Fact Check: Lawmaker Resigns Amid Changing Stories

March 10th, 2010
House of Representatives | Be the First to Comment


Its the latest claim in a changing stream of explanations that have propelled him from a relatively obscure Democratic lawmaker to darling of conservative talk show hosts.
But his explanation leaves out a key fact: The decision and timing of his resignation were Massas alone.
Massa could have stayed in Congress and cast votes on health care [...]


Reconciliation Bill Will Be Tough For Gop to Derail

March 10th, 2010
Vote | Be the First to Comment


Some questions and answers about the reconciliation process, which has itself become controversial as the health care debate enters its end stage.
Q: Why is it called reconciliation?
A: The process was established in the 1974 law that requires Congress to pass a federal budget at the start of each year. Some years, the budget will instruct [...]


U.s. Senate Set to Vote On Strategy to Extend Unemployment Benefits

March 10th, 2010
State | Be the First to Comment


The chamber is slated to vote today on the legislation that would also provide $25 billion in aid to states, extend a package of miscellaneous tax cuts, temporarily ease corporate- pension funding requirements and prevent cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors.
A [...]


Obama Defies Pessimists as Rising Economy Converges With Stocks

March 10th, 2010
Obama | Be the First to Comment


One year after U.S stocks hit their post-financial-crisis low on March 9, 2009, the benchmark Standard & Poors 500 Index has risen more than 68 percent, and its up more than 41 percent since Obama took office. Credit spreads have narrowed. Commodity prices have surged. Housing prices have stabilized.
[...]


Pelosi Says Democrats Didnt Push Massa to Give Up House Seat

March 10th, 2010
House of Representatives | Be the First to Comment


Pelosi, interviewed on “Charlie Rose,” which airs on PBS and Bloomberg Television, said that Massa, 50, first called her to say that he wasnt going to seek re-election because of a recurrence of cancer. Massa, who represented an Upstate New York congressional district, changed course and resigned on March 8, citing an ongoing House ethics [...]


Kerry Says Great Bargain Of Consensus Reached On Climate Tactic

March 10th, 2010
Energy | Be the First to Comment


The 14 senators agreed action was needed to promote U.S. energy independence, create jobs in clean energy and cut pollution, said lawmakers who attended the meeting with President Barack Obama.
“If this group continues to work together, we can get something done,” [...]


Obamas Health-care Push Gets Challenge From Business Coalition

March 10th, 2010
House of Representatives | Be the First to Comment


The campaign will last about 10 days and cost between $4 million and $10 million, said Bruce Josten, the top lobbyist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is helping lead the effort. The ads will start on national cable television and run in 17 states, Josten told reporters on a conference call. [...]


Senate Said to Weigh $50 Billion Fund to Wind Down Failed Firms

March 10th, 2010
Treasury | Be the First to Comment


Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, and Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, are near agreement to create a mechanism that will dissolve companies in an orderly way without using taxpayer funds, according to two Senate aides who declined to be identified yesterday because the talks are private. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner met Warner and [...]


Petraeus For President? No Is His Handy Answer

March 9th, 2010
President | Be the First to Comment


In a recent appearance at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia he turned a question about his retirement plans into an opportunity to deny he has political ambitions. An audience member asked if he planned to write a book when he left the Army. He responded by saying hed feared the politics question.
“The answer is [...]


Obama Still Wants Us Trial For Some Gitmo Suspects

March 9th, 2010
Obama | Be the First to Comment


President Barack Obama is trying to keep a campaign pledge to close the U.S. military prison in Cuba, a promise that has attracted criticism from Republicans who say it would jeopardize national security. He has also lately been under fire from people within his party who say Obama should not accept any deal that would [...]