Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, Dec. 1-Dec. 17 [1]
Submitted by Conor Kenny [2] on
- Sen. Evan Bayh [3] (D-Ind.) announced that he will not seek the presidency in 2008. (NY Times [4] story)
- Sen. Tim Johnson [5] (D-S.D.) is in stable condition following brain surgery. (Washington Post [6] story)
- House Majority Leader-elect [7] Nancy Pelosi [8] (D-Calif.) pledged to create a new Appropriations Commitee [9] panel to oversee intelligence agencies and a task force to examine creating an independent ethics body. (Washington Post [10] story)
- Sen. Tim Johnson [11] (D-S.D.) is in critical condition after undergoing emergency brain surgery. (Washington Post [6] story)
- Sen. Tim Johnson [5] (D-S.D.) was rushed to the hospital after experiencing stroke-like symptoms. (CNN [12] story).
- The Senate Ethics Committee [13] cleared Sen. Harry Reid [14] (D-Nev.) of any wrongdoing in accepting boxing tickets from a Nevada state body. (Review-Journal [15] story)
- Sen. Ron Wyden [16] (D-Ore.) announced that he plans to introduce legislation aimed at providing Americans with universal health care. (NY Times [17] story)
- House Democrats [18] are considering creating an independent ethics body to enforce rules on lobbying, gifts, trips, and related matters. (NY Times [19] story)
- Former Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [20] (D) defeated Rep. Henry Bonilla [21] (R-Texas) to capture the final contested seat for the 110th Congress [7]. (Washington Post [22] story)
- Rep. William Jefferson [23] (D-La.) will not be re-assigned to his former seat on the House Committee on Ways and Means [24] due to an ongoing federal bribery investigation [25]. (AP [26] story)
- Democrats [27] plan to combine outstanding spending bills into a joint resolution, devoid of earmarks, to keep the federal government funded at current levels through the end of the fiscal year. (Washington Post [28] story)
- Majority leader-elect Nancy Pelosi [8] will introduce legislation at the beginning of the 110th Congress [27] to reform oversight of the House page program [29]. (Roll Call [30] story)
- Outgoing Rep. Cynthia McKinney [31] (D-Ga.) filed legislation to impeach President Bush [32], accusing him of violating his oath of office to defend the Constitution and the nation's laws. (AP [33] story)
- Embattled Rep. William Jefferson [23] (D-La.) was reelected in a Saturday runoff by a 57% to 43% margin. (AP [34] story)
- The Senate [35] voted 80-11 to confirm Andrew C. von Eschenbach, whose nomination had been held up procedurally on five separate occasions, as commissioner of the FDA. (Washington Post [36] story)
- The Senate [35] voted 95-2 to confirm Robert Gates [37] as Secretary of Defense. (AP [38] story)
- Rep. Jeb Hensarling [39] (R-Texas) was chosen by his peers to head the conservative Republican Study Committee during the 110th Congress [7]. (The Hill [40] story)
- Majority Leader-elect Steny Hoyer [41] (D-Md.) stated that House members will be expected to work five days a week during the 110th Congress [7], up from three in the 109th. (Washington Post [42] story)
- House [43] GOP [44] leaders chose not to consider a bill granting Washington DC voting rights in Congress during this legislative session. (Washington Post [45] story)
- The Senate Armed Services Committee [46] unanimously recommended the confirmation of prospective Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates [37]. (AP [47] story)
- The White House [48] has threatened to veto a multi-billion dollar disaster aid package for farmers and ranchers if it is approved by the Senate [35]. (AP [49] story)
- House Republicans [44] pulled legislation opening new areas in the Gulf of Mexico to oil drilling after it became clear that it did not have the votes to pass. (AP [50] story)
- The Senate Armed Services Committee [46] opened its confirmation hearing on prospective Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates [37]. (Washington Post [51] story).
- Rep. Jim Kolbe [52] (R-Ariz.) has asked the Federal Election Commission for permission to use campaign funds to pay for any legal bills related to the Mark Foley page scandal [53]. (Roll Call [54] story.
- Sen. Sam Brownback [55] (R-Kan.) announced that he has formed an exploratory committee to examine a possible 2008 run for president. (AP [56] story)
- Sens. Joe Biden [57] (D-Del.) and Lindsey Graham [58] (R-S.C.) have called for the United States to take a tougher line with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP [59] story)
- Sen. Evan Bayh [3] (D-Ind.) announced that he will form an exploratory committee to examine a 2008 presidential bid. (Reuters [60] story)