[iltos]

here's the new one....and a link to the last page of the old one, if you want to catch up
http://forums.techguy.org/civilized-...house-373.html

[wacor]

I don't think that thread needed to be closed due to length.

I think it needed to be closed because after all these months and almost 5600 posts there was no signs of ANY Democratic progress...

[poochee]

Thank you Iltos, this thread is so popular it needed a new start. Lots more to come!

[poochee]

Bush OKs Child Health Program Extension

By BEN FELLER
The Associated Press
Saturday, December 29, 2007; 11:57 AM

CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush on Saturday signed legislation that extends a popular children's health insurance program after twice vetoing attempts to expand it.

Politically, the move was a victory for Bush, although Democrats say it will come back to hurt Republicans at the polls.

The extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program is expected to provide states with enough money to cover those enrolled through March 2009. Bush and some Republican lawmakers say the program will still serve those that it should: children from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.

"We're pleased that the program will be extended and that states can be certain of their funding," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

Yet many Democrats _ with help from other Republicans _ wanted to give the program a significant cash infusion and broaden coverage to an estimated 4 million children. They overwhelmingly supported use of a tobacco tax increase to pay for the expansion.

Excerpt from: www.washingpost.com

[poochee]

Bush Signs Sudan Divestment Bill

By BEN FELLER
The Associated Press
Monday, December 31, 2007; 11:31 AM

CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush signed legislation Monday to allow states and local governments to cut investment ties with Sudan because of the violence in Darfur.

The bill permits state, county and municipal officials to adopt measures to divest their government investments from companies involved in the four sectors that provide vital revenue for Sudan's government _ oil, power production, mining and military equipment.

"I share the deep concern of the Congress over the continued violence in Darfur perpetrated by the government of Sudan and rebel groups," Bush said in a statement.

Bush's administration has raised objections to letting state and local governments adopt divestment policies that delve into foreign policy, a traditional federal role.

The president noted those concerns again Monday. Nevertheless, he agreed to signed the bill, which was approved with strong support in Congress.

The aim is to pressure Sudan to ease suffering in its Darfur region.

Excerpts from: www.washingtonpost.com

[poochee]

updated 1:04 p.m. EST, Mon December 31, 2007
Senate holds 12-second session to block Bush
CNN's Lisa DesJardin contributed to this report.

Story Highlights
Senate holding "pro forma" sessions to block recess appointments
Democrats, President Bush disagree over Justice Department appointment
Only one senator needed to keep Senate in session

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In one of the shortest session in its history, the Senate's final session of the year lasted a total of 12 seconds Monday.

Democrats kept the Senate in session over the holiday season.

Only one senator, Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island, was in the chamber to gavel open the Senate and adjourn it until January 3.

Monday's event was the latest in a series of "pro forma" sessions the Senate has called. Pro forma means "for the sake of formality" and these micro sessions are part of the last political scuffle between the White House and the Democratic-led Congress.

Democrats are keeping the Senate in session to block President Bush from making any recess appointments. During congressional recesses, a constitutional mechanism allows the president to fill top government posts for up to one year without Senate confirmation.

Other Democrats -- including Sens. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Cardin of Maryland and Chuck Schumer of New York -- will share the duty of presiding over the "pro forma" sessions next month.

Excerpt from: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/...rma/index.html

[wacor]

Hope Kennedy can stay sober long enough so he does not miss his turn.

[poochee]

Mississippi Congressman Appointed to Fill Lott's Senate Seat
By Paul Kane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 1, 2008; Page A02

Rep. Roger Wicker, a 13-year veteran of the House and self-described "mainstream conservative," was appointed yesterday by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) to replace Republican Trent Lott in the Senate.

Lott, the minority whip, stunned Washington in November with his resignation announcement. He left the Senate in December to begin working as a lobbyist.

Not widely known outside his northern Mississippi district, Wicker will have to compete in a special election if he hopes to finish Lott's term. Several Democrats are considering the race, but Democratic leaders in Washington intend to rally around former governor Ronnie Musgrove (D), who was ousted by Barbour in 2003.

The victor in the special election will serve through 2012 because Lott retired from the Senate less than a year after beginning his fourth term, but when that election will be held is in dispute.

Excerpt from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...=moreheadlines

[LANMaster]

[poochee]

Dear Friend:

Increasingly, Americans depend on their cell phones for vital and important calls. Understanding that, I recently introduced the Wireless 411 Privacy Act, legislation to protect wireless telephone customers from having their cellular phone numbers listed in a national directory without their consent.

This bill is good news for consumers because people should have the right to decide who has access to their wireless phone number. There are more than 250 million wireless subscribers in the United States today. Without the protections provided in this bill, the cell phone numbers of countless Americans could be at risk.

Specifically, the bill would prohibit the listing of cell phone numbers in a wireless directory without the subscriber granting permission. The legislation requires cell phone companies to give consumers clear notice on their right not to be listed and prohibits carriers from charging customers for keeping their cell phone numbers private or removing a listed number from the directory. The Wireless 411 Privacy Act would also prohibit companies other than wireless service providers from assembling and publishing directories of private numbers.

Currently, phone customers, including cell phone users can register to not receive their numbers to not receive telemarketing calls at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

Sincerely,


Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

[poochee]

Federal Employees To Receive Pay Raise
By Stephen Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 4, 2008; 2:02 PM

President Bush today signed an executive order that provides nearly 1.8 million federal employees with an average 3.5 percent pay raise and also increases salaries by smaller percentages for the armed forces, members of Congress, federal judges, diplomats and others.

In 2008, the base pay provided most civil service employees, covered by the General Schedule, will range from $17,046 to $124,010 annually, according to the order. The base pay will be supplemented by geographic-based raises, or locality pay, that can boost the take-home pay of employees.

More than 1.4 million active-duty military personnel will receive raises that average 3 percent, but the raise will be increased by an additional 0.5 percent after the White House and Congress reach an agreement on the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill. Military pay varies widely, based on rank and years of service.

Excerpt from: www.washingtonpost.com

[wacor]

great another pay raise for the bureaucrats while the rest of the middle class loses jobs and can't keep up with the cost of living.

what a great bunch of morons you democrats elected. really fiscally responsible. What a joke.

[Bastiat]

So as I understand it you don't believe federal employees, who are by in large middle class, deserve a raise?

[wacor]

Originally Posted by Bastiat

So as I understand it you don't believe federal employees, who are by in large middle class, deserve a raise?

nope

they are overpaid to begin with

nice try. I see you and raise you one.


now if you want to cut the govt work force 10% and give a the raise to those who keep their jobs I could live with that.

[poochee]

FDA to Back Food From Cloned Animals
Move Would Defy Congress's Wish for Delay
By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 5, 2008; Page A03

Having completed a years-long scientific review, the Food and Drug Administration is set to announce as early as next week that meat and milk from cloned farm animals and their offspring can start making their way toward supermarket shelves, sources in contact with the agency said yesterday.

The decision would be a notable act of defiance against Congress, which last month passed appropriations legislation recommending that any such approval be delayed pending further studies. Moreover, the Senate version of the Farm bill, yet to be reconciled with the House version, contains stronger, binding language that would block FDA action on cloned food, probably for years.

With a conference committee poised to finalize the farm bill in the next few weeks, that left the FDA a potentially narrow time frame within which to act if it wanted to settle the issue in sync with America's major meat-trading partners.

New Zealand and Australia have released reports concluding that meat and milk from clones are safe. Canada and Argentina are reportedly close to doing the same.

And although European consumers are generally uncomfortable with agricultural biotechnology, the European Union's food safety agency is expected to endorse the safety of meat and milk from clones in a draft statement that could be released within the next week.

"The science seems to be leading them and us to the same conclusion," said a U.S. trade official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because U.S. policy is technically still under review.

The FDA has hinted strongly in the past year that it is ready to lift its "voluntary moratorium" on the marketing of milk and meat from clones and their offspring, saying that the science led them to that decision. Multiple studies compiled by the agency have shown that the chemical composition of those products is virtually identical to that of milk and meat from conventionally bred animals. And studies in which rodents were fed food from clones have found no evidence of health effects.

But public opinion has been negative on the issue, with some saying that not enough safety studies have been conducted and others concerned about the health of the clones, which are far more likely than ordinary farm animals to die early in life.

Excerpt from: www.washingtonpost.com