Harry Reid Says GOP Should "Stop Crying" About Reconciliation
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Reid said reconciliation had been used 21 times since 1981, mostly by Republicans when they were in control of the Senate for the passage of items like the Bush tax cuts. (Here's a handy chart of when the procedure has been used.)
Under reconciliation, Democrats would need a simple majority in the Senate to pass legislation, as opposed to the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.
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James Traficant: Former Rep., Convicted Felon Plans to Run Again as Independent
(AP)
Traficant, who recently finished serving seven years in prison on bribery and racketeering charges, will run as an independent, he said on CNN today.
"I have been a Democrat all my life, and quite frankly I am disgusted with both parties," he said. "I hate to say this. My father is rolling over in his grave, a truck driver."
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McCain: Paulson, Bernanke Misled Me on Bank Bailout
(CBS)
Facing an aggressive primary challenge from Arizona conservative talk radio host J.D. Hayworth, McCain has been compelled in recent months to tack right on partisan issues and explain past votes.
In a meeting Thursday with the Republic's editorial board, McCain reportedly said Paulson and Bernanke initially assured him the $700 billion bailout would focus on the mortgage meltdown that spurred the financial crisis.
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Frank Lautenberg Has "Curable" Stomach Cancer
(AP)
Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg's office said today that the New Jersey senator has a "curable" stomach tumor.
The 86-year-old Lautenberg was hospitalized on Monday night after a fall at his home. His office originally said a bleeding ulcer was the cause for his hospitalization.
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Boehner: Imagine if I Was House Speaker
(AP)
As part of his introduction, audience members watched a montage of big Boehner moments on the House floor this past year: Boehner dropping the Democrat's health care bill on the floor in disgust, Boehner reading parts of the Democrat's cap and trade bill on the floor to make his point that members had no idea what was in it.
Boehner's speech was a list of promises that were meant to get the Republican base even more energized as they fight to take back the House in 2010. He called on these already-loyal conservatives to recruit their friends and neighbors in the fight.
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House Committee Sends Toyota's President Formal Invitation to Appear
(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
However, the New York Times reported that after persistent questioning, "Mr. Toyoda said he 'would consider' appearing before Congress if he receives a formal invitation, which none of the committees have issued."
That invitation came today from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, according to a press release issued.
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Evan Bayh: "I Do Not Love Congress"
(CBS)
"The peoples' business is not getting done," he said during a press conference on Monday. "I do not love Congress," he added.
He stated that his decision should not reflect badly on the Obama administration or his many friends in Congress, but his decision to exit politics sends a clear signal that Bayh was fed up with business as usual in Washington, which President Obama said he would change during his campaign and first year in office.
Bayh, whose re-election to a third term as senator in 2010 was not in doubt, pointed to two recent examples of partisan politics and ideologies that has frozen legislation in the nation's capital.
"Two weeks ago, the Senate voted down a bipartisan commission to deal with one of the greatest threats facing our nation: our exploding deficits and debt. The measure would have passed, but seven members who had endorsed the idea instead voted 'no' for short-term political reasons," he said in a statement.
"Just last week, a major piece of legislation to create jobs — the public's top priority — fell apart amid complaints from both the left and right. All of this and much more has led me to believe that there are better ways to serve my fellow citizens, my beloved state and our nation than continued service in Congress.
"I am an executive at heart and value my independence," Bayh said in criticizing partisanship. He said that he can best contribute to society by "helping grow a business, helping guide an institution of higher learning or helping run a worthy charitable endeavor."
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Dems Unveil Plan to Boost Campaign Finance Laws
(CBS)
coordinating the language with White House ethics officials and their allies in the reform movement.
The legislation attempts to predict the influence of the decision and create procedural deterrents to, for example, prevent the influence of foreign entities in U.S. elections. More to the point of campaigns, it attempts to give candidates and parties a bit of an advantage over corporations and labor unions.
Under the proposed law, corporations would not be able to spend money in U.S. elections if a majority of members of their board were foreign, if 20 percent or more of the company were foreign-owned, or if U.S. activities of the corporation fell under the direction of control of a foreign entity -- either a corporation, a person or a government. This is an easy pass.
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Will Dems Try to Kill the Filibuster?
(AP)
President Obama's nominee Craig Becker was rejected by the Senate yesterday. Even though 52 senators voted in favor of the union lawyer and only 33 voted against him, it takes 60 senators to overcome a "filibuster," a tool designed to prolong debate.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) told the Huffington Post that the filibuster is unsustainable.
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Scott Brown Writing a Book
(CBS)
"Sen. Brown is honored and humbled to be approached by many people who want him to tell his inspirational personal story about his life leading up to his election as a United States senator from Massachusetts," Gail Gitcho, Brown's Senate communications director, told Politico. "He will tell his story in a book in hopes of providing insight and encouragement to others and also to ensure that the record is complete and accurate."
Brown pulled off a stunning victory last month over Democrat Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate special election for the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
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More Photos from Snow-Covered Washington
Activity in Washington once again slowed to a standstill as massive amounts of snow have continued to pour on the nation's capital. With the National Weather Service issuing blizzard warning, the House has already postponed all votes until February 22.
Here are some photos of a very snowy White House and Capitol, courtesy of CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller and CBS News Capitol Hill Producer Jill Jackson
A view of the snowed in White House.
The icy driveway leading up to the West Wing.
A snow blower clears the path to the press room.
Jackson Place, directly across from the White House, appears eerily quiet and deserted.
A thick blanket of snow obscures the Capitol Building and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Here are some photos of a very snowy White House and Capitol, courtesy of CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller and CBS News Capitol Hill Producer Jill Jackson
(CBS / Mark Knoller)
A view of the snowed in White House.
(CBS / Mark Knoller)
The icy driveway leading up to the West Wing.
(CBS / Mark Knoller)
A snow blower clears the path to the press room.
(CBS / Mark Knoller)
Jackson Place, directly across from the White House, appears eerily quiet and deserted.
(CBS/ Jill Jackson)
A thick blanket of snow obscures the Capitol Building and Pennsylvania Avenue.
John Murtha Dies
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha, who represented Pennsylvania's 12th district for 36 years, died today at the age of 77. He died in an Arlington, Va. hospital with his family at his side after suffering complications from gallbladder surgery.
Murtha earned considerable influence in Congress as head of the powerful House Defense Appropriations subcommittee. He used his position of power to secure billions in federal tax dollars for his district, which has struggled with the widespread loss of coal and steel jobs, but came under intense scrutiny for his ties to companies for which he has secured earmarks.
Murtha, who joined Congress in 1974, was the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to the House. After 19 terms, he was one of the longest-serving members of the House and the eighth-most senior member. He was also the longest-serving member from Pennsylvania.
President Obama said today he was deeply saddened by the passing of Murtha, whom he called a "respected voice on issues of national security" with a "tough-as-nails reputation."
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Richard Shelby Holds Up Senate for Home State Pork
(AP)
The White House is slamming Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama for blocking Senate action on at least 70 of President Obama's nominations because he wants money for two projects in his home state.
In a gaggle with reporters this morning, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said "if you needed one example of what's wrong with this town, it might be that one senator can hold up 70 qualified individuals to make government work better because he didn't get his earmarks."
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Scott Brown Sworn Into Senate
Updated 5:57 p.m. Eastern Time
Sen. Scott Brown has been sworn in as the newest member of the United States Senate.
Brown, the Massachusetts Republican whose special election victory over Martha Coakley ended the Democrats' Senate supermajority, was sworn into office on the Senate floor by Vice President Joe Biden.
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Sen. Scott Brown has been sworn in as the newest member of the United States Senate.
Brown, the Massachusetts Republican whose special election victory over Martha Coakley ended the Democrats' Senate supermajority, was sworn into office on the Senate floor by Vice President Joe Biden.
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Scott Brown Will be Sworn in This Afternoon
(AP)
Vice President Biden will perform the swearing-in ceremonies on the Senate floor. There will then be a mock swearing-in in the Old Senate Chamber, followed by a press conference by Brown.
Brown was originally scheduled to be sworn in next week but asked yesterday for the timeline to be sped up.
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