Congresspedia’s “Congress in the News” updates, Nov. 8-Nov. 30, 2006
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- Las Vegas police have recommended that no charges be filed against Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) in relation to an alleged assault. (News 3 story)
- Washington D.C. Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty lobbied members of Congress yesterday for passage of a bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), which would provide the District with its first-ever full-voting member of Congress. (See Congresspedia page on DC voting rights)
- House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has chosen Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) to chair the House Intelligence Committee. (AP story)
- Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.V.), currently the subject of an FBI investigation, is in line to take over a position that would give him control of the agency's budget when the 110th Congress convenes in 2007. (TPMmuckraker story)
- Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) chief of staff is leaving her position to become president and CEO of the ONE Campaign, a non-profit group. (The Hill story)
- Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) has officially won reelection, with the concession of his Democratic opponent Larry Kissell ending a recount. (AP story)
- House Democrats will not place the reorganization of the Congress's oversight of U.S. intelligence agencies, a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, on their agenda for the beginning of the 110th Congress. (Washington Post story)
- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) announced that he will not run for president in 2008. (AP story)
- Future Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has decided against naming either Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) or Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) to chair the House Intelligence Committee. (Washington Post story)
- Future Harry Reid (D-Nev.) stated that increasing the minimum wage and funding for stem cell research would top the Democratic agenda in 2007. (AP story)
- Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) pledged investigations into the Medicare prescription drug benefit, spending on government contractors in Iraq, and an energy task force overseen by Dick Cheney when the 110th Congress convenes in 2007. (AP story)
- Republican leaders have decided not to act on annual spending bills before Congress adjourns for 2006, thus leaving the legislation to be considered by the newly-Democratic Congress that will convene in 2007. (The Hill story)
- Sen. Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) ascension to majority leader will make him the highest-ranking Mormon elected to office in U.S. history. (AP story)
- Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) renewed his call for the resumption of the military draft. (AP story)
- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stated that he would support a limited constitutional ban on abortion and, failing that, the repeal of Roe vs. Wade to allow individual states to determine their own abortion policy. (Think Progress story)
- Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) announced that he will run for mayor of Philadelphia in 2007. (Philadelphia Inquirer story)
- Citing voting machine malfunctions in Sarasota County, Fla., Democratic House candidate Christine Jennings officially contested election results showing her losing to Republican Vern Buchanan by 369 votes in Florida's Thirteenth Congressional District. (AP story)
- House Republicans chose their leadership for the 110th Congress. It will consist of Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), Minority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Conference Chair Adam Putnam (Fla.). (Washington Post story)
- Florida authorities have opened a criminal investigation into sexually explicit messages sent to minors by ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.). (Washington Post story)
- New York State Police reportedly released an altered version of a police report involving Rep. John Sweeney so that the original could not be used against him in the November 7 elections. (Times Union story)
- House Democrats chose their leadership for the 110th Congress. It will consist of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.), Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.), and Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel (Ill.). (CNN story)
- Lawyers for Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) were ordered to turn over any documents over which they do not claim constitutional “Speech or Debate” privileges to federal prosecutors investigating Jefferson for bribery. (Roll Call story)
- Disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to prison to begin serving a nearly six year sentence for wire fraud. (AP story)
- Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) defeated Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) in Republican caucus balloting to become Senate minority whip during the 110th Congress. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was unanimously chosen as Senate minority leader. ( AP story)
- Senate Democrats chose their leadership for the 110th Congress. It will consist of Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), Vice-Chairman of the Caucus Charles Schumer (N.Y), Conference Secretary Patty Murray (Wash.), and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), who will head the steering committee. ( AP story)
- Senate Democrats are creating a new leadership position, vice-chairman of the caucus, that will make Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) the number three Democrat in the body. (The Hill story)
- Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) fired a staffer named as a source in an article accusing him of ethics violations. (Post-Gazette story)
- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) earmarked money for a bridge which could raise the value of land that he holds in Arizona. (LA Times story)
- Congress reconvened Monday to begin its post-election lame duck session. (Washington Post story)
- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has endorsed Rep. John Murtha for the office of Majority Leader in the upcoming congressional leadership elections. (Washington Post story)
- The House of Representatives accepted the resignation of former Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio). (Office of the Clerk story)
- Maryland Democrats are decrying the GOP-directed distribution of a sample ballot appearing to falsely claim that Senate candidate Michael Steele and Governor Bob Ehrlich had received the backing of several prominent, black Democrats. (Washington Post story)