TheRepublic.com - Legislature hearings News

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.

Smooth confirmation hearing for Pritzker

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:56:09 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary was questioned briefly about her ties to a subprime mortgage lender that failed in 2001 and her role as a beneficiary of family offshore trusts in the Bahamas, but those were minor bumps in an otherwise smooth Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.

Dem lawmaker sets hearing on AZ Guard misconduct

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:14:21 -0400

PHOENIX - A Democratic state lawmaker plans to hold a hearing into misconduct at the Arizona National Guard revealed in a newspaper and National Guard investigation.

Senators warm to transportation nominee

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:13 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's nominee for transportation secretary - Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx - received a friendly reception from senators of both parties Wednesday laced with warnings that the nation needs to make a host of transportation improvements with no clear way to pay for them.

Divergent opinions offered on education standards

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:44:38 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Education standards adopted in Wisconsin and 44 other states are either a rigorous benchmark that will improve student performance, or they're a dangerous intrusion on local control masterminded by the federal government, speakers said at a joint legislative hearing Wednesday.

Congress measures Charlotte's Foxx for Cabinet job

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:32:23 -0400

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx has an interview for promotion to a national job.

Apple case seen as possible spur to tax action

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:15:07 -0400

WASHINGTON - Now that tech darling Apple Inc. has been dragged front and center into the debate over the U.S. tax code, lawmakers are hoping that the spotlight on such a high-profile company could be the catalyst for Congress to take action to close loopholes or reform the law.

Maine residents discuss abortion bills

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:01:19 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Members of a legislative committee have heard some emotional testimony from people on both sides of the abortion issue.

Jane Kelly's experience rare on US appeals court

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:26:35 -0400

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Jane Kelly will become a federal appeals court judge Friday with an unusual background that supporters say makes her a perfect fit for the job and a potential U.S. Supreme Court candidate someday.

Ore. lawmaker: Rule-breaking coaches should pay

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:07:24 -0400

SALEM, Oregon - One Oregon state lawmaker wants to make college coaches pay up if their recruiting methods break the rules.

Holder defends subpoenas for AP telephone records

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:29:02 -0400

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress Wednesday that a serious national security leak required the secret gathering of telephone records at The Associated Press as he stood by an investigation in which he insisted he had no involvement.

Guns on campus bill heads to full Texas Senate

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:00:25 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - A bill to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons into Texas college buildings and classrooms got a significant boost in the state Senate on Tuesday, but it remains unclear if it has enough momentum to become law.

Texas House votes to weaken university regents

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:38:38 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas lawmakers moved to assert more control over state higher education on Monday when the House voted to require that most university regents be appointed while lawmakers are in session, and limit their powers to fire campus presidents.

Congressional panel on guns holds Hartford hearing

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:58:37 -0400

HARTFORD, Connecticut - U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson of California says lawmakers who oppose criminals and the mentally ill getting guns but vote against background checks are being "intellectually dishonest."

NH Senate hears from public on the budget

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:49:21 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - More than 100 New Hampshire residents spoke out on behalf of the state funded programs they hope will be supported in the next budget at a Senate hearing Thursday, with many calling for the cuts made in the last two-year spending plan to be restored.

Boston chief: Wasn't told FBI got Tsarnaev warning

Thu, 09 May 2013 17:23:45 -0400

WASHINGTON - The FBI did not initially share with Boston police the warnings it had received from Russia about one suspect in last month's marathon bombings, despite the work of four city police representatives on a federal terrorism task force, Boston's police commissioner told Congress on Thursday.

AP Exclusive: Commander cites 'rot' in nuke force

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:39:19 -0400

WASHINGTON - It was an attitude problem, Air Force commanders insisted, not a matter of competence. And besides, they contended, security was never at risk in spite of what one commander called "rot" in the crew force.

Protesters blocked from NY campaign funds hearing

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:37:12 -0400

ALBANY, New York - Protesters and good-government advocates were barred from a public hearing Tuesday in which Republican senators bolstered their opposition to using public money to fund campaigns.

Mo. Senate wants hearings on new ed. standards

Tue, 07 May 2013 05:04:20 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to legislation requiring the state education department to hold public hearings on new standards for math, reading and writing.

Former Iowa Veterans Home staffers raise concerns

Mon, 06 May 2013 17:52:04 -0400

DES MOINES, Iowa - Former employees of the Iowa Veterans Home raised concerns about the institution's leadership during a state Senate hearing.

NH Senate to hold hearings on House budget

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:02:05 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - The New Hampshire Senate will hold hearings this week on the $11 billion two-year budget package passed by the House in April, which does not include $80 million in casino license fees called for in Gov. Maggie Hassan's proposed budget.

O'Malley, Busch, Miller meet on jail hearings

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:06:33 -0400

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - Gov. Martin O'Malley has met with the presiding officers of the Legislature to discuss hearings about last week's sweeping federal indictment of 25 people at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

House committee to hold hearing on marathon attack

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:54:05 -0400

WASHINGTON - A House committee will hold a hearing next week on the bombing at the Boston Marathon that killed three and wounded more than 200 others.

Ex-Mich. congresswoman presides over ET hearings

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:12:19 -0400

DETROIT - Ex-U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Detroit and six other former Congress members are presiding over hearings on the existence of extraterrestrials.

NH Senate holds hearing on voter ID law

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:55:57 -0400

CONCORD, New Hampshire - New restrictions in the state's voter identification law that are set to go into effect in September could cause delays at the polls, deter some from voting and cost the state close to $1 million, opponents of the restrictions told a Senate hearing Wednesday.