Archive for May 7th, 2009
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Analysis: US regrets, discord on Afghan airstrike (AP)
AP – The slaughter of dozens of Afghan civilians either from a U.S. airstrike or from Taliban grenades, or both sent President Barack Obama and his aides grasping for the right words at a delicate stage in their efforts to win Afghan support for an expanded war. -
Obama touts $17 billion ‘lot of money’ budget cuts (AP)
AP – President Barack Obama sent Congress a detailed budget Thursday boasting of cutting or killing 121 federal programs in a belt-tightening he likened to that of most Americans in difficult times. But the trims amounted to a tiny fraction of the new spending he wants, and some have already been nixed by allies on Capitol Hill. -
CIA docs unclear on Pelosi interrogation briefings (AP)
AP – CIA records show House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was briefed in September 2002 on harsh interrogation techniques being used on terrorist suspects, but the records do little to settle a dispute over whether she knew waterboarding had already been used against one prisoner by then. -
Budget cuts abstinence education program (AP)
AP – President Barack Obama wants to eliminate more than $100 million in spending on abstinence-only education, directing the money instead to teen pregnancy-reduction programs that don’t take the no-sex approach.
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Military procurement reform sweeps through Senate
The Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday to change the costly process of procuring weapons and equipment for the military, a budget reform pushed by President Obama.
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1st Vietnamese lawmaker in Calif. to run for House (AP)
AP – The first Vietnamese-American elected to California’s Legislature says he plans to challenge one of the country’s leading Hispanic politicians for her spot in Congress.
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Vitter fires back at W.H. on FEMA (Politico)
Politico – “I can assure you that this isn’t about politics,” Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) writes in an e-mail complaining about the Obama administration’s handling of his inquires about FEMA.
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Republicans rip Obama for insufficient budget cuts
Republican congressional leaders tore into President Obama’s proposed 2010 budget Thursday, arguing that his spending cuts will do little to stem a rising tide of red ink.
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Obama budget rescinds energy industry tax breaks (AP)
AP – President Barack Obama outlined a budget plan Thursday that would end $26 billion in oil and gas industry tax breaks, point to a new direction for dealing with nuclear waste and shift government aggressively toward helping to develop renewable energy sources. -
Specter gets subcommittee chair, primary challenge (AP)
AP – Republican-turned-Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter gained a Judiciary subcommittee chairmanship but also a potential primary challenger Thursday, the latest twists in a turbulent episode of party switching.
