Giuliani Gives Pep Talk To Newer Lawmakers

Fannie, Freddie Quiet About Industry Parties

Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have decided to remove their names from the invitations to industry receptions at the Democratic and Republican national conventions, though they will still help pay for them.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were among the sponsors of parties in Denver, where the Democrats will be gathering, and in the Twin Cities, where the Republicans will be holding their nominating convention. But under fire from fiscal conservatives and others, the mortgage companies have decided against putting their names on parties where housing industry lobbyists mingle with members of Congress, who approved a massive rescue plan for the taxpayer-funded companies this week.

"We will no longer be participating in the housing industry receptions at the conventions, but will fulfill our previous financial commitment," Fannie Mae spokeswoman Amy Bonitatibus said in a statement.

-- Mary Ann Akers

INSIDER RALLY

Obama to Address House Democrats

Barack Obama will address the House Democratic Caucus on Tuesday at the group's weekly closed-door strategy meeting, a chance to rally rank-and-file lawmakers before the campaign revs up this fall.

A senior Democratic aide said the senator's appearance at the session will represent his first as a Democratic candidate. The last time he showed up in the House, Obama was mobbed on the floor of the chamber -- and more than a few of the glad-handers were Republicans.

This time, Obama will presumably have plenty to report from his world travels, but Democrats are thinking locally as well as globally and will be looking to their presumptive nominee for assurances of the strongest possible party infrastructure heading into November.

-- Shailagh Murray