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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the June Employment Situation Report.
  • The Census Bureau releases the latest data on Factory Orders.
  • ETA releases the weekly Unemployment Initial Claims report.
  • The 2009 Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues on the National Mall.

    U.S. House
  • House Radio-Television Gallery Schedule

    U.S. Senate
  • Senate Radio-Television Gallery Schedule

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  • Governors' State of the State speeches (source: Stateline.org).
  • 2008 State Legislative Session Calendars (source: NCSL).
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     Congress Today
    House - meets at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
    Senate - meets at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2009.


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    No committee schedule available for Saturday, July 04, 2009.
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  •  Breaking News
    From washingtonpost.com:
    WashingtonPost.com  
    U.S. Unemployment Rate Rises to 26-Year High
    Employers keep slashing jobs, undermining signs of progress in the economy, and making clear that the job market remains in terrible shape.
    U.S. Military: Soldier Captured
    Soldier missing from base in eastern Afghanistan is believed to have been captured by militants.
    Marines Deploy on Major Mission
    One Marine killed in firefight as thousands of troops fan out in southern Afghanistan.
    Flight 447 Hit Water Intact
    Investigators say Air France plane that crashed into the Atlantic was not destroyed in mid-air.
    SEC Staffer Warned of Madoff
    Investigator was told to focus on an unrelated matter, agency documents show.
    Sanford Resisting Pressure From Fellow Republicans to Resign
    South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford defied calls for his resignation yesterday from GOP leaders, insisting he will remain in office even as his political fortunes dimmed in the wake of his admission that he secretly traveled abroad to meet a mistress.
    N. Korea Test-Fires 4 Short-Range Missiles
    TOKYO, July 2 -- North Korea continued to rattle its neighbors Thursday by firing four short-range missiles into waters off its east coast.
    Recriminations Over Sarah Palin Mask Deeper GOP Troubles
    On the same day Republicans surrendered a symbolically significant seat in the Senate, the Sarah Palin wars erupted again inside the party. Leaks followed by trash-talking followed by recriminations.
    The Other Women
    It seemed like Mark Sanford had slowly and painfully let it all hang out.
    After Call From Senator Inouye's Office, Small Hawaii Bank Got U.S. Aid
    Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's staff contacted federal regulators last fall to ask about the bailout application of an ailing Hawaii bank that he had helped to establish and where he has invested the bulk of his personal wealth.
    Sen. Byrd Is Home After 6-Week Stay In Hospital
    Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) was released from the hospital yesterday after a six-week stay, his office announced, allowing the longest-serving senator in U.S. history to spend the Fourth of July weekend at home.
    Minnesota Supreme Court Declares Franken Winner in U.S. Senate Race
    The Minnesota Supreme Court yesterday declared comedian-turned-politician Al Franken the winner of the state's U.S. Senate race, ending an eight-month-long election saga and giving Democrats a 60-seat majority that theoretically would allow them to block GOP filibusters.
    No Limit in Place for Pending Request on Troops in Afghanistan
    The nation's top military officer said yesterday that no limits have been placed on the number or types of troops the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan can request as he seeks to carry out a counterinsurgency strategy there.
    ACLU Says Detainee Mohammed Jawad Was Tortured Into Confessions
    The American Civil Liberties Union yesterday accused the Obama administration of using statements elicited through torture to justify the confinement of a detainee it represents at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    Dog 'Guilt' Probably Just Reaction to Owners' Cues, Study Finds
    Many dog owners have had this experience: Arriving home, they discover their pooch looking sheepish, with its head down, ears pulled back, tail tucked between the legs, maybe slinking behind the sofa. Puzzled, they soon discover the reason: a favorite pair of shoes chewed to pieces, or perhaps the...
    Editor: Post Newsroom Won't Join Proposed 'Salons'
    The Washington Post's executive editor said this morning that the newsroom will not participate in a plan by the paper's publisher to charge lobbyists as much as $250,000 for off-the-record gatherings with Obama administration officials, members of Congress and the paper's reporters and editors.
    Suicide Bomber Targets Government Workers in Pakistan
    ISLAMABAD, July 2--A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew himself up alongside a government bus on a busy road in Rawalpindi on Thursday afternoon, the latest in a spate of attacks following the Pakistani army's military offensive against the Taliban.
    Obama Holds Health-Care Forum in Virginia
    President Obama offered a wonkish defense of his embattled health-care reform effort during an hour-long town hall meeting in Northern Virginia yesterday that featured seven questions, including one sent via Twitter and several from a handpicked audience of supporters.
    Election Protests Upset Iran's Delicate Balance of Power
    The large-scale protests in Iran since its hotly disputed June 12 presidential election have shaken the Islamic republic's long-standing balance of political power.
    U.S.: American Soldier Captured in Afghanistan
    CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, July 2 -- A U.S. soldier missing from his base in eastern Afghanistan since Tuesday is believed to have been captured by Taliban militants, the military said Thursday.
    Indian Court Decriminalizes Consensual Gay Sex
    A top court in the Indian capital of New Dehli on Thursday overturned a colonial-era law banning gay sex between consenting adults in a ruling hailed by activists as a victory for human rights in the world's biggest democracy.
    Saddam Hussein Said WMD Talk Helped Him Look Strong to Iran
    Saddam Hussein told an FBI interviewer before he was hanged that he allowed the world to believe he had weapons of mass destruction because he was worried about appearing weak to Iran, according to declassified accounts of the interviews released yesterday. The former Iraqi president also denounc...
    Honduras Targets Protesters With Emergency Decree
    TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, July 1 -- The new Honduran government clamped down on street protests and news organizations Wednesday as lawmakers passed an emergency decree that limits public gatherings following the military-led coup that removed President Manuel Zelaya from office.
    Credit Card Issuers Raising Rates, Fees Ahead of New Law
    Credit card companies are raising interest rates and fees seven months before new rules go into effect that will limit their ability do so, much to the irritation of Congress and consumer advocates.
    Federal Hiring Boom Could Add 120,000 Jobs in Washington Region
    Though the number of unemployed people is rising in the Washington area, Kimberly A. Holder of the Food and Drug Administration has an opposite problem: She's looking for people to fill hundreds of positions slated to open soon.
    SEC Moves to Make Companies More Accountable to Shareholders
    The Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday announced steps to give shareholders new powers to shape corporate boards as well as more information about how companies pick their directors and pay their management.
    The Color of Money: Michael Jackson's Money Woes and the Dangers of Entitlement
    Long before his death, we heard more about Michael Jackson's financial troubles than his incredible music. The singer was reportedly more than $300 million in debt.
    Biden Announces $4 Billion in Grants and Loans in First Round of Funding for Broadband Expansion
    Vice President Biden yesterday announced guidelines for $4 billion in stimulus funds to expand high-speed Internet access across the nation, jump-starting a program that has been criticized for taking too long to get off the ground.
    White House to Expand Mortgage Refinancing Program
    The Obama administration announced yesterday that it would loosen the eligibility requirements for a program aimed at helping borrowers with no equity in their homes to refinance into cheaper mortgages.
     stateline.org - State and Local Issues

    Latest state and local issue stories and analyses from stateline.org and the Pew Center on the States.

    Financial crisis torments states
    (Updated 11:29 a.m. EDT, July 1, 2009)

    California may begin issuing IOUs this week because of the state’s unresolved budget crisis. But government disruptions were averted at least temporarily in five other states that missed a July 1 deadline for closing billion-dollar budget gaps.
    Furloughs cut into state services
    With states facing a $121 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year, a growing number of them have turned to squeezing their workforce for savings, and effects both great and small will be felt.
    CA: 11th-hour votes on state budget fail
    With a day to go until a cash crisis would force the state to stop paying its bills, lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger worked into the night Tuesday but failed to reach a budget agreement.
    AZ: Legislature approves budget plan; Brewer's stance unclear
    Legislators gave final approval to a 2010 state-budget plan early Wednesday morning and now await word on whether Gov. Jan Brewer will accept it or force budget negotiations to begin anew.
    DE: State budget passes in marathon session; taxes, fees to jump $206 million
    Completing a marathon session that lasted until 4 a.m. today, the General Assembly passed a $3.09 billion budget, $206 million in tax and fee increases and eliminated an unprecedented $800 million revenue shortfall.
    PA: Another fiscal year ends, another Pennsylvania standoff ensues
    As Pennsylvania missed its budget deadline for the seventh year, Senate Republicans on Tuesday presented united opposition to Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed state tax increases and demanded the Democrat-controlled House vote on a spending plan.
    Search for News by State:  
      
     Hot Issues In-Depth
    Current Issues Election Reform
    Information and resources to help you explore election reform issues.

    Federel Legislation:
  • H.R. 3295, Help America Vote Act of 2001 (Ney/Hoyer)
  • U.S. House Votes on HR 3295
  • GOP.gov Committee Central - H.R. 3295 Floor Situtation on Conference Report (GOP.gov,10/8/02)
  • GOP.gov Committee Central - HR 3295 Floor Situation (12/12/01)
  • S.565, Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 and S 565, Senate Votes.
  • Bipartisan Substitute Amendment to S. 565 - Senate Democratic Policy Committee
  • Election Reform: Senate Amendment No. 2688 to S. 565 - Senate Republican Policy Committee

    Latest News:
  • Colorado Election Workers Are Still Tabulating Votes: 'Provisional' Ballots to Become Widespread Under New Law (Wash.Post,11/15/02)
  • Bush signs election reform bill into law (The Hill,10/30/02)
  • Election Reform Bill Is Passed by Senate (Wash.Post,10/17/02)
  • House Approves Election Reform (Wash.Post,10/11/02)
  • Conferees Reach a Pact On Election Law Reforms (Wash.Post,10/05/02)
  • New Election, Same Old Problems (Wash.Post,09/12/02)
  • New Life For Vote Reforms? (Roll Call,09/12/02)
  • Justice Dept, Fla. Reach Voting Deal (Wash.Post,06/29/02)
  • Democrats Question Handling of Fla. Voting Probes (Wash.Post,05/31/02)
  • Election Reform Passes In Senate (Wash.Post,04/12/02)
  • Prospects dim for election overhaul bill (CNN,03/01/02)
  • Election Reform Bill Stalls Over ID Debate (Wash.Post,02/28/02)
  • Bush Budget to Back Election Reform (Wash.Post,01/16/02)
  • Election Officials Seek New Funds, Not Rules (Wash.Post,01/15/02)
  • House Approves Election Overhaul (Wash.Post,12/13)
  • Election Reform Gains In Both Chambers (Roll Call,12/13)
  • House passes election bill: Debate marks year anniversary of Supreme Court decision (CNN,12/12)
  • Agreement Reached on Election Reform Bill (Wash.Post,11/15)
  • Gore, White House dismiss election report (CNN,11/11/01)
  • A Year After Contested Election, Few States Have Made Changes (Wash.Post,11/06)
  • Report Finds Flaws In Election System: House Judiciary Committee Democrats Support National Voting Standards (Wash.Post,08/21)
  • Report Urges Expanding Federal Role in Elections: Task Force Recommends Guidance, Not Mandates (Wash.Post,8/10/01)
  • Election Report Delivered to Bush: He Lauds 'Key Principles'; Democrats Call It Lacking (Wash.Post,08/01)
  • Report: Illinois's Election the Most Problem-Plagued (Wash.Post,07/29)
  • Study Finds Millions of Votes Lost (Wash.Post,07/17)
  • Study Finds National Voting Disparity (Wash.Post,07/09)
  • Pentagon Will Revise Military Voting Procedures (Wash.Post,06/23)
  • Getting Out the Vote, Electronically Despite Problems With Cost and Errors, New Machines Are Getting a Close Look (Wash.Post,06/13)
  • A Long Road for Election Reform? (Wash.Post,05/9)
  • Florida Lawmakers Approve Election System Overhaul (Wash.Post,05/05)
  • House effort to create bipartisan election panel fails (CNN,03/29)
  • Senators hear election system called antiquated (CNN,03/07)
  • Internet Voting: A Web of Intrigue? (Wash.Post,03/07)
  • Election Coverage Burned to a Crisp: House Grills Networks' 'Beat the Clock' Approach (Wash.Post,02/15)
  • House in Dispute Over Election Reform Panel (Wash.Post,02/15)
  • Election Panel Back on Track (Roll Call,02/08)
  • House Members Vow to Aid State Voting System Changes (Wash.Post,02/06)
  • Reform Panel May Be DOA (Roll Call,02/01)
  • Election Reform Gets Push From Bush, Congress: House Leaders to Create Special Panel (Wash.Post,01/25)
  • No E(asy) Cure: Electronic voting won't fix butterfly ballots, dimpled chads or W.'s presidency (Scientific American,02/01/01)

    News Special Coverage
  • THE CONSORTIUM REPORT / A Review of the Florida Vote (Wash.Post)
  • CNN.com In-Depth Special: Florida Ballots Project

    Congressional Committees
  • House Administration
  • House Democratic Caucus Special Committee on Election Reform
  • House Judiciary
  • Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

    Administration Statements
  • Remarks by the President on Federal Election Reform, 7/31/01

    Key Groups and Organizations:
  • National Commission on Election Standards & Reform - National Association of Counties
  • National Governors Association
  • National Conference of State Legislatures - Elections Reform Task Force
  • FEC - About Elections and Voting
  • Federal Election Reform Network
  • The Voting Integrity Project
  • Alliance for Better Campaigns

    Other Resources:
  • NASS Election Standards Task Force recommendations
  • Remarks of Deborah M. Phillips, Chairman, The Voting Integrity Project On the Introduction of The Election Reform Act of 2000
  •  Governing.com - State and Local News
    Governing.com
    The Way We Tax: A 50-State Report
    The vast majority of state tax systems are inadequate for the task of funding a 21st-century government. Most of those tax systems are also unfair. They break the golden rule of tax equity: collect the lowest possible rates on the widest possible base of taxpayers.
    Governing February Issue
    Articles:
  • Assessments: Alan Ehrenhalt on living with "lifestyle centers"
  • Potomac Chronicle: Donald F. Kettl on the states as beggars
  • Technology: Thomas R. Davies on outside resources for new IT leaders
  • Tax Talk: David Brunori on the principles of sound tax policy
  • Economic Development: William Fulton on how a city's size affects its competitiveness
  • Environment: Tom Arrandale on the risks of weakening longstanding laws


  •  White House Update
    White House schedule information and recent statements and news releases.

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