Dodd’s Finance Reform Bill Would Strengthen Fed
There are from time to time political events that attract attention and controversy, only to fade into well-deserved obscurity. Who today can recall...
Congress
Healthcare Debate: The Real March Madness
In the spirit of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, President Obama and his starting line up are running a full court press this...
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McCain-Lieberman Bill Would Deny Civilian Trials for “Enemy Belligerents”
On March 4 Senators John McCain (R-Ariz) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) introduced a bill entitled “The Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention and Prosecution Act...
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Congressional Democrats Nix Anti-torture Measure
House Democrats have caved in to Republican pressure, removing an anti-torture provision from the Fiscal 2010 Intelligence Authorization Act (H.R. 2701). “The controversial...
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House Republicans Call for Bigger Deficits Than Obama
An alternative budget proposal submitted by Congressman Paul Ryan (Wis.), the House Budget Committee's Republican ranking member, would increase the federal budget deficit...
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Obama Signs $1.9 Trillion Debt Limit Increase
President Obama signed into law February 12 a bill that would increase the federal debt limit by $1.9 trillion to a total of...
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Bernanke Confirmed Despite Track Record
If there were any lingering doubts that official Washington rewards incompetency and lack of foresight, Thursday’s Senate confirmation of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben...
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Bernanke’s Kudos, Criticisms Miss the Point
A preliminary vote today for Ben Bernanke’s reappointment to a second four-year term as chairman of the Federal Reserve is expected to clear...
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Congress Votes to Raise Debt Limit
The Senate voted on December 24 to allow the federal government to borrow an additional $290 billion, thereby increasing the total federal debt...
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Deficit “Hawks” Face Hypocrisy Charge
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds," poet-philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in the 19th Century. Small minds, at least those...
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Senate Banking Committee Confirms Bernanke, With Dissent
The Senate Banking Committee convened Thursday morning, December 17, and voted 16-7 to confirm Ben Bernanke for a second four-year term as Chairman...
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Senate Passes $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill
The Senate on December 13 passed a mammoth omnibus spending bill variously described as costing $447 billion or $1.1 trillion, depending on whether...
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Democrats Seek $1.8 Trillion Debt Hike
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) stated on December 11 that the federal government must borrow at least $1.8 trillion more in...
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Librarians Unite Against Patriot Act Provisions
Librarians are virtually united in opposing the renewal of the Patriot Act provisions that are set to expire this December 31, 2009. Thirty-two...
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Fed Chief Bernanke Faces Strong Criticism
Ben Bernanke appeared on December 3 before the Senate Banking Committee as part of the confirmation proceedings needed to approve a second four-year...
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