Copyright (c) 2009 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. http://news.yahoo.com/i/1278 politics U.S. Congress News en-us Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:31:14 GMT 5 142 18 http://news.yahoo.com/i/1278 http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142b.gif http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_us/us_senator_investigation_trial ap/20090703/us_senator_investigation_trial AP us Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:31:14 GMT AP - A former Pennsylvania state senator convicted of a multimillion-dollar fraud is seeking a new trial on corruption charges, alleging the jury was tainted. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_sotomayor_documents ap/20090703/us_sotomayor_documents AP politics Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:14:54 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_sotomayor_documents"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090629/capt.183165e0c9274c20aef57b9ef5d84d7a.obama_dcpm110.jpg?x=90&y=130&q=85&sig=qCNhPnM4J2lu0rmAl2gTLA--" align="left" height="130" width="90" alt="White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gestures during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Washington, Monday, June 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)" border="0" /></a>AP - A top Republican pressed for more information Thursday about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's ties to a Puerto Rican civil rights group he said took extreme positions on race, as the White House argued that the material was irrelevant to the judge's nomination.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_sotomayor_documents"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090629/capt.183165e0c9274c20aef57b9ef5d84d7a.obama_dcpm110.jpg?x=90&y=130&q=85&sig=qCNhPnM4J2lu0rmAl2gTLA--" align="left" height="130" width="90" alt="photo" title="White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gestures during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Washington, Monday, June 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul ap/20090703/us_health_care_overhaul AP politics Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:13:37 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090617/capt.f0d7662016b54cf785e1de572b331e7f.us_health_overhaul_dccd108.jpg?x=105&y=130&q=85&sig=bMikm3z.8bIZU2DKx48qhQ--" align="left" height="130" width="105" alt="Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., right, and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee ranking Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., preside over the markup of the health care reform bill and its amendments, seen on documents before them, Wednesday, June 17, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)" border="0" /></a>AP - Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090617/capt.f0d7662016b54cf785e1de572b331e7f.us_health_overhaul_dccd108.jpg?x=105&y=130&q=85&sig=bMikm3z.8bIZU2DKx48qhQ--" align="left" height="130" width="105" alt="photo" title="Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., right, and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee ranking Republican Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., preside over the markup of the health care reform bill and its amendments, seen on documents before them, Wednesday, June 17, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_el_se/us_clinton_ny_senate ap/20090702/us_clinton_ny_senate AP Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:01:32 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_el_se/us_clinton_ny_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.c13e1e0d44694033a8308f4fd713aa67.new_york_senate_wx101.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=CHOZlXnpbZwqH7nenDNvBQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="FILE - In this May 20, 2009 file photo, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Maloney will challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state's Democratic primary, a senior campaign adviser said Wednesday, setting the stage for a potentially costly and contentious fight. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)" border="0" /></a>AP - In a slap at President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton will headline a fundraiser for a New York congresswoman challenging White House-backed Sen. Kristen Gillibrand in the state's Democratic primary.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_el_se/us_clinton_ny_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.c13e1e0d44694033a8308f4fd713aa67.new_york_senate_wx101.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=CHOZlXnpbZwqH7nenDNvBQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this May 20, 2009 file photo, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Maloney will challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state's Democratic primary, a senior campaign adviser said Wednesday, setting the stage for a potentially costly and contentious fight. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/fbn_rooney_irish_ambassador ap/20090702/fbn_rooney_irish_ambassador AP politics Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:26:44 GMT AP - Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney is making his first official trip as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, one day after being sworn in by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090702/pl_cq_politics/politics3158016 cq/20090702/politics3158016 CQPolitics.com politics Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:33:21 GMT CQPolitics.com - Revised health overhaul legislation under development in the Senate would result in insurance coverage for 97 percent of Americans, leaders of a key committee said Thursday, though the total cost is still unknown. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_franken_senate ap/20090702/us_franken_senate AP politics Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:51:30 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_franken_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.aad46f7624d14769aa46489bc442ef2c.correction_senate_franken_mncl101.jpg?x=130&y=119&q=85&sig=a5jQBDh26lgm2jljpXTGWA--" align="left" height="119" width="130" alt="Newly certified Minnesota U.S. Senator Al Franken and Minnesota's other U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar held up their arms in victory during a rally at the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul, Minn., Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Franken's win followed a decision Tuesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court declaring him the winner and a concession by former Sen. Norm Coleman. (AP Photo /Craig Lassig)" border="0" /></a>AP - The jokes about Minnesota's prolonged recount can finally stop, just in time for Democrats to secure a reliable vote from a former funny man.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_franken_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.aad46f7624d14769aa46489bc442ef2c.correction_senate_franken_mncl101.jpg?x=130&y=119&q=85&sig=a5jQBDh26lgm2jljpXTGWA--" align="left" height="119" width="130" alt="photo" title="Newly certified Minnesota U.S. Senator Al Franken and Minnesota's other U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar held up their arms in victory during a rally at the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul, Minn., Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Franken's win followed a decision Tuesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court declaring him the winner and a concession by former Sen. Norm Coleman. (AP Photo /Craig Lassig)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_el_gu/us_minnesota_senate_coleman ap/20090702/us_minnesota_senate_coleman AP Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:21:35 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_el_gu/us_minnesota_senate_coleman"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090630/capt.400104fdde1f45a699d2a6975012e4c2.minnesota_senate__mnjm107.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=miT7jwe8_yZPvtsdZKNtOw--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="Former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman laughed at a question as he addressed the media Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at his St. Paul, Minn., home after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Democrat Al Franken won the contested U.S. Senate race in Minnesota. At left is his daughter Sarah. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)" border="0" /></a>AP - The man who lost the 1998 Minnesota governor's race to pro wrestler Jesse Ventura now holds the distinction of losing his U.S. Senate seat to former "Saturday Night Live" comedian Al Franken.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_el_gu/us_minnesota_senate_coleman"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090630/capt.400104fdde1f45a699d2a6975012e4c2.minnesota_senate__mnjm107.jpg?x=130&y=92&q=85&sig=miT7jwe8_yZPvtsdZKNtOw--" align="left" height="92" width="130" alt="photo" title="Former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman laughed at a question as he addressed the media Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at his St. Paul, Minn., home after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Democrat Al Franken won the contested U.S. Senate race in Minnesota. At left is his daughter Sarah. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20090702/pl_cq_politics/politics3157796 cq/20090702/politics3157796 CQPolitics.com politics Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:02:36 GMT CQPolitics.com - Republicans say Democrat Al Franken's victory in the long-contested Minnesota Senate race opens a new line of attack against Democrats for 2010. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_new_york_senate ap/20090702/us_new_york_senate AP politics Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:49:00 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_new_york_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.c13e1e0d44694033a8308f4fd713aa67.new_york_senate_wx101.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=CHOZlXnpbZwqH7nenDNvBQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="FILE - In this May 20, 2009 file photo, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Maloney will challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state's Democratic primary, a senior campaign adviser said Wednesday, setting the stage for a potentially costly and contentious fight. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)" border="0" /></a>AP - New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney has decided to challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state's Democratic primary, setting the stage for a potentially costly and contentious fight that other congressional Democrats have avoided.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_new_york_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.c13e1e0d44694033a8308f4fd713aa67.new_york_senate_wx101.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=CHOZlXnpbZwqH7nenDNvBQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this May 20, 2009 file photo, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Maloney will challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the state's Democratic primary, a senior campaign adviser said Wednesday, setting the stage for a potentially costly and contentious fight. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg, FILE)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_rangel_health_care ap/20090702/us_rangel_health_care AP politics Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:39:37 GMT AP - One of the principal authors of health care legislation taking shape in the House accused drug companies and other medical providers Wednesday of stealing, and said they are now offering concessions in the hopes the bill that emerges will not demand too much of them. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_co/us_us_vietnam_prisoner ap/20090702/us_us_vietnam_prisoner AP politics Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:14:43 GMT AP - Thirty-seven U.S. senators are asking Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet to release a dissident Roman Catholic priest serving prison and house arrest terms totaling 13 years. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_go_co/us_meltdown_lawmakers ap/20090701/us_meltdown_lawmakers AP politics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:17:15 GMT AP - Hardly a bank bailout hearing goes by in Congress without a lawmaker raising a question on behalf of constituent banks that have applied for federal assistance from the government's financial bailout fund. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_go_co/us_senate_stakes_analysis ap/20090701/us_senate_stakes_analysis AP politics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:57:20 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_go_co/us_senate_stakes_analysis"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.44ea94fa267a49fcaf21ed9652594a21.senate_franken_mncl107.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=2bLqgh7RKXLMMXTl.TOoDA--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Sen.-elect Al Franken, D-Minn. speaks to supporters during a rally at the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul, Minn., Wednesday, July 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)" border="0" /></a>AP - Al Franken's victory in the marathon Minnesota Senate race gives Democrats control of 60 seats, the number needed to overcome any Republican filibuster aimed at blocking elements of President Barack Obama's ambitious agenda.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_go_co/us_senate_stakes_analysis"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.44ea94fa267a49fcaf21ed9652594a21.senate_franken_mncl107.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=2bLqgh7RKXLMMXTl.TOoDA--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="Sen.-elect Al Franken, D-Minn. speaks to supporters during a rally at the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul, Minn., Wednesday, July 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090701/pl_nm/us_newyorkstate_senate nm/20090701/us_newyorkstate_senate Reuters politics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:57:02 GMT Reuters - New York senators must stay in Albany over the U.S. Independence Day holiday for extraordinary sessions, according to a decision on Wednesday by the governor, trying again to get warring lawmakers to pick a leader and finally enact bills. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090701/pl_nm/us_usa_politics_waxman nm/20090701/us_usa_politics_waxman Reuters politics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:44:38 GMT Reuters - Congressman Henry Waxman, the powerful chairman of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles after fainting in his district office, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_go_co/us_congressman_hospitalized ap/20090701/us_congressman_hospitalized AP politics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:23:45 GMT AP - Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman remained in the hospital in his home state of California on Wednesday, a day after fainting in his office. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_re_us/us_minnesota_senate ap/20090701/us_minnesota_senate AP us Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:57:58 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_re_us/us_minnesota_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.aad46f7624d14769aa46489bc442ef2c.correction_senate_franken_mncl101.jpg?x=130&y=119&q=85&sig=a5jQBDh26lgm2jljpXTGWA--" align="left" height="119" width="130" alt="Newly certified Minnesota U.S. Senator Al Franken and Minnesota's other U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar held up their arms in victory during a rally at the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul, Minn., Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Franken's win followed a decision Tuesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court declaring him the winner and a concession by former Sen. Norm Coleman. (AP Photo /Craig Lassig)" border="0" /></a>AP - Now that Al Franken is headed for the Senate, which Franken will show up in Washington?</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_re_us/us_minnesota_senate"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090701/capt.aad46f7624d14769aa46489bc442ef2c.correction_senate_franken_mncl101.jpg?x=130&y=119&q=85&sig=a5jQBDh26lgm2jljpXTGWA--" align="left" height="119" width="130" alt="photo" title="Newly certified Minnesota U.S. Senator Al Franken and Minnesota's other U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar held up their arms in victory during a rally at the mall of the Minnesota State Capitol in St Paul, Minn., Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Franken's win followed a decision Tuesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court declaring him the winner and a concession by former Sen. Norm Coleman. (AP Photo /Craig Lassig)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_go_co/us_jewish_senators ap/20090701/us_jewish_senators AP politics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:50:39 GMT AP - The defeat of incumbent Norm Coleman in the drawn-out Minnesota Senate race leaves Republicans without a Jewish senator for the first time in half a century. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090701/pl_afp/uspoliticsjusticecourtrules afp/20090701/uspoliticsjusticecourtrules AFP politics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:07:09 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090701/pl_afp/uspoliticsjusticecourtrules"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090701/capt.photo_1246478812735-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=117&q=85&sig=gHYrYUpTgO9E1a9_hCpmaw--" align="left" height="117" width="130" alt="US Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor is pictured in June 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The US public may attend hearings on Sotomayor's confirmation to the US Supreme Court -- but not with weapons or clothing bearing profanity, the Senate Judiciary Committee said Wednesday.(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)" border="0" /></a>AFP - The US public may attend hearings on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the US Supreme Court -- but not with weapons or clothing bearing profanity, the Senate Judiciary Committee said Wednesday.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090701/pl_afp/uspoliticsjusticecourtrules"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090701/capt.photo_1246478812735-1-0.jpg?x=130&y=117&q=85&sig=gHYrYUpTgO9E1a9_hCpmaw--" align="left" height="117" width="130" alt="photo" title="US Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor is pictured in June 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The US public may attend hearings on Sotomayor's confirmation to the US Supreme Court -- but not with weapons or clothing bearing profanity, the Senate Judiciary Committee said Wednesday.(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AFP)