House rushes to finish its work for year
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a headlong rush to leave town for the year, the House is trying to clear its plate of legislation to finance the military, help the jobless and permit the government to run up more debt. Democratic leaders also are touting a new $154 billion measure combining help for state and local governments and the unemployed with nearly $50 billion in spending on highways, housing and school repair as part of a year-end plan to create jobs. That measure was scheduled for a vote along with the other issues Wednesday, though the Senate won't act this year.
AP Exclusive: Tourists enjoy White House breakfast
WASHINGTON (AP) — It wasn't a state dinner, and they didn't crash it on purpose. Still, a Georgia couple who showed up at the White House a day early for a tour somehow wound up at an invitation-only breakfast with President Barack Obama and the first lady. It left the White House once again explaining how people who were not on an event guest list wound up being ushered into the presidential mansion anyway.
Upbeat Obama says Senate near health care passage
WASHINGTON (AP) — Prodded by President Barack Obama, Senate Democrats won tentative backing from one holdout and worked intensely to satisfy another Tuesday as they grappled with the last, lingering disputes blocking passage of health care legislation by Christmas. Despite the push, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska remained publicly uncommitted — even after a private meeting with Obama.
AP source: Obama writes letter to NKorean leader
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has written a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as part of an intense effort to draw the reclusive nation back to nuclear disarmament talks, a senior State Department official said Tuesday. The letter was delivered to North Korean officials last week by Obama's special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, during a visit to Pyongyang aimed at restarting the stalled negotiations, the official said.
SPIN METER: No real consensus on bank overhaul
WASHINGTON (AP) — After meeting with bank executives, President Barack Obama noted "a big gap" between the CEOs and their lobbyists on his campaign to rewrite the rules governing the financial industry. The CEOs "support reform," Obama said, but their lobbyists have been sending a different message. Appearing separately after the meeting, the bankers seemed to agree. "We're going to do a better job ... to work with the lobbyists" to address that disconnect, US Bancorp CEO Richard Davis said.
Ill. town welcomes plan to house Gitmo detainees
THOMSON, Ill. (AP) — The White House decision to move up to 100 Guantanamo Bay detainees to this dying Mississippi River town has folks here seeing dollar signs, not suspected terrorists. Many people in this rural community are hopeful that their willingness to house the prisoners in a nearly empty penitentiary will offer an economic boost — helping to ease steep job losses and dwindling tax revenue needed to fix roads and pay for schools.
Democrats propose $50B for jobs-boosting projects
WASHINGTON (AP) — Responding to calls among rank-and-file Democrats for more infrastructure spending, House leaders Tuesday unveiled a plan to add almost $50 billion in spending on highways, housing and school repair as part of a year-end plan to create jobs. The measure is aimed at keeping the fragile economic recovery on track with money for teachers, the unemployed and small businesses. A vote is planned for Wednesday.
Documents in probe of wayward plane to be released
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal safety officials say they will release information gathered in their investigation of the Northwest Airlines plane that flew more than 100 miles past Minneapolis while pilots worked on their laptops. The National Transportation Safety Board says it will make public on Wednesday about 400 pages of interviews with Flight 188's pilots and flight attendants, as well as air traffic controllers, among other information.
Native Hawaiian bill poised to pass 2 committees
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two congressional committees are considering legislation this week that would let native Hawaiians establish their own government, much like those organized by hundreds of Indian tribes. The House Natural Resources Committee takes first crack at the bill Wednesday. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee takes up the legislation Thursday.
Poll: Action on climate will heat up economy, jobs
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans believe steps taken to reduce global warming pollution will help the U.S. economy than say such measures will hurt it. It's a sign the public is showing more faith in President Barack Obama's economic arguments for limiting heat-trapping gases than in Republican claims that the actions would kill jobs. In an Associated Press-Stanford University poll, 40 percent said U.S. action to slow global warming in the future would create jobs. Slightly more, 46 percent, said it would boost the economy.
