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Fri. Jul 4, 2008
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Hoyer Praises Colombia Extraditions, But Deal Still Facing High Hurdles

House Majority Leader Hoyer Wednesday called it a "very positive development" that the Colombian government has agreed to extradite 14 paramilitary figures to the United States, as lawmakers weigh a free-trade pact with Colombia amid human rights concerns.

Ensign Looks Past NRCC In Mapping Strategy

While months of hand-wringing have marked GOP campaign efforts in the House, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign of Nevada and his team remain unfazed by the National Republican Congressional Committee's woes.

Senate GOP Offers FISA Compromise To House Democrats

Senate Republicans have given House Majority Leader Hoyer a proposal for rewriting the nation's surveillance laws that would have a secret court determine whether telecommunications firms should be immune from lawsuits arising from their role in the Bush administration's warrantless domestic spying activities.

Republicans Will Force Issue On AMT At Extenders Markup

House Ways and Means Committee Republicans are preparing to make panel Democrats cast tough votes on doing away with the alternative minimum tax when the committee takes up a $57 billion bill extending various popular tax breaks today.

House Passes Farm Bill, 318-106, As Senate Preps For Vote

The House Wednesday passed the farm bill conference report, 318-106, a comfortable margin to override President Bush's promised veto, while the Senate began debating the bill in anticipation of a vote today.

FTC Chief Says Agency Is Monitoring Oil Price Increases

Consumer protection and competition associated with skyrocketing oil prices are the centerpiece of the FTC's most pressing near-term work, the commission's chairman told the Senate Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday. The FTC intends to investigate possible market manipulation in that field and release a rule by the end of the year, FTC Chairman William Kovacic said.

Dodd, Shelby Continue Wrangling On Eve Of GSE Markup

Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd and ranking member Richard Shelby kept working Wednesday on legislation that would provide new oversight mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, exploring the possibility of using some of the two's assets to insure up to $300 billion in new mortgages for at-risk homeowners.

House Set To Vote On Supplemental, Senate Panel To Mark Up

The House will consider a $183.7 billion emergency supplemental spending bill today that includes $162.5 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unions Get Fired Up Over Plan For High-Speed Rail Bids

A House subcommittee Wednesday gave basic support to a five-year $14.4 billion bill to increase federal spending for Amtrak, but union representatives strongly opposed the part of the bill that would allow private companies to bid against Amtrak to provide high-speed rail service in the Washington-New York corridor.

Quaid Argues For Liability Legislation

Actor Dennis Quaid implored lawmakers Wednesday to take up legislation preserving patients' rights to sue drugmakers if the Supreme Court doesn't rule in patients' favor, as many expect.

After Losses, GOP Leaders Try To Calm An Angry Caucus

In the face of massive discontent from their members, House Republican leaders Wednesday attempted to move past the anger generated by this week's special-election loss in Mississippi.

Panel Told Research, Education Needed On Food Allergies

The number of Americans with food allergies has doubled in the past five years to more than 12 million, a figure that includes 3 million children, but little is understood about the causes, a Senate subcommittee was told Wednesday.

House Names Five Members For Conference Committee

The House Wednesday named conferees to hammer out final details of the FY09 budget resolution.

Mica: Airline Merger Will Fly, Despite Consolidation Fears

The proposed merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines is likely to be approved, House Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member John Mica said Wednesday.

Leahy, HELP Leaders Reach Deal On IT Privacy Accords

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee leadership reached a deal Wednesday on privacy protections that, in part, free up legislation meant to facilitate adoption of interoperable electronic medical records.

Dems Sustain $372M Cut To European Missile Defense Site

Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee succeeded Wednesday in thwarting Republican efforts to reverse a $372 million cut to the Pentagon's $712 million request for a missile defense site in Europe.

People

MAKE THAT CHANGE. Caren Benjamin has joined the liberal group Americans United for Change as deputy executive director.

Delta Blues

Just because Tuesday's Democratic win in Mississippi's 1st District was expected doesn't mean it wasn't a shock. This loss was huge for Republicans and they know it.

Lonely At The Top

For a lame-duck president with approval ratings below 30 percent, the love is getting hard to find.

Senate Approves House SPR Suspension Measure

The Senate Wednesday night approved a House bill suspending the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and sent it to President Bush.

Solicitor General Clement To Leave Justice Next Month

Solicitor General Paul Clement will leave his post June 2, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. Attorney General Mukasey called Clement "one of the nation's finest appellate lawyers."

Judge Throws Out DNC Suit Over McCain Financing Case

A federal district court judge Wednesday threw out, for now, a Democratic National Committee lawsuit to force the FEC to investigate last year's withdrawal of a request by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for federal matching funds to support his presidential campaign.

Dems Fume, Inhofe Scoffs At Polar Bear Designation

The Bush administration's declaration Wednesday that polar bears are threatened by climate change was derided by Democrats as insufficient and called unnecessary by a key Republican.

Issa: Votes Not There To Yank Royalty Exemption

A House bill that would remove AM and FM radio's long-standing exemption from paying royalties for broadcasting music does not have the votes or leadership support needed to reach the floor in the 110th Congress, a key co-sponsor said Wednesday.

House Looks At Phone Jamming In N.H. Election

A former Republican consultant who served three months in prison for his role in the Election Day 2002 phone-jamming operation against New Hampshire Democrats said Wednesday he knows of no connection between the White House and the plot.

Lautenberg Attacks Andrews Over Earmarks For Wife's School

Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J., secured more than $2 million in federal funds to a scholarship program at Rutgers School of Law while his wife served as the school's dean of enrollment.

Edwards Backs Former Rival Obama's Presidential Bid

Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., endorsed his former rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, giving further indication the Democratic establishment is embracing the likely nominee even as New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton refuses to abandon her candidacy.