44 - Politics and Policy in Obama's Washington - December 19, 2010

Bristol Palin buys home in Arizona

Bristol Palin has purchased a home in Pinal County south of Phoenix. Paperwork shows the daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is the sole purchaser of a home for $172,000, in the Town of Maricopa, in a development called Cobblestone Farms.

By Associated Press | December 24, 2010; 2:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency | Tags: Sarah Palin
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Obama lands in Hawaii for Christmas holiday

KAILUA, HAWAII--President Obama arrived in Hawaii early Thursday morning to join his family on their annual holiday vacation, after wrapping up a surprisingly productive lame-duck legislative session.

By Perry Bacon Jr. | December 23, 2010; 6:13 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (77)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama
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Senate ratifies New START arms pact

The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly ratified a new U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty, sending the treaty on to President Obama for his signature in the final hours of the 111th Congress' lame-duck session.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 22, 2010; 3:33 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Obama 'wrestling' with same-sex marriage

On the eve of signing historic legislation to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, President Obama sat down in the oval office with Kerry Eleveld of the gay and lesbian magazine The Advocate. During the interview, Obama said his attitudes on same-sex marriage -- which he said he opposed throughout the 2008 presidential campaign -- are "evolving."

By Matt DeLong | December 22, 2010; 1:42 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (79)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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9/11 bill passes Senate, House in final hours of lame-duck session

After a years-long battle and a bout of last-minute opposition by Senate Republicans, the House on Wednesday passed a bill that would provide $4.2 billion in compensation and long-term health-care benefits for first responders who became ill from working at Ground Zero in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, sending the measure on to President Obama for his signature.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 22, 2010; 1:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (50)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Republicans propose sweeping changes to House rules

House Republicans are planning to enact some far-reaching changes to the way the lower chamber operates in the next Congress, according to a draft of a new rules package circulated by the House GOP transition team on Wednesday.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 22, 2010; 11:32 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (54)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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One-sixth of House skips final lame-duck votes

More than 70 House members didn't bother showing up to vote Tuesday, even as the lower chamber wraps up its final priorities of the lame-duck session -- including a bill on funding the federal government through March and a measure on health benefits for 9/11 first responders.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 21, 2010; 7:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (118)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Kerry: START likely to get as many as 70 votes for ratification

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) said on Tuesday that he expects that a new nuclear arms treaty with Russia will likely get 70 votes for ratification, with a final vote slated for Wednesday afternoon.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 21, 2010; 4:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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House passes government funding measure, sends on to President Obama

The House on Tuesday night passed a bill that would continue to fund the government through March 4, 2011, sending the measure to President Obama for his signature ahead of a midnight deadline.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 21, 2010; 2:39 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Kyl: Senate Democrats "very partisan" on START Treaty

Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and seven other Republican senators on Tuesday held firm in their opposition to ratifying a new U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty during Congress' lame-duck session, even as the agreement appears on track to clear a key procedural hurdle and could reach a final vote as early as Wednesday.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 21, 2010; 1:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Sen. Scott Brown to support START treaty

Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) announced Monday evening that he will vote for ratification of the New START Treaty, becoming the latest Republican to come out in favor of the U.S.-Russia nuclear pact.

By Felicia Sonmez | December 20, 2010; 6:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency
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Haley Barbour: I don't remember the civil rights era being that bad

The Fix called attention this morning to Haley Barbour's defense of his experience as a GOP lobbyist in the Weekly Standard's new profile of the Mississippi governor and potential 2012 candidate. But buried toward the end of the piece, Barbour makes some more-eyebrow-raising comments in describing his home town of Yazoo City, Miss., during the civil rights era.

By Matt DeLong | December 20, 2010; 2:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (212)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Eye on 2012, Haley Barbour
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44: December 19, 2010 - December 25, 2010