Congress news stories on Newser

Congress Speaks Like a Bunch of 10th-Graders

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:13:25 CDT

Didn't do so great on that last vocabulary test? That's OK, there's a place in Congress for you. The current class of congressmembers speaks at a 10.6 grade level—down almost a full grade from 2005's 11.5 grade level on the Flesch-Kincaid scale. According to a political scientist...

Right-Wing Super PACs Outspending Liberals 4-1

Mark Russell — Sat, 19 May 2012 08:04:20 CDT

Super PACs aren't just reshaping the presidential race , they are also transforming congressional campaigns. And in those races, conservative interest groups are outspending their liberal rivals by a four-to-one margin, reports the Washington Post . So far, conservative groups have plowed $20 million into House and Senate races, and with spending...

Partisan Showdown Looms Over Domestic Violence Bill

Rob Quinn — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:45:00 CDT

The Violence Against Women Act, which provides funding to protect women from domestic violence and passed Congress easily in its prior two reauthorizations, is headed for Congress' latest partisan showdown. The House passed its version of the bill by a 222-205 vote yesterday over a veto threat from the White...

Boehner Kicks Off New Fight Over Debt

John Johnson — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:16:43 CDT

Remember the nasty fight in DC last summer over the national debt ceiling? Get ready for round two this fall. John Boehner launched the first volley today, demanding at a fiscal summit that any increase in the ceiling be offset by spending cuts, reports the Hill . "When the time comes,...

Student Loan Rate Hike Is Overhyped

Kevin Spak — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:33:58 CDT

Congress is up in arms over how to keep rates on Stafford student loans from doubling in July, but Mark Kantrowitz and Lynn Shaughgnessy have a question: Who cares? "The partisan posturing is a distraction from far more pressing issues that face students," the college experts write in the New...

In Epic Statement, Lugar Rips Foe, Congress

Kevin Spak — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:37:55 CDT

Dick Lugar isn't going quietly into the sunset. The newly deposed Indiana senator has released a scathing 1,425-word statement lambasting his party, his opponent, and Congress in general, Politico reports. Lugar says he wants opponent Richard Mourdock to win because he wants to see a GOP majority for pal...

Obama to Congress: Here's Your 'To-Do List'

Kevin Spak — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:34:11 CDT

Because Congress loves being bossed around like nothing else, President Obama will today unveil a "to-do list" of priorities, which have historically had bipartisan support, and which he says will "help restore middle class security." "At this make-or-break moment for the middle class, we need to create an economy built...

Chinese Dissident Calls Congress: I Need Help

John Johnson — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:29:18 CDT

A congressional hearing called today to discuss the plight of blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng got a first-hand perspective: Chen himself called in from his hospital bed in Beijing to ask for US help in leaving the country, reports Reuters . "I want to come to the US to rest," he...

House OKs Student Loan Bill, Ignores Veto Threat

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:01:46 CDT

Republicans defied a veto threat as the House voted today to prevent federal loan costs from doubling for millions of college students. The vote gave the GOP a momentary election-year triumph on a bill that has become enmeshed in partisan battles over the economy, women's issues, and President Obama's health...