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Federal Government
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By Administrator
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:41 |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans who oppose abortion are promoting legislation that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
These Republicans want to move ahead despite recent court decisions that have struck down similar state laws. And the GOP lawmakers are taking on their own leadership, which has shown little desire to have votes on contentious social issues.
GOP Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona says he believes there's a "good chance" that his bill would see action in the full House this year.
Franks and others says the legislation would gain momentum from the recent murder conviction of a Philadelphia abortion provider in the deaths of three babies who were born alive and then killed. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:41 |
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Federal Government
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By Administrator
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:37 |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has taken up a Republican-sponsored bill that would speed approval of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas.
Supporters say the bill, sponsored by Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska, is needed to ensure the long-delayed pipeline is built. The project, which first was proposed in 2008, would carry oil extracted from tar sands in western Canada to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Terry called the project "the most studied pipeline in the history of mankind."
The White House says President Barack Obama opposes the bill because it would "circumvent longstanding and proven processes" by removing a requirement for a presidential permit. The legislation also says no new environmental studies are needed.
Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., called the bill a "reckless attempt to avoid environmental review."
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 14:38 |
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Federal Government
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By Administrator
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Monday, 20 May 2013 14:11 |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press' president and chief executive says the government's secret seizure of two months of reporters' phone records has already had a chilling effect on newsgathering, a week after the subpoenas were revealed publicly.
Gary Pruitt on Sunday called the Justice Department's actions "unconstitutional" and said the AP hasn't ruled out legal action.
Pruitt says the seizure has made sources less willing to talk to AP journalists and, in the long term, could limit Americans' information from all news outlets.
In a separate interview with the AP, Pruitt said President Barack Obama "should rein in that out-of-control investigation."
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says national security leaks to reporters "can get our agents overseas killed" and need to be stopped.
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 14:12 |
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Federal Government
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By Administrator
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Monday, 20 May 2013 13:57 |
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open meetings in an upstate New York town.
The justices said Monday they will review an appeals court ruling that held that he town of Greece in suburban Rochester violated the Constitution by opening nearly every meeting over an 11-year span with prayers that stressed Christianity.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the town should have made a greater effort to invite people from other faiths to open its monthly board meetings.
The town says the high court already has upheld prayers at the start of legislative meetings and that private citizens offered invocations of their own choosing. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 20 May 2013 13:58 |
