Topic: U.S. House of Representatives

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Israel's coalition government: Israeli and Arab media react

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised Israel (and its Arab neighbors) when he announced the creation of a unity government on May 8: Israeli and Arab media react.
Marco Rubio & 9 likely Republican VP candidates

Too soon to start speculating about possible Republican vice-presidential candidates? Evidently not. Mitt Romney's rise to the level of presumptive presidential nominee seems to have given political writers and pundits the go-ahead to begin one of the favored handicapping contests in all of politics.
Newt Gingrich ethics investigation: 4 facts you haven't heard from him

Recently on the campaign trail, Newt Gingrich has made a number of forceful claims about the 1997 "reprimand" he received from the House Ethics Committee and challenged anyone to "go read the 1,300 pages” of the report. We did. Here’s what we found:
Five major SOPA supporters

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and its Senate counterpart, the Protect IP Act or PIPA, would allow the US government to seek a court order and even shut down websites that contain content or links “committing or facilitating online piracy.” Moreover, advertisers and Internet service providers would be banned from doing business with violators.
However, payment and advertising networks, search engines or service providers that take voluntary action to redress detected violations – by terminating businesses with transgressor sites or comply with the law – will be granted immunity from liability charges.
On Sept. 22, 2011, more than 350 trade associations, professional and labor organizations, and businesses signed a letter urging Congress to enact legislation to stop “rogue sites” from copyright infringement.
Here are five key SOPA and PIPA supporters:
Why 'temporary' tax cuts never die: Payroll tax and 3 other examples

One last bit of business for Congress in 2011 is to extend the tax breaks or tax fixes that, though designated “temporary,” get renewed year after year. Sixty-seven tax provisions set to expire Dec. 31. About half are typically extended retroactively.

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Pakistan jails CIA informant: US Senate panel votes to cut aid to Pakistan

A Senate committee voted on Thursday to cut Pakistan aid by $33 million – one million dollars for each year of a 33-year sentence Pakistan gave a doctor for helping the CIA track down Osama bin Laden.
GSA administrator behind Las Vegas conference no longer with agency

Officials confirmed that Jeffrey Neely is no longer an employee of the General Services Administration.
Decoder Wire
Is Congress broken? Startup Act shows what can work.

The Startup Act is a modest piece of pro-business legislation unveiled Tuesday. It won't change the world, but that's why it may pass. In a partisan Congress, 'good' may be better than 'perfect.' 
Thomas Hart Benton: A Life

Biographer Justin Wolff makes a strong case that Thomas Hart Benton played a central role as American art moved into the modern era.
China is a lead cyberattacker of US military computers, Pentagon reports

China is especially interested in gleaning how best to defend its own computer networks from cyberattack, says a Pentagon report on cyberwar threats. But China is also improving its offensive abilities.
House adopts hard line on Iran. Would stance move US closer to war?

A House resolution approved Thursday talks of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapons 'capability.' It's a murkier but redder line than obtaining weapons, and critics say it lowers the threshold for military action.
House passes Violence Against Women Act, grudgingly

The Violence Against Women Act breezed through the Congress in previous years, but it's suddenly a heavy lift. The GOP House passed its version of the bill on a largely party-line vote, but getting to yes with the Senate will be tough.
In Election 2012, how much is the House in play? Three sides to the story.

Steve Israel outlines his scenario for the Democrats winning back the House. Pete Sessions says the GOP could actually increase its hold. Analysts say the reality is somewhere in between.
Why Richard Lugar defeat scares tea party Republicans, too

House freshmen elected with tea party support see a warning in Sen. Richard Lugar's heavy defeat. If they don't start making progress on the tea party agenda, voters will throw them out.
Israel's coalition government: Israeli and Arab media react

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised Israel (and its Arab neighbors) when he announced the creation of a unity government on May 8: Israeli and Arab media react.
Lugar loss will mean new approach for Indiana in Congress

In addition to Lugar's Tea Party-backed opponent Richard Mourdock, three other Indiana races will see new faces.
Lugar primary loss a Tea Party victory

Six-term Senator Richard Lugar lost in Indiana's Republican primary to Richard Mourdock, a challenger backed by the tea party movement.
Liz Cheney: Are we ready for another political dynasty?

Liz Cheney – daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney – may be positioning herself to run for Congress from Wyoming, the state her father represented. Is America ready for another political dynasty?
The New Economy
Is US a model for austerity-wary Europe?

Despite its sluggishness, the US economy is growing while Europe's is contracting. A rising number of policymakers blame Europe's austerity moves.
US Senate race in Virginia shaping up as national battleground

In Virginia's US Senate race, Democrat Tim Kaine isn't Barack Obama, and Republican George Allen isn't Mitt Romney or the House GOP leadership. But you wouldn't know it from the special-interest ads pouring into this key battleground state.
Student loan bill? Not so fast.

Student loan bill, which would keep graduates' interest rate costs from doubling, gets caught up in election free-for-all. House passes student loan bill, despite Obama veto threat.
GOP-led House votes to keep rate low on student loans, as Obama balks

The White House says Obama will veto the House bill on student loans. It prefers a Senate measure that also helps debt-crushed students, but that covers the cost by closing a tax loophole benefiting the wealthy.
Cybersecurity bill (CISPA): After House passage, what will Senate do?

Sen. John McCain is pushing a voluntary cybersecurity approach, while another CISPA-type bill would require companies like electric utilities to meet federal cybersecurity standards.
Latin America Monitor
Mexico weighs law to compensate victims of drug violence

Mexico's Senate approved a law that would provide compensation of up to $70,000 to victims of organized crime, writes a guest blogger. It still needs approval from the House of Representatives.
House cybersecurity vote sets up Senate showdown, Obama threatens veto

Ignoring a White House veto threat, the House on Thursday approved the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, which would encourage companies and the federal government to share information collected on the Internet to help prevent electronic attacks.
House passes cybersecurity bill despite veto threat over privacy protections

The cybersecurity bill seeks to protect the nation from cyberattack, but concerns over how personal information is shared with the government and corporations has sparked opposition and a veto threat from the Obama administration.
Keystone XL pipeline: New route, new problems for Obama?

President Obama blocked the Keystone XL pipeline in January, saying Congress didn't allow enough time to assess the project. TransCanada has now proposed a new route though sensitive areas of Nebraska, and Republicans are trying to do an end run around Obama.
Change Agent
Boom in biking benefits everyone, not just bicyclists

All Americans are better off because biking and walking foster public health, stronger local communities and economies, less traffic congestion, safer streets, lower energy use, and a cleaner environment.
Decoder Wire
GSA scandal: Does agency have culture of waste, fraud, and abuse?

Critics of the huge federal bureaucracy have a history of missteps to cite, from well before the latest GSA scandal, in which Jeffrey Neeley authorized $823,000 for a conference in Las Vegas. 
Michigan teacher fired for Trayvon Martin hoodie fundraiser

Brooke Harris, an eighth grade English teacher, was fired after encouraging students raise money in support of Trayvon Martin's family. A petition has been started to reinstate Brooke Harris.