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10 May 2009 13:02

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U.S.: Congress wants to encourage you to live healthy

  • Prevention and wellness should be a centerpiece of health care reform.
  • Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa • Who is taking the lead with legislation that encourages employers to implement wellness and prevention programs, a program supported by tons of other senators as well as President Barack Obama. Harkin, by the way, is the example-setter – he regularly climbs up the stairs to his seventh-floor office. Way to be a show-off, dude. • source

02 May 2009 11:26

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Sports, U.S.: The Bowl Championship Series is serious politics. Seriously.

  • BCS or BS? Yesterday, representatives for NCAA college football went to congress to argue their reasons for keeping the Bowl Championship Series the bizarre non-playoff-based entity it currently is. BCS coordinator John Swofford claims that changing the format to a playoff would threaten to kill the bowls as well as their sponsorships and TV revenue. source
  • BCS or BS? Yesterday, representatives for NCAA college football went to congress to argue their reasons for keeping the Bowl Championship Series the bizarre non-playoff-based entity it currently is. BCS coordinator John Swofford claims that changing the format to a playoff would threaten to kill the bowls as well as their sponsorships and TV revenue.
  • Barton’s bill Rep. Joe Barton of Texas apparently has had enough, specifically, as he’s introduced a bill which would prevent the NCAA from labeling something a national championship if it wasn’t the result of a playoff. Because this is clearly the biggest problem facing our country right now. (On a side note, Obama favors a playoff.) source

02 Apr 2009 21:12

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U.S.: Notable numbers of the day #2 & #3: The budget and its GOP support

  • $3.6 trillion size of the ultra-massive budget bill (in its House form; a Senate version is forthcoming) source

31 Mar 2009 20:23

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Culture, Politics: Some fat guy with a camera is stalking D.C. lawmakers

Michael Moore is working on his next movie. (It’s about the economy. Duh. Why wouldn’t it be?) source

22 Mar 2009 09:40

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Politics, U.S.: Don’t expect much more bailout support from Congress

  • AIG has become the straw that broke the camel’s back. It pushed people off the edge.
  • Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. • On the possibility of another bailout plan getting through Congress. With support of the treasury low and constituent criticism high, Timothy Geithner and Barack Obama may have more luck pushing an elephant through the halls of Congress. • source

18 Mar 2009 10:27

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Biz, U.S.: AIG’s CEO has an explanation for the bonuses

  • We have to continue managing our business as a business – taking account of the cold realities of competition.
  • AIG CEO Edward Liddy • On why they have to give out the bonuses. Essentially, as was suggested yesterday in this editorial, AIG needs to give out the bonuses to retain their employees. He’s telling this to congress right now, by the way. • source

04 Mar 2009 21:20

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U.S.: Hey Karl Rove & Harriet Miers! Have fun testifying before Congress!

  • Why they’re doing it The former Bush advisers will be testifying on the firings of U.S. attorneys, allegedly for political reasons. The testimony of the, uh, dynamic duo will be released in transcript form. No word on if it’ll be public yet. source
  • Why they’re doing it The former Bush advisers will be testifying on the firings of U.S. attorneys, allegedly for political reasons. The testimony of the, uh, dynamic duo will be released in transcript form. No word on if it’ll be public yet.
  • Why it should be fun Rove went out of his way to avoid testifying – he was apparently told by his counsel that executive privilege prevented him from testifying. Apparently, negotiations took place to make all sides happy. source
 

24 Feb 2009 21:19

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U.S.: Why are you here? Go watch Obama’s speech

It’s the State of the Union without the State of the Union. NYTimes is streaming live. source

19 Feb 2009 11:03

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U.S., World: John Kerry’s in Gaza looking all authoritative

Dude, we know that it’s the first Congressional trip to Gaza since 2000, but did you have to wear a suit? source

14 Feb 2009 09:31

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Biz, U.S.: Obama has his stimulus package – he just needs to sign it

  • I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we’ll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done.
  • President Barack Obama • During his weekly radio address, on the passage of the $787 billion stimulus package he pushed through Congress. He hoped to get bipartisan support but it didn’t happen, with the bill passing along party lines. • source