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Fri. Jul 4, 2008
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New Farm Bill Cruises To Veto-Proof Passage In Senate

The Senate today cleared the farm bill conference report, 81-15 -- a veto-proof majority topping the 79 votes that the initial Senate version got in December.

House Committee Punts Tanker Dispute To Appropriators

The House Armed Services Committee averted a showdown late Wednesday over the Air Force's hotly disputed contract award for aerial refueling tankers, punting any challenges to the procurement deal to appropriators.

White House Threatening To Veto War Supplemental Bill

The White House issued a veto threat today against the emergency supplemental war funding package because the bill would impose limitations on military commanders in the field, provide unrelated domestic funding and raise taxes.

Dems Accuse Insurers Of Overseas Contractors Of 'Looting'

Insurance providers, aided by Pentagon inaction, are using an obscure but costly federal insurance program for contractors overseas to gouge U.S. taxpayers, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee members charged at a hearing today.

Republican Leaders Try Again To Placate Angry Members

For the second day in a row, House GOP leaders sought to pacify rank-and-file lawmakers roiled by Tuesday's special-election loss in Mississippi. Conference sources said the mood during closed-door presentations by Minority Leader Boehner, House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam of Florida and Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, the conference's vice chairwoman reflected the same somber anger and anxiety the leadership teamed faced Wednesday.

Panel Votes To Ban FTC Test For 'Light' Cigarette Labels

The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved a bill today that would prohibit tobacco companies from using a Federal Trade Commission testing method to label cigarettes as "light" or "low tar."

Dodd, Shelby Appear Still Deadlocked Over GSE Measure

Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd said this afternoon he has not reached any verbal agreements with ranking member Richard Shelby on legislation that would provide new oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System.

Ways And Means Panel Looks At AMT Patch Minus Offset

The House Ways and Means Committee today took up an amendment to a $57 billion tax package that would prevent the alternative minimum tax from hitting 21 million more taxpayers next year.

Senate Panel Approves 'Orphan Works' Copyright Bill

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation today that would rework part of U.S. copyright law that deals with musical tracks, writings, images or videos whose owners cannot easily be located, known as "orphan works."

Senate Will Get Started On Supplemental Bill

Outlook. With the House expected to wrap up work today on the emergency supplemental spending bill, Senate Majority Leader Reid said the Senate can start debate on the package as early as Monday. Aides said Reid intends to finish that work before Memorial Day.

Democrats Seek Records On Care Of Detained Immigrants

Immigration. Top Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee today demanded that the Homeland Security Department turn over thousands of documents related to the detention and treatment of illegal immigrants held in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Obama Takes Offense At Bush Comment About 'Appeasers'

Politics. During a speech to the Israeli Knesset today, President Bush criticized those who "believe we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," calling that approach "the false comfort of appeasement," the Associated Press reported.