2chambers - Breaking news and analysis from Capitol Hill.

Posted at 05:46 PM ET, 10/28/2011

Liberals, labor group slam Democrats’ supercommittee proposal

By Felicia Sonmez

The AFL-CIO issued a biting critique of congressional Democrats’ plan to carve $3 trillion from the country’s debt.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:46 PM ET, 10/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:40 PM ET, 10/28/2011

Cantor resumes college tour at Northwestern following cancellation of Wharton speech

By Felicia Sonmez

After protests forced him to cancel a speech at the Wharton School, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is continuing his series of speeches at colleges.

By Felicia Sonmez | 01:40 PM ET, 10/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:36 AM ET, 10/28/2011

John Boehner: I won’t endorse in 2012 GOP presidential primary

By Felicia Sonmez

The House speaker told conservative commentator Laura Ingraham on Thursday that he doesn’t plan to endorse a candidate in the GOP’s presidential primary.

By Felicia Sonmez | 10:36 AM ET, 10/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:30 PM ET, 10/27/2011

‘Republican Congress’: A winning strategy for Dems and the White House?

By Felicia Sonmez and Scott Clement

Now it appears more Democrats may be signing onto the strategy of pinning Congress’s record unpopularity on Republicans’ shoulders.

By Felicia Sonmez and Scott Clement | 04:30 PM ET, 10/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 10/27/2011

Boehner pans Democrats’ supercommittee proposal

By Felicia Sonmez

House Speaker John Boehner says its equal mix of new revenue and spending cuts is unacceptable to Republicans.

By Felicia Sonmez | 01:45 PM ET, 10/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:10 PM ET, 10/27/2011

2012 House calendar keeps GOP two-weeks on, one-week off plan

By Felicia Sonmez

The new 2012 House calendar unveiled today cntinues the leaders’ two-weeks on, one-week-off plan.

By Felicia Sonmez | 01:10 PM ET, 10/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:22 PM ET, 10/27/2011

House approves tax change for government contractors

By Rosalind S. Helderman

The House has approved a measure to repeal a tax provision that government contractors said would have been a burden.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 12:22 PM ET, 10/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:57 AM ET, 10/27/2011

Hillary Clinton testifies on Afghanistan and Pakistan (Live video)

By Natalie Jennings

Watch live video of the secretary of State’s testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

By Natalie Jennings | 09:57 AM ET, 10/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:01 PM ET, 10/26/2011

Manchin suggests investigation into senators’ Big 12 lobbying efforts

By Felicia Sonmez

A battle over West Virginia University’s bid to enter the Big 12 conference has turned political amid reports that senators from both parties have been trying to influence the selection process.

By Felicia Sonmez | 08:01 PM ET, 10/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:31 PM ET, 10/26/2011

Defense cuts would cost U.S. more than 1 million jobs, economist says

By Felicia Sonmez

If the supercommittee pulls the “trigger” on hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Pentagon spending, the resulting job losses will extend far beyond the defense industry, an economist says.

By Felicia Sonmez | 03:31 PM ET, 10/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:07 PM ET, 10/26/2011

Congressional approval drops to single digits

By Felicia Sonmez

Public opinion of Congress has hit a record low, according to a new New York Times/CBS News poll.

By Felicia Sonmez | 12:07 PM ET, 10/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:54 AM ET, 10/26/2011

Small-business bill an opportunity for bipartisan accord, McCarthy says

By Felicia Sonmez

A House GOP measure aimed at boosting the ability of businesses to raise capital is an opportunity for members of both parties to work on job creation, the No. 3 House Republican said.

By Felicia Sonmez | 10:54 AM ET, 10/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:11 AM ET, 10/26/2011

Ryan: Obama dividing, not uniting

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) will accuse president of engaging in the kind of politics of division he rejected in 2008.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 09:11 AM ET, 10/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:12 PM ET, 10/25/2011

White House backs House GOP measure to repeal withholding rule

By Felicia Sonmez

In a rare moment of bipartisanship, the White House announced that it supports two House Republican measures that are headed toward a vote later this week.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:12 PM ET, 10/25/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:37 PM ET, 10/25/2011

Hoyer ‘hopeful,’ but not ‘confident’ that supercommittee will succeed

By Felicia Sonmez

The No. 2 House Democrat stopped short of calling himself “confident” that a deal will be reached; said he hopes the panel will complete its task.

By Felicia Sonmez | 02:37 PM ET, 10/25/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 10/25/2011

Debt supercommittee has ‘plenty of time’ to complete its work, Hensarling says

By Felicia Sonmez

The co-chairman of Congress’s bipartisan debt-reduction committee said the panel has more than enough time to complete its work, even as a deadline looms.

By Felicia Sonmez | 11:05 AM ET, 10/25/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:01 PM ET, 10/24/2011

Republican governors submit recommendations to debt ‘supercommittee’

By Felicia Sonmez

Four governors sent a letter urging the Congress’s “supercommittee” to rule out tax increases and any proposals that would shift Medicaid costs to the states.

By Felicia Sonmez | 06:01 PM ET, 10/24/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:56 PM ET, 10/24/2011

Rep. Paul Ryan to deliver major address on ‘politics of division’

By Felicia Sonmez

The House Budget Committee chairman will deliver a “major address” Wednesday “aimed at combating the politics of division,” his office announced.

By Felicia Sonmez | 03:56 PM ET, 10/24/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:55 PM ET, 10/24/2011

Why a debt supercommittee success might still be a failure

By Felicia Sonmez

The most pressing question is not whether the joint committee hits the $1.2 trillion mark but rather what the outlines of any potential deal might look like.

By Felicia Sonmez | 12:55 PM ET, 10/24/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:56 AM ET, 10/24/2011

The week ahead on the Hill: An open supercommittee meeting, and Hillary Rodham Clinton visits the Capitol

By Felicia Sonmez

An open supercommittee meeting, and Hillary Rodham Clinton visits the Capitol

By Felicia Sonmez | 06:56 AM ET, 10/24/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:38 PM ET, 10/21/2011

Next up for Obama jobs bill votes: spending on roads, bridges

By Rosalind S. Helderman

A part of President Obama’s $447 billion jobs package that would provide funds for roads and bridges is next up in the Senate.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 01:38 PM ET, 10/21/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:54 PM ET, 10/20/2011

By David A. Fahrenthold

By David A. Fahrenthold | 07:54 PM ET, 10/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:27 PM ET, 10/20/2011

Bernanke shares concerns on European debt, action on housing

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Paul Kane

The Fed chairman told Senate Democrats on Thursday that Congress must take action to stabilize the nation’s ailing housing market, senators said.

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Paul Kane | 06:27 PM ET, 10/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:19 PM ET, 10/20/2011

Capitol Hill cheers Gaddafi’s death, warns of risks to come

By David A. Fahrenthold

On Capitol Hill on Thursday, members of Congress celebrated reports of the death of Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafi.

By David A. Fahrenthold | 12:19 PM ET, 10/20/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:17 PM ET, 10/18/2011

Senators: There should be no chewing in baseball

By Rosalind S. Helderman

As baseball fans get ready for the first game of the World Series Wednesday, a group of Democratic Senators is working to get chewing tobacco out of Major League baseball dugouts.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 04:17 PM ET, 10/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:04 PM ET, 10/18/2011

Senate Democrats work to echo Obama bus tour from Capitol Hill

By Rosalind S. Helderman

While President Obama works to raise pressure on Congress to pass his $447 billion jobs plan piece-by-piece with a road trip through North Carolina and Virginia, Senate Democrats are working an inside game, trying to echo the message inside the Capitol.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 01:04 PM ET, 10/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:13 PM ET, 10/17/2011

Senate will take up Obama jobs bill piece-by-piece, starting with state aid

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Senate will start with consideration of pieces of President Obama’s jobs bill with a proposal to provide $35 billion for state and local governments for teacher and first responder salaries.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 03:13 PM ET, 10/17/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:39 AM ET, 10/16/2011

2chambers is on recess

By Felicia Sonmez

The House is on a brief recess this week, and so are we.

By Felicia Sonmez | 10:39 AM ET, 10/16/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:49 PM ET, 10/13/2011

South Korean president to Congress: Trade pact a ‘win-win for both countries’

By Felicia Sonmez

Lee Myung-bak on praised Congress’s ratification of a U.S.-Korea pact, calling the deal a “historic achievement” and “a major step toward future growth and job creation.”

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:49 PM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:06 PM ET, 10/13/2011

Dem governors huddle with debt ‘supercommittee’ members

By Felicia Sonmez

A quartet of Democratic governors met Thursday with members of Congress’s debt-reduction panel on Capitol Hill, urging them to focus on job creation.

By Felicia Sonmez | 04:06 PM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:41 PM ET, 10/13/2011

House approves abortion-funding measure

By Felicia Sonmez

Bill would prohibit federal funds from going toward any health care plan that covers abortion service.

By Felicia Sonmez | 03:41 PM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:59 AM ET, 10/13/2011

House Democrats offer recommendations to debt supercommittee

By Felicia Sonmez

The top Democrats on each House committee are making recommendations to the 12-member debt-reduction panel on how best to trim federal spending.

By Felicia Sonmez | 11:59 AM ET, 10/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:22 PM ET, 10/12/2011

House approves South Korea, Panama, Colombia trade deals

By Felicia Sonmez

The House on Wednesday approved the three trade deals, as well as renewal of an aid program for workers who lost their jobs because of outsourcing.

By Felicia Sonmez | 06:22 PM ET, 10/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:35 PM ET, 10/12/2011

China currency bill demands House, White House action, senators say

By Felicia Sonmez

A bipartisan group of senators called on President Obama and House Republican leaders to support a Senate-passed measure.

By Felicia Sonmez | 03:35 PM ET, 10/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:36 PM ET, 10/11/2011

Senate approves China currency bill

By Felicia Sonmez

The Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would put greater U.S. pressure on China and other countries to allow their currency to appreciate, giving the green light to a measure that supporters say would create jobs but which both the White House and House Republican leaders have warned could lead to a trade war.

By Felicia Sonmez | 06:36 PM ET, 10/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:18 PM ET, 10/11/2011

Sen. Tom Coburn undergoes surgery for prostate cancer

By Felicia Sonmez

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) is recovering from surgery for early-stage prostate cancer, the two-term senator’s office said in a statement Tuesday.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:18 PM ET, 10/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:43 PM ET, 10/11/2011

Cantor retreats from ‘mob’ comment about Occupy Wall Street movement

By Felicia Sonmez

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) on Tuesday struck a new tone on the Occupy Wall Street movement, expressing empathy for the protesters and taking aim instead at Democratic leaders for spurring the protests on.

By Felicia Sonmez | 03:43 PM ET, 10/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:14 PM ET, 10/11/2011

House won’t act on China currency bill until White House moves first, Cantor says

By Felicia Sonmez

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said it’s up to the White House to make clear its position on the Senate’s China currency bill.

By Felicia Sonmez | 02:14 PM ET, 10/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 10/11/2011

Six protesters affiliated with the ‘Occupy D.C.’ movement arrested in a Capitol Hill building

By David A. Fahrenthold and Paul Kane

Six people were arrested in the Senate’s Hart office building, after protesters affiliated with the “Occupy D.C.” movement began chanting and unfurling banners.

By David A. Fahrenthold and Paul Kane | 01:25 PM ET, 10/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:47 PM ET, 10/11/2011

Hoyer: ‘I hope’ Obama’s jobs package gets 51 votes in Senate

By Felicia Sonmez

The House Minority Whip said he hopes Obama’s jobs package garners the support of 51 Democrats when it comes up for a procedural vote in the Senate.

By Felicia Sonmez | 12:47 PM ET, 10/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:33 PM ET, 10/10/2011

South Korean president’s visit comes amid Senate stalemate over ambassador

By Felicia Sonmez

If there’s a stalemate to be had, the Senate will find a way — in this case, it’s over the nomination of the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:33 PM ET, 10/10/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:06 PM ET, 10/10/2011

Abortion-funding battle to heat up again this week

By Felicia Sonmez

After months of focusing on economic rather than social issues, the House is poised to take up a measure that will bring the abortion-rights debate back to the floor.

By Felicia Sonmez | 03:06 PM ET, 10/10/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:47 PM ET, 10/10/2011

The week ahead on the Hill: Trade, jobs and China currency

By Felicia Sonmez

A look at the week ahead on the Hill.

By Felicia Sonmez | 12:47 PM ET, 10/10/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:14 PM ET, 10/07/2011

China currency bill splits GOP leaders, rank-and-file members

By Felicia Sonmez

A measure on Chinese currency has opened up a fissure between congressional Republican leaders and rank-and-file members.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:14 PM ET, 10/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:04 PM ET, 10/07/2011

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to address Congress next week

By Felicia Sonmez

President Lee Myung-bak has been invited to address a joint meeting of Congress next week, House Speaker John Boehner’s office announced Friday.

By Felicia Sonmez | 02:04 PM ET, 10/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:55 AM ET, 10/07/2011

Rick Perry hunting camp resolution blocked by House

By Felicia Sonmez

The House will consider a resolution by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. calling on Rick Perry to apologize for the racially charged name of his family’s hunting camp.

By Felicia Sonmez | 11:55 AM ET, 10/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:21 AM ET, 10/07/2011

GOP leaders take aim at Obama over jobs report

By Felicia Sonmez

House Republican leaders seized on the news that the U.S. unemployment rate remains at 9.1 percent, blaming President Obama.

By Felicia Sonmez | 11:21 AM ET, 10/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:40 AM ET, 10/07/2011

Senate makes unprecedented rules change amid late-night debate over jobs, procedure

By Felicia Sonmez

The Senate on Thursday made an unprecedented change to its rules Thursday night following an extraordinary hour-and-a-half floor exchange that saw leaders and rank-and-file members spar first over consideration of President Obama’s jobs package, then over a series of non-related amendments and finally over the operating procedure of the chamber itself.

By Felicia Sonmez | 12:40 AM ET, 10/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 10/06/2011

Boehner: It’s ‘very disappointing’ that Obama is campaigning

By Felicia Sonmez

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) criticized President Obama Thursday morning, arguing that while Congress has been busy passing legislation, the president has been focused on his re-election bid.

By Felicia Sonmez | 12:00 PM ET, 10/06/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:37 PM ET, 10/05/2011

Trade bills approved by House Ways and Means Committee

By Felicia Sonmez

Three long-stalled trade pacts with Colombia, South Korea and Panama took a key step closer to passage Wednesday.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:37 PM ET, 10/05/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:15 PM ET, 10/05/2011

‘Supercommittee’ chair defends closed-door meetings

By Rosalind S. Helderman

The co-chairman of a special committee tasked with cutting the deficit promises that the panel will lay out its ideas publicly before they are settled.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 05:15 PM ET, 10/05/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:05 PM ET, 10/05/2011

Millionaire surtax proposed by Senate Democrats to pay for Obama jobs package

By Felicia Sonmez

Senate Democratic leaders unveil a plan for paying for President Obama’s jobs package, proposing a 5 percent surtax on millionaires.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:05 PM ET, 10/05/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 10/05/2011

Top Cantor staffer departs to start ‘Young Guns’ super PAC

By Felicia Sonmez

A top aide to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is leaving Capitol Hill to start a Super PAC for GOP House candidates in the 2012 campaign.

By Felicia Sonmez | 11:31 AM ET, 10/05/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 10/04/2011

House raises salary cap for DOMA lawyer to $1.5 million

By Felicia Sonmez

Five months after House Republicans announced a $500,000 salary cap for the lawyer hired to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, a revised contract shows the cap has been tripled.

By Felicia Sonmez | 05:40 PM ET, 10/04/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:41 PM ET, 10/04/2011

GOP moves to introduce Obama jobs bill in Senate; Dems object

By Felicia Sonmez

The Senate’s top leaders sparred openly on the chamber floor Tuesday after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell moved to introduce President Obama’s jobs bill, an effort that was immediately blocked by Majority Leader Harry Reid.

By Felicia Sonmez | 03:41 PM ET, 10/04/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:25 PM ET, 10/04/2011

House approves short-term funding measure

By Rosalind S. Helderman

The House passed the bill by a vote of 352 to 66, which will allow the federal government to begin to spend at a rate of $1.043 trillion for the year that lasts through Sept. 30, 2012.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 03:25 PM ET, 10/04/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:43 PM ET, 10/04/2011

China currency bill ‘pretty dangerous,’ Boehner says

By Felicia Sonmez

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday came out in opposition to a Senate measure that would put greater pressure on China and other countries to allow their currency to appreciate.

By Felicia Sonmez | 12:43 PM ET, 10/04/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)