Reuters
Thursday, January 4, 2007; 1:48 PM
Pelosi elected as first woman to lead House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nancy Pelosi, a California liberal who helped engineer the Democratic takeover of the U.S. Congress from President George W. Bush's Republicans, on Thursday became the first woman elected to lead the U.S. House of Representatives. On a largely party-line vote, Pelosi, 66, was selected as House speaker, a post that puts her second in the line of succession, behind only the vice president, to the U.S. presidency.
Key Democrat might consider troop boost in Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush is likely to link any short-term increase in U.S. troop levels in Iraq to political milestones or other conditions, a key Senate Democrat said on Thursday, saying he might consider backing such a "surge" if those conditions are right. Michigan Democrat Sen. Carl Levin also predicted the Republican president would soon find a way to end the "open-ended commitment" of U.S. troops to Iraq, even if Bush does propose a short-term boost in forces.
Bush lawyer Harriet Miers resigns: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House counsel Harriet Miers, whose controversial nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court was withdrawn, announced her resignation on Thursday effective at the end of the month. White House spokesman Tony Snow said President George W. Bush had reluctantly accepted the resignation of his longtime aide after six years at the White House, including almost two years as his top lawyer.
New Congress convenes under Democratic control
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The 110th U.S. Congress convened on Thursday with President George W. Bush facing Democrats for the first time in control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Having swept Bush's Republicans from power in the November 7 congressional elections, Democrats have promised to push for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, close the growing gap between America's rich and poor and clean up how the scandal-rocked Congress does business.
Bush trade agenda at risk as Democrats take over
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic takeover of Congress on Thursday is likely to mean President George W. Bush will lose "fast track" trade negotiating authority and could scuttle efforts to secure free trade deals with Peru, Colombia and other countries, analysts said. Unless there is an unexpected breakthrough in the troubled Doha round of world trade talks, trade promotion authority -- the current name for the law that puts trade agreements on a fast track through Congress -- will probably expire in June, analysts said.
Business group vows fight over labor organizing
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The largest U.S. business lobbying group on Thursday vowed to oppose Democrats who want to make it easier for workers to join unions -- an issue shaping up as one of the new Congress' first fights. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also warned that union pension funds could abuse any legislation to give shareholders more clout in corporate boardrooms and setting executive pay.
Intelligence czar leaving post to go to State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, will leave his post to take the number two spot at the State Department, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. "He will leave to become Deputy Secretary of State," said an official who asked not to be identified.
India leftists to campaign against U.S. nuclear deal
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's main communist party, which shores up the federal coalition, said on Thursday it would launch a campaign against a controversial nuclear deal with the United States, saying it was not in the country's interests. Legislation approved by the U.S. Congress last month backing the landmark deal had objectionable clauses and coerced India to align its foreign policy with that of the United States, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) said.
Japan, U.S. to discuss Asia emergency plans: media
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan and the United States are to discuss joint plans for their troops to deal with a potential stand-off between China and Taiwan, Kyodo news agency reported, a move that has already raised Beijing's ire. Defense and foreign affairs officials from Tokyo and Washington would open talks in February and assess various crises that might occur across the Taiwan Strait, the agency said late on Wednesday, citing officials from both countries.
Bush seeks backing for agenda on budget, Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With Democrats poised to take over Congress, President George W. Bush on Wednesday used a Rose Garden ceremony and a newspaper opinion piece to push for spending cuts and rally support for an Iraq policy he has yet to announce. Speaking at a ceremony after a Cabinet meeting, Bush used the White House stage to announce a proposal to balance the U.S. budget by 2012. He also wrote a rare opinion article in The Wall Street Journal promoting his new strategy for Iraq to be announced in coming days.
