U.S. House Passes "hate crime" bill that Bush opposed

In the hustle and bustle of Washington, we sometimes forget to look at the bread and butter of what goes on there. Though Arlen Specter's party-switch is definitely significant, I prefer to look at good old fashioned law-making. Here we have a story discussing visible policy shifts from administration to administration. Hate crime legislation has always been a hot-button issue in American political circles, and it seems we might see the debate's first major development in a long time.

How It Came Down to This: 244 Democrats, 0 Republicans

An interesting article about moderates and bipartisanship

Specter: I'm not an automatic 60th vote

More fallout and reaction to the big news of the day.

An you all thought my gallery of party switchers was a bad a idea....

Shift of Power

The switch by Specter will allow him to gain traction within the Democratic Party leading up to 2010 and allow him to raise campaign finances much more easy along with not having to answer a litany of questions from reporters every time he votes with the Democrats.

A rare event with potentially huge impact

I am conjuring up a vision of United States congressmen as single-minded seekers of reelection.

Arlen Specter to convert to Democratic Party!

Wow! CNN just reported that Arlen Specter will join the Democrats (no link yet, but hopefully this story will flesh out soon). This is huge news. He will most likely remain fairly conservative, but what a smack in the face of the Republican party. Also, considering he is up for reelection in 2010, do you think this move will help or hurt his reelection chances? Will any Democrats run against him in the primary?

Clinton says U.S. no longer AWOL on climate changeStory Highlights

The US, EU, and 15 other nations will meet in a prepatory session before a UN meeting in December. The goal will be to replace the Kyoto Treaty which expires in 2012.

Lawmakers Arrested

I guess those who make the law are not about the law. Five lawmakers from different parts of the country are arrested while protesting the expulsion of aid groups in Darfur in front of the Sudanese Embassy.

New York's 20th District Seat Finally Filled

Not as dramatic as the MN Senate race, but it took four weeks to finally decide a winner for NY-20 Congressional District. In a continuation of the results from the 2008 elections, Republicans are still on the losing end, even in a district they held for decades.

Measuring success in the first 100 days of the 111th

The first 100 days is apparently not only a measure for Presidential success, but for Congressional success as well. The 111th Congress has undergone some of the most activity since the 1930's (although without the same level of success) and still has more on the agenda.

The new Congress, led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, have had to deal with crisis management in an economic period of unrest. From bailing out banks, TARP, investigating CEO bonus pay, and passing the largest stimulus in history, the real work has yet to be done.

Language has always been key in the fight on the Hill, especially when talking about "stimulus" which was branded a "spending bill" by Congressional GOP'ers. On the other side, the "stimulus" was a "Recovery Act" to Democrats. Congress seems to be as hyperpartisan as always, as seen in the passage of said stimulus in the House of Representatives, where it made it through without a single Republican vote supporting it.  

"And while the first 100 days saw unprecedented new spending, an extension of health insurance for children, and new employee rights in wage discrimination cases, most votes and debates followed party lines. One thing Congress has not achieved in this first 100 days is clear: that much talked about spirit of bipartisanship."

1. With more on the agenda, such as the reforms in the health care system, how long can President Obama expect to have the same level of support now that his first 100 days are coming to a close?
2. Do you feel that "the first 100 days" is even a valid measure in modern politics, considering it was first used by FDR after his election in 1933?
3. Can Congressional Democrats hold the reigns of power long enough to pass the projects they have waited years to push (such as education reform, a new energy policy, universal health care, etc.)?

Democrats push for investigations into interrogation

Democrats in both chambers of Congress are beginning to push for investigations into whether or not the Bush administration used illegal techniques when questioning detainees who were suspected of terrorism, and whether or not criminal charges are in order. Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is leading the charge in pressuring the Obama administration to do more.

President Obama stated earlier that he will not seek charges against any CIA official who was found to have used the techniques in question (possibly to keep good relations with the intelligence community, who he desperately needs the support), and has said that he is open to charges against those who drafted the policies in question (the Bush administration lawyers and policy makers). However, he has deferred this power to his Attorney General, Eric Holder. Republicans in Congress are claiming that this is simply a move to settle old political scores, and this type of action does no good for the country. And of course, Joe Lieberman is opposed to looking into any misdeeds that the Bush administration may have committed.

1. Should Democrats investigate the former administration for possibly breaking the law? Would such an investigation help or harm the DNC nationally?
2. How far should the investigation go? If it turns out that orders came from President Bush, should he be held accountable for violating any laws?
3. When comparing the investigation of Bill Clinton to the possible investigation of George W. Bush, have the Republicans already forgotten about their personal political score settling?

House Heavyweight Feels Threat to Power

More scandals brewing. Money & politics, two great tastes that taste even better together.

John Murtha:

If I am corrupt it is because I take care of my district.

Congress, interest groups gear up for highway bill

As discussed in class on Wednesday, lobbyist groups spend large amounts of money advocating to legislators for their causes. With that said, I think many of these groups should start investing more of their money into the actual implementation of their desired projects. I realize that some groups do in fact donate money to such funds, but think that their money would be more wisely spent if they directed their money towards their projects' implementation, rather than using their resources to "buy off' legislators. Personally, I think that with the public's growing distrust in Congress' relations with lobbyist groups, having these groups show that their money is going directly the execution of such a project instead of paying for a Congressman's fine dining bill or luxury vacation would sway the public to rally more favorably towards their cause. I think that plenty of people would favor Congress' decision to pass a $470 billion dollar program to re-vamp the transportation system, if they were to know that the special interest groups advocating the project, were actually going to be paying for a substantial part of the bill. Sure, this course of action would not give legislators the exclusive "perks" they seem to enjoy, but if the public had a more positive view on Congress' actions, maybe this could persuade voters to keep them in office.

Fundraising Shows Cantor’s Growing Clout Within GOP

Someone's arrived:

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor ’s monster first-quarter campaign finance report is no more remarkable for its impressive bottom line — $963,900 — than for what it says about his exploding share of Republican fundraising clout.

Guantanamo Bay

Why does it seem to suddenly be an issue for Congress to decide. If my memory serves me correctly the Bush administration was free to dictate the creation and implementation of Gitmo. Now, it seems as though Congress wants its say in deciding what will happen with the terrorist prison. What seems to be the reason for the switch, the change in party in the White House, or new sentiments over who has the authority to decide what haooens to these prisoners? Weigh in...

Kohl now leaning moderate

Senator herb Kohl is now joining a coalition of 15 Democrats who are committed to be more fiscally responsible. Kohl Said that he wants to be more responsible because he fears that some initiatives being put out there that could hurt Wisconsinites. With the senate being a super majoritarian institution, this kind of coalition could hurt the more liberal dems. Kohl is specifically against the cap and trade measure that could raise energy bills on coal burning states like Wisconsin. Both him and Sen. Feingold voted against the measure.

Overview: Congress Works Toward Energy Compromise

A first -ever cap and trade system is in sight. Some interesting obstacles to success: getting moderate Dems on board, mitigating externalities of a the new policy(In terms of higher energy costs) , will the rest of the industrialised world get down on this and how are will this policy be enforced?

Nate Silver explains why Congressional elections are rarely well contested

Gov. Rick Perry (TX) talking about secessation

Some perspectives from bloggers on Rick Perry insinuating that Texas may secede. Matthew Yglesias makes an interesting point about Congress, however:
One advantage of large-scale secession of the most conservative states is that it would be a lot easier to pass progressive legislation. An aspect of Civil War history that people don’t tend to appreciate is that the temporary departure of the Dixie bloc of Senators allowed a huge flowering of legislative activity that wouldn’t otherwise have been possible. In addition to prosecuting the war, the Lincoln-era GOP took sweeping action on industrial policy, infrastructure, land reform, etc. much of which would have been extraordinarily difficult to accomplish had the southerners just stayed in their seats and used the considerable levers of obstruction that are available to legislative minorities.

Cornyn Endorsing Specter

Apparently the GOP realizes that a super-conservative can't win a Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Specter is still looking to be on shaky ground, however.

Pirates vow to kill U.S., French sailors

Somali Pirates weren't vary happy when SEAL snipers took out three of their buddies. They vowed to use harsher tactics with Amercian and French hostages and kill them if they are Navy sailors.

Arlen Specter has a primary opponent

This relates to earlier in the semester when we spoke about candidates needing to be at the median of their party as well as at the median of their district. It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. Will a vicious primary leave Pennsylvania with 2 Democratic senators?

Judges Country's Most Trusted Mathematicians

It appears that some of Minnesota's most trusted judicial officials can count.

Obama to ask congress for more war money

President Obama is asking for for more money to help the war effort in Afghanistan. Congress is mixed about this. The anti-war democrats wont support the extra funds but it has the supports of republicans. The minority leader John Boehner is ready so support this war effort but is weary of the president's leadership. It does look as though that the president will get his way and congress will most likely pass the extra amount. It is situations like this wonder how Obama's relationship with congress will develop over the years? I feel like the president does a lot to work with the minority party in congress.

Democrat wins Rahm Emanuel's Ill. Congress seat

Quigley handily wins Rahm Emanuel's Ill. Congress seat. Republican challenger Pulido gets burned after trying to campiagn in a democratic stronghold without her partie's support.

An Article about Pelosi

Maybe she doesn't have a personal army. I'm not convinced though.

Better Know A District

I'm pretty sure that Congressman Maffei is not nearly as safe as Congressman Wexler was... This could get interesting in 2010.

Ohio Redistricting Competition

The goal of the Ohio Redistricting Competition is to demonstrate that an open process based on objective criteria can produce fair legislative districts in Ohio. During the competition, it is our belief that a robust public conversation about the process can occur, leading to the development of the best possible redistricting recommendations for consideration by the Ohio General Assembly.

The Ohio Redistricting Competition represents the culmination of over nine months of planning amongst the League of Women Voters of Ohio (LWVO), Ohio Citizen Action, Common Cause, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Former State Representative Joan Lawrence, and State Representative Dan Stewart.

via The Monkey Cage

The world of politics works in strange ways

Despite the obvious wrongdoings of former Senator Stevens of Alaska he will walk clean in his ethics violations case. Not because of actual innocence, but because of more incompetence by the people who were in government positions to carry out the prosecution of former Senator Stevens. Who was the more incompetent, Stevens or the prosecutors? You make the call.

Obama Vs. Congress

The Importance of the Median Voter

Pretty incredible election results so far to fill (now Senator) Gillibrand's House seat.

Congress and Cuba

Cuba may be a new tourist attraction for many Americans soon. There are 20 senators looking to lift the embargo against Cuba. They see the post-Castro regime coming closer and closer and there could be an opening for freedom there. These senators argue against the original principals that the embargo was supposed to do. The embargo was supposed let communism fail by suppressing trade from the US. Cuba has learned to survive without it. The strategy to suppress totalitarianism by letting Cuban see how we live. Congress has not yet set a date to go over the proposed bill but it could come soon. Pres. Obama could be looking for some changes. During the campaign he suggested that change was a possibility.

Not very educational

I know this isn't educational at all, just kind of funny to me. I never thought of Russ Feingold as being a Dylan fan, or any 60's/70's music fan at all. Who knew?

Sen. Chris Dodd facing a strong challenger in the 2010 Dem. Primary?

Just a little blurb about a challenger looking into his chances for Chris Dodd's Senate seat. 

House approves FDA regulation of tobacco products

Earlier this week, as part of the effort to prevent tobacco use, the House of Representatives passed legislation allowing the Federal government to regulate the production of tobacco products (including smokeless tobacco i.e. "chew" tobacco). I find myself on the wire with this subject, while I am an advocate for tobacco use prevention and agree that there should be stricter regulations on the most dangerous and "lethal of all consumer products", to quote Sen. Ted Kennedy, I can see how the sponsored support from Phillip Morris USA may create a government created monopoly, and personally do not think the government should have authority to create a monopoly any such consumer products. I will be interested to see how the Senate will vote, and also to see exactly how these FDA regulations will be exectuted and their direct and indirects on tobacco use.

Paul Ryan Leads Way for GOP Budget

While Kohl is taking on the BCS, Paul Ryan from Wisconsin's 1st district and ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee has come up and proposed an alternative budget. This alternative details how it will: 1) fulfill the mission of health and retirement security; 2) control our nation's debts; 3) put the economy on a path of growth and leadership in the global economy; and 4) preserve the American legacy of leaving the next generation better off. It will be interesting to see how the Democratic majority responds to this alternative, be it voting it down, or finding some compromise.

Herb Kohl Takes On Crucial Issues

The BCS??!! I understand that it is a rather controversial issue to many Americans, but with all the other issues of our time, isn't there something else that Kohl could be in charge of? Better yet, why does Congress even bother with this anyway. Outside of hurting those who may be involved in gambling situations that deal with the BCS, who is the government protecting by taking this on? This seems to be a waste of time, money, and resources to me, and kind of sad that Kohl is the chairman on this issue.

Justice Dept. Seeks To Void Stevens' Conviction

April fools Stevens walks! Shouldn't this case have been a slam dunk? Are the prosecuters in contempt going to be repremanded in someway or is losing the case their punishment?