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WEBB'S GRADES
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received high marks from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., last week, as the senator graded the Obama administration's foreign policy efforts through its first six weeks in office.
"I would give this administration an 'A' on foreign policy in all the areas except for the concerns that I have with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan," Webb said on MSNBC Wednesday.
There will not be stability in the Middle East until all U.S. forces are removed from Iraq, he said, adding his concern about continued construction of military bases there.
The administration plans to remove all forces from Iraq by December 2011.
CONNOLLY WINS
How does President Connolly sound? House freshman Democrats elected Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, their class president Wednesday.
The six-month term begins in July. Connolly was elected on a voice-vote of the 33 Democratic freshmen. He will assume the office from Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., the current class president. Both men won vacant House seats last held by Republicans.
Besides bragging rights during campaign season, the post gives Connolly the chance to represent the new House members and their concerns in meetings with congressional leaders. Connolly said he will use the position "to protect the interests of the class" and "insure they have a voice in the legislative process."
HOUSING
Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th., and his fellow GOP House members again remained mostly united in defeat Thursday as the House approved a broad housing bill mostly on party lines.
The House voted 234-191 to pass the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act (H.R. 1106). Seven Republicans voted in favor of the bill which would let homeowners facing bankruptcy petition the courts for reduced mortgage payments and stay in their homes.
Banks had opposed the bill. Cantor said it would amount to punishing people who are paying their mortgages on time.
"Congress shouldn't force them to pay the mortgages of deceitful borrowers who committed fraud, or borrowers who made bad decisions" to live beyond their means, Cantor said.
Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, was one of 24 Democrats who voted against the bill that now awaits Senate action. Boucher said it would cause banks to further clamp down lending and increase interest rates on loans.
BLUE DOG NYE
Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2nd, continued to burnish his fiscal conservative credentials Wednesday, becoming one of two new members of the moderate Democrats' Blue Dog Coalition.
The group of 51 House Democrats, which works to rein in government spending and has often clashed with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, admitted Nye and Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Penn.
"After years of mismanagement in Washington, I look forward to working with the Blue Dog Coalition to bring fiscal discipline and responsibility back to our government," Nye said.
Fellow freshman Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, who campaigned for Congress on a message of fiscal discipline, did not seek to join the Blue Dogs, a Perriello spokeswoman said.
Blue Dog spokeswoman Kristen Hawn said to maintain its effectiveness, the coalition does not "want to get too big."
--Neil H. Simon/Media General News Service
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received high marks from Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., last week, as the senator graded the Obama administration's foreign policy efforts through its first six weeks in office.
"I would give this administration an 'A' on foreign policy in all the areas except for the concerns that I have with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan," Webb said on MSNBC Wednesday.
There will not be stability in the Middle East until all U.S. forces are removed from Iraq, he said, adding his concern about continued construction of military bases there.
The administration plans to remove all forces from Iraq by December 2011.
CONNOLLY WINS
How does President Connolly sound? House freshman Democrats elected Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, their class president Wednesday.
The six-month term begins in July. Connolly was elected on a voice-vote of the 33 Democratic freshmen. He will assume the office from Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., the current class president. Both men won vacant House seats last held by Republicans.
Besides bragging rights during campaign season, the post gives Connolly the chance to represent the new House members and their concerns in meetings with congressional leaders. Connolly said he will use the position "to protect the interests of the class" and "insure they have a voice in the legislative process."
HOUSING
Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th., and his fellow GOP House members again remained mostly united in defeat Thursday as the House approved a broad housing bill mostly on party lines.
The House voted 234-191 to pass the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act (H.R. 1106). Seven Republicans voted in favor of the bill which would let homeowners facing bankruptcy petition the courts for reduced mortgage payments and stay in their homes.
Banks had opposed the bill. Cantor said it would amount to punishing people who are paying their mortgages on time.
"Congress shouldn't force them to pay the mortgages of deceitful borrowers who committed fraud, or borrowers who made bad decisions" to live beyond their means, Cantor said.
Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, was one of 24 Democrats who voted against the bill that now awaits Senate action. Boucher said it would cause banks to further clamp down lending and increase interest rates on loans.
BLUE DOG NYE
Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2nd, continued to burnish his fiscal conservative credentials Wednesday, becoming one of two new members of the moderate Democrats' Blue Dog Coalition.
The group of 51 House Democrats, which works to rein in government spending and has often clashed with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, admitted Nye and Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Penn.
"After years of mismanagement in Washington, I look forward to working with the Blue Dog Coalition to bring fiscal discipline and responsibility back to our government," Nye said.
Fellow freshman Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, who campaigned for Congress on a message of fiscal discipline, did not seek to join the Blue Dogs, a Perriello spokeswoman said.
Blue Dog spokeswoman Kristen Hawn said to maintain its effectiveness, the coalition does not "want to get too big."
--Neil H. Simon/Media General News Service