Congress

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Congress to Question FBI Over Missed Tamerlan Tip

He was cleared after 2011 tip; officials didn't realize he went back to Dagestan

(Newser) - The Senate Intelligence Committee is set to question FBI officials over their response to a Russian warning about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, possibly as soon as today in what will be a closed hearing. The full Senate is likely to get a briefing on the matter this week, the BBC reports. Time ...

Charlie Rangel Sues Boehner for Ethics Censure

Says key memo was withheld in 2010 case

(Newser) - Charlie Rangel has sued seven lawmakers, including John Boehner and former House ethics chair Zoe Lofgren, in an effort to overturn a 2010 ethics censure, Politico reports. Rangel says the ethics committee withheld relevant evidence in the case, which resulted in a 333-79 House vote in favor of a censure,...

Tax-Free Online Shopping Hits the Chopping Block

Senate votes 74 to 20 to take up bill that could spell the end

(Newser) - The halcyon days of widespread tax-free online shopping may be numbered. The Senate yesterday voted 74 to 20 to take up a bill that would let states require Internet retailers to collect sales tax, the AP reports. It could be passed within the week, though it may have a tougher...

Bill Likely to Bring Big Improvements on Mental Health

Senators making quiet progress on substantial reforms in care: NYT

(Newser) - With the Senate poised to start debating gun legislation next week, much of the attention has focused on what the final bill won't have—a ban on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, for example. But a New York Times story weighs in on what the bill probably will have,...

Immigration Bill Will Ramp Up Border Security

Senate preps legislation as marchers gather in DC

(Newser) - Today, thousands are gathering in Washington to demand immigration reform—and with a Senate bill set for release as soon as tomorrow, "we are optimistic," an activist tells WCSH . Possible details of the legislation are emerging, and it may set some tough standards in terms of security, notes...

Obama Budget Leaves GOP With 'No Excuses'

Ezra Klein: White House aims to expose Republican 'intransigence'

(Newser) - President Obama's budget proposal is the latest move in his administration's "systematic" effort to expose flimsy GOP excuses for government inaction, writes Ezra Klein in the Washington Post . Republicans had complained that Obama didn't extend a hand to them; now, he's constantly meeting with them....

Obama Sends $3.8T Budget to Congress
 Obama Sends 
 $3.8T Budget 
 to Congress 
UPDATED
Apr 10, 2013 10:50 AM CDT

Obama Sends $3.8T Budget to Congress

Seeks 'grand bargain' with cuts, taxes that rile both Dems, GOP

(Newser) - President Obama's budget plan for fiscal year 2014 is en route to Congress. Seeking to slash the deficit, it contains a mix of tax hikes on the wealthy and cuts to government programs—including entitlements—that is upsetting both sides of the aisle, the AP reports. "I have...

GOP Quaking in Its Boots Over Sanford's Chances

Women dislike him, and he's playing defense already

(Newser) - Yesterday, Politico was calling Elizabeth Colbert Busch the underdog in South Carolina's special congressional election; today, the site seems to have changed its tune . It's reporting that Republicans are concerned Mark Sanford's candidacy could cost them a safe seat in a district Mitt Romney took by 18...

Mark Sanford Wins Runoff, Faces Colbert's Sister Next

They'll vie for congressional seat in South Carolina

(Newser) - Well, this could be fun. Mark Sanford has easily won the Republican runoff for a congressional seat in South Carolina, reports AP . Which means, of course, that the former governor and congressman will face Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of Stephen Colbert, in the general election five weeks from now. Sanford...

Congress Is So Awful Because It Needs a Raise

Daniel Schuman: If we want good lawmakers, we need to pay them more

(Newser) - File this one at the opposite end of the spectrum as "throw the bums out." Daniel Schuman argues at Slate that we need to give Congress a hefty raise. The workload is way up thanks to slashed staffing levels, while salaries are way down relative to previous decades....

Claire McCaskill Backs Gay Marriage

'History will agree with my children,' says Missouri Democrat

(Newser) - The latest top politician to endorse gay marriage is Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, Politico reports. The swing-state Democrat offered up a statement yesterday on her Tumblr page: "I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love,"...

No Shutdown: House Passes Stopgap Spending Bill

Government has money through September

(Newser) - The House today passed a stopgap spending bill to keep the government functioning through the end of September, sidestepping any threat of a government shutdown. The bipartisan vote in the Republican-controlled House follows approval earlier this week in the Democrat-controlled Senate and sends the measure to President Obama to be...

Senate OKs Bill to Keep Government Running

But those White House tours are still a no-go

(Newser) - The Senate approved legislation today to lock in $85 billion in broad federal spending cuts and simultaneously avoid a government shutdown next week. If the House goes along, as expected, that means the across-the-board cuts set in motion by a failed earlier deficit-cutting effort and vigorously decried by President Obama...

Menendez Facing Grand Jury Probe

Investigation centers on ties to Salomon Melgen

(Newser) - Sen. Robert Menendez is facing a federal grand jury probe amid continuing questions over his relationship with friend and donor Salomon Melgen, insiders tell the Washington Post . Interviews and records show the New Jersey Democrat pushed the Dominican government to follow through on a port security contract with Melgen; Menendez'...

Obama Approval Slips Down to 50%
 Obama Approval 
 Slips Down to 50% 
new poll
Mar 13, 2013 12:50 PM CDT

Obama Approval Slips Down to 50%

Loses big edge over GOP on economy

(Newser) - Before his second inauguration, President Obama enjoyed a 55% approval rating—but thanks to concerns over the economy, the figure has dropped again to 50%, a Washington Post-ABC News poll finds. Following Obama's reelection, Americans trusted him over congressional Republicans on the economy by 18 points; now the gap...

Ryan's New Budget Axes ObamaCare, $5T in Spending

Would balance over 10 years

(Newser) - Paul Ryan is unveiling his latest budget proposal, and this time, he says, it'll balance in 10 years—half the time he claimed for his previous budget, NPR notes, because he's including new revenue from the fiscal cliff deal. As promised, the new plan calls for repealing ObamaCare,...

Stewart: Sequester Is Like Sexy Choking

Congress screws up, but 'we're the ones blacking out'

(Newser) - Jon Stewart last night took Washington to task over sequestration—which pundits once assured us would never happen. "It's as likely as Dennis Rodman being our chief envoy to North Korea ," Stewart quipped on the Daily Show . The sequester, he says, is a bit like autoerotic asphyxiation:...

Sequester Time: Obama Signs Order

Automatic spending cuts of $85B start going into effect

(Newser) - The sequester is here. President Obama has signed an order authorizing the government to begin cutting $85 billion from federal accounts, officially enacting across-the-board reductions that he opposed but failed to avert. This morning's last-minute talks to avert the mess fell through . Obama had insisted on replacing the cuts,...

Sequester Talks Yield ... Zilch

Obama warns of 'dumb, arbitrary' cuts as GOP rejects tax increases

(Newser) - No sequester kumbaya. President Obama and congressional leaders met for an hour this morning and made zero progress on striking a deal to avoid the automatic budget cuts, reports Politico . Their respective statements afterward tell the story:
  • Obama: "Let's be clear: None of this is necessary," he
...

Forget Europe: US May OK Horse Meat Plant

It hasn't been processed here in 6 years

(Newser) - What timing: With Europe trying to rein in a horse meat scandal , the US may give the green light to a horse slaughtering plant in New Mexico. The facility, which would produce horse meat that's safe to eat, could get Agriculture Department approval within the next two months, the...

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