Reuters: Politics

Obama looks for Republican healthcare backing

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:33:10 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama sought on Thursday to persuade Republicans to support overhaul of the U.S. healthcare industry, his signature domestic policy goal, as the measures moved on a fast-track through congressional committees with only Democratic support.

Obama Supreme Court pick on track for quick vote

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:42:26 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, appeared headed for confirmation as the first Hispanic justice on the U.S. Supreme Court after Senate hearings ended on Thursday with Republicans promising a speedy vote.

Stung by jobs data, White House defends stimulus

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:12:44 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amid worsening jobs figures and continuing criticism about the speed of its economic recovery plan, the White House on Thursday defended President Barack Obama's efforts to lift the United States out of recession.

Hillary Clinton rejects notion of diminished role

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:38:36 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday rejected suggestions she had been sidelined by President Barack Obama, her rival for last year's Democratic presidential nomination.

Congress gets pay bill as bank bonuses swell

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:00:28 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With the smell of fat bonus checks again wafting down Wall Street, the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress on Thursday moved closer to a clampdown on U.S. corporate executive pay.

Congress gets Obama "say on pay" proposal

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:33:45 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Thursday sent Congress a legislative proposal that would give corporate shareholders an annual non-binding vote on executive pay and require more independence for boardroom compensation committees.

CBO says costs will rise as healthcare expanded

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:30:13 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Budget Office director Douglas Elmendorf told lawmakers on Thursday legislation to expand health care coverage would increase federal healthcare costs "to a significant degree" and revenue will need to be found to keep from increasing the deficit.

Gates vows real fight over U.S. defense budget

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:09:36 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned on Thursday that Congress faces a veto threat over defense spending if lawmakers try to force more F-22 fighters onto President Barack Obama's reform effort.

U.S. Interior proceeding with contested offshore plan

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:22:33 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Department on Thursday said that it will go ahead with an offshore oil and natural gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico scheduled next month, despite some legal concerns about the Bush-era drilling plan.

Lawmakers slam Paulson on BofA-Merrill deal

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:16:13 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers on Thursday ripped into former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson over the government's role in Bank of America's merger with Merrill Lynch and other actions to cope with the deep financial crisis that gripped the country last year.