Manufacturers Blast Tax Increases For Veterans' Education
Medium and small business manufacturers would bear the brunt of a tax approved by the House to fund an increase in veterans' educational benefits, the National Association of Manufacturers said today.
Pallone Supports Ban On New Physician-Owned Hospitals
House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., has told CongressDaily he supports using a ban on new physician-owned specialty hospitals to fund a one-year delay of seven Medicaid regulations.
Groups Press White House To Reconsider Farm Bill Veto
North Dakota Republican Gov. John Hoeven and numerous groups today called on President Bush to reverse his plan to veto the farm bill conference report that overwhelmingly cleared both houses of Congress this week.
Deal On Rival E911 Bills Hinges On Access To Databases
House and Senate negotiators are fine-tuning legislation that would make it easier for Internet-based telecom providers to offer "enhanced" 911 emergency service, but a dispute over customer databases could put the effort on hold.
Paulson Says Economic Growth Will Pick Up By Year's End
Treasury Secretary Paulson today sounded a strong note of optimism on the economy, saying the credit crisis had turned a corner and that economic growth would pick up by the end of the year.
Mueller Argues That Media, FBI Have Much In Common
Globalization and technology have "changed the rules of the game" for the FBI and the media, FBI Director Robert Mueller said today during a National Press Club speech emphasizing similarities between law enforcement and the Fourth Estate.
Experts Say E-Records Are Improving Patient Care
Medical experts today touted their success in using electronic information systems to improve patient care.
Week Ends With Still No Decision From Fossella On Future
No decision has yet been made by the hushed Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., on how he will approach his political future.
HILL BRIEFS
Saudis Rebuff Bush Call For Increased Oil Production
Energy. Saudi Arabian leaders made clear today they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush as the price of oil set a record of $127 per barrel, the Associated Press reported.
Oil Shipments To Petroleum Reserve Will Stop In July
Energy. The Energy Department will stop putting oil into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve beginning in July when the current purchase contract expires, it said today, the Associated Press reported.
Strossen To Step Down As ACLU President
Judiciary. After almost 18 years as president of the American Civil Liberties Union, Nadine Strossen plans to step down in October, the watchdog group announced today. She will remain active in ACLU campaigns and teach full time at New York Law School.
Housing Construction Rises In April
Economy. Construction of new homes posted the biggest increase in more than two years in April, the Commerce Department reported. Housing construction rose by 8.2 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.03 million units, it said, although the building of single-family homes continued to weaken.
Obama Attacks McCain, Bush Over Appeasement Comments
Politics. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., today criticized Republican rival Sen. John McCain of Arizona and President Bush for "dishonest and divisive" attacks in hinting that the Democratic presidential candidate would appease terrorists, the Associated Press reported.
Edwards Again Rules Out Vice Presidential Role
Politics. He may have endorsed Democratic presidential frontrunner Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, but former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., said again today he has no interest in joining the Obama campaign as a vice presidential nominee.
Former Rep. Hubbard Seeking Political Return In Ky.
House Races. Former Rep. Carroll Hubbard, D-Ky., who spent more than two years in federal prison on charges stemming from the House bank scandal, is trying to revive his political career by running for a state Senate seat.
THE FRIDAY BUZZ
That White House Pull
It may only be May, but senators on both sides of the aisle showed an increased willingness to turn the Senate floor into another stop on the campaign trail this week. It all started Wednesday, when Senate Minority Leader McConnell tried to force a vote on a GI education proposal from presumptive GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona during debate on a firefighter unionization bill. Majority Leader Reid was irate, and the measure was tabled later in the day, but one GOP source said the vote likely provided McCain and other Senate Republicans some shelter.
Catwoman On The Prowl ... In Pakistan?
On a 2004 trip to Pakistan, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., flipped on the television in his hotel room to find scantily clad American film starlet Halle Berry prowling the night in search of justice in the title role in "Catwoman."
THE FINAL WORD
The Final Word
"I said: You're kidding me; that's bull. And I shouldn't have said that and my mother pointed that out to me. But it is. I should apologize to the bull, actually."
5/16/2008 PM Contents
- Manufacturers Blast Tax Increases For Veterans' Education
- Pallone Supports Ban On New Physician-Owned Hospitals
- Groups Press White House To Reconsider Farm Bill Veto
- Deal On Rival E911 Bills Hinges On Access To Databases
- Paulson Says Economic Growth Will Pick Up By Year's End
- Mueller Argues That Media, FBI Have Much In Common
- Experts Say E-Records Are Improving Patient Care
- Week Ends With Still No Decision From Fossella On Future
HILL BRIEFS
- Saudis Rebuff Bush Call For Increased Oil Production
- Oil Shipments To Petroleum Reserve Will Stop In July
- Strossen To Step Down As ACLU President
- Housing Construction Rises In April
- Obama Attacks McCain, Bush Over Appeasement Comments
- Edwards Again Rules Out Vice Presidential Role
- Former Rep. Hubbard Seeking Political Return In Ky.