Calming Congress’ fears

Calming Congress’ fears

WASHINGTON — Senate Sergeant of Arms Terrance Gainer hosted a security briefing in the Dirksen Senate Office for lawmakers Wednesday. The briefing was also broadcast to 454 police offices. The briefing was intended to “calm the fears” in the wake of weekend...

How’d he get a gun?

Accused gunman Jared Lee Loughner faces five criminal charges after he allegedly shot dead six people and injured 14 in Saturday’s Tucson rampage. But the 22-year-old will not face charges on at least one count: law enforcement officials say Loughner legally obtained...
House returns for somber agenda

House returns for somber agenda

WASHINGTON — The House chamber was nearly empty. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, led the floor in a prayer and a pledge of allegiance, and heard from two members of Congress with procedural questions. With that, the House adjourned – four minutes after the session...
Commission: BP not alone in blame for spill

Commission: BP not alone in blame for spill

WASHINGTON— The commission President Barack Obama set up in late May to look into the Deepwater Horizon accident issued its final report on the largest oil spill in U.S. history Tuesday, recommending that Congress, federal agencies and the oil industry undertake...

States hiding total education spending, expert says

By Rebecca Cohen and Allyson Byers | Medill News Service WASHINGTON — It doesn’t take a K-12 education to see how states could shrug off their budget deficits by adopting school vouchers, Patrick Byrne said Tuesday at an education forum hosted by the Cato Institute....

Chamber’s focus in 2011: jobs

Jobs are the top priority for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this year. “In 2011, the chamber’s top priority will be to turn an economic recovery into a jobs recovery so that we can put Americans back to work,” said Thomas J. Donohue, the president and CEO of the U.S....
Boehner’s big moment

Boehner’s big moment

WASHINGTON — Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio., was elected speaker of the House of Representatives as the 112th Congress convened for the first time Wednesday, returning divided government to the nation’s capital after a two year interlude. A cheer went up from...
Senators enjoy ceremony of the day

Senators enjoy ceremony of the day

WASHINGTON—Vice President Joe Biden, in his role as president of the Senate, has now sworn in 50 senators, 16 of them entering their freshmen term, at the official ceremony that started shortly after noon on Wednesday. But just down the hall in the Old Senate Chamber,...