Congress – News Stories About Congress - Page 17

Rarity: Both Parties
Team Up to Pass 'Doc Fix'

Mar 26, 2015 12:42 PM CDT

Rarity: Both Parties Team Up to Pass 'Doc Fix'

Medicare reform comes from Boehner and Pelosi

(Newser) - DC saw the rarest of things today: a substantial piece of legislation that passed the House with broad support in both parties. Called the "doc fix," it's designed to permanently solve a problem regarding the way doctors get paid by Medicare—instead of the annual short-term patches...

Lindsey Graham's Not Alone: Lots of People Don't Email

Mar 9, 2015 3:27 PM CDT

Lindsey Graham's Not Alone: Lots of People Don't Email

9% of Americans say they've never sent one before

(Newser) - Lindsey Graham, take heart: Up to 15% of Americans don't use email either and may not go online at all. The South Carolina Republican revealed yesterday during a conversation about Hillary Clinton's emails that he had never sent an email before. "I don't know what that...

You're Up,
Netanyahu

Mar 3, 2015 7:52 AM CST

You're Up, Netanyahu

Last-minute guide to Bibi's speech to Congress

(Newser) - Benjamin Netanyahu presents his much-debated thoughts on Iran to Congress this morning after what CBS News calls "extensive hand-wringing" and tensions between himself and the White House. Some final context:

President Obama's thoughts: While Bibi's appearance isn't "permanently destructive" to US-Israeli relations, "it is

...

Deal to Avoid Homeland Security Shutdown Fails in House

Congress
Averts Shutdown
of Homeland
Security

Feb 27, 2015 10:06 PM CST

Congress Averts Shutdown of Homeland Security

House, Senate agree to one-week reprieve

(Newser) - Congress passed a one-week bill late tonight to avert a partial shutdown of the Homeland Security Department, as leaders in both political parties quelled a revolt by House conservatives furious that the measure left President Obama's immigration policy intact. The final vote of a long day and night was...

Senate Hits
Wall as Dems
Block DHS
Funding

Feb 23, 2015 7:15 PM CST

Senate Hits Wall as Dems Block DHS Funding

Mitch McConnell edges toward new plan against immigration order

(Newser) - Funding for Homeland Security teetered closer to the proverbial cliff today as Senate Democrats again stalled a bill to fund the US agency—but a compromise may be in the works. Senators voted nearly down the middle, 47 for and 46 against, on a measure that needed 60 votes to...

Obama Asks
Congress to OK
Military Force
Against ISIS

Feb 11, 2015 9:01 AM CST

Obama Asks Congress to OK Military Force Against ISIS

President is offering to limit authorization to 3 years

(Newser) - President Obama today asked Congress to formally authorize military force against ISIS, arguing the militants could pose a threat to the US homeland if their violent power grab goes unchecked. In the three-page draft resolution (full text here ), Obama is offering to limit authorization to three years, extending to...

In First, Pope to
Address Congress

Feb 5, 2015 11:08 AM CST

In First, Pope to Address Congress

It'll be a historic appearance on Sept. 24

(Newser) - Pope Francis will address a joint meeting of Congress on Sept. 24, making him the first pontiff to do so. House Speaker John Boehner—who is a Catholic, points out Politico —made the announcement at a news conference today, then issued a statement that reads in part, "We’...

5 Things to Know
About Obama's
$3.99T Budget

Feb 2, 2015 7:54 AM CST

5 Things to Know About Obama's $3.99T Budget

The goal: a 'sustainable' deficit

(Newser) - President Obama has unveiled his fiscal 2016 budget, and it's not likely to receive a warm welcome from Republicans, Reuters reports. The $3.99 trillion plan for the budget year that begins Oct. 1 is founded on higher taxes both for the wealthy and corporations; some money will come...

Obama Won't Meet With Netanyahu During Visit

Jan 22, 2015 1:25 PM CST

Obama Won't Meet With Netanyahu During Visit

White House says it's too close to Israeli elections

(Newser) - In a not-so-shocking development, the White House said today that President Obama won't meet with Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli leader visits in March to address Congress, reports NPR . A spokesperson offered a diplomatic reason, citing the Israeli elections that take place just two weeks after the March 3...

Paul Ryan: I'm Not
Running for President

Jan 12, 2015 4:21 PM CST

Paul Ryan: I'm Not Running for President

Republican lawmaker says he's given it 'a lot of thought'

(Newser) - Republican Rep. Paul Ryan announced today that he will not run for president in 2016, instead focusing on building his resume in Congress. Ryan, of Wisconsin, was the Republican candidate for vice president in 2012. There had been much speculation about his ambitions for 2016. But with the start of...

Meet Youngest
Woman Elected
to Congress

Jan 7, 2015 3:55 PM CST

Meet Youngest Woman Elected to Congress

Republican Elise Stefanik is 30 years old

(Newser) - Among the newcomers to DC this year is Elise Stefanik, a Republican from upstate New York who made history last fall by becoming the youngest woman elected to Congress. How young? Glamour begins a profile by noting that Capitol Hill police stopped her as she arrived for freshman orientation—"...

Rebellion Against Speaker Biggest in 150 Years

Jan 6, 2015 4:13 PM CST

Rebellion Against Speaker Biggest in 150 Years

But 25 votes against Boehner isn't nearly enough

(Newser) - In winning a third term as House speaker today, John Boehner had to fend off a defection from within his own party that was the biggest such revolt in more than 150 years, reports the Washington Post . In all, 25 conservative Republicans voted against Boehner, though that wasn't enough...

114th Convenes,
GOP Takes Control

Jan 6, 2015 12:49 PM CST

114th Convenes, GOP Takes Control

McConnell grabs majority reins in Senate as GOP vows to get to work

(Newser) - The 114th Congress has convened with solid Republican majorities in both houses, Mitch McConnell as the new Senate majority leader, and John Boehner retaining his gavel in the House despite a Tea Party challenge. In what the AP calls "a day of pomp, circumstance, and raw politics," Joe...

Politicians to Oppose
9/11 'Coverup'

Jan 5, 2015 3:30 PM CST

Politicians to Oppose 9/11 'Coverup'

Former Sen. Bob Graham leads charge to release 28 redacted pages

(Newser) - A group seeking to declassify data on 9/11 will speak out this week and highlight the possible involvement of Saudi officials in the terror attack, the New York Post reports. Leading the charge is Bob Graham, a former Democratic senator who co-chaired the panel that released the redacted congressional 9/11...

$1.1T Spending Bill
Squeaks Through House

Dec 12, 2014 12:15 AM CST

$1.1T Spending Bill Squeaks Through House

Obama helps round up Democratic votes

(Newser) - Swapping crisis for compromise, the House narrowly approved $1.1 trillion in government-wide spending last night after President Obama and Republicans joined forces to override Democratic complaints that the bill would also ease bank regulations imposed after the economy's near-collapse in 2008. The 219-206 vote cleared the way for...

Warren Leads Populist
Charge Against Big Vote

Dec 11, 2014 9:29 AM CST

Warren Leads Populist Charge Against Big Vote

Says spending bill weakens Wall Street rules, wants Democrats to oppose it

(Newser) - The House and Senate need to pass a spending bill by midnight to avoid a shutdown, and things have gotten more complicated because of opposition by progressives led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, reports the Hill . Warren says a deal struck by leaders includes a provision that would weaken new rules...

Lawmakers Strike Budget Deal to Avoid Shutdown

Dec 9, 2014 6:51 PM CST

Lawmakers Strike Budget Deal to Avoid Shutdown

Congress has to get it passed before midnight Thursday

(Newser) - With time running short, Republicans and Democrats agreed today on a $1.1 trillion spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and delay a fight over President Obama's new immigration policy until the new year. The government will run out of money at midnight Thursday without a new deal...

First Part of Boehner's
2-Step Plan Passes

Dec 4, 2014 3:49 PM CST

First Part of Boehner's 2-Step Plan Passes

It's a symbolic vote to oppose Obama's immigration plan

(Newser) - John Boehner's two-step strategy to oppose President Obama's immigration plan while at the same avoiding a government shutdown got past step one today. The House easily approved a measure that would prohibit the White House from protecting millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation, reports the Hill . In terms...

Obama Calls
for $6B to
Fight Ebola

Dec 3, 2014 7:52 AM CST

Obama Calls for $6B to Fight Ebola

President makes plea to Congress for emergency aid to help West Africa

(Newser) - West Africa is still in dire need of international help in fighting Ebola, and President Obama is appealing to Congress to approve $6.2 billion in aid for just that purpose, the AP reports. "We cannot beat Ebola without more funding," he said during a visit yesterday to...

Lawmakers
Go 'Hands Up'
on House Floor

Dec 2, 2014 9:46 AM CST

Lawmakers Go 'Hands Up' on House Floor

Time for Congress to address the problem: Hakeem Jeffries

(Newser) - On the floor of the House of Representatives last night, lawmakers raised their arms in a gesture of support for Ferguson protesters, Politico reports. "Hands up, don’t shoot. It’s a rallying cry of people all across America who are fed up with police violence … in community,...