Topic: U.S. Congress

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10 influential authors who came to the US as immigrants

These 10 immigrant authors have all made significant contributions to US literature and culture.
6 reasons why President Obama will defeat the NRA and win universal background checks

Something is going to happen this session in the US Congress that hasn’t happened in more than a decade: The National Rifle Association (NRA) is going to lose on a top priority issue. Here are six reasons why President Obama will win a victory on universal background checks.
Four job trends for 2013

With unemployment still high, many Americans are looking to find a job, change careers, or update their skills. Here are four trends for 2013 that can help you make smart career moves.
Senate freshmen: What the 14 new members bring to Capitol Hill

A freshman Senate class was sworn in Jan. 3, bringing diverse skills and experience – not to mention agendas – to the legislative body. Whether the 14 newest senators help break partisan gridlock, or refuse to work across the aisle, will be the test for the 113th Congress.Twelve were elected on Nov. 6, including three Republicans, eight Democrats, and an independent. In addition, a Republican and a Democrat were appointed to vacant seats after the election. Here is a look at the 14 and what they bring to the Senate:
Jobs report: 3 views on the best way to create jobs in the US

The Labor Department reported Friday that the economy added 171,000 jobs in October, while unemployment rose to 7.9 percent. As the eighth and final installment of our One Minute Debate series for election 2012, three writers give their brief take on the best way to create jobs in the United States.

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Greek financial crisis: It's not like the US

Greek financial crisis is being treated like the US financial crisis – a liquidity problem. But Greece's problem is insolvency, and liquidity won't help.
Afghan security forces still not so secure after NATO boost

NATO surge strategy aims to boost Afghan security forces. But, as the recent assassination of a provincial police chief of Kandahar showed, they're still far form secure.
How likely is 5 percent growth in a decade?

Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty wants to grow the economy by 5 percent, just like Reagan and Clinton did. But are those wise examples to bring up?
Gates rebukes Europe for lacking commitment to NATO

Secretary of Defense Gates said today in Brussels that NATO isn't pulling its weight in Afghanistan and Libya. Without more support from Europe, he said, NATO's future is 'dim if not dismal.'
In Pictures: Leon Panetta's career
Afghans concur with Congress that aid money is often misspent

A congressional report released Wednesday on the $18.8 billion that Congress appropriated for Afghan development says the aid often funds fruitless projects.
Political misquotes: The 10 most famous things never actually said

Captain Kirk never said "Beam me up, Scotty!" Ilsa Laszlow never said, "Play it again, Sam," and Sherlock Holmes never said, "Elementary, my dear Watson." But these misquotes remain firmly lodged in the public consciousness, even though they appear nowhere in the original works. The same is true for things "said" – that is, widely attributed to, but not actually said – by political figures. Sometimes a misquote is cooked up by opponents or parodists as a way of discrediting or mocking the figure. Sometimes a line is attributed to a widely admired person as a way of making it sound more authoritative, like when someone co-signs a loan. And sometimes it's just a mistake. Here are 10 of the most widely believed – but completely bogus – things ever "said" by political figures.
Don't dump Pakistan

After the Osama bin Laden raid, the mood in Washington over Pakistan is sour. The US is right to challenge Pakistani actions and policies contrary to US interests. But giving Pakistan the cold shoulder and throwing it into the arms of China would be dangerously foolish.
Can we please stop calling it a peace process?

Recognizing that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process exists in name only is a far cry from saying peace is impossible. Rather, it might actually allow rhetoric to focus more on making tough compromises.
Why such a warm reception for Benjamin Netanyahu at US Congress?

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu drew a line in the sand Tuesday during his speech to the US Congress, regarding future borders with any new Palestinian state. The applause was enthusiastic.
Netanyahu's real message to Congress: There will be no peace talks

OK, those words didn't come out of his mouth. But that's the practical meaning of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress this morning.
Netanyahu's make-or-break speech to Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, long criticized for being passive and reactionary, is under pressure to exhibit the Zionist legacy of risk-taking and initiative in his address to Congress today.
Medicare, entitlements on the table for cuts: Pelosi

Medicare, Social Security, and other entitlements must be looked at for cuts, House minority leader says. But in addition to Medicare, Congress should cut subsidies to oil industry.
Opinion: Will Putin trump Medvedev and return Russia – and US ties – to Soviet era?

The ideological divide in Russia between Soviet-tending Putin and pro-Western Medvedev makes it tough for the US to set policies with Moscow. But a more difficult scenario is likely to come: anti-Western Putin in power in 2012. Obama must send a strong message to Moscow now, not later.
How much does US-China trade hurt American workers? Slowly, a clearer picture.

A study published earlier this year suggests that imports in US-China trade have had a significant negative impact not just on factory workers but also on their communities.
Opinion: Arab Spring, not Osama bin Laden's fall, will determine Middle East's fate

The Arab Spring will be even more significant and enduring than the historic operation that killed Osama bin Laden. And with bin Laden gone, it'll be harder for President Obama to justify spending more than $100 billion a year for military operations in Afghanistan.
Palestinian unity deal gives Netanyahu new line of attack

In upcoming visits to the US and Europe, Israel's prime minister is likely to argue against UN recognition of Palestinian statehood now that Hamas is joining Fatah at the helm.
If Palestinian rift is healed, does that help US aims in Middle East?

Analysts see some good news for the US, but mostly bad in a Palestinian rift-ending accord. The deal is also seen as a hint of things to come in the increasingly democratic Middle East.
Opinion: Who's to blame for rising oil prices? Speculators

Many blame Middle East turmoil or a weak dollar for rising oil prices, but they provide only a partial explanation. The chief culprit is speculation in oil markets. Fortunately, it can be stemmed with several regulatory steps.
Ai Weiwei arrest: Why no one in China is safe from those in power

The Chinese Communist authorities' detainment of well-known artist Ai Weiwei is shocking even to a hardened dissident like me. It once again reveals the essence of the Chinese state for all the world to see: the rule by law for the authorities instead of the rule of law for the people.
How Speaker Boehner brought a recalcitrant tea party to the budget deal

The budget deal marks the debut of an 87-member GOP freshman class committed to deep spending cuts. Speaker John Boehner defied his critics to rally his caucus and produce an agreement, without shutting down government.
Opinion: If Obama can bomb Libya, a President Palin can bomb Iran without Congress's OK

President Obama's bombing of Libya without congressional authorization or debate puts us on a dangerous path. A minimum standard for transparency in government is that the House and the Senate go on the record for or against a new war.
Libya intervention: Tea party and liberal Democrats make unusual allies

On Capitol Hill, the Libya intervention has elicited antiwar voices from opposite ends of the political spectrum. Their point in common: The power to make war resides with Congress.
Can media piracy be stopped?

Media piracy is rampant in emerging economies. A new study looks at how it can be controlled.
House Republicans propose new budget deadline, again: April 8

With the House and Senate no closer to agreeing on a federal budget – already five months overdue – House Republicans suggest moving back the deadline for a sixth time.