Category Archives: Congress

Congress may OK short-term stimulus, but fiscal train wreck looms

By doris | Published: February 4, 2012

Full Story at NBCPoliticsmsnbc.msn.com The signs look hopeful for a short-term accord in Congress on extending the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits. But right after Election Day, a lame-duck Congress will face a horrific fiscal train wreck: sharp tax increases, combined with automatic spending cuts — and scanty reserves of political goodwill to help [...]

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Obama: Debt ceiling fight contributed to poor economy

By doris | Published: January 25, 2012

Full Story at FirstRead.msnbc.msn.com President Obama railed against dysfunction on Capitol Hill during his State of the Union address, blaming gridlock in Washington for the economy’s sluggish performance in the past year. The president demanded a series of reforms intended to address the poor function of Congress, which played out in a series of battles [...]

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Obama unveils plan to streamline government

By doris | Published: January 16, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama asked Congress Friday for more power to streamline and reorganize the federal government, a move designed to claim the political middle ground in an election likely to be dominated by questions about Washington’s role in the economy. The president asked legislators to grant him the [...]

Also posted in Businesses, Government, Presidental | Leave a comment

White House delays debt ceiling increase request

By doris | Published: January 3, 2012

Full Story at WhiteHouse.blogs.CNN.com The White House announced today that a planned request for Congress to approve an increase in the nation’s debt ceiling would be delayed by several days in order to prevent Congressional leaders from being forced to call members back early from their holiday recess. According to Deputy White House Press Secretary [...]

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Obama signs defense bill ‘with reservations’

By doris | Published: January 1, 2012

Full Story at CNN.com Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama on Saturday reluctantly signed a defense authorization bill, saying he was concerned about some in Congress who want to restrict options used by counterterrorism officials. “I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of [...]

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Payroll tax cut OK’d by Congress, signed by Obama

By doris | Published: December 24, 2011

Full Story at msnbc.com WASHINGTON — Shortly after Congress approved a two-month renewal of payroll tax cuts for 160 million workers and unemployment benefits for millions, President Barack Obama on Friday signed a bill formalizing the extension and won a convincing victory for his jobs agenda.  The voices of Americans “made a difference” in persuading [...]

Also posted in Benefits, Bill, Payroll, Tax, Unemployment | Leave a comment

Deal made to avoid government shutdown

By doris | Published: December 16, 2011

Full Story at NBCPolitics.msnbc.msn.com WASHINGTON — Congressional negotiators reached agreement Thursday on a compromise spending bill to avert a weekend federal shutdown. They also worked toward a deal renewing the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits for another year but prepared a shorter version as a fallback. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters [...]

Also posted in Benefits, Bill, Federal, Shutdown, Tax, Unemployment | Leave a comment

Senate GOP leader predicts a payroll tax deal

By doris | Published: December 12, 2011

Full Story at CNN.com Washington (CNN) — Congress will agree to extend the payroll tax cut before it expires at the end of the year, two leading conservative Senate Republicans said Sunday. The comments demonstrated the GOP shift on a proposal originally opposed by Republican leaders, even as each side continues trying to persuade the [...]

Also posted in Benefits, Payroll, Republican, Tax, Unemployment | Leave a comment

Democrats to offer payroll tax cut compromise

By doris | Published: December 5, 2011

Full Story at CNN.com Washington (CNN) — Democrats on Monday will propose a compromise plan to extend the payroll tax cut that includes a “serious” way to pay the more than $200 billion price tag, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee says. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, will introduce the compromise proposal Monday [...]

Also posted in Cut, Democrat, Spending, Tax | Leave a comment

Congress, White House at odds over defense bill

By doris | Published: December 2, 2011

Full Story at NBCPolitics.msnbc.msn.com Congress and the White House are headed for a showdown over a massive, $662 billion defense bill that would require the military to hold suspected terrorists linked to al-Qaida or its affiliates, even those captured on U.S. soil, and detain some indefinitely without trial. The Senate voted 93-7 Thursday night for [...]

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Congress prepares for year-end spending and tax cut bazaar

By doris | Published: November 30, 2011

Full Story at NBCPolitics.msnbc.msn.com Over the next few weeks, Congress faces a sprawling mess of tax and spending decisions, with the likely outcome being an overstuffed pre-Christmas package held together with the legislative equivalent of wrapping tape. Complain if you will about congressional gridlock, but right before the holidays is often when the gridlock eases [...]

Also posted in SSI, Tax | Leave a comment

Why Congress can’t save the Postal Service

By doris | Published: November 29, 2011

Full Story at money.cnn.com WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) — There’s one thing that turns some Tea Party Republicans into government-job lovers like their Democratic rivals: Their neighborhood post office. In fact, the U.S. Postal Service’s reach into every state and congressional district is a big reason why Americans shouldn’t expect Congress to make the drastic changes that [...]

Also posted in Debt, Democrat, Government, jobs, Postal Service, Republican | Leave a comment