Reuters – Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday sought to blunt political attacks on the Obama administration over a botched gun sting operation, saying that the idea of allowing weapons to go across the border to Mexico came from field agents and prosecutors.
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Democrats defend Obama administration over bungled gun sting
(Reuters)
Reuters – House of Representatives Republicans looking to force approval of the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline that was blocked last week by the Obama administration are considering attaching it to a massive highway bill, a key lawmaker said on Tuesday.
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Republicans eye highway bill as vehicle for Keystone
(Reuters)
Reuters – In a bid to end a worsening standoff over extending a tax break for Americans, President Barack Obama called on Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday to pass a short-term extension and return to talks on a year-long deal in the New Year.
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Obama presses Boehner to compromise on tax deal
(Reuters)
**Written by Doug Powers According to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, there are times when the country doesn’t have any need for the US House of Representatives, and it’s because of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee that I often agree with her. Not this time, however. From The Hill : Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said Tuesday that President Obama “absolutely” should use his executive power to continue the unemployment benefits and payroll tax cut extension and said she hoped to discuss the option with the White House later in the day. “It is extraordinary, don’t get me wrong. But I’m feeling the pain of the constituents I left [at] home,” Jackson Lee said, speaking on the progressive Ed Schultz’s radio show. “I consider this a crisis. I consider leaving Americans without unemployment insurance for January and February a crime. I consider not extending the payroll tax cut … a crime.” A member of Congress being this ignorant about the Constitution is… a crime. But Jackson Lee shouldn’t take my word for it or any House Republican for that matter. This is from today’s White House press briefing : Q: Can the president offer any assurances to the American people that this will get done before January 1st? Carney: In order for it to get done, it has to pass the House. This is one area where his executive authority does not extend. He cannot order an extension of the payroll tax cut. Sorry, Sheila. Read some of Sheila Jackson Lee’s greatest hits here , here , here , here and here . **Written by Doug Powers Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Sheila Jackson Lee: Obama Should Use Executive Order to Extend Payroll Tax Cut/Unemployment
Over on the home page , a look at the GOP prospects for holding the House of Representatives in 2012. I figure it will get many comments and links and Facebook likes, as it’s one of our biggest articles. It’s there. No, not the giant Roman Genn caricature of Newt Gingrich as Marvin the Martian. Keep reading this post . . .
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That Other Big Political Fight in 2012
**Written by Doug Powers This past June, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a California Democrat, announced that she’ll retire when her current term expires at the end of 2012. Obviously she’s already started practicing: What’s a five-letter word for neglecting a responsibility? From The Blaze : This truly is one of those “gotcha” moments that will leave people shaking their heads in dismay, and disapproval. Democrat Lynn Woolsey, who reportedly earns $174,000 a year serving her constituents in the U.S. House of Representatives, can be seen below in the following C-SPAN clip, doing a crossword puzzle on the House floor while fellow California Democrat George Miller spoke addressed the topic of union rights on Wednesday. The backdrop provided by Woolsey offered a fitting symbolic compliment to Miller’s speech on worker productivity, wouldn’t you say? (h/t The Blaze and Andrew Malcolm ) **Written by Doug Powers Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Video: California Democrat Tirelessly Serves Constituents
Recalling a speech where Newt Gingrich proposed abolishing tenure at state universities , I decided to go through the news archives for other examples of bold, intriguing ideas that went nowhere. There is no doubt that Newt Gingrich is one of the most creative and energetic thinkers in the Republican party. Since leaving the House of Representatives in 1999, he has been bursting at the seams with unexpected, head-turning proposals. Of course, there’s more to political life than thinking, and only a small percentage of those ideas have ever moved past the drawing board or speech. Instead, I found a slew of ideas and comments that . . . probably would not be helpful if one were hoping to win the votes of conservative Republicans in a GOP presidential primary. Keep reading this post . . .
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Newt Gingrich Said What?
