Nancy Pelosi News

Democrats prep 'blank check' on Iraq: report

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:16:56 GMT

"As long as leadership is not willing to challenge the way the president is hiding behind the troops"

Democratic leaders in Congress are quietly preparing to give President Bush essentially everything he wants to keep the Iraq war going for at least another six months without forcing any change in course. via Raw Story

Iowa race may ride on Dem dinner

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:07:13 GMT

"If you start off with half the country not wanting to vote for you"

As 9,000 Democratic activists converge here Saturday to hear again from White House hopefuls, the race among the three deadlocked front-runners is becoming more frantic and barbed. via Chicago Sun-Times

Task force: Honor the slaves who helped build US Capitol

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:36:07 GMT

"When we look at the building, it's not your building, the majority, it's our building"

The slaves who helped to construct the US Capitol in Washington, DC, should be honored for their historic effort, reports a Congressional task force that recently completed a two-year examination of how ... via Raw Story

House votes to rein in alternative tax

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:42:31 GMT

"We should not single out just one industry"

The House on Friday narrowly approved a $73.8 billion measure to protect millions of families from the alternative minimum tax and offer new tax breaks to middle-income homeowners and low-income parents, offset ... via Birmingham News Online

Genocide by any other name

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 03:39:58 GMT

A century later, a war of semantics engulfs the World War I-era banishment of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire. via Crosscut.com

Coast Guard delay in oil spill 'abysmal'

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 19:04:47 GMT

"I'm really upset at the response of the Coast Guard. It's a very disjointed effort. Abysmal."

Californians reacted with outrage to the lack of response by U.S. Coast Guard officials to a massive oil spill off the coast of San Francisco. via Daily India

Chris Weigant: Friday Talking Points [Vol. 9]

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:29:45 GMT

"President Bush keeps dancing around what the word "torture"

It's been a week of ups and downs for Democrats. Mostly downs. While congressional Democrats still have yet to pass a single budget bill, they did find the time this week to confirm Michael Mukasey as our new ... via The Huffington Post

Hispanic Caucus protests English-only provision

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:48:48 GMT

"It is everything that is unfair and politically charged."

House Democrats have an immigration problem on their hands. Angry Hispanic lawmakers enraged party leaders Friday morning by staging a procedural protest on the floor against English-only requirements added to ... via Washington Examiner

Large cleanup after San Francisco oil spill

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:17:39 GMT

"The oil spill in San Francisco Bay is a cause for grave concern by all who value the resources of our marvelous bay and Pacific coastline"

A growing number of San Francisco area beaches closed on Thursday as officials tried to clean up 58,000 gallons of fuel that leaked into the San Francisco Bay from a damaged container ship. via Environmental News Network

Cheney's Impeachment Fell Off the Table, Literally

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:56:41 GMT

"Accidents happen, but accidents in the middle of votes to debate impeachment don't happen every day. Unfortunately, for the Democrats, it was that kind of day."

Maybe now we know what the House speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat of California, meant when she said impeachment was "off the table." Lawmakers' voting cards on the issue were literally just that - off ... via New York Sun

Lawmakers vote to protect gay, lesbian workers

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:42:42 GMT

"I believe it is important we take a principled stand now, and speak with a strong and united voice for equal rights for all Americans, whether they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender"

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led House of Representatives on Wednesday defied a White House veto threat and voted to protect millions of Americans by outlawing workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"This is truly a historic day," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, told her colleagues. "Discrimination has no place in America."

The measure passed 235-184, falling far short of the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override a possible veto by President George W. Bush. Read more

House readies another Iraq war vote

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:57:02 GMT

"Our troops need all of the resources Congress can provide to seize upon the tactical momentum they've achieved and eliminate al-Qaida from Iraq's communities once and for all"

Syrian Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa 3rd right, meets a delegation of the US non-governmental Council for the National Interest , headed by Robert Keeley, in Damascus, Syria, on Wednesday Nov. via KansasCity.com

Catastrophe fund grabs spotlight after fires

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:08:36 GMT

"It's more than just Florida, it's more than just hurricanes. It's certainly earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, floods"

The massive wildfires in Southern California have raised the profile of legislation that would create a national catastrophe fund and potentially curb soaring insurance rates for homeowners in states hit ... via FloridaToday.com

Democrats thwart GOP bid for impeachment vote

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:51:55 GMT

"We have some major priorities. We need to focus on those."

WASHINGTON - House Democrats on Tuesday beat back a Republican bid to force them to vote on a resolution to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney for 'fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction' ... via Chicago Tribune

House takes up Peru free trade agreement

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:50:03 GMT

"This is a battle for hearts and minds; it is a struggle to ensure that liberty and the rule of law prevail over tyranny"

The House on Wednesday took up a free trade agreement with Peru, the first under new Democratic standards that elevate labor rights and the environment to a more central role in trade pacts. via Pennlive.com

Sarkozy touts US-French friendship

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:05:12 GMT

"French and American troops are helping defend a young democracy in Afghanistan"

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, center, places his hand over his heart as he is introduced to a joint meeting of Congress, Wednesday, Nov. via Kansas.com

Staffer who called Pelosi 'anti-American' goes on leave.

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:37:10 GMT

Last month, Trent Wisecup, the chief of staff for Rep. Joe Knollenberg made waves when he was caught on camera calling an anti-war activist "un-American" and "not a citizen." Wisecup followed it up by ... via Think Progress

Dems Add Other Measures to Veterans Bill

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:21:34 GMT

Congressional Democrats stumbled ahead Tuesday with a plan lumping the popular budget for veterans programs with a health and education bill that President Bush has promised to veto. via Guardian Unlimited

San Francisco / Rally pushes higher awareness of climate change

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:17:00 GMT

"Northern California is one of the places we can count on"

The event in United Nations Plaza was among 1,000 planned nationwide as part of Step It Up 2007, a national day of action against climate change. via SFGate