Congress

House Preparing $500 Billion Stimulus Bill For Obama

Reuters | Posted 12.02.2008 | Business

Read More: Obama Stimulus Plan, $500 Billion Stimulus Plan, Economy, Nancy Pelosi, Financial Crisis, Congress, Stimulus Plan, Recession, Business News

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi met leading governors on Monday to discuss the size and shape of an economic stimulus package that ...

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As Congress Lay Dying

David Swanson | Posted 12.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: Congressional Powers, Russ Feingold, Congress, Presidential Powers, Jerrold Nadler, Obama Transition, Presidential Power, Barack Obama, Politics News
David Swanson

The only possible path to truly transformative democratic change lies in re-empowering and reforming Congress.

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A Post-Thanksgiving Cornucopia: World AIDS Day, The Birth of (RED)WIRE, Milk and Prop 8

Mike Ragogna | Posted 12.01.2008 | Entertainment

Read More: Prop 6, Congress, Hiv, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ontario, Who, Dixie Chicks, Asia, China, Wolrd Health Foundation, Gay Adoption, Ali Partovi, Olympic Bird's Nest, Patna Women's College, The Killers, W Hotels, Premiere Wen Jiabao, Aids, Elvis Costello, World AIDS Day, Melissa Etheridge, Latin America, President Barack Obama, Rod Stewart, Nand Kishore Yadev, Sheryl Crow, The Police, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Emile Hirsch, Coldplay, India, Matthew Sheppard, James Franco, Starbucks, Gay Marriage, Jay-Z, Josh Brolin, Toronto, Prop 8, Spider-Man, Canada, Sean Penn, Keith Olbermann, California, Don MacKinnon, Lisa Gurry, W, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Senator Barbara Boxer, (RED), Elton John, World Health Organization, Kargil Chowk, Hear Music, Senator John v. Briggs, High School Music, John Legend, Unicef, Molly Johnson, Msn, Lucas Grabeel, United States, Harvey Milk, Gus Van Sant, Death Cab for Cutie, Into the Wild, President George W. Bush, Itunes, Carribean, Matthew Shepard, Ilike, Entertainment News
Mike Ragogna

The new online digital magazine (RED)WIRE will sponsor a series of unique performances by artists such as U2 and Sheryl Crow, in its bid to help fight AIDS.

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California Has New Clout In Congress

LA Times | Richard Simon | Posted 11.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: California Congressional Influence, California Congressional Delegation, Congress, California, Politics News

Reporting from Washington -- Under President Bush, California Democrats often felt like Rodney Dangerfield. But with Barack Obama headed to the White...

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Overheard at Barack Obama Strategy Session

William Klein | Posted 11.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: White House, Congress, Colin Powell, Rahm Emanuel, Satire, Richard Holbrooke, John Kerry, David Axelrod, Political Satire, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Politics News
William Klein

Hillary? Think about it. It's the ultimate Big Gesture and the world will love it. They won't be able to resist. It will be like having Princess Diana stories all the time.

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Congress Bails out Those Who Shower Before Work, but not Those who Shower After Work

Leo W. Gerard | Posted 11.25.2008 | Business

Read More: Congress, Phil Gramm, Hank Paulson, Chrysler, United Auto Workers, Senate Banking Committee, Economy, Honda, U.S. Treasury, Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Federal Reserve, $700 Billion Bailout, Vikram S. Pandit, Ford, Charles O. Prince III, Automakers, Nissan, Unemployment, Bailout, Default, George Will, Hyundai, Sen. Jon Kyl, Detroit, Big Three, Financial Crisis, Washington Post, President Bush, Detroit Bailout Reaction, Detroit Bailout, Automaker Bailout, Big Three Automakers, Toyota, Sen. Richard Shelby, Detroit Three, Gm, The Big 3, Chysler, Detroit Automakers, Robert Rubin, Wall Street, Martin Feldstein, Ben Bernanke, Wachovia, Auto Industry, Bankrupt, Citigroup, Business News
Leo W. Gerard

Detroit is a place where workers are unionized; Wall Street is not. And right-wing Republicans and conservative pundits have made it clear they want the union workers to suffer.

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The Politico Pimps Global Cooling for Congressional Deniers

Joseph Romm | Posted 11.25.2008 | Green

Read More: Congress, Media, Global Warming, Climate Change, Politico Global Warming, Politico, Green News
Joseph Romm

In a piece that wins the 2008 prize for a press release masquerading as journalism, Politico treats those who understand the actual state of climate science as if they are the ones in the dwindling minority.

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What Detroit Needs

Aram Khayatpour | Posted 11.25.2008 | Business

Read More: Chrysler, Gm, Auto, Ford, Recession, Big 3, Congress, Bailout, Auto Industry, Detroit, Big Three Automakers, United Auto Workers, Detroit Bailout, Detroit Three, Automakers, Jobs, Cars, Detroit Automakers, Unemployment, Detroit Bailout Reaction, Chysler, Automaker Bailout, The Big 3, Business News
Aram Khayatpour

We all make jokes about how lazy and lobby-driven Congress is, and as sad as the truths behind those jokes are, when times are good, we can afford to have government operate like that.

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A Response To Rep. Elijah Cummings

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.24.2008 | Politics

Read More: Business Expense, Loophole, Tax Code, Maximum Wage, Populism, Kucinich, Sherrod Brown, Corporate Tax, Stock Options, Corporate, Business, Wastefulness, Corporate Jet, Pelosi, Business Costs, Big Business, Bailout, Luxury, Taxable, Populist, Ceos, Deductibility, Taxpayer Money, Capital Gains, Reid, Detroit, Elijah Cummings, Auto Companies, Taxes, Greed, Citigroup, Democrat, Business Tax, Congress, Loopholes, Democrats, Income Tax, Profit, Resort, Fat Cat, Tax, Corporations, Chris Weigant, Ceo, Shareholder, Outrage, Business Meeting, Stadium Tax, Mets, Deductible, Stadium Naming, Deduction, Tax Deductible, Cummings, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The loopholes which allow such corporate excess were not exactly handed down to Moses on tablets -- each and every loophole was approved by Congress.

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Dems: Congress Could Back Stimulus Plan Up To $700 Billion (VIDEO)

Huffington Post | Posted 11.23.2008 | Politics

Read More: Chuck Schumer, Congress, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Economy, Economic Stimulus, Huge Stimulus Package, Democrats, Stimulus Package, Video, Politics News

UPDATE: President-elect Obama urged swift passage by Congress of a massive two-year spending and tax-cutting recovery program which significantly exce...

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Europe's, China's carmakers ask for help; Waxman wins key Congressional post

Steve Parker | Posted 11.22.2008 | Business

Read More: House of Representatives, Congress, Chrysler, America, Ford Mustang, Rick Wagoner, Cars, Gas/Electric Hybrid, John Dingell, Ford, Clean Diesel, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Durango Hybrid, Los Angeles Auto Show, Chevy Malibu Hybrid, General Motors, Robert Nardelli, Japanese Cars, Washington, Detroit, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Michigan, Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, California, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Alan Mulally, Detroit Three, Chevrolet, Henry Waxman, Democrats, House Energy and Commerce Committee, Senate, ABC News, Angela Merkel, Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis, Asian, Opel, European, Business News
Steve Parker

In a major win for all consumers, Democrats in the House of Representatives voted Thursday to put Rep. Henry Waxman of California in charge of a key p...

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Congressman To Sleep In The Capitol

cnn.com | Posted 11.22.2008 | Politics

Read More: Jason Chaffetz, Congress, Congressman Sleeping in Capitol, Politics News

Newly-minted Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, like many freshman members of Congress, is trying to get settled in before the new session begins. That ...

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At the Pump: Down with Gas!

Rick Horowitz | Posted 11.21.2008 | Business

Read More: Auto Companies, Economic Slowdown, Chrysler, Car Companies, Gas Prices, Bailout, General Motors, Economic Crisis, Economy, Exxonmobil, Ford, Oil Prices, Henry Paulson, Congress, Oil Companies, Business News
Rick Horowitz

Gas prices are down -- it's party time! All it takes is a hearty appetite, and a good-old-American willingness to forget that the rest of the storm is still headed our way.

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Can We?

Wendy Block | Posted 11.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: David Sirota, The Uprising, Lobbyists, Grassroots, Fun, Bailout Deal, Illegal Activity, Progressives, Amy Goodman, Community Organizer, Federal Reserve, Corporate, Congress, New Activists, Shareholder Dividends, Government, Gordon Brown, u.s. Economy Problems, Shock Doctrine, Movement, Obama Change, Samuel Beckett, Banks, Moveon, Bonuses, Gay Marriage Ban, Saul Alinsky, Democracy Now, Naomi Klein, Barack Obama, Politics News
Wendy Block

I'm not ready to return to the same non-adrenaline-rush grassroots work that propelled Obama and the Dems to such a decisive victory.

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The Neo-Cons Are Not Gone, Nor Forgotten

Brian Ross | Posted 11.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Russia, White House, Big Three Automakers, Economy, Executive Order, General Wesley Clark, Ford, Executive Orders, Congress, Scorch and Burn, Dick Cheney, Big Three, Scorched Earth, Chrysler, Bush Administration, Bush White House, General Motors, Neocons, Neo Con, Bush Legacy, Special Interests, Government Regulation, Politics News
Brian Ross

Much of the economic crisis is also being engineered by our sweet neo-cons to create an untenable situation for the Dems coming into power.

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The Hits Just Keep Coming

Lance Simmens | Posted 11.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: Barack Obama, Congress, Big Three Automakers, United Auto Workers, Detroit Bailout, Ford, Detroit Three, Automakers, Bailout, 2008 Election, Cars, Detroit Automakers, 2000 Election, Detroit Bailout Reaction, George W. Bush, Gm, Automaker Bailout, Chysler, The Big 3, Auto Industry, Detroit, Politics News
Lance Simmens

We have been rudderless for some time, and it shows. The call to public service is now more urgent than at any time in our nation's history.

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Bush Signs Extension For Jobless Benefits

AP | MARCY GORDON | Posted 11.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: George W. Bush, George Bush, Bush, President Bush, President George Bush, President George W. Bush, Congress, White House, Dow Jones, Senate, Jobless Rate, Jobless Benefits, Bush and Jobless Benefits, Politics News

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators will guarantee as much as $1.4 trillion in U.S. banks' debt in a bid to get the distressed financial system pump...

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Automakers Get Deadline To Make Their Case

AP | KEN THOMAS | Posted 11.21.2008 | Business

Read More: Automakers, Chrysler, Automaker Bailout, Gm, Robert Nardelli, Rick Wagoner, Ford, Big Three, Congress, Alan Mullaly, Business News

WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders ordered Detroit's Big Three automakers Friday to submit what amounts to a detailed loan application to Congress ...

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Dems delay auto bailout vote, seek plan from Big 3

AP | JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS | Posted 11.20.2008 | Business

Read More: Automakers, Chrysler, Automaker Bailout, Gm, Finance, Economy, Ford, Financial Crisis, Congress, Carl Levin, Business News

WASHINGTON — The $25 billion rescue plan for the auto industry, desperately sought by Detroit's beleaguered Big Three, collapsed Thursday as Con...

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Experts Insist Recent Sightings of Mythical "Democratic Spine" Just Another Hoax

Michael Gene Sullivan | Posted 11.20.2008 | Entertainment

Read More: Satire, President Obama, Backbone, Science, Obama Transition, Obama, Congress, Senate, Comedy, Lieberman, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Obama Administration, Democratic Senate, Democratic Backbone, Obama White House, Bush Administration, Political Humor, Democratic Administration, Republican Control, Anthropology, Republican Dynasty, Joe Lieberman, Democratic Spine, President Elect Obama, Entertainment News
Michael Gene Sullivan

Unlike the Abominable Snowman, scientists say the Spine of the Democratic Party is more than a fairy tale. Incredible as it seems, the legend of Democratic Backbone is based on historical fact.

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Public Employee Pensions are Not the Problem

Gerald McEntee | Posted 11.20.2008 | Business

Read More: Pensions, Retirement Security, U.S. Economy, Congress, States, Financial Crisis, Business News
Gerald McEntee

Right-wing critics of public employee pensions will use any angle to convince folks that these plans are bankrupting states, cities and towns. However, they are an essential part of the capital market.

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The Tear-Down (Detroit Edition)

Rev. Peter Laarman | Posted 11.19.2008 | Business

Read More: Auto Bailout, Wage Gap, Congress, Rust Belt, Economic Stimulus Package, Economy, Detroit Three, United Auto Workers, Automakers, Bailout, Automaker Bailout, Financial Crisis, Detroit Reaction, Auto Industry, Business News
Rev. Peter Laarman

The nation is said to be in need to some bottom-up economic stimulus. And now we're going to tear down what remains of the country's manufacturing core?

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Congress Scraps a Good Car with Bad Steering

Dan Treul | Posted 11.19.2008 | Business

Read More: Auto Industry, Auto Bailout, Congress, Uaw, Chrysler, Bailout, Economic Crisis, Economy, American Auto Industry, Big Three, Bachus, Gm, Auto Industry Bailout, Ford, American Automakers, Big Three Automakers, United Auto Workers, Detroit Bailout, Detroit Three, Automakers, Detroit Automakers, Cars, Detroit Bailout Reaction, Chysler, Automaker Bailout, The Big 3, Detroit, Business News
Dan Treul

No one - this Michigan resident included - is out to defend recent management of Ford, GM and Chrysler as "efficient." It doesn't take an industry analyst to determine the status quo broken.

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Don't Attach the Wrong Strings to the Auto Bailout

Harry Moroz | Posted 11.19.2008 | Business

Read More: Economic Stimulus Package, House, Taxes, Detroit, Harry Reid, Barabara Mikulski, Cars, Congress, Senate, Auto Bailout, Detroit Automakers, Auto Industry Bailout, Detroit Bailout Reaction, Detroit Bailout, Business News
Harry Moroz

A tax cut for new cars would encourage Americans to rack up more debt and buy the same gas guzzling cars without assisting the failing economy in a significant way.

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The Hidden Cost of the Gulf War

Eric Margolis | Posted 11.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: Iraq War, Congress, Saddam Hussein, Gulf War, U.S. Troops and Iraq and Home, British Troops in Iraq, Russia, Moscow, Iraq, Deet, Kuwait, Barack Obama, British, Paris, Afghanistan War, Politics News
Eric Margolis

While US casualties in Iraq appear relatively low -- 4,100 dead and 35,000 wounded -- the real health costs of Iraq will, as in the case of the First Gulf War, not be known for years.

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