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

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

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

Reuters/Jim YoungTwo key Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have agreed to support Michael Mukasey’s nomination for Attorney General. Read more

House Puts Pressure on Bush over Subpoenas

November 5, 2007

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) sent a letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding today, presenting an ultimatum regarding subpoenas in an ongoing investigation into the firing of nine U.S. attorneys earlier this year. Read more