TheRepublic.com - United States Congress News

Whittemore's ethics, integrity touted at trial

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:28:05 -0400

RENO, Nevada - Two of Harvey Whittemore's long-time associates testified at his federal trial on charges of making illegal campaign contributions that the former Nevada developer and lobbyist is well known for his generosity and high integrity.

Super PAC created for possible Tillis Senate bid

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:25:42 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - Supporters of North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis have formed an independent committee to support his potential U.S. Senate bid next year.

Sen. Harkin's papers will go to Drake University

Fri, 24 May 2013 13:16:54 -0400

DES MOINES, Iowa - Sen. Tom Harkin will donate his papers to Drake University after plans to give them to a namesake institute at Iowa State University fell apart earlier this year, he announced Friday.

La. ranks high in gun violence, low in gun safety

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:52:25 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Louisiana has the highest rate of gun violence in the nation and the weakest gun safety laws, according to a recent national study, and state lawmakers are moving to expand the already permissive statutes.

Some unions now angry about health care overhaul

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:44:17 -0400

WASHINGTON - Some labor unions that enthusiastically backed President Barack Obama's health care overhaul are now frustrated and angry, fearful that it will jeopardize benefits for millions of their members.

Menino endorses Markey in Mass. Senate race

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:53:30 -0400

BOSTON - Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is lending his political clout to fellow Democrat Edward Markey in the state's special U.S. Senate election.

Michigan House, Senate chambers to get new carpet

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:44:50 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - The state House and Senate are in line for new carpet at the Capitol as part of a $370,000 project to spruce up the aging floor, officials said.

Hatch solicits Utahns' help in probing IRS miscues

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:20:32 -0400

PROVO, Utah - Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch is asking his constituents to help blow the whistle on the Internal Revenue Service.

Rounds hires campaign consultant with SD history

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:28:11 -0400

PIERRE, South Dakota - Former Gov. Mike Rounds' campaign for the U.S. Senate has hired a Republican political consultant known for his role in a prior Senate race in South Dakota.

Rep. Duncan thanking veterans, first responders

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:07:32 -0400

LAURENS, South Carolina - U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan is touring his South Carolina district over the Memorial Day weekend to thank veterans and first responders for their service.

Obama balances threats against Americans' rights

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:41:50 -0400

WASHINGTON - Forecasting the changing nature of threats against the U.S. for years to come, President Barack Obama says "America is at a crossroads." And so, too, is his presidency's counterterrorism policy, which has long struggled to balance protecting the nation from terror attacks while upholding Americans' rights.

Dewhurst wants special session on failed GOP bills

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:10:32 -0400

FORT WORTH, Texas - With legislative adjournment looming on Monday, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he wants Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session to seek passage of failed legislation insisted upon by conservative Republicans.

Sen. Cowan to address BC Law School commencement

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:07:08 -0400

BOSTON - Massachusetts U.S. Sen. William "Mo" Cowan will be delivering the commencement address at Boston College Law School.

Rep. Jo Bonner resigning to take Ala. college post

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:41:18 -0400

MOBILE, Alabama - U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner announced Thursday that he is resigning from Congress effective in August to take a post with the University of Alabama system.

Weiner gets started stumping in NYC mayoral race

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:06:18 -0400

NEW YORK - Anthony Weiner set out to reintroduce himself to voters Thursday as he embarked on a mayoral bid after leaving Congress in a sexting scandal. He found a much more supportive reception in his first day of campaigning than he did from the state's top Democrat, who bluntly criticized his candidacy a day earlier.

Milestones for Guantanamo Bay detention center

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:01:25 -0400

President Barack Obama on Thursday reaffirmed his 2008 campaign promise to close the military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where terror suspects have been held since 2002, and begin the transfer of some prisoners to other countries. A look the facility's history:

Wyden zeros in on plan to boost logging revenue

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:52:11 -0400

GRANTS PASS, Oregon - Sen. Ron Wyden is zeroing in on his plan for boosting logging on federal lands in Western Oregon and helping rural counties beset by money problems.

NY senator: Assaults let military culture continue

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:49:38 -0400

ALBANY, New York - Charges that an Army sergeant secretly photographed and videotaped women at West Point are part of a military-wide pattern of sexual misconduct, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Thursday.

Rep. Jo Bonner resigning to take Ala. college post

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:08:04 -0400

MOBILE, Alabama - U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner announced Thursday that he is resigning from Congress effective in August to take a post with the University of Alabama system.

IRS replaces official in tea party controversy

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:26:59 -0400

WASHINGTON - Moving quickly to stem a raging controversy, the new acting head of the Internal Revenue Service started cleaning house Thursday by replacing the supervisor who oversaw agents involved in targeting tea party groups.

Tobacco farmers notch legislative victory

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:18:11 -0400

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Tobacco farmers long on the defensive notched a victory Thursday when the U.S. Senate fended off efforts to eliminate the federal insurance program for the embattled crop.

New federal prosecutor nominated for Chicago

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:53:43 -0400

CHICAGO - The Obama administration has chosen a private attorney and former federal prosecutor who helped send former Illinois Gov. George Ryan to prison for corruption to head the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, Illinois' senators announced Thursday.

Tea party vs. old guard in GOP Senate rift

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:52:36 -0400

WASHINGTON - A long-simmering feud between establishment Republicans and tea partyers broke into full view Thursday, with Sen. John McCain accusing younger colleagues of overplaying their hands and tempting Democrats to change Senate rules that protect the minority party.

Mass. Senate candidate Markey to release returns

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:21:25 -0400

BOSTON - Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Edward Markey agreed Thursday to release his tax returns dating back to 2005, one more year than was previously released by his opponent Gabriel Gomez, in a day of campaigning in which money from outside groups was at issue as well.

Markey, Gomez agree to 2nd Mass. US Senate debate

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:16:24 -0400

BOSTON - Democrat Edward Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez have agreed to another televised debate in their race for the state's special U.S. Senate election.