December 12, 2013, 03:42 pm
Senate bill would end pricey portraits
By Ramsey Cox
Lawmakers cited a report that the White House has spent nearly $400,000 in last two years.
Government Oversight
Government Oversight
December 11, 2013, 10:34 am
Bill reviews discriminatory laws against those with HIV
By Ramsey Cox
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced a bill Tuesday that would force the federal government to review laws that criminalize certain actions by people living with HIV, such as spitting.
“It’s simply not fair that someone having been diagnosed with a chronic, treatable medical condition should automatically be subjected to a different set of criminal laws,” Coons said. “A disturbing number of state and local criminal laws pertaining to individuals with HIV/AIDS are rooted not in science, but in outdated fear.”
December 06, 2013, 03:22 pm
House bill would require states to report on prisoner deaths
By Pete Kasperowicz
The House will vote on legislation next week that would require U.S. states and territories to report to the U.S. Attorney General all information about people who have died while in the custody of law enforcement agencies.
December 02, 2013, 01:26 pm
Coburn: DHS cyber weaknesses are 'inexcusable'
By Ramsey Cox
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said Monday that it is “inexcusable” that there are weaknesses in the cybersecurity system of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“We spend billions of taxpayer dollars on federal information technology every year,” said Coburn, the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “It is inexcusable to put the safety and security of our nation and its citizens at risk in this manner.”
November 26, 2013, 05:04 pm
Congress to FDA: Try again on food safety
By Pete Kasperowicz
Dozens of members of Congress say proposed rules could force businesses to close.
November 23, 2013, 08:53 am
Dem: End death pay to lawmaker spouses
By Pete Kasperowicz
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) proposed legislation that would ban paying "death gratuities."
November 22, 2013, 08:54 am
GOP demands Treasury secretary testify before debt-ceiling hike
By Pete Kasperowicz
More than two dozen House Republicans have put forward legislation that would condition an increase to the debt ceiling on a detailed report from the Treasury Department on what's driving the debt higher, and ways to reduce it.
Rep. Kenny...
November 18, 2013, 06:58 pm
House votes to boost transparency in federal spending
By Pete Kasperowicz
The House on Monday evening passed legislation aimed at making it easier to see how much the government is spending across all federal agencies.
November 18, 2013, 04:05 pm
GOP member blasts firing of DC insurance commissioner
By Pete Kasperowicz
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) on Monday criticized last week's firing of District of Columbia insurance commissioner as an attempt to silence a critic of President Obama, and said Democrats should be focusing on firing people responsible for the...
November 18, 2013, 12:24 pm
GOP, Dems demand State report on Haiti earthquake funds
By Pete Kasperowicz
A bipartisan group of House members is demanding a new report from the State Department on how millions of dollars are being spent to help Haiti recover from a 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 230,000 people.
The legislation from...
