‘Bullheaded’ and a Rhodes Scholar, and Now Headed to Capitol Hill
By DAVID M. HALBFINGERJim Himes, an investment banker-turned-financier of low-income housing, defeated Representative Christopher Shays, the 10-term Republican from Connecticut’s Fourth District.

November 10, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: CONNECTICUT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, HIMES, JIM, SHAYS, CHRISTOPHER H
A DNA Backlog
Thousands of rape kits remain untouched by crime labs, which is an insult to women and a loss for effective law enforcement.

November 10, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: LAW AND LEGISLATION, SEX CRIMES, DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID), TESTS AND TESTING, CALIFORNIA, SENATE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SMITH, DEBBIE
Maryland and Washington Races Decided
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSA Democrat, Frank Kratovil, has won an open seat in the House for Maryland, while Representative Dave Reichert, a Republican, has won in Washington State.

November 9, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: ELECTIONS, MARYLAND, WASHINGTON (STATE), DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REPUBLICAN PARTY, REICHERT, DAVE
After Defeat, Which McCain Will Return to Senate?
By CARL HULSEWill it be the John McCain who was an enthusiastic coalition builder? Or the John McCain who seemed to become what he had once disdained?

November 9, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2008, SENATE, REPUBLICAN PARTY, MCCAIN, JOHN
The Return of John McCain, but Which One?
By CARL HULSEAfter a harsh campaign, John McCain could carry a dismissive tone back to the Senate or work to restore his bipartisan, maverick image.

November 8, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2008, SENATE, MCCAIN, JOHN
Byrd to Quit Powerful Senate Appropriations Post
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORNRobert C. Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat and senior member of the Senate, agreed to relinquish his chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee.

November 8, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: UNITED STATES POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, WEST VIRGINIA, SENATE, BYRD, ROBERT C
Among Democrats’ Leadership Questions: What to Do With Lieberman?
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and CARL HULSEAs the party pondered the fate of the independent, other lawmakers continued their scramble for leadership positions amid numerous openings.

November 7, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: UNITED STATES POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2008, APPOINTMENTS AND EXECUTIVE CHANGES, DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SENATE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, LIEBERMAN, JOSEPH I
Democratic Gains by Lawmakers in the Northeast
By ABBY GOODNOUGHOnly three Republicans remain among the 12 U.S. senators from New England, and every chamber of the region’s six state legislatures is now in Democratic hands.

November 6, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: ELECTIONS, UNITED STATES POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, NEW ENGLAND STATES (US), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Unworthy Gentleman
Senator Ted Stevens, convicted on seven felony counts of violating federal ethics laws, should be expelled from the Senate as a felon.

November 6, 2008 MORE ON CONGRESS AND: ETHICS, EDITORIALS, UNITED STATES POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT, ALASKA, SENATE, REPUBLICAN PARTY, STEVENS, TED
Senator Stevens Hanging by a Thread in Alaska
By WILLIAM YARDLEYSenator Ted Stevens led by fewer than 3,400 votes with more than 55,000 ballots left to count.

November 6, 2008

• Rifts Threaten to Distract Dems
• MN Sen: New Battle w/Absentees
• GA Sen: Low Turnout Expected
• Democrats Pick Up 6 in Senate
• Pick Up 20-24 Seats in House

• U.S. Senate
  • MN Sen: 98%, Coleman +316
  • Uproar Over 133 Missing Ballots
  • Franken Camp Claims Lead
  • Chambliss Gives GOP a Roadblock
  • Jeb Bush Would Thin Florida Field
  • Matthews Advised to Quit MSNBC

• U.S. Senate
  • Matthews Advised to Quit MSNBC
  • Why Jeb Bush Might Run
  • Franken Wants 'Forensic Search' for Missing Ballots

• Automaker Bailout
  • Back on Capitol Hill, Auto Executives Still Find Skeptics
  • GM's Magical Thinking
  • In Defense of American Cars
  • May Wind Up on Obama's Plate
  • Bailout Postpones Inevitable

Holder Pardon Makes Senate Dems Squirm - The Politico

• Auto Bailout
  • Dems Propose $15B Big 3 Loan
  • Washington Takes Risks with Plan
  • Down the Detroit Drain
  • In Defense of Rick Wagoner
  • A Bailout Bill Nobody Likes?
• Congress
  • GOP Finds Unlikely New Hero in LA
  • Jesse Jackson Jr in Talks for Seat
  • A Vote for Senator Caroline
  • Rangel Creating Problem for Dems
  • Franken Retracts More Challenges

• Congress
  • Panel Chides Treasury on Bailout
  • Who Will Replace Hillary?
  • FBI Investigates Coleman Backer
  • Rangel's Problems Roil Democrats

• House Passes Auto Bailout
  • Bailout Clears House, Faces Hurdles in Senate

• Big 3 Bailout
  • House Passes Auto Rescue Plan
  • Roll Call Vote: 237-170
  • Faces Hurdles in Senate, Many in GOP Doubt Aid Will Save Detroit

• U.S. Senate
  • Four Seats Still Up in Air
  • Burris to Claim IL Seat in D.C.
  • Cornyn to Filibuster Over Franken
  • New Offer From Coleman Forces
  • Will Paterson Pick Caroline?
  • Denver School Chief in for Salazar

• 111th Congress
  • Reid Denies Deal to Seat Burris
  • Dems Push Through New Rules
  • Senate Takes Shape - Minus Two
  • CBC Assesses Role Under Obama
  • Reid: 'I Don't Work for Obama'

• Burris Appointment
  • Senate Democrats' About-Face Clears Path for Burris
  • Obama, Congress Ready to Seat
  • IL Sec of State Feels the Heat

• Congress
  • $1.2T Deficit Roils Congress
  • Harry Reid's Rough Start
  • Holder Hearings No Smooth Sailing
  • McCain Back on Familiar Ground

Restoring Rules On Credit Cards Credit card crackdown bill moves. CNN/Money.com; W. Post adds: "The bill sent to the House floor Wednesday would codify new Federal Reserve regulations aimed at curbing credit card abuses. A separate bill in the Senate, sponsored by Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), would go even further, prohibiting companies from applying a variety of charges..."; OurFuture.org's Bernie Horn reminds us of the history of credit card regulation: "...progressives are not trying to impose regulation, we're working to restore regulation (That message framing makes a substantial difference to American voters.)"; Rachel Maddow interviews Barney Frank on his credit card bill.

Climate Hearings Kick Off With Recycled Lies
Grist's Kate Sheppard sums up the first House hearing on clean energy/climate protection legislation; The Hill adds: "Point-by-point, Democrats marched against and attempted to refute each of the objections leveled by the Republicans."; W. Post on Senate Dem hesitance: "A Senate leadership aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity to talk freely, said Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who plans to take up a cap-and-trade measure in the summer or in early fall, met this month with eight to 12 Democrats who 'have some concern about going forward' with the bill."; Politico reports "An environmental group is increasing the pressure to pass a sweeping environmental measure by taking out ads in the home districts of Republicans who oppose the bill."; Climate Progress' Joe Romm on Obama's Earth Day speech: "...don't miss his extended discussion at the end about 'closing the carbon loophole through this kind of market-based cap' and trade system. Anyone who thinks President Obama is not serious about passing a climate bill in the next year or so, that he is somehow softening on his campaign commitment, is simply not paying attention."; Wonk Room's Brad Johnson on McCain's hypocrisy; Interior officially announces new offshore wind rules; Stimulus buying fuel-efficient cars. AP.

Senate Signals Interest in Pecora Commission
NYT: "The Senate signaled a willingness late Wednesday to create a select committee to investigate causes of the nation's financial crises. In an amendment accompanying other legislation on financial fraud, senators agreed in a voice vote to consider creation of a special commission that would delve into the roots of the collapse."; Financial market overhaul put on slower track. WSJ; NYT lays out what will be discussed at Friday's banker-govt meeting; Fortune explores TARP payback issue; Low participation in TALF sparks mixed assessments. W. Post.

Senate May Pass Public Health Plan Option, But What Kind?
NYT says simple majority vote in Senate on health care reform "carries high risks," fails to identify them; Wonk Room's Igor Volsky critiques Reinhardt public plan compromise proposal; Change.org's Tim Foley also criticizes Reinhardt; W. Post's E.J. Dionne advocates for public plan compromise.

Mortgage Reform Roadblock
CQ: "Senate Democrats appear to be running out of options for finding a broadly acceptable compromise on mortgage legislation they are negotiating ..."; HuffPost reports Sen. Tester won't support mortgage reform:HuffPost reports Sen. Tester won't support mortgage reform; McClatchy on new predatory mortgage lending bill.

Health Care Fast-Tracked, With PAYGO On Path Politico: "The more immediate fight will be health care, where the budget gives Obama an invaluable backstop if Republicans attempt to stall this initiative past Oct. 15..."; CQ on possible PAYGO compromise; CNN adds: " Separately, conservative Democrats in the House, who have been pushing for a strong statement from leadership on fiscal responsibility in the budget, may have some of their concerns addressed..."; Sen. Judd Gregg goes unhinged. CQ; Senate Republicans and right-leaning Dems lose attempt to further cut the estate tax. The Hill.

Health Care Fight Enters Next Phase
The Hill on the next phase of the health care fight; Progressive Caucus will push public health plan option at WH today. CQ; Politico on public plan option polling by Kaiser, which is high when described accuratel; Rep. Jan Schakowsky and HCAN's Richard Kirsch challenge weak lobbyist claims in HuffPost; More conservative misinformation, Politico's Ben Smith; Still more lies. Media Matters busts CPR for distorting comparative effectiveness research to claim it means government intrusion into personal medical decisions; More on comparative effectiveness from Ezra Klein; Health Care For America Now's Jason Rosenbaum contrasts NYT and W. Post opeds on public option: "the Times editorial endorsing the idea of a public health insurance plan relies on facts for its arguments, while the Post relies on misleading statistics."

Carbon Cap Negotiations Grind in House
Politico on delay in House bill mark-up; More details on sticking points from ClimateWire; Grist's Kate Sheppard notes delay is in part thanks to House Republicans looking to derail the bill; The Hill finds Rep. Chris Van Hollen lowering expectations and contradicting Speaker Pelosi; More from Politico on veterans effort to pressure right-leaning Dems; Ezra Klein on conservative misinformation on costs.

Bank of America, CitiGroup Complain About Stress Test Results
WSJ: "Regulators have told Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. that the banks may need to raise more capital based on early results of the government's so-called stress tests of lenders, according to people familiar with the situation ..."; NYT's Andrew Sorkin questions the value of the stress tests; FDIC wants authority to shut down giant financial institutions; Senate to approve independent commission to investigate financial crisis today, as part of mortgage fraud bill. Bloomberg; LA Times on applicants for toxic assets program. GM Deal Would Give US Majority Stake
NYT on bondholder resistance to Treasury GM offer; Bloomberg on prospect of majority government stake in GM; Emptywheel laments: "another, perhaps more realistic plan, but still one that doesn't help them out of their dealer problems. And one that kills another brand in the process"; W. Post on threat to minority car dealers: "Since the 1970s, General Motors has led the way in providing opportunities for minorities to own car dealerships. The automaker pioneered special training programs and put money behind candidates for new dealerships. Now, after almost four decades of slow but steady progress, minority dealers are increasingly worried that the latest wave of GM cuts could erode any gains ... Nearly a third of GM's minority dealers sell Pontiacs..."; W. Post on auto financing obstacles.

Chairman Waxman will have a Democratic E&C members meeting tomorrow at 5:30 in the committee meeting room.· The 1000+ page Waxman-Markey bill will be released Saturday May 16^th. It is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions between 14 and 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels.· The committee will work on amendments starting on the 19th (Tues) with the intent of finishing the bill by the 22^nd (Fri). Regular order will be followed and portions of the bill will be sent to Committees on Ways & Means, Ag, and Science, to address concerns about moving too fast. · Leadership plans to move the bill thru Rules and have it on the floor before August recess. A remaining question to be discussed tomorrow is how much of Waxman-Markey can moderates stomach before getting “BTU”-ed when the Senate fails to pass it.· Sources are indicating the announcement of a deal on the distribution of emission allowances is imminent. Unconfirmed rumors are: Electric utilities 35%; Trade-sensitive or Energy-Intensive (like steel, aluminum, chemical and glass) 12% with no requirement to meet energy efficiency criteria; Refineries between 1% and 4%. · White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and climate and energy policy czar Carol Browner reportedly met with members of USCAP earlier.

SELECTED CONGRESSIONAL HEARING VOLUMES

Noteworthy new congressional hearing records on intelligence, national security or secrecy that have been published in the last month or two include the following.

"Congressional Oversight of Intelligence Activities," hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, November 13, 2007.

"Implementation of the Office of Government Information Services," hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, September 17, 2008.

"FISA for the 21st Century" (pdf), hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, July 26, 2006 (includes over a hundred questions and answers for the record from OLC head Steven G. Bradbury, among others).

"Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007" (pdf), hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, September 27, 2007.

"From the Department of Justice to Guantanamo Bay: Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation Rules (Part III)" (pdf), hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, June 26, 2008 (including testimony by David S. Addington and John Yoo).

"From the Department of Justice to Guantanamo Bay: Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation Rules (Part IV)," hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, July 15, 2008 (including testimony by Douglas Feith).

Health Reform Heats Up The healthcare reform battle heats up, as the House and Senate each grapple with their plans - and both grapple with the inclusion of a public plan option.CNN Politics: " In the Senate, key negotiators broke up a session Monday still stuck on whether to create a government-run health-insurance plan to compete with private insurers -- something Obama and most Democrats want, and most Republicans strongly oppose. In the House, Democratic leaders are preparing to outline their plans for reform on Tuesday, according to a senior Democratic congressional source familiar with a "discussion draft" that is circulating. ..."This is going to be a long, hot summer when it comes to the debate on health care, because, as you know, there are so many proposals floating on Capitol Hill, some that include the mandate, some that [have] a public option, of course, and many Democrats would like to have the single-payer option," Democratic strategist Donna Brazile said."; Moderates are feeling the heat on both sides of the aisle, says USAToday. But for some Blue Dog Democrats, that long, hot summer has already started, and promises to be even hotter and longer; The Huffington Post's Ryan Gimm report's that Blue Dog Democrats are already "backsliding" on health care reform, issuing statement that their coalition would only support a public plan option as a fallback to be "triggered" if private insurers don't keep their promises; Health care disparities are likely to be part of the discussion. The New York Times writes that regional disparities have stirred debate as members of Congress consider proposals to reign in health spending by rerouting Medicare money away from high-cost areas to cover the uninsured and treat patients in low-cost regions. Meanwhile,the Associated Press says that minority lawmakers are highlighting racial disparities in health care access and health outcomes.; Writing at HuffPo, Sen. Bernie Sanders declares health care "a right, not a privilege"; Robert Reich says pay attention to the details and watch how hard the White House pushes for them; The Nation's William Greider says that on a host of issues - from health care reform to the economy - the question facing Democrats is (or should be), "If not now,when?": "If not now, when? That question ought to haunt the Democratic Party and President Obama, who has been missing in action himself on key issues. Congressional Democrats are responding to this epic conflagration with the same risk-avoidance tactics they learned during many years in minority status. In those days, they could always blame right-wing Republicans for blocking their good intentions. But whom do the Dems blame now that they have the White House and fifty-nine votes in the Senate and a seventy-eight-seat majority in the House? Their standard explanation for not doing more is, "We didn't have the votes." So when might we expect Democrats to achieve more? When they have eighty votes in the Senate?"

EDUCATION -- SEC. DUNCAN ANNOUNCES $350 MILLION PLAN TO DEVELOP NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS FOR READING AND MATH: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced yesterday an ambitious plan to help states develop uniform national standards for reading and math. Duncan pledged $350 million to help states develop the new standards and end the "current patchwork of benchmarks across the nation." Forty-six states and the District of Columbia agreed earlier this month to "craft a single vision for what children should learn each year from kindergarten through high school graduation." Duncan praised the move, declaring, "We have 50 different standards, 50 different goal posts. ... We want to fundamentally reverse that. We want common, career-ready internationally benchmarked standards." Duncan said yesterday that the federal funds would be used to design new national tests, replacing the numerous tests in use in individual states. Responding to questions about the focus on testing, Duncan said, "I think in this country we have too many bad tests. ... If we're going to have world-class international standards, we need to have world-class evaluations behind them." In a report from 2008 on the need for national standards in education, Matt Miller at the Center for American Progress wrote that, "by leaving the definition of standards and proficiency requirements to the states, No Child Left Behind -- like earlier efforts in the educational standards movement -- makes it impossible for us to know where kids stand. ...[I]n today's 'flat' world we can't have the rigor of a child's education, and thus chances for success, depend on the accident of where they happen to be born."

Roll Call digs through the latest financial disclosure forms of members of Congress to find some interesting tidbits. For example, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) won $2,500 in the New York lottery. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) reported receiving a painting from noted artist Jamie Wyeth worth more than $5,000. "Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) got two presents that sounded lovely from nonpolitical family friends: a 'glass pumpkin' worth $675 and a 'seahorse ruby and diamond brooch' worth $2,250."

In a speech to the American Medical Association (AMA) today, Obama will "endorse the creation of a government-sponsored insurance plan operating alongside private coverage while maintaining existing relationships between doctors and patients." The AMA has been critical of such an approach in recent days.

On CNN's "State of the Union" yesterday, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) said there were not enough Senate votes to pass a public health insurance plan like the one President Obama has pushed for. "In a 60-vote environment, you've got to attract some Republicans as well as holding virtually all the Democrats together, and that, I don't believe, is possible with a pure public option. I don't think the votes are there," Conrad said.

"Democratic allies remain at odds over provisions of a House climate bill and a Senate energy bill, even as congressional leaders and Obama administration officials are pressing to complete work on the legislation." Various Democratic lawmakers are pushing for expanded offshore oil drilling, greater giveaways to the agriculture business, and either a stricter or looser renewable electricity standard.

House Panel Examines U.S. Attorneys Oversight; Senators Closer To $1 Trillion Health Care Bill; Bernanke Defends Fed on Bank Deal; Bernanke Defends Fed on Bank Deal; Millionaire Ranks Cut By 19%