why the Fed needs its independence from Congress.

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Peter Orszag: Bills offer clear path to better health care

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:07:19 +0000

The bills under discussion will put us on a path to a high-quality, low-cost system.

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Reid, Dems stay cautiously optimistic

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:28:20 +0000

Democrats seem confident they can clear the first health care hurdle with Saturday's vote to open debate.

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Abortion rights opponents rip Senate health care bill

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:24:13 +0000

Washington (CNN) - Abortion rights opponents made clear Thursday that they are adamantly against language regarding coverage for reproductive services in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care bill. "Senator Reid's bill provides for an unprecedented expansion of federally funded abortion," said Charmaine Yoest, head of the group Americans United for Life. "The majority of Americans who oppose federal funding of abortion will not stand for policies that force them into paying for abortions under the guise of health care reform." The Senate plan would allow abortion coverage through privately funded premiums in both a government-run public insurance option and private plans purchased with the assistance of government subsidies. The more conservative House of Representatives plan, in contrast, would bar abortion coverage under both the public option and private policies purchased with government subsidies. House Democratic leaders opposed the measure, but added it to win critical ...

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Wall Street tax must be international: Pelosi (Reuters)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:02:17 +0000

Reuters - Any tax imposed on financial transactions would have to take effect internationally to keep Wall Street jobs and related business from moving overseas, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday.

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House Panel Approves Broad Fed Audits

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:48:46 +0000

A House panel approved an amendment offered by Rep. Ron Paul to give watchdogs new authority to audit the Fed. The panel also voted to create a fund to help dissolve troubled institutions.

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Bill Aims for Airline Access to Cockpit

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:28:17 +0000

Sen. Jim DeMint plans to introduce a bill that would allow airlines to use information from cockpit voice recorders in cases against pilots they want to discipline or fire.

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