TheRepublic.com - Barack Obama News

Markey, Gomez clash in final US Senate debate

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:32:45 -0400

BOSTON - Republican Gabriel Gomez and Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey clashed over Markey's record in Congress and Gomez's background in business during the final and often testy debate of their U.S. Senate campaign.

CBO: Senate Immigration bill would help economy

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:09:32 -0400

WASHINGTON - Sweeping immigration legislation moving toward a vote in the Senate would boost the economy and reduce federal deficits, the Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday, at the same time it would bestow legal status on an estimated 8 million immigrants living in the United States unlawfully.

House passes far-reaching anti-abortion bill

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:40:27 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Republican-led House on Tuesday passed a far-reaching anti-abortion bill that conservatives saw as a milestone in their 40-year campaign against legalized abortion and Democrats characterized as yet another example of a GOP war on women.

Groundbreaking held for new Ohio River bridge

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:38:15 -0400

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - The countdown is complete for the start of work on a new Ohio River bridge linking Louisville and Southern Indiana along a key transportation artery.

Obama declares disaster for Michigan spring floods

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:04:06 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - President Barack Obama has issued a disaster declaration for Michigan to aid the recovery effort from severe spring flooding.

Ohio lawmakers offer 2 bills to change Medicaid

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:37:49 -0400

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Proposed changes to the Medicaid program in Ohio are unlikely to clear the Legislature before lawmakers break at the end of the month, the Republican leader of the House said Tuesday.

IRS worker: No political bias against tea party

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:26:47 -0400

WASHINGTON - An Internal Revenue Service manager and self-described conservative Republican said the close scrutiny of tea party groups' tax forms originated in his Cincinnati IRS office and not in Washington, according to a full transcript of his interview by congressional investigators released Tuesday.

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:21:52 -0400

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country's security to the Afghan army and police.

Senate panel advances bills on lands, Denali name

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:13:10 -0400

JUNEAU, Alaska - A U.S. Senate committee on Tuesday advanced legislation that would provide $50 million to clean up abandoned federal wells on current or former National Petroleum Reserve lands.

Star-studded party for Israeli president's 90th

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:55:13 -0400

JERUSALEM - Israeli and global leaders, local celebrities and Hollywood superstars celebrated under one roof Tuesday to honor Israeli President Shimon Peres for his upcoming 90th birthday, reflecting world respect for one of the country's peace pioneers.

Editorial: G-8 summit spurs work on historic trade deal

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:52:53 -0400

An editorial / By Dale McFeatters - The best thing to come out of the Group of Eight economic summit in Northern Ireland may be the start of negotiations eventually leading to a United States-European Union free trade pact, creating a bloc covering half the world's economy.

Senators to Obama: Arming Syrian rebels not enough

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:51:14 -0400

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan trio of key senators is demanding that President Barack Obama take more decisive action to stem the military advance by Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces.

Treasury unveils Lew's improved signature

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:41:33 -0400

WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew won't win any prizes in penmanship, but his official signature which will go on the nation's currency is at least a slight improvement over the loopy scrawl he had a few months ago.

Ark. Gov. Beebe seeks federal disaster declaration

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:27:18 -0400

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - Gov. Mike Beebe has sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting a major disaster declaration for 12 Arkansas counties that were affected by severe storms, tornadoes and floods beginning in late May.

NSA director says plot against Wall Street foiled

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:26:41 -0400

WASHINGTON - The U.S. foiled a plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange because of the sweeping surveillance programs at the heart of a debate over national security and personal privacy, officials said Tuesday at a rare open hearing on intelligence led by lawmakers sympathetic to the spying.

AP EXCLUSIVE: US war games send signal to Assad

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:23:23 -0400

ZARQA, Jordan - Under the watchful eye of stern-faced American advisers, hundreds of U.S.-trained Jordanian commandos fanned across this dusty desert plain, holding war games that could eventually form the basis of an assault in Syria.

Schram: Nunn-Lugar's reprieve aids global security

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:21:36 -0400

By MARTIN SCHRAM - Little noticed amid the U.S.-Russian disagreement over Syria's civil war, Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin reached a last-minute agreement Monday that may prove more vital to long-term global security.

House, Senate on diverging paths on agency budgets

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:02:45 -0400

WASHINGTON - Republicans controlling the House unveiled slashing cuts Tuesday to a program that helps localities build community development projects, while their rivals in the Democratic-led Senate proposed to restore GOP cuts to international food aid and nutrition help for pregnant women.

Syrian warplanes strike rebel posts in Aleppo

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:57:58 -0400

BEIRUT - Syrian warplanes struck rebel positions near a besieged military air base and other rebel-held areas in the country's north Tuesday as regime forces stepped up attacks against opposition fighters in the key province of Aleppo, activists said.

Ambrose: The path to violence control

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:52:04 -0400

By JAY AMBROSE - The killings in Chicago are easing up, thanks to special cop programs. That was the good news from The New York Times recently, although then, not many days later, there was another spate of deadly shootings, telling us that even though law enforcement efforts matter, lots of other things matter, too.

G-8 seeks unity on Syrian peace talks, tax evasion

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:51:26 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other G-8 leaders attempted to speak with one voice Tuesday on seeking a negotiated Syrian peace settlement - yet couldn't publicly agree on whether this means President Bashar Assad must go.

McCaskill endorses Ready for Hillary group

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:28:24 -0400

WASHINGTON - Sen. Claire McCaskill endorsed an outside political group encouraging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016, saying it was important for Democrats to build a groundswell of support for the former secretary of state.

Here's what to watch for Wednesday from the Fed

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:22:15 -0400

WASHINGTON - What the world hopes to hear Wednesday from the Federal Reserve can be summed up in one word: clarity.

Syrian pound tumbles on US plans to arm rebels

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:06:25 -0400

DAMASCUS, Syria - Many exchange shops closed in Damascus on Tuesday, fearing more chaos a day after the Syrian currency plunged to a new record low, reflecting growing fears in the capital following a U.S. decision to arm rebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar Assad's regime.

Yarmuth announces he'll run for another term

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:01:39 -0400

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - The only Democrat left in Kentucky's congressional delegation says he will run for re-election next year.