Tag Archives: Congress

Congress is in Session -Thursday


The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET June 24, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minute each. The Majority will control the first 30 minutes and the Republicans will control the final 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany H.R.4213, Tax Extenders. As a reminder, cloture was filed on the Reid motion to concur with the Baucus amendment #4386.

We hope to reach an agreement to consider the Iran Sanctions conference report on Thursday. Roll call votes are expected to occur throughout the day.
Votes:
199: Adoption of the Conference Report to accomany HR2194, Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act;
Adopted: 99-0

200: Now Voting on Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to HR4213, Tax Extenders, with the Baucus substitute amendment #4386: .

Unanimous Consent:
Adopted S. Res.548, as amended, a resolution to express the sense of the Senate that Israel has an undeniable right to self-defense, and to condemn the recent destabilizing actions by extremists aboard the ship Mavi Marmara.

Republicans and Ben Nelson refuse to vote for HR4213 – tax extenders and jobs bill/only 3 votes needed to pass this -suggest calling snowe/collins and scott brown or Congress will move on and no benes will move forward.

HR4213 failed again 57-41

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00amET June 24, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JUNE 24, 2010

111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

7:26 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

7:25 P.M. –

Mr. Fortenberry requested the following general leaves to address the House on July 1: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, and Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min.

Mr. Fortenberry requested that Mr. Burton of IN be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on June 30.

Mr. Fortenberry requested that Mr. Burton of IN be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on June 29.

Mr. Fortenberry requested that Mr. Burton of IN be allowed to address the House for 5 minutes on June 28.

7:21 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

7:20 P.M. –

Mr. Deutch asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Monday, June 28, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Deutch asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, June 25, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, June 28, 2010, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Deutch asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, June 24, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 25, 2010. Agreed to without objection.

H. Res. 1457:

expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the one-year anniversary of the Government of Iran’s fraudulent manipulation of Iranian elections, the Government of Iran’s continued denial of human rights and democracy to the people of Iran, and the Government of Iran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability

7:19 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

7:18 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1359:

calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit held captive by Hamas, and for other purposes

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

7:17 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1373:

expressing support for designation of the week beginning May 2, 2010, as “National Physical Education and Sport Week”

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 2194:

to amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by expanding economic sanctions against Iran

7:16 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 – 8, 1 Present (Roll no. 394).

Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

7:09 P.M. –

The House proceeded to consider the conference report H.Rept. 111-512 as unfinished business.

H.R. 3962:

to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion that the House suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 – 1 (Roll no. 393).

6:43 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H.R. 2194:

to amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by expanding economic sanctions against Iran

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2194, the Chair put the question on adoption of the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report, and announced by voice vote that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Berman demanded the yeas and nays and pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

5:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – By unanimous consent the House proceeded with fifty minutes of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2194.

Mr. Berman moved to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report, H. Rept. 111-512.

H.R. 3962:

to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes

5:24 P.M. –

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

4:39 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3962.

Mr. Levin moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.

H. Res. 1464:

recognizing the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and expressing appreciation to the Government of Japan and the Japanese people for enhancing peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region

4:37 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 412 – 2 (Roll no. 392).

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

4:29 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5175:

to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit government contractors from making expenditures with respect to such elections, and to establish additional disclosure requirements with respect to spending in such elections, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 219 – 206 (Roll no. 391).

4:17 P.M. –

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 208 – 217 (Roll no. 390).

3:59 P.M. –

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

3:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with an amendment to strike section 401 of the Bill and replace it with entirely new text.

3:43 P.M. –

Mr. Lungren, Daniel E. moved to recommit with instructions to House Administration.

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

3:42 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate stating that that body had agreed to the conference report accompanying the bill H.R. 2194.

H.R. 5175:

to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit government contractors from making expenditures with respect to such elections, and to establish additional disclosure requirements with respect to spending in such elections, and for other purposes

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

3:41 P.M. –

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5175.

3:40 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Murphy, Patrick amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 274 – 152 (Roll no. 389).

3:29 P.M. –

On agreeing to the King (IA) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 57 – 369 (Roll no. 388).

3:00 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Patrick Murphy amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Patrick Murphy demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

2:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1468, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Patrick Murphy amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Murphy, Patrick.

An amendment numbered 5 printed in Part B of House Report 111-514 to ensure that citizens know if special interests outside their district or state are trying to impact an election by enhancing advertisement disclaimers to include the city and state of the ad funder’s residence or principle office.

2:48 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Pascrell amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:25 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1468, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pascrell amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Pascrell.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in Part B of House Report 111-514 to prohibit political expenditures by corporations with significant foreign government ownership and corporations that have a majority of shares owned by foreign nationals.

On agreeing to the Kucinich amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1468, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kucinich amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Kucinich.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in Part B of House Report 111-514 to clarify that the bill would prohibit those with leases on the Outer Continental Shelf from making campaign-related expenditures.

2:11 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the King (IA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. King (IA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

2:00 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1468, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the King (IA) amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. King (IA).

An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 111-514 to eliminate all limitations on federal election campaign contributions.

1:59 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Ackerman amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:51 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1468, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ackerman amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Ackerman.

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-514 to require covered organizations to report required disclosures to shareholders, members or donors in a “clear and conspicuous manner.”

12:36 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 5175.

The Speaker designated the Honorable John T. Salazar to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1468 and Rule XVIII.

12:35 P.M. –

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5175 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on House Administration now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules, shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1468.

H. Res. 1464:

recognizing the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and expressing appreciation to the Government of Japan and the Japanese people for enhancing peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region

12:33 P.M. –

The Chair put the question on the resolution, a recorded vote was demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Con. Res. 285:

recognizing the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children and families and supporting the goals and ideals of designating 2010 as the Year of the Father

12:32 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 – 0 (Roll no. 387).

12:23 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 1468:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5175) to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign influence in Federal elections, to prohibit government contractors from making expenditures with respect to such elections, and to establish additional disclosure requirements with respect to spending in such elections, and for other purposes

12:22 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 220 – 205 (Roll no. 386).

12:14 P.M. –

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 181 (Roll no. 385).

10:35 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1468

Considered as privileged matter.

10:09 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.

10:08 A.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 725 amended, and S. 1508.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Foxx to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

10:06 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Byron Brought, Calvary United Methodist Church, Annapolis, Maryland.

10:05 A.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day

Support Gulf Communities, demand Justice from Big Oil Companies


Donate to support Ecuadorean leaders’ trip to the Gulf
Donate Photo by Win McNamee/Getty
Donate
Donate
Toxic oil pit in Ecuador/ Photo by Lou Demattei

How many times will we let BP and Big Oil destroy our communities?

Next week, RAN along with four Ecuadorean community leaders, Emergildo, Humberto, Mariana and Luis, who have been fighting Big Oil’s toxic legacy for decades in the Amazon Rainforest, hope to travel to the Gulf Coast to stand with local communities who are feeling the impact of our country’s oil addiction firsthand.

This is an incredible act of solidarity that you can make happen. Now is the time to show that BP’s disaster is not an exception, but the rule for a dirty and dangerous industry.

Please donate now to help Ecuadorean leaders travel to the Gulf Coast to stand with communties impacted by BP’s oil disaster.

Whether it’s BP’s ruin of the Gulf, Chevron’s “Amazon Chernobyl” or Exxon’s deadly spill in Alaska, one thing is crystal clear: we must end our addiction to oil and herald in a clean energy future.

Emergildo, Humberto, Mariana and Luis know all too well Big Oil’s legacy of denying, delaying and litigating away responsibility for its reckless behavior. They have been fighting a decades-long legal battle to get Chevron to pay for the 18 billion gallons of highly toxic waste that was dumped into their water.

Next week, with your help, they will share their stories and survival strategies with communities in the Gulf, who, tragically, need support to protect their health, culture and livelihoods.

Your support can help oil-impacted communities from around the world build a movement strong enough to hold companies like BP and Chevron accountable.

From coast to coast and country to country, frontline communities have borne the brunt of Big Oil’s destruction and our country’s addiction to oil. But these communities are also where the movement to demand freedom from oil begins.

We have all seen how the hottest front-page story can fade from political view before companies make good on their promises or politicians make their rhetorical commitments into reality. This delegation is a critical step in building a movement strong enough to hold Big Oil and our politicians accountable even when the TV cameras turn off.

Support frontline communities in coming together to challenge corporate power and Big Oil’s business as usual.

It is our job to make sure that when we look back years from now on the summer of 2010, this horrific disaster will be remembered as a breakthrough moment in the transition to a clean energy future, and not just another deadly symptom of our addiction to oil.

Our job starts today!

For a better world,

Rebecca Tarbotton
Acting Executive Director

It feels good to win


Last night, we won again. DFA-List endorsed candidate Elaine Marshall won the Democratic primary runoff in North Carolina with 60% of the vote. That’s not the only good news. Everyone from The Hill newspaper in DC to Talking Points Memo are giving you the credit and Washington insiders are getting the message. Here’s just a sample:

From The Nation:

Progressive Challenger Defeats Washington Establishment in North Carolina

The progressive groups who unsuccessfully backed Bill Halter over Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas’ Democratic Senate runoff on June 8 scored a victory tonight when Elaine Marshall defeated Cal Cunningham in North Carolina’s Democratic Senate primary.

From USA Today:

She defeated a candidate who was handpicked by national Democratic Party leaders. Backed by liberal groups MoveOn-org and Democracy for America, (Elaine) campaigned as a liberal insurgent against Cal Cunningham.

Together with DFA-List candidate Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania, we’re showing Washington insiders we don’t support just any Democrat — we support better Democrats. Now, it’s up to us to make sure she beats Republican Senator Richard Burr in November.

CONTRIBUTE $5 OR MORE TO ELAINE MARSHALL RIGHT NOW

You don’t have to look far to see corporate interests’ fingerprints all over Richard Burr’s campaign. In his reelection kick-off he stood up for Big Insurance and called for the repeal of President Obama’s healthcare bill.

After the oil disaster in the Gulf he stood up for Big Oil and actually called for less restrictions on offshore oil drilling. Now, he’s standing up for Wall Street as Congress debates reform while funding his campaign with over $1 million in Wall Street special interest money.

Wall St. and Big Oil don’t own Elaine Marshall. The people do. She’s working to represent the people of North Carolina and working Americans everywhere, not Goldman Sachs or BP.

But after months of hard campaigning to win the primary and run-off elections, Elaine needs financial support to rebuild her war chest and beat Senator Burr in November.

SEND BURR PACKING — CONTRIBUTE TODAY FOR PROGRESSIVE VICTORY IN NOVEMBER

DFA members told us to take back the U.S. Senate from corporate interests by supporting progressive candidates who will win. Contribute right now to make it happen.

Thank you for everything you do,

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director
Democracy for America


UNDER THE RADAR

JUSTICE — PRESIDENT OBAMA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO EXPAND LGBT RIGHTS, HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS: During a White House reception yesterday celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, President Obama pledged “to push ahead with his gay rights agenda” and declared that “committed gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.” Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed the Obama administration’s commitment to the LGBT community, stating, “Human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights.” Both Obama and Clinton highlighted the administration’s progress thus far to end discrimination against gay and lesbians at home and abroad. In addition to the pending repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, the Wonk Room’s Igor Volsky notes that in April, “Obama issued a memorandum instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to develop regulations requiring all hospitals that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding to end discrimination in hospital visitation.” Thereafter in June, the President released a memorandum directing agencies to “extend a host of benefits to their employees’ same-sex domestic partners as permitted by law.” The strides in other governmental agencies, while small, are important to note. In the State Department, it is now easier for transgender people to change their passports and the “agency’s ‘equal opportunity statement’ will include gender identity” for the first time. Additionally, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now requires “grant applicants seeking HUD funding to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws that protect lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.” While advocates for gay rights groups consider these steps to be “significant,” several emphasize the need for the administration to do more, particularly on “big-ticket items” like the “repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and laws barring discrimination in employment and easing the path toward gay adoption.” While Obama pledged last night to move forward on repealing DOMA, under orders from the White House, the Labor Department is set today to “expand the rights of gay workers by allowing them to take family and medical leave to care for sick or newborn children of same-sex partners.”

hump -day &some News


If not now -when

It is mid-week and while today is a big day for Americans… General McChrystal firing or not, US vs Algeria in soccer, financial regulation talks are drawing near an end and a bipartisan group will consider a comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation, the Senate will debate consider HR4213 with votes throughout the day. The question is will it be for We the People or for Corporations.

In addition, while talking heads stir up the public, stating the image of the President is at risk if he does not fire McChrystal. Some feel this President will need to weigh the odds against the needs for a good general in the war and or his image. The question is not how this President will look in the end it’s whether this general is that important to the mission of the war itself, though many feel this war is one we should be getting out of now.

The importance of the chain of command is definitely an element this guy forgot to consider and with all that being said the reporter stated something that was far more  important to hear – that McChrystal had plans to ask for more soldiers, quite possibly wanting to stay in Afghanistan, which was not on the agenda. The war in Afghanistan is not going well, the way forward should change because as stated by some soldiers they have been restrained to fight in a certain way and begs the question is it worth the deaths of so many civilians and soldiers in what seems like an unending war? With what progress and for an area that has posers at any given day. maybe the location should change maybe admit that it’s Pakistan and yes we have to keep the people who committed 9/11 under fire and out of the business of terrorizing but when it seems Americans are doing all the work the true efforts just seems fruitless.

The end result- The general will resign instead of being fired because a true soldier would accept his punishment and move on and if reports are correct the general left the White House for good, which seems appropriate given the circumstances, comments and the lack of confidence in him after what happened.

Other News …

**5 hardest hit states to get more housing aid/the Obama administration approved Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Nevada will get help to bust the housing bust 1.5billion dollar effort.

**2 deaths have been reported -vessels of opportunity-

**Reports of strikes in China halt auto production in factories by parts suppliers

**Obama admin is making strides for gay rights though many feel it is too slow/progress is being made however slow &without violence

**Doctors are still refusing Medicare/Medicaid patients

C-SPAN …

watch Pres. Obama on Health Care

watch Vice Pres. Biden Remarks

watch Hearing on Iran Sanctions

watch COP Hearing: From Earlier visit COP Website

watch Admiral Allen Daily Oil Spill Update

watch Conf. Meeting: Part 1 watch Conf. Meeting: Part 2

watch Pres. Obama with Cabinet

watch White House Briefing

c-span Today

Lawmakers Discuss Minerals Management Service Reorganization

Earlier in the week, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar swore in Michael Bromwich as the director of the new Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOE), formerly known as the Minerals Management Service. Secretary Salazar discusses the reorganization of the agency, the future of offshore oil drilling regulations and the impact on cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.

Yesterday, a federal judge overturned the ban on deep water drilling imposed by the Obama administration following the oil spill in the Gulf. The case was brought by several companies that provide support services to oil rigs. In the filing, Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC claimed the suspension on drilling will result in lost jobs and wages in Louisiana. The White House said it planned to appeal the decision.


Gen. McChrystal in Washington to meet with gates and the President

General Stanley McChrystal is in Washington to meet with Sec. of Defense Gates and President Obama to explain his comments from a recently published interview. In the July issue of Rolling Stone, the General and his aides made critical remarks on various Obama administration officials including Afghanistan-Pakistan Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke and Vice President Joe Biden. On Monday, following a Cabinet meeting, President Obama said that Gen. McChrystal used “poor judgment” in his contributions to the article. “I also want to make sure that I talk to him directly before I make any final decisions,” added the President.

Conferees near end of conference as they vote on auto dealers exemption

The House and Senate conferees are moving ahead with financial regulation legislation introducing amendments to the base text under Title VI, which deals with rules for regulating institutions that hold consumer deposits and companies with ownership or controlling interest in banks. Conference Chairman Frank (D-MA) and Senator Dodd (D-CT), who are leading the talks, plan to wrap up debate on the consolidated bill by the end of the week. The leaders hope to have a bill approved by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Obama by July 4th.