CQ Today Midday Update

Highlights from today's news on CQ.com

Midday Update for FRIDAY, SEPT. 26, 2008 – 2:03 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Charles Hoskinson | Email the editor In This Issue Financial Bailout Talks To Resume, But Hard Feelings Linger House Defies Senate, Passes Another Tax Extenders Bill Workers Say Stevens Wasn’t Billed For Home Improvements House to Vote on Stimulus Plan After Senate Version Fails to Advance Political Trivia for Sept. 26 --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House passes its latest bill to extend expiring tax provisions and plans to consider a new economic stimulus bill. The Senate is in a holding pattern. It is likely to vote Saturday on a year-end appropriations package. The President Assures the public that Congress will pass a financial rescue plan before adjourning; speaks to the U.S. Ocean Action Plan at the National Museum of Natural History; meets with the Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai; meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown; attends a National Book Festival Gala performance. In Washington, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, during its annual legislative conference, holds a forum on the challenge of criminal justice reform in a new administration. 3 p.m. Washington Convention Center, Mt. Vernon Square. --------------------------------- Top Stories Financial Bailout Talks To Resume, But Hard Feelings Linger Talks on a financial industry bailout appeared to be on track again on Capitol Hill, with House Republicans naming a new lead negotiator after throwing a curve into the process with a rescue plan of their own.  [Read More] House Defies Senate, Passes Another Tax Extenders Bill The House passed a $61.7 billion tax bill Friday, cementing the battle lines in an escalating fight with the Senate as the clock ticks toward adjournment.  [Read More] Workers Say Stevens Wasn’t Billed For Home Improvements Construction workers described for a federal court jury Friday how they improved the Alaska house of Sen. Ted Stevens but weren’t working directly for the Republican senator.  [Read More] House to Vote on Stimulus Plan After Senate Version Fails to Advance The House was set to vote Friday on a stimulus package that would provide about $60 billion for infrastructure and extending unemployment insurance.  [Read More] Political Trivia for Sept. 26 When was the only televised presidential debate between one major-party and one independent candidate?  [Read More] --------------------------------- "Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election"" Capitol Hill Workshop: 2008 Election is of particular interest to anyone needing more background on how Capitol Hill really works and early insight into the 111th Congress and the new administration. WHERE: Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh Street N.W., Washington, D.C. WHEN:November 12-14, 8:30 a.m .to 4:00 p.m. all three days Registration Fee: $1295 Full program description and secure online registration, or call our registrar at 202-678-1600. This training conference is sponsored by TheCapitol.Net, exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly Executive Conferences. --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Denver Post reports that Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., and GOP senatorial challenger Bob Schaffer again have ratcheted up attacks centered on the Wall Street bail out proposal being negotiated in Washington D.C. Udall accused Schaffer “of siding with corporations and CEOs and Schaffer suggesting Udall hire an economist to help him understand why tax cuts are more needed now than ever,” the newspaper reports. Both candidates back some sort of bail out, but each comes at it differently: “that it protect taxpayer interests and vulnerable homeowners, for Udall; that it come with a parallel plan to stimulate the economy, for Schaffer.” A Rasmussen Reports automated poll finds Democratic challenger Kay Hagan with 48 percent of the vote and the incumbent U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., at 45 percent. “That’s a slight improvement for Dole who trailed by six just a few days ago, but it’s never comfortable for an incumbent to be trailing this late in the campaign season,” according to Rasmussen. “Adding to Dole’s problems is the fact that John McCain finds himself in a very tight race with Barack Obama for North Carolina’s Electoral College votes.” --------------------------------- Today on Governing.com State and local government news from CQ’s sister publication ILLINOIS: Tollway Chief Resigning to Join Contractor TEXAS: State Bans Power Disconnects for Ike Victims THE NATION: Blaming States for AIG Failure Draws Regulators’ Fire OAKLAND, Calif.: Mayor to Cut Millions, May Push Four-Day Week DETROIT: Audit Brings Crime Lab Shutdown MILWAUKEE: Push to Dissolve School District Dissolving NEW YORK CITY: Elevator-Inspection Failures Raise Safety Questions Read more on Governing.com --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly President and Editor-in-Chief: Robert W. Merry Editor and Senior Vice President: Michael Riley Executive Editors: Susan Benkelman, Anne Q. Hoy and Ken Sands Managing Editor, News: Randy Wynn Managing Editor, CQ Today: Daniel J. Parks Deputy Editors: Chris Wright and David Higgins Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Michelle Hirsch and Angela Kim Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Publisher and Senior Vice President: Keith A. White V.P. Advertising, Victoria Lion Monroe Chief Marketing Officer: Greg Hamilton V.P., Sales: Jim Gale Chief Information Officer: Larry B. Tunks Chief Financial Officer: Diane Atwell Director, Strategy and Development: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Copyright 2008 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

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CQ Today Midday Update

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Midday Update for THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 2008 – 2:20 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Joe Warminsky | Email the editor In This Issue Bailout Negotiators Have ‘Fundamental Agreement’ on Principles of Bailout McCain To Seek House GOP Backing for Bailout Plan House Still Going Its Own Way on Tax Extenders House Democrats See Stimulus Plan on Floor Friday Stevens’ Team Says He Paid for Renovations Senate Democrats Block Rollback of D.C. Gun Laws Political Trivia for Sept. 25 --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House considers legislation to extend and expand tax breaks for renewable energy, along with a number of bills dealing with such issues as calling card billing practices, child pornography, breast cancer research and the U.S.-India nuclear cooperation agreement. The Senate awaiting agreements to call up defense authorization bill, year-end appropriations bill and possibly an Amtrak reauthorization. The President meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; signs S 3406, The ADA Amendments Act of 2008; has a photo op with the Orthodox Union Leadership; meets with congressional leadership and both presidential candidates on the bailout for U.S. financial markets. In Washington,  the Paralyzed Veterans of America holds its annual gala, with NASACAR driver Kyle Petty, Rep. Steve Buyer, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., others. 7 p.m., National Building Museum, 401 F St. N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories Bailout Negotiators Have ‘Fundamental Agreement’ on Principles of Bailout Lawmakers drafting a rescue plan for the U.S. financial system announced at midday Thursday that they had reached agreement on a set of principles for the package.  [Read More] McCain To Seek House GOP Backing for Bailout Plan Sen. John McCain, the GOP presidential nominee, arrived on Capitol Hill at midday and headed to the House to meet with Republican leaders there.  [Read More] House Still Going Its Own Way on Tax Extenders The House is moving toward consideration of a year-end tax bill Thursday that complies with pay-as-you-go rules and makes concessions to the Senate. But the measure isn’t likely to satisfy senators.  [Read More] House Democrats See Stimulus Plan on Floor Friday House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the House would consider an economic stimulus package on the floor Friday, focused on creating jobs and funding infrastructure projects.  [Read More] Stevens’ Team Says He Paid for Renovations Lawyers for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens say the senator was unaware of any renovations to his Alaska home that he did not pay for personally, and they claim he forked over $160,000 to cover the cost of home improvements.  [Read More] Senate Democrats Block Rollback of D.C. Gun Laws Senate Democrats objected Thursday to an attempt by Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, to take up House-passed legislation that would roll back District of Columbia gun laws.  [Read More] Political Trivia for Sept. 25 In what full year did New Mexico last have two Democratic U.S. senators?  [Read More] --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Baton-Rouge Advocate reports that “State Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican candidate in the 6th U.S. Congressional District race, is asking television stations to pull an advertisement targeting his stance on Social Security.” The Democratic ad says Cassidy favors a privatization plan that would “cut guaranteed benefits,” but the Republican says he wants Social Security to honor all of its obligations. Robert Couhig III, a New Orleans attorney, said he sent a letter asking broadcast stations and cable systems to pull the Democratic ad. At the same time, Cassidy is facing a complaint from incumbent Rep. Don Cazayoux’s campaign, which alleges that an ad supporting Cassidy is breaking campaign rules. The complaint says the ad by the American Academy of Ophthalmologists uses pictures of Cassidy that appear to be taken from previous television ads Cassidy ran in his state Senate campaign. Federal rules prohibit such interaction between campaigns and independent groups. According to the Spokane Spokesman-Review, Senate candidate Jim Risch, a Republican, will not participate in a debate Thursday night hosted by students at the College of Idaho. The organizers contacted candidates — who are vying to replace retiring Republican Sen. Larry Craig — only a week ago. Risch’s campaign director, Matt Ellsworth, told the newspaper that the timing was “difficult” because the GOP candidate has been traveling extensively, including trips to Washington, D.C. Risch, who is Idaho’s lieutenant governor, is planning to participate in three debates in October. The College of Idaho debate will feature Democrat Larry LaRocco, Libertarian Kent Marmon and independents Rex Rammell and and a candidate known as Pro-Life, who legally changed his name from Marvin Richardson. --------------------------------- Today on Governing.com State and local government news from CQ’s sister publication SOUTHEAST TEXAS: Ike Recovery Work Relies on Illegal Immigrants ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa.: County Exec Wants to Cut Drink Tax THE DETROIT REGION: Grand Plan Unveiled for Mass Transit CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio: Judges' Chambers Searched in Corruption Probe Read more on Governing.com --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly President and Editor-in-Chief: Robert W. Merry Editor and Senior Vice President: Michael Riley Executive Editors: Susan Benkelman, Anne Q. Hoy and Ken Sands Managing Editor, News: Randy Wynn Managing Editor, CQ Today: Daniel J. Parks Deputy Editors: Chris Wright and David Higgins Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Michelle Hirsch and Angela Kim Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Publisher and Senior Vice President: Keith A. White V.P. Advertising, Victoria Lion Monroe Chief Marketing Officer: Greg Hamilton V.P., Sales: Jim Gale Chief Information Officer: Larry B. Tunks Chief Financial Officer: Diane Atwell Director, Strategy and Development: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Copyright 2008 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Today Midday Update

Highlights from today's news on CQ.com

Midday Update for WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24, 2008 – 2:12 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Charles Hoskinson | Email the editor In This Issue Bailout Plan Gaining Steam on Capitol Hill Despite Lawmakers’ Anxiety Budget Impact of Financial Bailout Remains Murky House Moving to Pass Massive Stopgap Funding Measure House Votes on Tax Plan Won’t Seal the Deal House Passes Final Defense Policy Bill Political Trivia for Sept. 24 --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House takes up a year-end appropriations package; bills on alternative minimum tax relief, disaster tax relief and renewable energy tax incentives; the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill, and various other measures. The Senate passes non-controversial bills and awaits House action on appropriations, tax relief and a financial system bailout. The President  discusses free trade at a meeting with Western Hemisphere leaders in New York City; makes a statement on Temporary Protected Status with El Salvador’s president, Elias Antonio Saca; returns to the White House. In Washington, the National Council for History Education presents an award to Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., the nation’s longest-serving senator and author of a four-volume history of the U.S. Senate. Remarks by historian David McCullough, 4 p.m., Room S-207, Capitol. --------------------------------- Top Stories Bailout Plan Gaining Steam on Capitol Hill Despite Lawmakers’ Anxiety With a furious blitz of public and private pleading, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke are gaining ground in their bid for a $700 billion plan to rescue the nation’s financial system.  [Read More] Budget Impact of Financial Bailout Remains Murky Lawmakers started grappling Wednesday with the budgetary impact of the Bush administration’s proposed $700 billion financial industry rescue plan, but were finding few clear answers.  [Read More] House Moving to Pass Massive Stopgap Funding Measure The House was poised Wednesday to pass a massive fiscal 2009 stopgap spending bill to fund the government through March 6.  [Read More] House Votes on Tax Plan Won’t Seal the Deal The House was expected to pass at least two tax bills Wednesday, but that won’t get Congress to a final deal for the year as the two chambers continue their spat over tax policy.  [Read More] House Passes Final Defense Policy Bill The House passed the year’s final defense authorization bill Wednesday, sending it to the Senate, where leaders were arranging a vote to clear it for President Bush.  [Read More] Political Trivia for Sept. 24 When was the last time the Vermont legislature decided a race for governor?  [Read More] --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Denver Post reports that Democratic Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., maintains an eight-point lead in the race for Colorado’s open U.S. Senate seat, according to two new polls. The polls indicated Republican Bob Schaffer faces a shrinking window of opportunity to narrow the gap. The newspaper notes that political winds could change quickly, but Udall has built his lead “in the face of more than $10 million in ads from independent issue groups and political party committees attacking him, about twice as much as the amount spent on ads attacking Schaffer and more than in any other Senate race in the country,” the newspaper reports. A Quinnipiac University poll and North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling each showed an eight-point gap. NBC 18 (Lexington, Kentucky) reports that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leads Democrats Bruce Lunsford by only three percentage points in a new SurveyUSA poll, a statistical dead heat. “Six in 10 voters tell SurveyUSA they are focused on the economy, ahead of all other issues,” the TV station website says. “Among voters focused on the economy, McConnell went from a six-point lead six weeks ago to a nine-point deficit in the latest poll, a 15-point swing to Lunsford.” The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that according to the latest University of New Hampshire/WMUR-TV poll, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, leads incumbent Senator John E. Sununu by 4 percentage points among likely voters, a statistical tie. “After trailing Shaheen by 17 percentage points in April, Sununu closed the gap over the summer and remains about even with the former governor he defeated in 2002,” the newspaper reports. --------------------------------- Today on Governing.com State and local government news from CQ’s sister publication THE NATION: States Are Bracing for Winter Heating Crisis NEW HAMPSHIRE: 10-Year Overhaul of Mental-Health System Planned NNEW YORK CITY: Mayor Orders $1.5 Billion in Spending Cuts Read more on Governing.com --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly President and Editor-in-Chief: Robert W. Merry Editor and Senior Vice President: Michael Riley Executive Editors: Susan Benkelman, Anne Q. Hoy and Ken Sands Managing Editor, News: Randy Wynn Managing Editor, CQ Today: Daniel J. Parks Deputy Editors: Chris Wright and David Higgins Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Michelle Hirsch and Angela Kim Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Publisher and Senior Vice President: Keith A. White V.P. Advertising, Victoria Lion Monroe Chief Marketing Officer: Greg Hamilton V.P., Sales: Jim Gale Chief Information Officer: Larry B. Tunks Chief Financial Officer: Diane Atwell Director, Strategy and Development: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Copyright 2008 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Today Midday Update

Highlights from today's news on CQ.com

Midday Update for TUESDAY, SEPT. 23, 2008 – 2:08 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Frank Oliveri | Email the editor In This Issue Facing Resistance on Hill, White House Pushes Hard for Bailout Plan White House, Senate Nearing Agreement on Tax Extenders House Leaders Bargain With White House Over Stopgap Spending Bill Lawmakers Agree on Final Version of Defense Policy Bill House Passes Short-Term FAA Extension Political Trivia for Sept. 23 --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House votes on numerous non-controversial bills, including various public health measures, and on legislation to outlaw certain credit card billing practices. The Senate votes on a bill to extend expiring tax provisions and prevent the alternative minimum tax from hitting millions more Americans. The President is in New York, meeting with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, attending a meeting on food security, speaking with dissidents, meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and meeting with the Iraq coalition. In Washington, the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies holds a discussion with John Bruton, head of delegation at the Delegation of the European Commission to the United States and former prime minister of Ireland, titled “The Future for European Union-United States Economic and Political Relations.” 5 p.m., SAIS, Rome Building, 1619 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories Facing Resistance on Hill, White House Pushes Hard for Bailout Plan Facing an angry American public and a restive Congress, the Bush administration launched a full-court press Tuesday to win approval of its proposed $700 billion rescue plan for the nation’s financial system.  [Read More] White House, Senate Nearing Agreement on Tax Extenders The fate of a bill to extend expiring tax breaks remains in doubt, even as the Senate and the White House headed toward an agreement Tuesday.  [Read More] House Leaders Bargain With White House Over Stopgap Spending Bill House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday that Congress is likely to move a continuing resolution running into March, despite the Bush administration’s preference for a much shorter time period.  [Read More] Lawmakers Agree on Final Version of Defense Policy Bill The final version of the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill has been written, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Tuesday.  [Read More] House Passes Short-Term FAA Extension The House passed a short-term FAA extension Tuesday that will allow the agency to continue to collect and spend the tax revenues that keep the U.S. aviation system functioning.  [Read More] Political Trivia for Sept. 23 How many individuals have held Alaska’s U.S. House seat?  [Read More] --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Democratic Senate nominee Al Franken bashed incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., for failing to investigate profiteering in Iraq. From 2003 to 2007, Coleman was chairman of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. “Norm Coleman was the Senate’s oversight czar, and he did nothing while at least $15 billion in taxpayer money went missing,” Franken said. Coleman campaign officials responded that his committee had uncovered more than $70 billion in payroll tax abuses, Medicare fraud and unpaid contractor taxes since Coleman joined the committee. They argued other committees were looking into Iraq war profiteering. The Palm Beach Post reports that Florida’s 16th District Democratic incumbent Rep. Tim Mahoney’s campaign criticized Republican challenger Tom Rooney for listing the Palm Beach Kennel Club dog track as the address on his voter registration from 1998 to 2003. The Rooney campaign and the GOP blasted Mahoney last week for listing a barn with an apartment that he owns in the rural Caloosa area on his voter registration, while declaring a house in Palm Beach Gardens as his primary residence and retaining a homestead exemption there. Rooney’s campaign said listing the kennel, which his family owned, rather than a residence was an innocent mistake made while he was attending law school in Miami and was an instructor at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. --------------------------------- Today on Governing.com State and local government news from CQ’s sister publication GALVESTON, TEXAS: City Seeks $2.3 Billion for Hurricane Recovery WASHINGTON, D.C. REGION: Transit Chief Says Billions Needed MINNESOTA: State Moving to Ban Ballast-Dumping by Ships Read more on Governing.com --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly President and Editor-in-Chief: Robert W. Merry Editor and Senior Vice President: Michael Riley Executive Editors: Susan Benkelman, Anne Q. Hoy and Ken Sands Managing Editor, News: Randy Wynn Managing Editor, CQ Today: Daniel J. Parks Deputy Editors: Chris Wright and David Higgins Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Michelle Hirsch and Angela Kim Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Publisher and Senior Vice President: Keith A. White V.P. Advertising, Victoria Lion Monroe Chief Marketing Officer: Greg Hamilton V.P., Sales: Jim Gale Chief Information Officer: Larry B. Tunks Chief Financial Officer: Diane Atwell Director, Strategy and Development: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Copyright 2008 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ Today Midday Update

Highlights from today's news on CQ.com

Midday Update for MONDAY, SEPT. 22, 2008 – 2:12 P.M. Edited by Martha Angle and Charles Hoskinson | Email the editor In This Issue Bush Prods Congress as Dodd Offers Own Proposal on Financial Bailout Other Senators on List of Potential Witnesses for Stevens Trial House Lets Senate Take Lead on Mental Health Parity Political Trivia for Sept. 22 --------------------------------- Today in Washington The House considers several measures, including bills to stiffen laws against elder abuse and create an FBI task force on mortgage fraud. The Senate debates legislation to expand tax breaks for renewable energy, prevent the alternative minimum tax from hitting millions more Americans and extend other tax provisions, including the research and development credit and deductions for state and local sales taxes in states with no income tax. The President headlines a fundraiser for GOP congressional candidates Leonard Lance and Christopher Myers in New Jersey; attends U.S. reception at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. In Washington, America’s Health Insurance Plans holds its annual Medicare and Medicaid conference, through Thursday, with speeches today by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. Capital Hilton, 16th and K Sts. N.W. --------------------------------- Top Stories Bush Prods Congress as Dodd Offers Own Proposal on Financial Bailout President Bush urged Congress to complete action quickly on a rescue plan for the nation’s financial system, but key Democrats signaled Monday they will not be stampeded into signing a blank check.  [Read More] Other Senators on List of Potential Witnesses for Stevens Trial Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, the Senate’s longest-serving Republican, appeared in federal court Monday as jury selection began for his trial on charges that he illegally concealed gifts on his financial disclosure statements.  [Read More] House Lets Senate Take Lead on Mental Health Parity House leaders have decided to wait for the Senate to act on mental health parity legislation, putting aside plans to take up their own bill this week.  [Read More] Political Trivia for Sept. 22 What was the lowest vote share for Alaska Republican Ted Stevens since he entered the Senate?  [Read More] --------------------------------- Today on Governing.com State and local government news from CQ’s sister publication THE WEST: Regional Plan Will Target Greenhouse Gases THE TEXAS COAST: Should Ike-Devastated Communities Be Rebuilt? MILWAUKEE: Governor: Study Schools Before Dissolving System THE NATION: Panel Rejects Weakened Skyscraper Rules THE NEW YORK CITY REGION: A.G. to Probe Railroad Disability Claims Read more on Governing.com --------------------------------- Political Clippings The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that “about 1,000 Democrats gathered in a tent at the Kentucky Horse Park yesterday afternoon for a rally for” Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford, who is seeking to oust Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. But a couple hundred of them left as soon as Clinton finished speaking. “Some in the crowd admitted afterward that they were only interested in hearing Clinton speak,” while others said they were still “getting to know Lunsford, who ran for governor last year but has never held public office.” According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Republican Rep. Kenny Hulshof “has narrowed the gap but still trails Democrat Jay Nixon in the race for Missouri governor, according to a new poll.” The poll, conducted for the paper and KMOV-TV, showed Nixon, the state’s attorney general, leading Hulshof 50 percent to 43 percent. “But pollster Del Ali points to other factors to suggest Nixon is still in command of the race,” including the fact that Nixon “increased his favorable rating to 58 percent from 56 percent, and his unfavorability rating went down since the last poll in July.” --------------------------------- This Week in Health Policy on the Hill Health on the Hill with kaisernetwork.org and CQ are weekly audio updates from CQ reporters highlighting the latest health policy developments on Capitol Hill. A podcast of the report is also available. • MEDICARE: Medicare officials announce stricter marketing guidelines for Medicare Advantage plans. • MENTAL HEALTH PARITY: Supporters predict passage of mental health parity legislation before Congress adjourns for the year. • BREAST CANCER: House panel passes measure that would prohibit insurers from limiting hospital stays for mastectomy or lumpectomy to less than 48 hours. Read the online report | Health on the Hill audio links --------------------------------- Other CQ Products Sign up for free trials CQ Floor Video CQ.com CQ Weekly CQ Today CQ Today Action Alerts CQ BillTrack CQ Budget Tracker CQ Committee Amendments CQ HealthBeat CQ Homeland Security CQ House Action Reports CQ LawTrack CQ Politics CQ Press CQ Top Docs See all CQ products Published by Congressional Quarterly President and Editor-in-Chief: Robert W. Merry Editor and Senior Vice President: Michael Riley Executive Editors: Susan Benkelman, Anne Q. Hoy and Ken Sands Managing Editor, News: Randy Wynn Managing Editor, CQ Today: Daniel J. Parks Deputy Editors: Chris Wright and David Higgins Associate Editor: Martha Angle News Editors: Charles Hoskinson, Frank Oliveri and Joe Warminsky Midday Update Product Editors: Michelle Hirsch and Angela Kim Reporters: The staff of Congressional Quarterly Political Clippings compiled from BNN Frontrunner and CQ Politics.com Publisher and Senior Vice President: Keith A. White V.P. Advertising, Victoria Lion Monroe Chief Marketing Officer: Greg Hamilton V.P., Sales: Jim Gale Chief Information Officer: Larry B. Tunks Chief Financial Officer: Diane Atwell Director, Strategy and Development: Neil Maslansky To sign up for CQ's free newsletters, click here: http://www.cq.com/corp/newsletters.do Copyright 2008 Congressional Quarterly Inc. All rights reserved.

CQ presents Politics in America

Profiles of every Member Demographic breakdowns of all 435 Congressional districts Previous election results Interest group voting scores Campaign finance data Containing the expertise of the largest press corps on Capitol Hill, CQ is the only publisher that can provide not only facts and figures, but also detail the subtle nuances that drive politics and policy in Washington. Politics in America is the ultimate resource on Congress – and a great way to ensure that you have the facts and stats on Congress throughout the fall election! This offer is only available this week. Use offer code L8PIAD1 to get your 50% discount. Order Today! To order by phone, call 1-866-427-7737 CQ Press, 2300 N Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20037

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