News Items

Senator: Pentagon Will Prepare Chaplains for Gays

Gary Gore — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:43:13 -0400

One Michigan senator said she has little doubt the Pentagon will prepare military chaplains to minister to gays in the armed forces in the event the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is repealed.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said she's confident the U.S. Defense Department will work through any conflicts "in a respectful way with members of the clergy." read more »

Judge Blocks Parts of Arizona Law, Battle Not Over

Gary Gore — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:34:18 -0400

The legal battle is just beginning over Arizona's controversial immigration law after a federal judge blocked key provisions of the tough reform set to go into effect this week.

The law will still be enacted Thursday, but without most of the provisions that caused an uproar, including sections that would allow police officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton also took out part of the law that required immigrants carry their papers at all times. read more »

House Dems Allocate $49M for TV Ads

Gary Gore — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:05:51 -0400

WASHINGTON - Democrats reserved another wave of television advertising time on Tuesday to defend seats served by fellow lawmakers who were retiring, seeking Senate seats or among the most unlikely freshmen to win re-election.

If officials place the ads they reserved, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is poised to spend some $49 million during the final weeks of November's midterm elections, according to advertising plans reviewed Tuesday. read more »

Should Bush Tax Cuts be Allowed to Expire?

Gary Gore — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:11:00 -0400

Washington is gearing up for another major political battle and this time it's over former President Bush's tax cuts.

Should tax cuts for wealthier Americans continue orr should they expire at the end of the year? It's a simple question, but depending on your political point of view has two very different answers.

Republicans and even some conservative Democrats say you don't grow an economy by taxing people more and so this is a no-brainer. read more »

Obama Urges 'Liberals' to 'Keep up the Fight'

Gary Gore — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:24:54 -0400

LAS VEGAS - President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders sought to soothe relations with the party's disgruntled left wing Saturday in advance of elections in which Republican gains could upend the White House agenda.

"Change hasn't come fast enough for too many Americans. I know that," Obama said in a surprise video appearance to liberal activists and bloggers at Las Vegas convention. "I know it hasn't come fast for many of you who fought so hard during the election." read more »

Christians 'Unite for Israel' at Washington Summit

Gary Gore — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:01:39 -0400

WASHINGTON -- Evangelical Christians in America have become Israel's staunchest ally in a world increasingly hostile to the Jewish state.

That support was on full display this week in the nation's capital as over 4,000 Christians and Jews gathered at the Washington Convention Center for the annual Christians United for Israel summit.

CUFI is now the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States with over 400,000 members nationwide - including chapters on college campuses throughout the U.S. read more »

Website Lets You Vote to Cut Gov't Programs

Gary Gore — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:12:54 -0400

The massive federal government budget deficit has been a key factor in the rise of the Tea Party.

Given the choice, a lot of Americans would probably like to cast their own vote on what government programs should be cut from the budget. Now they can using the Internet website "YouCut." read more »

Election 2010: GOP, Dems Predict Victory

Gary Gore — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:59:59 -0400

As midterm elections draw closer, polls indicate the balance of power in Washington could be about to change.

Politicians were in full campaign mode over the weekend, blasting the opposing parties with less than four months remaining until Election Day.

Republicans are excited that almost 64 Democratic seats in the U.S. House of Representatives appear seriously vulnerable. The GOP needs just 39 to become the controlling party. read more »

House Divided: Gibbs' Remarks Spark Dem Civil War

Gary Gore — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:57:17 -0400

WASHINGTON -- Democratic lawmakers have gotten into a major political argument with themselves.

The inside-party rancor stems from recent remarks by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on the Democrats' prospects of keeping control of the House.

"There are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control," Gibbs told NBCs "Meet the Press" last Sunday. "There's no doubt about that." read more »

U.S. Chamber: White House Stifling Economic Growth

Gary Gore — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:17:35 -0400

WASHINGTON -- Fears that the nation's economy is on the brink of making another turn for the worse are being felt in cities and towns across America.

America's business leaders, in particular, have been criticizing Washington for the nation's weak economy and high unemployment rate.

At a U.S. Chamber of Commerce meeting held in the nation's capital on Wednesday, business leaders specifically blamed Democrats in Congress and the Obama administration for ignoring American's cry for job creation. read more »