Capitol Briefing - News and Analysis From the Hill - August 23, 2009

Liberal Groups Call for Appointee in Mass.

By Ben Pershing A coalition of liberal groups is urging Massachusetts political leaders to honor one of the last wishes of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) by changing state law to allow for the appointment of a temporary successor. Momentum has been building since Kennedy's death for a...

By Ben Pershing | August 28, 2009; 4:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: 2010 Campaign
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With LeMieux Pick, the Dawn of a New Era of Appointed Senators

By Paul Kane George LeMieux, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's selection to succeed retired Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), will become the fifth senator this year to take his seat through appointment. A possible sixth appointee is waiting in the wings if Massachusetts leaders change that state's law and allow the governor...

By Paul Kane | August 28, 2009; 12:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Senate , What Does It Mean?
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Kennedy Motorcade to Stop at Capitol Saturday

By Paul Kane Washingtonians will have an opportunity to pay last respects to Edward M. Kennedy Saturday afternoon outside the U.S. Capitol, where he served as the senator from Massachusetts for nearly 47 years. After an invitation-only funeral Mass in Boston in the morning, Kennedy's body will be flown to...

By Washington Post Editor | August 28, 2009; 5:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (66)
Categories: Dem. Leaders , Senate
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Another Headache for Specter as FEC Allows Group to Press for Refunds to Republicans

By Dan Eggen Newly minted Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter (Penn.), who already faces challenges from the left and right in 2010, may soon have to cope with demands for refunds by angry Republican contributors under a ruling issued Thursday by the Federal Election Commission. The FEC voted 4-2 to advise...

By Dan Eggen | August 27, 2009; 5:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: 2010 Campaign , Fundraising Circuit
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Melancon Announces Challenge to Vitter

By Ben Pershing Rep. Charlie Melancon (D) announced Thursday that he would challenge Sen. David Vitter (R) in 2010, making official a candidacy that was widely expected and will ensure a competitive contest in Louisiana next fall. "Today, I'm announcing my candidacy for the U.S. Senate to replace David...

By Ben Pershing | August 27, 2009; 1:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: 2010 Campaign
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Momentum Builds for Temporary Kennedy Replacement

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick now backs the idea of appointing a temporary Senator. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye -- AP) Updated 3:30 p.m. By Ben Pershing Less than two days after the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D), momentum is building in Massachusetts behind a proposal to allow the governor to appoint a...

By Ben Pershing | August 27, 2009; 10:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (135)
Categories: 2010 Campaign
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Town Hall Talk: Lawmakers Invoke Kennedy

At town hall forums on health-care reform yesterday, lawmakers remarked on the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and how his death might impact national debate. The Massachusetts senator dedicated his life to many issues, but especially health care, once calling it "the cause of my life."

By Washington Post editors | August 27, 2009; 10:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Health Reform
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Outpouring of Remembrances Online

By Garance Franke-Ruta The tribute video from the Democratic National Convention last year, posted online at TedKennedy.org by the Committee for a Democratic Majority, is just one of many remembrances being posted online today, from statements to videos to calls for action. Among them, an April 1968 Democratic convention...

By Web Politics Editor | August 26, 2009; 4:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Dem. Leaders
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Kennedy to Be Laid to Rest Saturday

By Paul Kane Edward M. Kennedy's funeral service and burial will be held on Saturday, August 29, with ceremonies at a Boston church in the morning and a private internment in Arlington National Cemetery in the evening. The laying to rest will conclude a three-day memorial period with events stretching...

By Web Politics Editor | August 26, 2009; 3:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Dem. Leaders
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Video: Ted Kennedy, in 1971, Fights for Health-Care Reform Against Nixon, Insurers

Greg Sargent at the Plum Line writes: Ted Kennedy has been fighting for health care reform for a very, very, very long time. A friend unearths some video of Kennedy arguing for a national health insurance system way back in 1971 -- and slamming Richard Nixon's just-introduced health care...

By Web Politics Editor | August 26, 2009; 2:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Dem. Leaders
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Democrats Consider Who Will Succeed Kennedy Atop Health Committee

By Paul Kane Democrats remained uncertain Wednesday who would succeed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy as chairman of the health committee, as his responsibilities have been divided among several members of the panel since he was diagnosed in May 2008 with brain cancer. The panel -- formally known as the Health,...

By Paul Kane | August 26, 2009; 1:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Dem. Leaders , Senate
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Byrd: Rename Health-Care Reform Bill in Kennedy's Honor

Sen. Robert Byrd and Sen. Edward Kennedy, working together in 2003. (The Washington Post) Updated 5:45 p.m. By Garance Franke-Ruta Saying, "My heart and soul weeps at the loss of my best friend in the Senate," Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) called Wednesday for health-care reform legislation currently pending in...

By Garance Franke-Ruta | August 26, 2009; 12:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)

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Reaction Statements on the Death of Ted Kennedy

President Obama, Vice President Biden and a host of former Senate colleagues, House members and friends share remarks on the passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy.

By washingtonpost.com editors | August 26, 2009; 11:18 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Tags: Biden, House, Kennedy, Obama, Senate, Ted Kennedy, press release
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Town Hall Talk: McCain Challenges Obama, Again

President Obama's key opponent during the presidential election is back on the ground challenging him, only this time he's focusing his jabs on health-care reform.

By Washington Post editors | August 25, 2009; 4:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (66)
Categories: Health Reform
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Republicans Denounce 'Witch Hunt' of CIA Interrogators

By Paul Kane Leading Republicans denounced Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s decision to appoint a prosecutor to investigate alleged abuses of roughly a dozen detainees under a Bush-era CIA policy, as top Democrats expressed mixed views on Monday's actions by the Obama administration and some worried that the Justice...

By Web Politics Editor | August 25, 2009; 3:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (339)
Categories: Dem. Leaders , GOP Leaders
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Town Hall Talk: All's Quiet on the Western Front?

Given the barrage of protests to disrupt town hall meetings across the country lately, yesterday's meetings in Oklahoma were relatively quiet as Republican lawmakers from the state -- Reps. Tom Cole and John Sullivan and Sen. Tom Coburn -- took questions from constituents on health-care reform.

By Washington Post editors | August 25, 2009; 7:25 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health Reform
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Capitol Briefing: August 23, 2009 - August 29, 2009