Republicans angling for gavels asked to present their plans for creating jobs
The GOP Steering Committee is asking every Republican seeking a top committee slot for proposals to boost the economy.
Journalism group won't give out award named for Helen Thomas
The Society of Professional Journalists is retiring a lifetime achievement award named for the former White House correspondent.
Modernize Medicaid to better support people with disabilities
This month marks the 12th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Olmstead V. L.C., ruling that the needless institutionalization of people with disabilities is illegal discrimination.  Despite that decision, misguided Medicaid rules continue to force millions of people with disabilities to remain in nursing homes, against their wishes and at a much greater cost to taxpayers than many home and community-based alternatives. Â
Today, as we seek ways to reduce budget deficits, we must seize on the opportunity to make our Medicaid dollars go farther while finally giving millions of individuals with disabilities one of the most fundamental of rights: the choice to live independently.Â
A 'dirty' amnesty
Two dozen House Republicans led by Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) are co-sponsoring legislation that would create an immigration amnesty. The legislation, the “Legal Workforce Act,†would not, though, offer a true amnesty, under which unauthorized workers would be granted legal immigration status.
Call this proposal a “dirty†amnesty. Instead of offering legal status, the Legal Workforce Act promises that if unauthorized immigrants work in the fields, the U.S. government will just look the other way.
The Legal Workforce Act makes E-Verify, an electronic employment verification program, mandatory across the nation. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares a worker’s authorization documents to Social Security and Homeland Security records to confirm the person’s eligibility to work.
GOP Rep: 'Cool' that U2 honors Giffords
Rock concerts can bring politicians together.
Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), who attended the U2 concert in Miami on Wednesday night, tweeted about it Thursday morning:
Rooney tweeted:
Very cool to hear U2 give a shout-out to @Rep_Giffords when playing Beautiful Day last night. Keep getting well Gabby!
Lead singer Bono dedicated U2 song "Beautiful Day" to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), who is currently recovering from a gunshot to the head in January.
In June, the band started using a video introduction for the song by Giffords's husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, filmed aboard the International Space Station.
Gingrich to 'Office' character: Join my campaign
Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich received an unusual offer via Twitter on Thursday.
Hollywood star Rainn Wilson, who plays the character Dwight Schrute on NBC's sitcom "The Office," tweeted:
Dear @NewtGingrich: because of the many Newt/Schrute rhyme options, I humbly offer my services as your new campaign manager.
Gingrich quickly replied with a counteroffer:
@rainnwilson We have a campaign manager. What about assistant TO the campaign manager?
Gingrich, whose campaign has been plagued by reports of staff members quitting over disagreements with their candidate, could e! xpect the comedic actor to take his campaign in a new direction.
Partisan politics are delaying job-creating trade pacts
Sen. Hatch delivered the following remarks at an American Enterprise Institute (AEI) event entitled "Are we falling behind on trade?"
For as long as I have had the privilege to serve the people of Utah in the Senate, the American Enterprise Institute has been at the forefront of our nation’s most critical policy debates.
Walter Berns and Robert Goldwin reminded Americans of our indebtedness to the Founding Fathers. Irving Kristol paved the way for intelligent conservative critiques of the Great Society.
And today a new generation of AEI scholars is at the forefront of conservative efforts to reform the tax code, bring sanity to our nation’s health care system, and address the entitlements that are set to bankrupt the country.
McConnell invites president to the Capitol
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday inviting the president to come to the Capitol and discuss his plans to raise hundreds of billions in job-killing tax hikes:
I'd like to say a word about the president's press conference yesterday.
What I heard him propose is that we solve the debt crisis by spending more money. And that we solve a jobs crisis by raising taxes.
I want to know: Is there a single member of Congress â€" Democrat or Republican â€" who thinks it's a good idea to raise hundreds of billions in new job-killing taxes at a time when 14 million Americans are out of work? If so, I haven't heard from any of them.
But that's what the president was trying to defend yesterday.
Today We Are All Children of Illegal Immigrants
On Independence Day, as we celebrate our freedom, we recall the three rights our Founding Fathers held sacred: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
That was their goal for their new nation. Yet in a recent study of hundreds of young children I followed from birth to age three, I found that more than four million children in our country today are not free to access learning opportunities that would allow them to pursue life, liberty and happiness as adults.
Who are these children? They are citizen children of undocumented immigrants, parents without papers. Until now, there has been no clear evidence that having a parent without papers or rights can hurt your ability to learn and develop the skills to pursue the American Dream as described in the Declaration of Independence, even if you are a U.S. citizen. Now we know it can. And that all too often, it does.
Spokesmen tweet battle over debt ceiling
Spokesmen for members of the Republican and Democratic parties engaged in a debt-ceiling throw-down through Twitter on Thursday.
Dan Pfeiffer, communications director for the White House, and Brad Dayspring, communications director for Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) argued over tax hikes and the ongoing debt-ceiling debate.
Dayspring: True or untrue that WH proposals would raise taxes on individuals, employers & small biz by 100's of billions?
Pfeiffer: Yes, we support returning rates for the wealthiest to the rates of the clinton era, but that wasnt the issue
Dayspring: So "True?" Would raise taxes?
Pfeiffer: on wealthiest americans yes, and how would you pay for those tax breaks -- education, food safet! y, or just end Medicare
Dayspring: So it would increase taxes on individuals and employers. Ok. Got it.
21st century approach needed for NFIP reform
The recent Mississippi River flooding of communities and towns is a reminder that more than levees need reform and repair. For a true 21st Century approach to flood safety, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) also urgently needs a fix. It is imperative that Congress act immediately to reform the NFIP to better reflect the rising risks of flooding, shift more of this exposure from the public to the private sector, and explicitly seek to protect taxpayers nationwide.
The NFIP’s ability to provide flood insurance is in jeopardy â€" In fact, the program is in so much trouble that it cannot even cover its losses without borrowing from the U.S. Treasury and increasing the government’s debt burden. The NFIP’s growing $18 billion debt puts taxpayers across the country on the hook regardless of where they live. Moreover, experts warn that the NFIP’s rates and mapping fail to reflect the best available information and data regarding flood risk and might! even be inadvertently encouraging homeowners to put their families in harm’s way.
Fortunately, Congress has taken notice. Recently, the House Financial Services Committee on a bipartisan, unanimous basis approved reform legislation offered by Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), which would begin the process of fixing the NFIP. Though the legislation is a solid first step, its reinsurance provisions must be strengthened to restore soundness and fairness to this broken program.Â
Religious voices support access to abortion
Some of the legislation that has come out of Congress recently seems more like a decree from on high than the result of the democratic process. Capitol Hill should be a reflection of the needs and values of all Americans â€" not just those with the loudest voices or the strongest lobby. Often, religious voices are used to impose or support the most conservative policies, despite the diversity that exists among people of faith.
Our Catholic tradition places a premium on what the Declaration on Religious Freedom calls “the right of all citizens and religious communities to religious freedom.†Though we come from different backgrounds, all of us share the belief that women should have the right to make their own choice about abortion, in particular, and reproductive health choices in general. All of these choices are under fire in Congress. In fact, the U.S. bishops have been the greatest obstacle to women exercising these choices â€" even though Catholics d! isagree fundamentally with positions that the bishops have taken on these matters.
From NATO back to Plato?
On Friday, June 10, 2011, retiring Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates criticized the NATO Allies in his speech in Brussels for not taking enough responsibility.Â
“While every alliance member voted for the Libya mission, less than half have participated at all, and fewer than a third have been willing to participate in the strike mission,†he said.Â
Many of the allies sitting on the sidelines would do so not because they do not want to participate, but simply because they can’t. The military capabilities simply wouldn’t be there. After 11 weeks in an operation against a poorly armed regime, many allies of the mightiest military alliance in history would already run out of munitions, requiring the USA to take the lead once more. Gates demanded that European members of NATO should start investing more money in their military programs. In his opinion it is unacceptable that a part of the members enjoy the benefits of NATO membership without shari! ng the risks and the costs.
White House will host Twitter town hall
The White House announced on Thursday that it will host a Twitter town hall on July 6th.
"The President of the United States will answer your questions about the economy and jobs live via webcast from the White House," reads askobama.twitter.com.
Users will be able to ask Obama questions on the economy by typing the hashtag "#AskObama."
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The town hall starts at 2 p.m. eastern time and will be webcast live from the White House.
Myth of hiring unemployed workers
Congress is considering a tax credit or reduction in employer Social Security payments to stimulate hiring of unemployed workers. Unfortunately, the proponents of these programs show a fundamental lack of understanding of why companies increase employment.
Jobs are a byproduct of increased sales and revenues. Capitalist companies do not hire workers merely to employ a larger workforce. This might happen in socialist economies, but certainly not capitalist economies.
In a modern capitalist economy, employees are expensive, require management and cannot be easily laid off in the event of incompetence or loss of business. Companies only increase employment because they have additional business that needs to be processed.
Will male fertility bring an end to the âman-childâ?
It seems this difference in family-planning pressures might help explain the increasingly cavernous maturity gap between the genders. If so, recent studies about male fertility could start to change that.
Sarah Palin on Iranâs nuke program. Will Obama âtoughen upâ?
Former Saudi intelligence chief and ambassador to Washington Prince Turki al-Faisal warns senior NATO military officials that the existence of nuclear weapons in Iran "would compel Saudi Arabia … to pursue policies which could lead to untold and possibly dramatic consequences.â€
"We cannot live in a situation where Iran has nuclear weapons and we don't. It's as simple as that," he said. "If Iran develops a nuclear weapon, that will be unacceptable to us and we will have to follow suit."
There is only one way President Barack Obama can distinguish his tenure from Jimmy Carter’s and win reelection in 2012: Take out Iran’s bomb making capacity.
Obama hits the court again, this time playing with two daughters
It's the latest of several weekend games for Obama, whose time on the court on Friday left him with stitches.
Senators call for prosecutions as WikiLeaks dump looms
Two senators on the Armed Services Committee lashed out at the classified-document sharing website WikiLeaks on Sunday.
Mullen: Iran diplomacy must be 'realistic' about country's intentions
"I don't believe it for a second," Adm. Mike Mullen responded when asked whether Iran's nuclear program was for energy.
Dem 'super-PAC' launches ad campaign
Priorities USA is positioning itself as the counterweight to the conservative PAC American Crossroads, which spent millions on the 2010 elections.
Hungry for innovation: the challenge of our generation
America has its plate full. There are issues aplenty and food to feed our nation.
But we need to make room for other people to join us at the table. Feeding a growing global population is an issue for Americans and for the rest of the world.
Early this month, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization warned food prices would remain high this year, food stocks would remain low, and impoverished countries would be threatened as a result. That’s a recipe for civil unrest that can easily threaten our national security.
Nominations reform will change the Senate for the good
Senate Rules Chairman Schumer delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding legislation to streamline nominations.
Madam President, I rise today and join my colleagues in strong support of the nominations reform package before us today. This bipartisan bill and resolution, which we will vote on a bit later on, will effectively change the way the Senate does business. It is long past time to do this.
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It isn’t often this body voluntarily takes steps to curb its own power. But for the good of our democracy, the Senate must become more efficient.  Â
The death penalty: 35 years of a failed experiment
Thirty-five years ago this week, the U.S. Supreme Court brought back the death penalty, reasoning that judges and juries could be provided with enough guidance to identify the offenders most deserving of capital punishment. After three and a half decades of experimentation, it is time to admit the obvious: if the ultimate punishment cannot be applied fairly, it should not be applied at all.
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Indeed, the haphazard way death sentences are meted out caused three of the justices who voted to reinstate the death penalty to change their minds, and express regret that they did not end the death penalty.
Don't leave small business behind
The recent gloomy economic forecasts from the Federal Reserve and Goldman Sachs have solidified a consensus that the economy is just treading water. Goldman’s downgrade from 3 percent to 2 percent GDP growth for this quarter would nearly match last quarter’s anemic 1.8 percent growth rate if it bears out. The economy is growing at half the rate President Obama’s first budget projected it would this year. But the slowdown is not the whole story â€" it encompasses, to borrow a phrase, two Americas: big business which has enjoyed a legitimate recovery and small business which hasn’t had much to show for it.
Cost of EPA rules will be extraordinarily high
As our nation continues to struggle to regain its economic footing, we need policies that energize job growth. It is no surprise that a number of states are challenging numerous recent regulations coming out of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has been trying to usurp states’ rights to control the air permitting process for new industrial and power projects. Texas is one of several states that is rightfully fighting this and other overreaching EPA actions in the courts. The uncertainty caused by the EPA’s excessive regulatory behavior has resulted in construction delays, scaled-back projects and even the termination of some projects throughout the nation. Not only does this reduce manufacturing growth and the supply of energy, but it also destroys jobs.Â
New NLRB union election rules do no harm
The National Labor Relations Board recently issued a proposed change in its rules for conducting union certification elections in which employees vote in favor of or against representation by a union. Many commentators have criticized the rulemaking proposal as too pro-labor and unfair to employers. In fact, the NLRB's new rules would not give unions or employees any additional rights to organize unions or to engage in collective bargaining.
The NLRB posted a chart comparing current procedures and the proposed rules on its website. Even a cursory review of the materials makes clear that the board is streamlining the election process and incorporating new technology into its operations rather than creating substantive rights.Â
Commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence
Over 235 years ago, the United States of America adopted of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration portrayed our self-determination and establishment, and we commemorate this great moment in history on the Fourth of July. Our nation’s heroes exemplified valor in the battles that earned our liberty. The Declaration led to dramatic action, and what emerged from this War of Independence was our new nation and the Constitution that would guide us to greatness.Â
As we celebrate the Fourth of July with parades, fireworks, family and fun, let us first remember our current troops who continue to fight for our freedom. I hope that we will all take time to reflect on the incredible sacrifices made for us by the brave men and women in uniform and their families. Â
A Charlie Brown Congress?
Lucy is at it again. “I’ll hold the ball, and you come running and kick it,†Lucy tells Charlie Brown.
We all know what to expect. Charlie Brown will run to kick the football and Lucy will pull it away...again. Charlie will fall flat on his back.
This gag is playing out right now in Congress. U.S. multinational corporations (aka Lucy) are holding hundreds of billions of dollars in profits overseas to avoid paying U.S. taxes. They want Congress (aka Charlie Brown) to let them bring those dollars back to the U.S. without paying hardly any taxes (Congress committing to kick the ball) in the belief they will invest them in production and hiring here at home (the football flying through the air instead of Charlie).Â
Reputation in the modern world
Today, the important discussion about online privacy continues with the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on how best to protect consumers’ privacy in the modern world. Intel has worked hard to understand what consumers want out of technology and why.
We consistently hear that consumers have different ideas about what information deserves to be private. Consumers want to control information that is important to them, specifically information that shapes their online reputations and their families, friends, and work colleagues. People want to be able to choose what, when, and with whom to share certain information. After having made choices about how to protect this information, they do not want to be surprised by how the data will be used. By exercising control over their information, consumers aim to manage their reputation and to protect those they care about.
New rules: The NLRB and OLMS give labor law a long-overdue makeover
These are turbulent times in U.S. labor relations. After months of hyperbolic rhetoric defending Boeing’s likely illegal transfer of jobs from Washington to South Carolina, last week saw two significant developments related to union recognition campaigns. First, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a proposed rule change to get rid of the worst cases of delay in union representation elections. The current system of elections allows employers to delay votes for months or longer.
Second, the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), a division of the Labor Department, issued a proposed rule change expanding the range of activities that trigger the reporting requirements when employers hire external consultants to dissuade employees from forming a union. The current rule has enabled employers to evade with ease the law’s minimal financial reporting requirements. Long overdue, the NLRB and OLMS rules are moderate and common sense changes, though ones ! which are unlikely to challenge the domination of union representation campaigns by anti-union employers and their consultants.
State Department hosts global Twitter Q&A
Using the Twitter hashtag #AskUSA, the State Department continued its digital media outreach Wednesday with a Q & A conducted entirely on Twitter in 10 languages.
In what the agency promoted as it's "first global Twitter Q & A," interested Twitter users were invited to submit questions and ideas" directly to the State Department.
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale answered eight English language questions on Wednesday. The global Q & A took place over two and a half hours, and the State Department tweeted a picture of McHale responding to questions via computer at the Department of State.
On Sudan:
On the U.S. decision to remove troops from Afghanistan by 2014:
@dasghar @Twitter US remains committed to maintaining strong relationships with people of #Afghanistan & #Pakistan long after 2014. #AskUSA
Questions were submitted both before and after the session through the State Department's main Twitter feed @StateDept and through nine foreign-language accounts. The languages included Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Urdu and Chinese.
The event was designed to strengthen ties and increase exchange between the United States and other countries, according to the State Department press release.
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone recently noted the "cozy"! relatio nship the State Department has with Twitter. Although the State Department recently shifted the focus of its digital resources to social media, abandoning static website projects in favor of new media, Stone has a more cautious perspective on the State Department's use specifically of Twitter.
"You don't want your technology, you don't want Twitter, to look like it's simply a tool for spreading U.S. democracy around the world," he said Tuesday at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado. "I maintain that it has to be a neutral technology because there are different forms of democracy."
Pelosi aide: Bachmann treated different than a man
Gender seemingly knows no politics on Wednesday morning.
Stacy Kerr, special assistant to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), tweeted a personal message of qualified support for Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who announced her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday.
Kerr may have been referring to this week's flake flap, when Fox News host Chris Wallace asked Bachmann if she was a "flake."
Bachmann also faced scrutiny following her announcement for apparently confusing John Wayne, the legendary Hollywood star, with John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer, in a reference to Waterloo, Iowa, the location of! her kick-off speech.
Note: Kerr's public Twitter feed is her own and does not reflect the views of Pelosi's office, as indicated in her bio: "opinions don't reflect my boss' or anyone else i work with."
--This post was updated at 11:10 a.m.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry's anti-Hispanic Agenda Goes Down
The Texas Senate adjourned this week without a final vote on the “Sanctuary Cities†legislation that was one of Gov. Rick Perry’s “emergency†items at the start of the year. The bill, which became an umbrella for a package of harsh immigration measures, crumbled during a 30-day special session of the legislature as top business leaders urged Texas not to become another Arizona. The following is a joint statement by SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina and SEIU Texas State Council President Al Martinez:
Now that the GOP-led Texas Legislature has failed for the second time in two months to pass anti-Hispanic, anti-immigrant legislation, the leaders should ask themselves whether anything is ever accomplished by the politics of division.
The answer should be ‘No.’ Left in the wake of the horrible Texas debate is a failed political! exercise that divided the state and did nothing to fix the immigration system.
The immigration package would have turned Texas into another Arizona by instituting racial profiling against Hispanics, imposing unfunded mandates on local governments, and draining the economy of a reliable workforce and tourism dollars.
All eyes on Panetta to cut defense spending
All eyes this week are on incoming Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, whose predecessor departed from business-as-usual to suggest the Pentagon should not be immune from budget scrutiny. Even the mere suggestion that the military should not be given carte blanche represents a colossal step forward in the country’s fiscal discussion, but Secretary Robert Gates has set the bar on the defense spending debate by suggesting the President’s plan to cut $400 billion over twelve years represents what will be a paradigm shift on military budgets.Â
It should be stated that for anyone but the Pentagon this would not be considered a particularly tall order. Pentagon spending is expected to total over $6 trillion in the next ten years, and that’s assuming current policy disengaging from the Middle East.
Enjoying a 65 percent increase in its base budget over the last decade, the Department of Defense is a notorious home for political favoritism and wasteful spend! ing. This casts downward pressure on spending on legitimate national security causes, a constraint Secretary Gates spent his last few days as the acting chief Pentagon official warning against. His departure, and Leon Panetta’s ascendance to the position, marks an opportunity to reform the taxpayer munificence bestowed upon the Pentagon at a cost of over a trillion over the last decade.
Obama calls NY move to legalize same-sex marriage 'a good thing'
President Obama said he thought the move last week by New York's state legislature to allow same-sex marriage "was a good thing."
Obama, who's on record in opposition to gay and lesbian marriage but has acknowledged an "evolving" decision, blessed the process in New York state that led to the legalization of same-sex marriages there.
"What happened in New York last week was a good thing," Obama said at a news conference.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) pushed state lawmakers to authorize same-sex marriage, and after a long-fought battle, the legislators agreed.
Obama dodged the overall question as to whether he thought same-sex marriage was a civil right, but said he preferred the process where a state legislature took the time to debate and authorize gay marriages.
The president said he thought it was important to treat gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals with respect, and expressed a sense that American cu! lture has shifted to recognize additional rights for those communities. (“We’re moving in a direction of greater equality, and I think that’s a good thing," he said.)
Still, Obama's faced some criticism from LGBT activists for not having acted aggressively enough on their behalf.
"This administration, under my direction, has consistently said we cannot discriminate as a country against people on the basis of sexual orientation," he said, referencing his administration's work to repeal "Don't ask, don't tell," and drop legal defenses of the Defense of Marriage Act.
As to whether his personal position toward same-sex marriage had changed? "I'm not going to make news on that," Obama said later in his press conference.
12:25 p.m.
Broke or balanced â thatâs the choice
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday in which he contrasted the Democrats’ plan to spend and tax more with  a Republican call to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment:
Over the past several days, the American people have watched a serious debate unfold in Washington about our nation’s debt and about the future of our economy. And for many, that debate has been extremely illuminating. It’s done a lot to clarify where the two major parties stand. Both sides agree that our deficits and our debt are unsustainable. But, beyond that, the differences are stark.
Republicans believe that if you increase spending to the point that you can no longer pay the bills, then you need to find a way to cut costs. Democrats seem to think that if you increase spending to the point that you can no longer pay the bills, you need to find other p! eople to pick up the tab.
This is the fundamental difference between the two parties in this debate: Republicans think that Democrats should be held accountable for the way they’ve mismanaged the national checkbook over the past two years, and Democrats seem to think taxpayers should take the hit.
Medicine has changed, but the need for Medicare has not
Sen. Reid made the following remarks today on the Senate floor on Medicare.
Often very good ideas â€" no matter how important â€" take time to ripen. And even when they are ripe, they need dedicated advocates to make them reality. Let me give you an example.
President Harry Truman once said this:
“Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and to enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. And the time has now arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and to help them get that protection.â€
But in 1945, when Truman spoke those words to Congress, the time had not yet truly arrived. In fact, it would be another 20 years before Truman’s good idea was realized. It was 20 years before Truman became the first of 19 million Americans to receive a Medicare card.
â100 million Canadiansâ
Dem 'Super PAC' launches ad campaign
Priorities USA is positioning itself as the counterweight to the conservative PAC American Crossroads, which spent millions on the 2010 elections.
Ros-Lehtinen called 'big bad wolf' by Castro, but calls out dictator on facts
The likely incoming chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee rejoiced in irking a trio of Latin American leftist rulers.
Obama's grandmother tells paper she prays for president's conversion to Islam
On his chances for a second term, she said, "Allah alone knows, it is a matter of the unknown future."
Ros-Lehtinen: Pull nuke cooperation with Russia if linked to spy's poisoning
The likely incoming chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee urged the administration to "reconsider its 'reset' approach to Russia."
Gates to McCain: No troop referendum needed on 'Don't ask, don't tell'
The defense secretary said military policy decisions â€" on any subject â€" shouldn't be made by putting the question to service members.
Air Force official: Pentagon's 'Don't ask' study 'healthy' and 'informative'
The report on the implications of repeal is due out Nov. 30, and Congress will hold hearings on its findings.
Waters accuses ethics panel of having weak case after calling off trial
The House committee said the trial of Rep. Maxine Waters will no longer be held Nov. 29 due to new evidence.
Clyburn: Defeated Dems 'will be back'
If the economic recovery picks up, Democrats "will have the wind at our backs" next cycle, Rep. Clyburn said.
Senate Republicans unanimously reelect McConnell as leader
The GOP avoided a messy leadership battle and picked McConnell to serve as its leader for the next two years.
Senate Republicans unanimously re-elect McConnell as leader
The GOP avoided a messy leadership battle and picked McConnell to serve as their leader for the next two years.
Obama looks to seize momentum on GMâs positive offering
Obama hailed the initial IPO and is set to make his first post-election trip next week to an Indiana manufacturer.
State Dept. defends terror verdict after defendant convicted on one charge
The State Department defended a federal jury's decision to convict a former Gitmo detainee on only one of 285 charges.
Obama to hold Wednesday press conference
President Obama will hold a news conference Wednesday morning from the East Room of the White House.
The press conference comes as the White House and congressional Republicans try to work out a deal that would allow the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling to be raised.
Bristol Palin says her mom has decided whether to run for president
Bristol Palin, the eldest daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), said Tuesday that her mother had made up her mind already about whether to run for president in 2012.
The younger Palin said that she would like to see her mother run for president.
No "plan B" to avoid Greek economic default
This week Greece faces a critical juncture. Both the future of the country and financial stability in Europe are at stake. I fully respect the prerogatives and the sovereignty of the Greek Parliament in the ongoing debate. And I trust that the Greek political leaders are fully aware of the responsibility that lies on their shoulders to avoid default.
The only way to avoid immediate default is for Parliament to endorse the revised economic programme. The programme includes both the medium-term fiscal strategy and the privatisation programme. They must be approved if the next tranche of financial assistance is to be released.
To those who speculate about other options, let me say this clearly: there is no Plan B to avoid default.
Obama should support the Audacity of Hope, condemn Israeli naval blockade
This week, some 40 American citizens, including myself, will peacefully attempt to break Israel's illegal naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The flotilla that we will be a part of is expected to consist of 10 boats carrying human rights advocates from around the world and humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.
The U.S. boat to Gaza, the Audacity of Hope, which I will be aboard, will be carrying letters of solidarity to Gazans, who live under siege in a virtual prison, cut off from the rest of the world and any semblance of a normal life. Â Our goal is to bring attention to their plight, and to bring about an end to Israel's illegal siege, which amounts to collective punishment of 1.7 million people.
Although we will be sailing unarmed and have no intention of entering Israel or Israeli waters, the U.S. State Department issued an unusually specific and blunt travel advisory last week, warning Americans against traveling to Gaza. Without giving any details, S! tate Department officials also suggested that Americans taking part in the flotilla might be violating U.S. law.
Serial hijackings leave millions at risk of a chemical disaster
The latest in a series of hijackings of chemical security legislation since 2001 took place at the June 22 mark up of H.R. 901 in Representative Peter King’s (R-N.Y.) Homeland Security Committee. It sounds crazy but King’s bill would extend current law until 2018 even though it prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from requiring the use of safer more secure chemical processes to prevent chemical disasters in the event of an attack.Â
According to EPA data, 300 chemical plants together put 110 million Americans at risk. A poison gas release at one of them can threaten communities 20 miles down wind. Security can’t prevent an attack. Former DuPont CEO Charles Holliday admitted, “If someone wants to fly an airplane into a plant, it's very hard to guard against it."
Why Chris Wallace was right and Jon Stewart was wrong
In the debate about media bias, the epic battle that was sparked in an interview between Chris Wallace and Jon Stewart two weekends ago continued on Fox News Sunday.
In the original interview, which was cordial for the most part, Wallace asked Stewart a pointed question.
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“Over the years,†said Wallace, “you have called us [Fox News]... ‘a biased organization, relentlessly promoting an ideological agenda, under the rubric of being a news organization.’ ...Are you willing to say the same thing about the mainstream media â€" about ABC, CBS, NBC, Washington Post, the New York Times?â€
“No,†Stewart responded vigorously.
As a political science professor at an elite, urban, West Coast university, I am perhaps the least likely person to take Wallace’s side instead of Stewart’s. However, not only do I agree with Wallace, I think he has actually understated things: According to my research, the leftward bias of the! mainstream media is greater than the rightward bias of Fox News.
Are taxpayers funding Palestinians' dangerous unilateralism?
The Associated Press reported yesterday that “Palestinian delegations will make the rounds of nearly a dozen countries to try to drum up more support for their bid to have the United Nations recognize a Palestinian state.â€
In the coming weeks, Palestinian representatives will proposition Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several other undisclosed countries that have not yet endorsed the Palestinian plan for a unilatera! l declaration of independence (UDI) at the U.N. General Assembly in September.
These visits come after PLO spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi pursued similar objectives in capitals across Europe, and senior Palestinian official Nabil Shaath went on lobby missions to Armenia, Moldova, the Philippines, Mexico, and Colombia. Later this summer, Palestinian ambassadors will all fly to Madrid to disc! uss their European strategy.
Here’s a question fo! r Congre ss: where is the travel money coming from? Diplomatic junkets don’t grow on trees.Â
Medicareâs low-hanging fruit
Discussions around Medicare reform are not easy and can cause uproar among those who may object to drastic changes to the valued federal program. Yet, we all know that taking to the sidelines isn’t going to solve what many say is the most significant impediment to a sound future for our health care system and our nation’s economy.
I agree that our current system has significant challenges, and that proposals for sweeping changes are likely to cause turbulence. We’ve already seen the backlash that such proposals incite. But, while we work to develop a more efficient and effective long-term view of Medicare, we should take immediate action on issues that are tucked less discernibly within the Medicare mazeâ€"issues that can reduce spending and improve the quality of care provided to millions of beneficiaries.
Let the states decide their own marijuana policies
Lawmakers for the first time have introduced legislation in Congress to end the federal criminalization of the personal use of marijuana.
The bipartisan measure -- H.R. 2306, the 'Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011' and sponsored by Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank and Texas Republican Ron Paul along with Reps. St! eve Cohen (D-Tenn.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) -- prohibits the federal government from prosecuting adults who use or possess personal use amounts of marijuana by removing the plant and its primary psychoactive constituent, THC, from the five schedules of the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Under present law, all varieties of the marijuana plant are defined as illicit Schedule I controlled substances, defined as possessing "a high potential for abuse,"and "no currently accepted medical use in treatment." This classification is not supported by either existing science or public opinion.
U.S. strategy increasing instability and displacement in Afghanistan
In May, I traveled with two of my Refugees International colleagues to Afghanistan. We were there to assess the needs of displaced people and returning refugees in the country. What we found is that Afghan civilians are caught in the middle of an intensifying military campaign against a fractured armed insurgency. Despite the U.S. military’s claims of progress, insurgent attacks are up by 50% over last year, and more than 250,000 people have fled their villages in the past two years. As the U.S. begins to draw down its forces in Afghanistan, Refugees International is calling on the Obama administration to try to minimize further displacement and ensure that the Afghan government takes greater responsibility for the protection of displaced people.
A rising number of displaced people are ending up in urban areas. In Kabul alone, over 30,000 people live in dozens of informal settlements with very poor health and sanitation conditions. They receive little assist! ance from the Afghan government, and often have to resort to begging simply to feed their families.
We visited one of these settlements, located on the side of a busy Kabul road. And we filmed a short video in the camp to try to give people a sense of what life is like for just a few of those hundreds of thousands of displaced Afghans.
In May, an RI team traveled to Kabul, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif. You can view the video report here.
You can view a copy of Refugees International’s full report here.
Tim Pawlenty neocon, Ron Paul anti-neocon; the great GOP clash
The latest new Tim Pawlenty is the born-again neoconservative moving to the far right on warmaking issues, destined to clash with Ron Paul in the presidential debates. Actually, Pawlenty is not a born-again neocon. This is his first birth as warmaker in his latest version of Pawlenty. By contrast with Ron Paul, who has always been Ron Paul.
Pawlenty was last seen declaring war against ObamneyCare, a war Pawlenty surrendered before the first battle. What a wimp! The latest Pawlenty, after heading for the hills in his war against Romney, is now escalating his war for Afghanistan. His new neocon position directly contradicts the long-held position of Ron Paul, setting the stage for a huge clash in the coming debates.
Obama behind curve on same-sex marriage
In another sign that we’re finally starting to take the Constitution seriously when it comes to equal rights, New York has become the sixth, and largest, state to recognize same-sex marriage.
That’s largely because of the political leadership of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Clinton â€" plus the support of prominent Republicans, led by Dick Cheney, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush.
Notice who’s missing from that list: President Obama.
In response to my question at Monday’s White House briefing, press secretary Jay Carney gave two explanations.
There are no sacred cows
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I won’t attempt to draw parallels between the three known political factions with the “doers†versus those who dawdle, for all bear some responsibility of seemingly waiting for something good to happen to them through no actions of their own. But let’s single out that specific category of “those who do†and determine what exactly it will take to turn any member of either party into a genuine catalyst for change.
Senate Dems indicate willingness to 'break apart,' fix health reform
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on Sunday said House Republicans remain determined to repeal the healthcare reform law.
Coburn: Earmark ban opponents will get primary challengers
If Republicans don't "get it" on a moratorium, said Sen. Tom Coburn, they'll "pay for it at the ballot box."
Pelosi won't budge on expiring Bush tax cuts
Republicans and Democrats seem headed for a stand-off on the issue when Congress returns for its lame-duck session next week.
Kucinich to force vote on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan
Rep. Dennis Kucinich says he will force a vote on a hard date for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan.Â
Grassley: Health repeal will die in Senate
GOP Sen. Charles Grassley admitted Wednesday that a full repeal of Obama's healthcare law will die in the Senate.
New GOP chief of staff calls Pelosi 'garbage'
Controversial radio host Joyce Kaufman, who'll head Rep.-elect Allen West's (R-Fla.) office, said Tuesday that the Speaker was "garbage."
Sen. Kent Conrad may cede Budget gavel for chance to shape farm bill
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said he may step down as chairman of the Budget Committee to take over Agriculture.
New members prep for lawmaker orientation
Soon-to-be members of the House are scheduled to arrive in Washington D.C. for freshman orientation on Sunday.
Kerry in Sudan to persuade leaders to abide by referendum
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said Darfur remains “critical†to improving U.S. relations with the Sudanese government.
McConnell has eye on blocking health reform through de-funding the measure
McConnell and other Republicans acknowledge it will be difficult to repeal the bill with new legislation before 2013.
Dems split over Pelosi bid for minority leader
Liberal Democrats are mobilizing in support of Pelosi remaining as top Democrat, while some centrists said she should step aside.
Rep. Van Hollen done as chairman of DCCC
"When it comes to the DCCC chairmanship, I believe in term limits," Van Hollen said. "This will be the end."
Bachmann: The rise before the fall
Big news: Michele Bachmann is off to the races, claims Iowa as home turf, turns from media magnet into surging pony out of the gate. She has out-Palined Palin in the last 60 days.
Trust me folks, it won’t last. She has been the one candidate whom the Republican establishment has underestimated. That won’t last long. It really isn’t hard to get her number.
Chris Wallace asked her whether she was “flaky†and then apologized after Fox viewers went ballistic. She didn’t accept the apology. My gosh, we have a candidate to the right of Fox!
Now, I admit, using the word “flaky,†particularly to a female candidate, is a little over the top, even for Fox. But think about her views; think about what she has said on the campaign trail.
Obamaâs war
Marcos Cintron.
Brian Backus.
Alvin Boatright.
Edwaard Dixon.
James Harvey.
Josue Ibarra.
Tyler Kreinz.
Gustavo Rios-Ordonez.
Scott Smith.
Alan Snyder.
Jared Verbeek.
These are names of young Americans whose deaths were publicly announced the morning after President Obama’s message about our role in Afghanistan. President Obama has sacrificed their lives and others in a futile and extraordinarily expensive war. Ask their families if they think the president’s approach to troop withdrawal in Afghanistan is "balanced,†as advertised.
Phasing of new rules, key to getting it right
With the SEC and CFTC’s recent decision to extend the deadline for implementing many of the new rules that will impact over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, the likelihood is that it may be at least another full year before market participants need to come into full compliance with the law.
While this added time will allow for a more seamless transition, it raises an important question: Once the rules are finalized, how will the agencies sequence their implementation to ensure they have the least impact on the efficient operation of the market?
AT&T and T-Mobile merger would foster competition
It’s unsurprising to watch foes of the free market calling on Congress and federal agencies to block or heavily regulate the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. They point to the pre-1980s telephone monopoly era, claiming a lack of competition and stagnated innovation are poised to return. Yet, while they demand government block or lob conditions on the merger, they fail entirely to recall that it was government which caused those mid-20th century problems â€" not the free market.
Five reasons why Pawlenty and Perry are poised to be frontrunners
Is Perry too Texan to be the next president? Is Pawlenty destined to be a dud? With Romney currently surging in the polls, some believe that his momentum is unstoppable. However, out of the pack of announced and unannounced GOP candidates, Pawlenty and Perry are best positioned to become frontrunners. Why? They each (1) have held governorships, (2) have the hope and change aura, (3) have actual economic records to run on, (4) are taking Iowa and New Hampshire seriously and (5) can appeal to the base as well as the middle. No other candidate in the GOP field shares these five critically important elements in the formula for primary season success.
How Should Government Treat Energy Producers?
As the economy continues in its downward spiral and talks in Congress about reducing spending have only amounted to political theater, the subject of how the tax code treats energy has become a topic of controversy. Specifically, should we subsidize, enforce mandates, or give tax credits and deductions to industries like ethanol and natural gas? Having a thriving energy market domestically is a good thing and something the government should not hinder. Not only would decreasing our dependence on foreign oil simplify our foreign policy, but it would greatly enhance our anemic economy at home.

Of course, the government should neither inhibit nor subsidize any particular type of energy. While many people agree with that statement, there is much confusion over the difference between government subsidies and tax credits or deductions. The difference is night and day, yet so many times they are all lumped together as evil government handouts. A subsidy IS a gove! rnment handout. It amounts to the government taking money from the people and giving it to a favored interest. It is the worst sort of market manipulation and it is something I can never support. This kind of government mischief is anathema to the Constitution and the principles of freedom and the free market.
Nothing wrong with being a 'flake,' says Rep. Flake
It's not easy being a 'flake' this week.
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) questioned the offense of the word on Twitter Monday.
"'Is there something wrong with that?" he questioned. 
The word "flake" made headlines this week following an interview in which Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who announced her candidacy for president Monday morning, defended herself from the characterization.
On Sunday, Fox News's Chris Wallace asked Bachmann, "Are you a flake?" Bachmann later refused to accept Wallace's public apology, saying it was "insulting to insinuate that a candidate for president is less than serious."
The world meets Jessica Mah
Say what you like about Whitey and Catherine, but they went in the right direction, to southern California. And in the end they made a handsome couple in that excellent and iconic courtroom drawing, their final portrait together; Whitey Bulger with that distinguished beard, like a South Boston white-trash Lawrence Ferlinghetti, his handsome mistress framed slightly behind and to his creative left side. The west is the best, and the best final destination for those of us who, like Whitey’s family and mine and Tip O’Neill’s and five generation of Kennedys, lived virtually on the same block since we arrived from Ireland these last 150 years.
Whitey’s epic journey might well be the last for the Southie Irish and all of Europe’s “huddled masses†who made the Atlantic crossing. It might even mark the end of Europe, as long-term economic forecasters have been suggesting; the final death cough of life as we learned it in Europe: 500 years, described by Ja! cques Barzun from “Dawn to Decadence,†with Whitey and Catherine at the very end sunning in Santa Monica.
An extraordinary tale that is all too ordinary
We’ve all lied at one point or another in our lives. We’ve all kept secrets. But last week Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at The Washington Post, came out with the mother of all secrets â€" a story at once unfathomable for most Americans but reality for 11 million people in the United States.
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Vargas is an undocumented immigrant who at any time could be deported from the country he has called home since he was a boy.
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Vargas’s story reminds us that the American dream is still alive and well. His list of accomplishments is impressive, culminating in a shared Pulitzer Prize while at the Washington Post. Here is a man who has taken extraordinary risks, but managed extraordinary accomplishments. Yet he is not an isolated case. Vargas himself cites the four courageous DREAM Act students who walked 1,500 miles from Florida to Washington D.C. to raise awareness about the plight of undocumented students as influencing his! own decision.Â
Why Newt should step down
Another week has passed, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) is still in the race for the GOP nomination. Why that is the case is beyond me.
Let’s face it, the only one who believes Newt has a chance is Newt himself, and as time and history have both proven, that’s not enough. In fact, that’s a sure sign the guy needs to drop out of the presidential race.
The entire Republican field has lapped him. They’re pushing hard in Iowa, New Hampshire, even in South Carolina and Florida. They’re making the nation’s former top lawmaker look sort of silly in his views on policies he once knew like the back of his hand (can someone say Medicare?).
Bachmann doesn't accept apology for 'flake' question
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said she wasn't accepting the apology of Fox anchor Chris Wallace, who asked her Sunday if she was a "flake."
Bachmann rejected an apology from Wallace, who challenged whether the Tea Party-aligned congresswoman was serious in her bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
"I think that it's insulting to insinuate that a candidate for president is less than serious," Bachmann said in an interview on ABC when asked about Wallace's apology, which he posted online.
"Those are the small issues," Bachmann said when specifically pressed about whether she accepted the apology. "I'm focused on the big one."
A weekend poll of likely Republican caucusgoers in! Iowa showed that she was in contention for the nomination in Iowa, and her performance at a New Hampshire debate earlier this month has political observers buzzing with speculation that the three-term congresswoman might just make a credible run for the nomination.
Convicted on 11 counts, Rangel asks ethics panel for mercy
Hours before the panel is to recommend a punishment, Rep. Rangel admitted "numerous mistakes" but emphasized he did nothing corrupt.
Race for Republican leadership posts starting to heat up
Less than 12 hours after Republicans regained control of the House, GOP lawmakers began tossing their hats into the ring.
Top Democrat says party faces 'bloodbath' on Election Day
House Majority Whip James Clyburn said Dems could face a "bloodbath" on Election Day and "lose big" in the House.
Romney calls Palin presidential run 'great'
Mitt Romney said Monday that it would be "great" for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to run for president in 2012.Â
Cornyn: Will probabaly take two cycles for GOP to get Senate
The NRSC chairman pushed back on reports that Republicans were pulling their support for Senate candidate Joe Miller.
Poll at Stewart rally finds overwhelming Dem majority, but not 2008 enthusiasm
A full 90 percent of rally attendees approved of President Obama, with 56 percent approving of him strongly.
Scott Brown says energy from his Mass. Senate race has spread nationwide
Sen. Brown said that the energy from his upset victory is carrying Republicans nationwide this fall.
DNC chief doubles down, says Democrats 'nuts' to run from party
His most recent remarks come as several endangered Democrats have gone to extreme lengths to distance themselves from the party.
One less rival for Emanuel as sheriff won't run for mayor
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart decides not to run in a sign the field is clearing for Rahm Emanuel.
One less rival for Emanuel in mayoral race as sheriff won't run
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart decides not to run in a sign the field is clearing for Rahm Emanuel.
One less rival for Rahm in mayoral race
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart decides not to run in a sign the field is clearing for Rahm Emanuel.
Biden has never seen so 'many races in play'
Vice President Joe Biden urged Democrats to support their party in a fundraising appeal for the House Democratic campaign arm.Â
Boxer says abortion views won't hurt her with socially conservative Latinos
The senator said she polled well because her stance in favor of abortion rights is "100 percent respectful."
Boehner 'would welcome' finding common ground
"I think the American people want us to find a way to work together," Boehner said of Democrats.
Republicans wrestle with how they would govern in the majority
GOP lawmakers are facing competing pressures to either work constructively to help govern or to live up to their promises.
Dem Texas lawmakers support Mexican efforts to find missing man
The expressed support from Reps. Henry Cuellar and Rubén Hinojosa comes as Mexican officials temporarily halted their search.
Democrats have raised $1 million from foreign-affiliated PACs
Republicans with groups under fire from the White House say the hefty campaign contributions illustrate Democratic hypocrisy.
Ken Buck calls homosexuality 'a choice'
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Republican Ken Buck sparred over government spending, deficits and the policies of President Obama Sunday.
Obama campaign arm aims for million voters to pump up Dem base
"Republicans think the deal is sealed," OFA Director Mitch Stewart wrote in an email to supporters.
House GOP campaign chief predicts gains in 'mid-40s and above'
Rep. Pete Sessions predicts "a tsunami" of Republicans winning House seats, which would hand GOP control of the chamber.
Frank: Don't appeal DADT ruling until lame-duck Congress
A prominent gay lawmaker urged the Obama administration to refrain from appealing an order to halt "Don't ask, don't tell."
Dem candidate: DCCC canceled ads because I won't support Pelosi
A Tennessee House candidate said the party canceled its ad buy because he said he wouldn't back Pelosi for Speaker.
Top Republican: Reconvene Congress before elections for tax-cut vote
House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) claimed that a vote would allow business owners to jumpstart hiring.
Rep. Ryan intends to publish new 'Roadmap' for Republican freshmen
Rep. Paul Ryan plans version 3.0 of his budget "Roadmap," saying GOP newcomers need to be "brought up to speed."
Pelosi on criticism from other Democrats: 'I just want them to win'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) dismissed Democratic members who have distanced themselves from her this election cycle.
Senate GOP confident about gaining seats
Senate Republicans said they could pick up at least six seats in this fall's elections, and compete in seven more.
Cantor: Race for Congress will tighten
Republicans should expect Democrats to make up ground against the GOP before November, a House GOP leader said Monday.
White House: Dems gaining ground on GOP in voter enthusiasm
"We are making progress every day," White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said on a conference call with reporters.
State Dept. cautions travelers to Europe
The alert is a sign of steeped concern about al-Qaeda's intentions to conduct a Mumbai-style attack on popular tourist spots.
Syrian president: Obama just pushing Mideast peace for his political gain
President Bashar al-Assad made his first comments on the talks as the month-old peace process is in danger of collapsing.
White House invokes state secrets privilege to block targeted killings suit
The White House on Saturday invoked the state secrets privilege to toss a lawsuit brought by Anwar al-Awlaki's father.
Rand Paul: 'You can't punish the rich'
The Senate candidate warned this week that allowing tax cuts on the wealthy to expire will only hurt everyone else.
Vietnamese challenger accuses Sanchez of 'racial rampage'
California Assemblyman Van Tran (R) said he has also sought an apology over the congresswoman's comments.
Dems unlikely to craft own 'Pledge' for voters
Congressional Democrats said they were both content and proud to run on their accomplishments during the past 20 months.
Glimpse of Woodward book reveals explosive infighting in the White House
According to the book, Biden refers to Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke as “the most egotistical bastard I’ve ever met.â€
Obama pushes economy to CBC, hits at Boehner again
The president told the Congressional Black Caucus dinner Saturday that the recession "made matters much worse" in the African-American community.
Reid: Coons, 'my pet,' will win
The Senate majority leader on Wednesday predicted to The Hill that Democratic Senate candidate Chris Coons will beat Christine O'Donnell.
Obama to convene Cabinet meeting to push economy focus
The move is the latest in a string of events designed to show Obama is working to boost economic recovery.
Geithner leery of temporary tax cut plan
Treasury Secretary said proposal to extend the Bush cuts for a few years is veiled attempt at making them permanent.
US not ready for WMD attack, report says
The U.S. is still unprepared to deal with an attack involving weapons of mass destruction, according to a recent report.
Groups protest D.C. riders in budget bill
The bill "wrongly interferes in the District of Columbia’s own local affairs by imposing social-policy riders," the coalition says.
Ron Paul pushes back on 'fringe' label
Presidential candidate Ron Paul is selling his campaign as mainstream on the heels of his weekend straw poll victory
Obama: 'Tactical' disagreements with Israel will continue
Obama, who has had a tense relationship with Israeli PM Netanyahu, spoke to a group of Jewish Democratic donors
Bachmann will make 2012 presidential announcement Monday in Iowa
Bachmann, a Tea Party favorite, will make her anticipated formal announcement near her birthplace in the key primary state.
Not everyone farms, but everyone eats
This week the Agriculture Committee will kick off a series of fact finding hearings on farm policy.
This audit of agricultural programs is the first step in the farm bill process. We are looking for a comprehensive picture of farm policy to determine how all our programs work together.
Congressional reaction to troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made the following statements after President Obama's address on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan Wednesday evening.
Strange definitions of war and peace
Last week I joined six Republican and three Democrat colleagues to file a lawsuit against the Obama administration over its illegal war against Libya. Now that more than 90 days have passed since the president began bombing Libya, no one can seriously claim that the administration has complied with the clear requirements of the 1973 War Powers Resolution.
Fire destroys kitchen at popular Capitol Hill watering hole
A fire broke out Wednesday morning at the popular Capitol Hill watering hole Tune Inn Restaurant & Bar, located at 331 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.
The grease fire started in the restaurant’s kitchen at around 7:15 a.m. in the morning, according to witnesses. The fire department broke through the restaurant’s front windows to contain the blaze.
Obama, House Dems to strategize on deficit talks
The House Democratic leadership will meet with President Obama on Thursday to discuss ongoing deficit reduction negotiations and the legislative agenda, according to a Democratic aide.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.), Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (S.C.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, will all meet with the president.
Immediately end our war in Libya
The co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Peace and Security Taskforce call on Congress and the president to immediately end our war in Libya. The U.S. has been engaged in hostilities for over 90 days without congressional approval, which undermines not only the powers of the legislative branch but also the legal checks and balances put in place nearly 40 years ago to avoid abuse by any single branch of government.
Firearms industry has a stranglehold on Congress and state legislatures
“Guns in Bars†sounds like the concept of a high-octane Hollywood film, kind of like “Snakes on a Plane.â€Â
Unfortunately, it is instead a new law in the State of Ohio.
Issues involving firearms always stir up a great deal of passion in this country, and the degree to which the Second Amendment affords Americans the right to own any and all guns will probably always be debated.Â
It's past time to support the Equal Rights Amendment
It is with great pride that I stand with this bipartisan group in support of the long-overdue Equal Rights Amendment. I can’t help but think of the words of our former colleague and feminist pioneer Pat Schroeder, when she was asked if being a mother would get in the way of her duties as a member of Congress. She said: “I have a brain and a uterus, and I use both.â€Â
The growing threat in our food
The devastating E. coli outbreak in Germany that has killed at least 37 and sickened more than 3,000 people over the past month is a stark reminder of the threat posed by food-borne illnesses to our children, families, and even healthy adults.
It is also shining a light on a looming public crisis that the scientific community has been warning of for years: the emergence of deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, or superbugs, like the strain spreading through Germany.
Obama is right on Afghanistan
There’s been a lot of criticism of Obama’s Afghanistan drawdown plan, from those who say it’s not enough to those who complain he’s bringing too many soldiers back too fast.
I think this means that he got it just right.
For weeks he has been dogged by a comment from an aide, reported in The New Yorker, that he was “leading from behind.†With the administration’s slow response to the Arab Spring, and by stepping back from a lead role in the Libya bombings, it looked like caution was the hallmark of the Obama “doctrine.â€
Protect our valuable alliances, stay in Libya
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) made the following remarks on the House Floor today on the U.S. role in Libya:
"America must Lead; we must not equivocate. Such a course would encourage the enemies of peace, the bullies of the world ... People around the world look to our country's strength in their struggle for democracy and basic human rights."
As it happens, I first said those words in 1999. American troops were on the way to Kosovo to protect civilians - and at the same time, Congress was voting to undermine their mission. We are in a similar place today.
Rick Perry because â¦
Wall Street Journal editor James Freeman wrote yesterday: “A Republican campaign veteran tells us that Texas Governor Rick Perry has decided to run for President, though the official word from Team Perry is still a definite maybe.â€
From The Hill on Dec. 9, 2008 (five months before Tea Party began):
“Could be that we are all destined to be born again as Americans in Texas. Could be that something will happen in Texas to make us different kinds of individuals in the world and a different kind of country. Something from which there will be no turning back. Could be that destiny awaits us in Texas ...
A ticket to ride, not a ticket to die
When passengers boarded a World Wide Tours bus from New York City to a nearby casino, they had no idea they were gambling with their life. The bus driver, way over his hours of service and fatigued, fell asleep causing the bus to strike a guard rail, tip to its side before slamming into a pole sheering it from end to end. In the end, several passengers were injured and 14 were killed.
This horrible tragedy and numerous others including the March 2011 tour bus crash in New Hampshire and the most recent one that occurred earlier this month in Virginia, operated by Sky Express, could have been prevented if law enforcement were permitted to inspect these buses and their drivers enroute during their trip.
The GOP's debt-ceiling maneuver
Congressional Republicans have called President Obama's bluff. You don't have to agree with them on any fiscal policy to know they made a shrewd move in dragging the president to the table in the debt-ceiling negotiations.
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When House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) bailed on the debt talks led by Vice President Biden on Thursday, much was made over the fact that he hadn't informed House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) that he was doing so, and some concluded Cantor wanted to inoculate himself against any deal that included tax hikes. There was another dust-up over whether disagreements arose on taxes alone or the question of defense cuts as well, with House Republicans insisting the talks broke down solely over the Democrats' insistence on new taxes.
Jamaica rising
What a difference a year makes!
One year ago, as I started my tour of duty as Jamaica’s tenth Ambassador to the United States, recognizing that in a post cold war world, Jamaica and the Caribbean’s importance to the USA was centered mainly around their concerns for their third border security and the ravaging impact of the transnational narcotic trade which used the Caribbean as a transshipment point.
Jamaica grappled with the effects of the severe global economic crisis which exacerbated the existing conditions of a declining economy and a crushing debt burden. The recession lessened the demand for exports, reduced remittances, decreased international travel and contributed to closures in the bauxite industry, all the major revenue earning areas of the country.
Pawlenty: Obama economic plan like fugitive Boston gangster
GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty joked Thursday that Obama's budget is like former Boston gang leader Whitey Bulger: wanted. 
Pawlenty took to Twitter, writing a message to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who wrote earlier that Obama has shown an "abdication of leadership" on the budget and economy.
"@RepPaulRyan since the FBI did a fantastic job finding Whitey, let's ask them to find Obama's economic and Medicare plan. It's wanted," wrote the former Minnesota governor.
Bulger, of course, was arrested in California on Thursday after avoiding authorities for over 15 years. The ex-mobster was wanted in connection with 19 murders and other criminal charges.
The Boeing complaint should be decided, not settled
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) should take a break from pressuring the Boeing Company to settle that agency’s “loony left†complaint (“The Economist,†May 19, 2011), which seeks to prevent Boeing from producing additional 787 aircraft in its non-union plant in South Carolina. A settlement would protect from judicial review the imprudence of the agency’s complaint and leave standing a legal theory that it can thereafter use at the behest of organized labor to deprive less financially resourceful employers of the ability to make fundamental business decisions long protected by law.Â
The loss of 9,000 jobs in South Carolina today is just the beginning. After all, why invest in a country where the government has declared unlawful a business’s decision to open a non-union second production line to protect the company’s continued production from the economic consequences of union-encouraged strikes?Â