Reuters: Politics

Obama's drive for climate change bill hits delay

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:58:16 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As President Barack Obama encouraged world leaders meeting in Italy to intensify the fight against global warming, legislation to cut U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases suffered a delay in the Senate on Thursday.

Obama's Senate replacement won't seek another term

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:54:39 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Roland Burris, appointed by Illinois' since-ousted governor to fill President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, has decided not to run for a full six-year term in 2010, a Democratic Party aide said on Thursday.

Democratic faction uneasy about U.S. healthcare bill

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:11:28 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A crack in the fragile coalition crafting a U.S. healthcare reform bill emerged on Thursday when fiscally conservative Democrats balked at the cost and direction of the House of Representatives' plan.

Kohn warns Congress on meddling in Fed's affairs

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:43:26 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve on Thursday launched a robust defense of its independence and warned that efforts in Congress to put monetary policy under political sway would hurt the economy.

NY Democrats win back control of state senate

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:10:05 -0400

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Democrats on Thursday said they regained control of the state Senate after the second of two party members who had defected to the Republicans rejoined the Democrats, ending a nearly five-week impasse that had frozen all legislation.

U.S. House backs $48.8 billion foreign aid funding bill

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:19:49 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $48.8 billion spending bill to bolster U.S. foreign policy and aid efforts, including to allies like Pakistan and Afghanistan.

U.S. seeks "full partnership" with Russia on missiles

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:27:51 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is seeking "full partnership" with Moscow to bridge ballistic missile-defense differences that have strained U.S.-Russian ties for years, the head of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said Thursday.

Senate panel wants details on use of TARP money

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:47:29 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Thursday approved a $46.4 billion bill to fund the Treasury Department and pressed the agency to obtain more details about how recipients of the government's $700 billion financial bailout are using the funds.

Obama not talking about second stimulus: official

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:43:58 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's administration is not discussing a second stimulus plan to jolt the U.S. economy out of recession, a White House budget official told Congress on Wednesday.

Bid to clip Fed's wings gains support in Congress

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:43:23 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A proposal from a long-time congressional foe of the Federal Reserve that could give lawmakers sway over monetary policy has won the support of a majority in the House of Representatives, alarming officials at the U.S. central bank.