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May 16, 2012 11:32 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says Congress could help sustain the economy's "momentum" by passing legislation that would give businesses a 10 percent income tax credit if they create new jobs or increase wages this year. Obama made his pitch during a roundtable discussion with small business leaders in...
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April 22, 2012 1:54 PM
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - A plan to shutter 53 post offices across Colorado and hundreds of others elsewhere in the nation has been put on hold - at least for now. David Rupert, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service's Colorado operations, tells the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel the service...
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March 31, 2012 10:25 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court left little doubt during last week's marathon arguments over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul that it has scant faith in Congress' ability to get anything done. The views about Congress were evident in the questions from the justices. The justices appear to be...
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March 25, 2012 10:52 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is finding it hard to do what used to be easy. The Washington divide, hardened by election-year politics, has stifled the agendas of both parties. Lawmakers are limited to below-the-radar bills and modest ambitions. Complicating the legislative process are emboldened congressional conservatives, their ranks larger after...
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March 10, 2012 12:38 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon is developing plans to restart programs that would fund military training and equipment in Yemen, nearly a year after they were shut down due to escalating chaos in the embattled country. While no agreements have been cemented, U.S. defense officials say military assistance, which could...
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February 22, 2012 8:34 PM
The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up the question of whether the Stolen Valor Act is constitutional. It's a law designed to punish people who lie about being war heroes.
The case, hearing arguments on Wednesday, is against Xavier Alvarez; a man who falsely claimed at a public meeting...
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February 22, 2012 6:11 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Some congressional offices outside Washington and media organizations have received threatening letters containing a suspicious powdery substance that was tested and proved to be harmless, the FBI and the Senate's top law enforcement officer said Wednesday. Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance Gainer said in a memo to Senate offices that...
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February 14, 2012 12:30 PM
After a heated showdown between Congress and the White House, back in December, the 2% payroll tax cut was extended for two months. Now, that extension is about to run out, and President Obama is asking for an extension for the remainder of 2012.
Today, President Obama took his...
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February 7, 2012 4:25 PM
DENVER (AP) - Colorado lawmakers from both parties are trying to save a federal incentive for the wind industry.
Eight members of the congressional delegation signed a letter Tuesday asking for an extension of the wind energy production tax credit. A conference committee is negotiating the fate of the...
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January 25, 2012 4:52 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The applause rolled through the big chamber, growing ever louder as hundreds of Republicans and Democrats suddenly realized Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was back in the House.
But this time she had come to say goodbye.
Fellow lawmakers gave her a fitting send-off: cheers, hugs, a...
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January 16, 2012 8:16 PM
Wikipedia may black out its website Wednesday to protest anti-piracy legislation under consideration in Congress.
Founder Jimmy Wales announced on Twitter Monday that the popular site will shut down its English versions for 24 hours in protest. Wikimedia, the foundation behind the site, says it is still collecting public...
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January 15, 2012 10:59 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - How will the White House and Congress come up with the money to extend an average $20-a-week Social Security payroll tax cut without adding to the government's long-term debt.
Republicans are trying to cut federal employee benefits. President Barack Obama wants to hit airline passengers with...
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January 14, 2012 11:56 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration says it would oppose pending legislation that would undermine "the dynamic, innovative global Internet."
The White House says in a blog post Saturday that while online piracy by foreign websites presents a "serious problem," it is concerned with legislation that "reduces freedom of...
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December 15, 2011 8:51 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress has cleared a $662 billion defense bill and will send the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature. The Senate voted 86-13 for the sweeping bill on Thursday. The bill would authorize money for military personnel, weapons systems, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and...
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December 3, 2011 3:53 PM
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is calling on President Barack Obama's attorney general to resign because of the flawed law enforcement initiative aimed at dismantling major arms trafficking networks on the Southwest border.
Romney tells reporters after a rally in New Hampshire that Eric Holder...
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November 28, 2011 7:56 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Fitch says it will keep its rating for long-term U.S. debt at the top AAA level, despite a congressional panel's failure to agree on long-term deficit cuts. But it is lowering its outlook to negative.
The rating agency says it has less confidence in the federal...
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November 22, 2011 7:58 PM
Thousands of local jobs are in jeopardy after the Congressional "Supercommittee" failed to agree on spending cuts. The stalemate triggered $1 trillion in automatic cuts to Medicare and defense spending.
Economist Fred Crowley of Southern Colorado Economic Forum says any cuts in defense spending will have a direct, negative...
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November 16, 2011 6:04 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress has overwhelmingly approved a bill helping government contractors and unemployed veterans, finally giving President Barack Obama the chance to sign the first, tiny shred of his $447 billion jobs bill into law.
The House consented to the popular legislation Wednesday 422-0 as Democrats and Republicans...
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October 19, 2011 3:30 PM
NORTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) - President Barack Obama is pressing for Congress to spend billions of dollars to help firefighters facing layoffs.
Obama said Wednesday that while the private sector continues to add jobs, financially strapped state and local governments are doing the opposite and cutting firefighters, teachers and...
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October 17, 2011 11:34 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court will decide whether a law making it a crime to lie about having received military medals is constitutional.
The justices said Monday they will consider the validity of the Stolen Valor Act, which passed Congress with overwhelming support in 2006. The federal appeals...
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October 12, 2011 7:41 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has approved a free trade agreement with South Korea, the world's 13th largest economy and the seventh largest trading partner with the U.S.
The South Korea vote Wednesday came after the House also passed free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama. The Senate was...
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October 12, 2011 2:48 PM
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - A bill making its way through Congress would make it clear that ski resorts are not just for winter activities.
The Ski Area Recreation Opportunity Enhancement Act has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate.
Current federal...
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October 6, 2011 9:10 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is set to approve free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama next week. The House Rules Committee has voted on procedures for taking up the long-delayed agreements, the last step before they go to the House floor. The House is expected to begin the...
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October 1, 2011 9:41 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - People might be shocked that Congress can barely agree to keep government offices open, let alone tackle big problems confronting the country.
Veteran lawmakers and scholars use words like "unprecedented" to describe the current level of dysfunction and paralysis.
There's no single culprit, it seems....
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September 8, 2011 8:06 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - A top aide to President Barack Obama says it's time for Congress to take action to create jobs.
White House chief of staff Bill Daley says that in the president's speech to lawmakers Thursday evening, he will propose innovative ideas for growing the economy. He says...
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September 6, 2011 12:27 AM
Labor Day -- in some years -- can be an overlooked holiday, but with the nation's focus on the economy and jobs it has different meaning this year. Many people were happy to get Monday off from work, but there's also a large group out there of people who are...
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September 5, 2011 3:54 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is issuing an open letter to Congress and the White House calling for measures designed to increase employment, including greater oil drilling, quick road and bridge construction and temporary corporate tax breaks.
The chamber estimates its proposals could encourage corporations to...
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September 4, 2011 5:15 PM
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The White House says President Barack Obama hopes that when Congress returns this coming week from its summer break, lawmakers will share his sense of urgency in taking steps to create jobs and help the economy.
Obama plans a prime-time speech to Congress on Thursday...
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September 3, 2011 1:07 PM
PALATINE, Ill. (AP) - An outspoken Republican congressman from Illinois is defending his decision to boycott President Barack Obama's jobs speech next week. U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh said Saturday that Obama is abusing his power as president by calling a joint session of Congress for the address. Walsh said at...
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September 2, 2011 9:14 AM
The job report is out, and employers added no net workers last month and the unemployed rate was unchanged. This is a sign that many were nervous the U.S. Economy is a risk of slipping into another recession.
The Labor Department says total payrolls were unchanged in August, the...
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August 31, 2011 12:06 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama is urging Congress to pass an extension of a federal highway bill that expires at the end of September. Obama says failing to extend the bill would cause 4,000 workers to be furloughed without pay immediately, and could lead to 1 million workers losing...
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August 29, 2011 4:36 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - A retired naval officer honored for his valor during the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon has been found guilty of defrauding the victims' compensation fund by exaggerating his injuries.
A jury found retired Cmdr. Charles Coughlin guilty Monday of fraud and stealing public money after...
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August 20, 2011 5:13 PM
NEW YORK (AP) - Drug control advocates say the federal government has been dragging its feet for 12 years on whether to restrict the second most-abused medicine in the United States.
The drug is hydrocodone, and it's the key ingredient in Vicodin, Norco and other painkillers.
Emergency room...
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August 14, 2011 3:29 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - A day after winning a test poll of voters in Iowa, Rep. Michele Bachmann is seeking to distinguish herself from another tea party favorite and GOP presidential hopeful, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas.
Interviewed Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," the Minnesota Republican says that...
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August 6, 2011 3:50 PM
TIFFIN, Iowa (AP) - GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is criticizing President Barack Obama's plan to take a three-day bus tour through the Midwest to discuss the economy.
The former House speaker told a Republican Party dinner in Iowa on Friday that Obama should act like a president and...
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August 6, 2011 8:33 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) Lawmakers trade blame for downgrade One of the world's three major credit rating agencies says there's too big a gulf between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to dealing with debt, so it's giving the government a downgrade.
Standard & Poor's has bumped the U.S. credit rating...
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August 4, 2011 5:31 PM
Republican and Democratic lawmakers are considering plans that could spur major upgrades to the nation's aging energy pipelines, driven by a string of recent oil spills, deadly natural gas blasts and what they call federal regulators' inaction.
Since last summer, major pipeline accidents have destroyed neighborhoods in California and...
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July 31, 2011 4:10 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dear voter: Want to know why Democrats and Republicans in Congress find it so hard to work together to solve tough problems like the debt ceiling, health care and Social Security?
Look in the mirror.
Americans gripe about cowardly, self-serving politicians, and Congress doubtlessly has...
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July 30, 2011 10:43 AM
In a weekly radio address President Barack Obama made reference to a ticking clock counting down to a Tuesday deadline proclaiming that the disagreements are not that great in urging Democratic and Republican lawmakers to work together in reaching a deal that would avoid a default in the US government...
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July 24, 2011 3:52 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker John Boehner is working on a plan to prevent the first government default in U.S. history. He hopes to have at least a framework of a deal ready this afternoon.
Boehner says if Democrats don't go along, Republicans will act alone. The government will...
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July 21, 2011 3:58 PM
LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) - Officials at the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport say they will cancel a crucial runway rebuilding project unless Congress approves funding by next week.
Officials say that could cause intermittent shutdowns of the airport throughout the coming year for emergency repairs.
The $7 million project...
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July 18, 2011 12:13 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The next step in the wrangling over how to increase the government borrowing authority is to let the tea party forces in the House try it their way.
A Republican plan known as "cut, cap and balance" is set for a House vote on Tuesday. It...
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July 11, 2011 6:21 PM
INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann says she's not worried about the nation defaulting if the debt ceiling isn't increased.
The Minnesota congresswoman says there are several options to keep the government running if the debt ceiling isn't raised by August. She says members of Congress...
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June 30, 2011 3:40 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Republicans have blocked a hearing on three trade bills because they don't want to link the deals to an extension of a program that retrains workers hurt by foreign trade.
Thursday's hearing was set for Senate Finance Committee. At issue were long-stalled trade agreements with...
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May 29, 2011 1:44 PM
JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says the people in Joplin, Mo., won't have to worry about federal assistance following a monster tornado one week ago.
Speaking on CBS' Face the Nation, Cantor said Congress will find the money, and that it's waiting for President Barack...
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May 10, 2011 5:14 PM
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Apple is telling Congress that its iPhone location tracking is meant to improve service, not stalk customers.
The company outlined its stance in a letter released Monday by the House of Representatives. An Apple Inc. vice president, Guy Tribble, is set to testify Tuesday before...
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May 3, 2011 10:10 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans have advanced their effort to dismantle the new health care law piece by piece by voting to disrupt the flow of funding for health insurance exchanges, an integral part of the law's goal of expanding insurance coverage.
The bill would take away the free...
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April 25, 2011 4:59 PM
DENVER (AP) - Bipartisan talks to draw new congressional district boundaries for Colorado have collapsed after a legislative committee failed to meet a self-imposed deadline.
Now Republicans and Democrats are vowing to draw their own maps to redraw the state's seven districts as required after every census. If the...
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April 12, 2011 1:25 PM
DENVER (AP) - Former Republican State Rep. Rob Witwer of Genesee has been appointed to the panel working to redraw the boundaries of Colorado's state legislative districts.
GOP House Speaker Frank McNulty announced the appointment Monday. Witwer will serve on the 11-member Colorado Reapportionment Commission. The commission is separate...
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March 11, 2011 6:50 PM
Five more meetings are planned in the coming week on redrawing boundaries of Colorado's seven congressional districts.
Every ten years following the Census, the state legislature is required to redraw boundary lines of the districts according to population. This is known as redistricting.
A 10-member committee is evaluating...
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February 15, 2011 2:05 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says he expects there will be some "posturing on television," but he's confident that congressional leaders will try to find room to compromise on the budget issues in the coming months.
Obama says it will take both parties working together to figure out...
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January 17, 2011 7:22 PM
DENVER (AP) - Colorado Sen. Mark Udall says a campaign to get Democrats and Republicans to sit together rather than by party during the president's State of the Union address is gaining support.
The Democrat said Monday that 22 senators and nine House members have signed a letter endorsing...
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January 17, 2011 4:54 PM
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Doctors have successfully performed surgery on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' eye socket to remove bone fragments as the wounded congresswoman showed more signs of improvement.
There were no complications from the surgery, and Giffords is improving so much that she was able to give her husband...
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January 10, 2011 9:21 AM
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Doctors say the Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head Saturday is responding to simple commands. But they say it could take weeks to months before they know the full damage done to Gabrielle Giffords' brain.
Six people, including a 9-year-old girl and a...
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January 6, 2011 12:59 PM
DENVER (AP) - Cory Gardner is set to deliver his first speech in Congress.
The Colorado Republican will speak Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives in support of cutting Congressional budgets. The former state lawmaker from Yuma was sworn into his new job in Congress on Wednesday along...
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January 6, 2011 11:40 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - And let it be said, on this second day following the convening of the 112th Congress, newly sworn members of the House shall stand and read aloud the Constitution of the United States.
And so it was Thursday, as lawmakers took turns reciting each verse and...
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January 1, 2011 10:27 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - One of the new Republican lawmakers arriving in Washington says her party is in a good position to "change business-as-usual in Washington."
Senator-elect Kelly Ayotte (AY'-aht) of New Hampshire says Republicans will be focusing on cutting spending and helping businesses grow and hire.
She delivered...
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December 26, 2010 12:22 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The end of the year means a turnover of House control from Democrats to Republicans and, with it, a likely shift in Congress' approach to immigration.
A tougher approach to immigration issues should resonate with the GOP faithful who helped swing the House in Republicans' favor....
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December 2, 2010 7:35 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - New York Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel says the House's overwhelming vote to censure him for financial misdeeds was political.
A relieved and defiant Rangel told reporters that he is at peace with himself and convinced that when history is written, people will recognize that the 333-79...
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November 3, 2010 3:25 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - Rep. John Boehner says the GOP takeover of the House brings "a new majority" to Congress with a mandate to listen to the people.
Appearing with fellow Republicans at a Capitol news conference, Boehner said it's "time for us to roll up our sleeves and get...
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October 21, 2010 7:37 PM
A United States cabinet member was in Pueblo Thursday afternoon stumping for a local democratic candidate. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis made an appearance at a campaign rally for John Salazar. The event was held at the Steelworkers Hall. "(John) has done so much for Coloradoans. I can tell you because...
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October 19, 2010 8:48 AM
Former President Bill Clinton is pleading with Colorado Democrats to stick with Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, saying that a vote for Republicans would return the nation to dangerous times.
About 2,000 people packed a high school gym Monday in northeast Denver to hear Clinton speak in a rally that...
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September 30, 2010 8:23 AM
The House has voted to set federal guidelines on managing concussions among student athletes and protecting young people suffering head injuries from long-term health problems.
The bill would require the government to convene a conference of medical, athletic and education experts to come up with guidelines that address the...
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September 28, 2010 8:18 AM
The Senate is headed toward a vote on a bill to punish corporations that send jobs overseas.
Senate Democrats are trying to claim the loss of jobs overseas as a campaign issue just before Congress heads home for the November elections. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled a...
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September 27, 2010 4:10 PM
President Barack Obama has signed a bill creating a $30 billion fund to help small businesses expand and hire.
The bill also includes eight separate tax breaks for small businesses and a boost for Small Business Administration loan programs. Obama says the incentives will help small businesses create jobs...
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September 23, 2010 8:23 AM
An Associated Press-Gfk Poll finds that independent voters are nearly as outraged as Republicans about politics this year.
Fifty-eight percent of independents and 60 percent of Republicans say politics is making them angry, compared with 31 percent of Democrats who said so.
About 7 in 10 independents and...
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September 22, 2010 10:18 AM
A Colorado grandmother hospitalized for five days after eating an appetizer made with salmonella-tainted eggs is urging Congress to pass food safety laws that might have prevented her suffering.
Carol Lobato, 77, of Littleton, developed septic shock and nearly died in July from illness linked to a massive salmonella...
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September 20, 2010 3:44 PM
Rep. John Salazar is asking the House of Representatives to establish a database listing awards earned by U.S. servicemen and women. Salazar said Monday the database would help expose people who falsely claim to have received medals. He asked colleagues to co-sponsor his bill establishing a database.
Salazar sponsored...
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September 15, 2010 1:46 PM
The Obama administration is pushing a pre-election shopping list on its Democratic allies in Congress as they prepare must-pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown next month.
Republicans are protesting the spending requests, which include $1.9 billion for school grants, financial help for the Postal Service and more than...
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September 15, 2010 10:34 AM
The Obama administration is seeking tighter oversight of the nation's pipelines and stronger penalties for violations of pipeline safety rules after a deadly explosion in California.
The legislation was submitted to Congress Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The proposal follows several major pipeline accidents.
A Pacific Gas...
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September 15, 2010 9:05 AM
Congressional Democrats are showing deep divisions over President Barack Obama's plan to allow taxes on the wealthy to go up.
Democratic leaders committed to Obama's plan are hearing from some lawmakers who fear that raising taxes on anyone in a weak economy could be politically lethal.
A group...
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September 14, 2010 8:22 AM
A federal judge in Florida will hold a hearing on whether the president's health care overhaul, passed by Congress, is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson will preside over the case Tuesday morning in Pensacola.
Florida and 19 other states contend sections of the law that will require...
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August 30, 2010 2:21 PM
Baseball great Roger Clemens has entered a not guilty plea to charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone.
Clemens entered his plea Monday in U.S. District Court. The arraignment happened a few blocks away from where the retired pitcher swore under oath...
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August 30, 2010 8:36 AM
Some military families are calling on Congress to investigate several deaths of soldiers and veterans who were taking a potent anti-pyschotic called Seroquel.
Thousands of soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have received the same medication over the last nine years.
It's unclear how many soldiers have...
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August 26, 2010 9:00 AM
New requests for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week after rising in the past three weeks.
Still, claims remain much higher than they would be in a healthy economy. The Labor Department says new claims for jobless aid dropped by 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 473,000.
Wall Street...
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August 19, 2010 10:32 AM
Congress' budget analysts are estimating that this year's federal deficit will exceed $1.3 trillion, slightly below last year's total but still a huge ocean of red ink.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the enormous shortfall is a result of the still struggling economy, which has meant lower federal...
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August 17, 2010 8:19 AM
President Barack Obama is giving a blast of attention to Sen. Patty Murray and her re-election bid on primary day, stepping into another competitive race as Democrats try to retain their grip on Congress.
In the middle of a three-day campaign trip, Obama heads north Tuesday from Los Angeles...
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August 10, 2010 8:51 AM
If you send care packages to a loved on who's deployed in Afghanistan, leave out the tobacco.
A new law meant to stop smuggling by mail has inadvertently also halted care packages that include cigarettes and other tobacco products for American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Prevent...
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