111th Congress

Simon Johnson: Tax Reform Could Help Secure Financial System

The New York Times | Simon Johnson | Posted 09.21.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, 2008 Financial Crisis, Great Recession, Financial Reform, 112th Congress, Financial System, Simon Johnson, Tax Reform, Congressional Budget Office, Barack Obama, Business News

In the deafening cacophony of voices in Washington on the debt ceiling, it is easy to miss a potentially more significant development. There is growin...

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Taxpayers Stand To Lose $1.3 Billion From Chrysler Bailout

Posted 09.20.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, New Chrysler, Treasury Department, General Motors, Chrysler, Detroit, Chrysler Bailout, Fiat, Timothy Geithner, Barack Obama, Detroit Bailout, Video, Business News

DETROIT (Deepa Seetharaman) - The U.S. and Canadian governments exited their investments in Chrysler Group LLC on Thursday, allowing Italy's Fiat ...

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Official: Curtailing Dodd-Frank Leaves Economy Open To "Collapses And Crises"

Posted 09.12.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Treasury Department, 2008 Financial Crisis, Dodd-Frank, Great Recession, Barney Frank, 112th Congress, Timothy Geithner, Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, Video, Business News

WASHINGTON (Margaret Chadbourn) - The law overhauling the financial system should continue to protect the economy in the future despite any challe...

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Russ Feingold Is Emerging as a Significant Force Against Corporate Control of Our Government

Pearl Korn | Posted 08.20.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Supreme Court, Russ Feingold, Evan Bayh, Anthony Weiner, Wisconsin, Fair Elections Now Act, Congress, Legislative-Transparency, Progressive Democrats of America, Public Citizen, Move to Amend, Lobbyists, George W. Bush, Afl-Cio, Herb Kohl, Democrats, Democracy for America, Citizens United, Bold Progressives, Barack Obama, Dick Cheney, Iraq War, Patriot Act, Amanda Terkel, Progressives United, Scott Walker, Abraham Lincoln, Credo Action, Chamber of Commerce, Constitution, Mccain-Feingold, Unions, Richard Trumka, Republicans, Politics News
Pearl Korn

Perhaps President Abraham Lincoln's famous words of hope for a "... government of the people, by the people, for the people..." will yet ring true again -- with a little help from Russ Feingold and his growing movement.

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Washington Post: Geithner Has Found His Footing

The Washington Post | Zachary A. Goldfarb | Posted 08.08.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, 2008 Financial Crisis, Treasury Department, Hank Paulson, 112th Congress, Federal Reserve, Timothy Geithner, Ben Bernanke, Barack Obama, New York Federal Reserve Bank, Business News

During the dark days that began Timothy F. Geithner’s tenure as Treasury secretary, he was constantly under fire, accused of bailing out Wall Street...

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The Roadblocks To Wall Street Reform

ProPublica | Jesse Eisinger and Jake Bernstein | Posted 08.03.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, 2008 Financial Crisis, Wall Street, Dodd-Frank, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Barney Frank, Ted Kaufman, Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, Business News

Early last year, as they weighed whether to bar banks from speculative trading with their own money, congressional staffers turned to a key regulator ...

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How 173 Congressmen Are Trying to Redefine Rape

Asher Smith | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Abortion, 111th Congress, Politics News, H.R. 3, Rape, Clothesline Project, Dan Lipinski, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, Sexual Assault, Abortion Laws, Abortion Rights, Medicaid, Politics News
Asher Smith

The language of this bill is not only out of sync with legal precedent, but with common sense and common dignity.

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A Presidential Rebound?

Rick Horowitz | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Obama Vacation, First Responders, Gop, House of Representatives, Obama Polls, Mitch McConnell, 112th Congress, John Boehner, Gallup Poll, Filibuster, Food Safety, Congress, Obama Approval Rating, New Start Treaty, Democrats, Barack Obama, Obama Administration, Don't Ask Don't Tell, 9/11 First Responders, Lame-Duck Session, Food-Safety Bill, Republicans, Tax-Cut Deal, Senate, Politics News
Rick Horowitz

So here's what we know: The president's job-approval rating is back up again, higher than it's been in months. And here's what we don't know: Why?

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Repeal, Redemption, and Ripple Effects

Hans Johnson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Bill Clinton, Congress, Colin Powell, Bullying, Solidarity, President Obama, Mike Mullen, Harvey Milk, Defense of Marriage Act, Maine, Marriage Equality, Gays in the Military, Susan Collins, Immigration Reform, Pennsylvania, Robert Gates, DREAM Act, Connecticut, Dadt, LGBT Rights, Sadism, Joe Lieberman, Michigan, Birthright Citizenship, Carl Levin, 110th Congress, Patrick Murphy, Politics News
Hans Johnson

Any talk of redeeming acts in public life tends to focus on individuals. Character and career are the arcs of this familiar story line, punched up by ...

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Unfinished Business: 19 Judicial Nominations Left Unconfirmed by 111th Congress

Nan Aron | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Senate, Senate Judiciary Committee, Judges, President Obama, Judicial Nominations, Judicial Activism, Obama Judicial Nominations, Politics News
Nan Aron

As a result of unprecedented Republican political gamesmanship, President Obama ends the first half of his first term with a smaller percentage of his nominees confirmed than any previous president.

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111th Congress Ends With Bang, Not Whimper

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Wealthy, President Obama, Lame Duck Congress, Public Opinion, Poll, Democratic, Obama, Bush Tax Cuts, Republican, Dadt, Tax Cut, Press Conference, Dont Ask Dont Tell, House, Plum Line, Budget, Shellacking, Democrat, Congress, Lame Duck, Lindsey Graham, Democrats, Greg Sargent, Barack Obama, Independents, Midterm, Tax, Moderates, Graham, Senate, New Start, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Pundits are now beginning to say Obama is on a comeback, which is a stunning turnaround from less than two months ago, when the president sheepishly began using the word "shellacking" for the midterm results.

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'Tis The Season For Gay Rights

Karen Dolan | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Dadt, Campaign Promises, Xmas, Barack Obama, Dadt Repeal, Christmas, Gay Rights, Politics News
Karen Dolan

Tis the Season: A Victory for Civil Rights Let's celebrate this day, Dec 22 2010. It is the day President Barak Obama signs into the law the repeal o...

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All-In For The DREAM Act

Rep. Luis Gutierrez | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, College Students, White House, US Military, Michael Bennet, Lame Duck Session, Immigration, Lame Duck, Students, Barack Obama, Immigration Reform, Barbara Boxer, Military, DREAM Act, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Politics News
Rep. Luis Gutierrez

By passing the DREAM Act, we have an opportunity during this lame-duck session to make a down payment on the immigration reform voters want, our country deserves, and our leaders have promised.

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Tell The Lame Duck Congress to Vote for Middle Class Tax Cuts

G. Roger Denson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Tax Cuts, 111th Congress, Lame Duck Session, 112th Congress, Outgoing Senators and Representatives, Bush Tax Cuts, Politics News
G. Roger Denson

Americans who don't want to see tax cuts for the middle-class held hostage to the wealthy still have time to make themselves heard. Democrats, Republ...

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Clyburn Will Stand by the Values, Policies That Make Us Democrats

Rep. Luis Gutierrez | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Lgbt, Leadership, Immigration Reform, Progressive Values, Progressive, Midterm Elections, Progressives, Health Care Reform, 112th Congress, Democratic Leadership, Democratic Party, Democrats, Health Care, Rep. James Clyburn, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Politics News
Rep. Luis Gutierrez

I don't support Jim Clyburn for Democratic Whip because he's my friend and we've served together a long time. Or because he's African-American. His seniority and race are meaningless to me. I support him because he will not apologize for being a progressive.

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Desecrating Nancy Pelosi

Bob Burnett | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, 2010 Elections, Nancy Pelosi, Elections 2010, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrats, Fundraising, Republicans, Politics News
Bob Burnett

Pelosi's removal is tragedy because it means that the most effective senior Democratic leader won't be a featured player the next two years and because liberals' most articulate spokesperson will now be on the sidelines.

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House Bill Emphasizes US Military History

Ed Hooper | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 111th Congress, Pearl Harbor, Military History, Civil War Sesquicentennial, SSGT Salvatore Giunta, Medal of Honor, Education, Military, House Bill, Curriculum, US Army, Politics News
Ed Hooper

Congress is considering a resolution to declare November U.S. Military History Month. The truth is, soldiers are returning to a nation that no longer embraces their service as a serious educational subject.

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Analysis: Republicans Setting Filibuster Record

AP | STEVEN R. HURST | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Filibuster Record, Vice President, Congress, Cloture, Scott Brown, Financial Reform, Filibuster, Democrats, Simple Majority, History, 111th Congress, Senate, Filibuster Reform, Health Care Reform, Gop, Reconciliation, Republicans, Politics News

WASHINGTON — The filibuster – tool of obstruction in the U.S. Senate – is alternately blamed and praised for wilting President Barac...

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The Scores Are In

Gene Karpinski | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Clean Energy, Climate Bill, John Kerry, Black Eyed Peas, League of Conservation Voters, Lindsey Graham, Joe Liberman, Green News
Gene Karpinski

The single biggest step that Congress can take in 2010 is to finish the excellent work started in the House by swiftly passing a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill.

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Congress on Sale! Saints of the Hill Who Take Less Than $20,000 in Health Care $$ - The List - Part VI

Brian Ross | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Politics, Campaign Giving, Finance, Political Contributions, Health, Health Care Reform, Representatives, Political Influence, Health-Action, Health Care, Special Interest Money, Health Care Special Interest Money, Senators, Politics News
Brian Ross

While they land on either side of the fence on the issue, these are some of the most interesting players in the unfolding health care reform drama.

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A Clunky Way to Spend Billions

Charles Karel Bouley | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Long Beach, Krxa, Charles Karel Bouley, Billboard, Kfi, Kgo, Green, Motorcycles, Huffingtonpost, Honda, Politics, Scooters, Alternative Transportation, Kngy, Gas Mileage, Tata, Piaggio, Vespa, Entertainment, Mana, Karel, Tim Buche, Yamaha, Aprilia, Advocate, Gay, Motorcycle Industry Council, Mpg, Hybrid, Radio, Cash for Clunkers, Environment, War Funding, Knx, Green News
Charles Karel Bouley

The recent Cash for Clunker legislation passed by Congress as part of the $106 billion war funding bill is a complete and total waste of a billion dollars short term, four billion long term.

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How Democrats Can Win the Climate Debate

Teryn Norris | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Clean Energy, 111th Congress, Democratic Congress, Climate Policy, President Obama, Energy Policy, Political Strategy, Public Opinion, Green News
Teryn Norris

Last week was the opening round of the national climate fight, and the Democratic Congress was nearly knocked out.

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President Obama Signs Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, But Challenges Remain

Carey Alexander | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Supreme Court, 111th Congress, Women's Rights, S. 181, Legislation, Civil Rights, President Obama, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Congress, Equal Pay for Equal Work, Constitution, Lilly Ledbetter, National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights, Patricia Garrett, Worker's Rights, Equal Pay, Politics News
Carey Alexander

Though the Act is undeniably a tremendous victory for women and workers, it's far too soon to rejoice.

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Three Things Congress (Yes, Congress) Must Do to Fix FEMA

Kelly Caldwell | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: 111th Congress, Fema Trailers, Fema, Recovery Hurricane Ike, FEMA Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans Housing, Politics News
Kelly Caldwell

Of the many tragic failures of FEMA in the last seven years, those related to housing were among the most conspicuous. And they were caused in part by Congressional blunders.

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Unfinished Business

Michael Markarian | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Congress, Primates, Animals, House Natural Resources Committee, Sharks, 111th Congress, Jane Goodall Institute, House of Representatives, Nick Rahall, Primate Pets, Lynn Westmoreland, Rob Bishop, Earl Blumenauer, Chimp Attacks, Shark Hunting, Finning, Shark Finning, Human Society Legislative Fund, Pet Chimps, American Veterinary Medical Association, Captive Primate Safety Act, Madeleine Bordallo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Humane Society of the United States, H.R. 80, Pet Monkeys, Born Free USA, Politics News
Michael Markarian

Among the very first Congressional bills introduced this week were two important measures to protect wildlife and should be on the fast track to getting over the finish line in the new session.

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