The Earmark Moratorium
March 12, 2008
Since the beginning of the 2008 campaign season there are several issues that have been on the top of candidates’ lists of priorities: Iraq, the economy, illegal immigration. All of them have been debated and discussed. One of them, though, has prompted members of Congress to sponsor a dramatic new piece of legislation Read more
Congress Passes Economic Stimilus Plan
February 8, 2008
After intense debate and fears of delays, the long-awaited economic stimulus package has passed both houses of Congress. The final package, which President Bush says he will sign next week, reflects compromises between the House and Senate, as well as between Democrats and Republicans. Read more
The Stimulus Problem
January 29, 2008
As the House passed a bipartisan economic stimulus package – “a $146 billion shot in the arm for the nation’s ailing economy” – the Senate was busy putting together its own version. The problem? The House and the Bush administration fear that if the Senate doesn’t pass the legislation quickly, without changes, it will get stalled and come too late Read more
Congress Passes New Gun Legislation
December 20, 2007
Continuing with their new habit of passing legislation, Congress has approved a new bill that would make it easier to flag people who are ineligible to purchase a gun because of mental health problems. Read more
Washington Passes Fuel Efficiency Bill
December 19, 2007
Congress has passed, and President Bush has signed, a bill that “requires the (auto) industry to achieve an average of 35 miles per gallon for all vehicles, including SUVs and small trucks, by 2020” (AP). Read more
Supreme Court to Hear Case of Gitmo Detainees
December 5, 2007
The Supreme Court has decided to hear the case of whether prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay have the right to appear before a civilian court to challenge their detention. Read more
Congress Passes Free Trade Agreement With Peru
December 5, 2007
The Senate passed a free trade agreement with Peru on Tuesday 77 to 18. The House passed the same measure 285 to 132, with 116 of the “no” votes being Democrats. The agreement is one of several the administration hopes to pass in the near future. Read more
Supreme Court Will Hear 2nd Amendment Case
November 21, 2007
Washington D.C. has had a ban on handguns for the last 31 years. The law implementing the ban was recently struck down by a federal appeals court, saying that the law violated the Second Amendment. Read more
House Weighs Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
November 15, 2007
Democrats in the House of Representatives have been trying to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which, according to the Associated Press, “dictates when the government must obtain court permission to carry out electronic eavesdropping.” Read more
Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Mukasey
November 6, 2007
Two key Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have agreed to support Michael Mukasey’s nomination for Attorney General. Read more
