Conor Kenny's News Articles

House Expands Voting Privileges for Delegates and Resident Commissioner; Further Action on DC Voting Rights Expected

by Conor Kenny — January 29, 2007 - 6:50pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

    • Last Wednesday, the House approved a rule change granting the four House delegates and the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico partial voting rights on the House floor. A similar rule was implemented in 1993 by a Democratic majority, but repealed in 1995 after Republicans took control of Congress. The resolution passed largely along party lines, 226-191.

    The rule will allow delegates and the resident commissioner to participate in the “Committee of the Whole,” whereby members may debate and vote on amendments to a bill before the final version is considered.

    Several Measures Opposing Iraq Troop “Surge” Introduced in Congress

    by Conor Kenny — January 26, 2007 - 5:37pm
  • Topics: Iraq, U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

    • In his State of the Union Address Tuesday night, President Bush asked Congress to not condemn his plan to send 21,500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq off the bat, but to "give it a chance" first.

    Dems, Bloggers and a Four-Year-Old Respond to the State of the Union - In Video!

    by Conor Kenny — January 25, 2007 - 4:46pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress

    • Freshman senator and rising Democratic star Jim Webb (D-Va.) delivered the main Democratic response to Bush's speech (response text). He spoke of the rising income inequality in America and the growing pressure globalization is putting on the middle and professional classes. He stopped short, however, of offering any detailed plans beyond noting that the House had passed the first minimum wage increase in 10 years. On the foreign policy front, Webb delivered a strong rebuke to Bush's troop "surge" plan:

    We need a new direction. Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos. But an immediate shift toward strong regionally-based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq’s cities, and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq.

    House Democrats Wrap-Up "First 100 Hours" Agenda with Passage of Energy Bill

    by Conor Kenny — January 22, 2007 - 6:44pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government

    • In only forty-two hours of floor time, the Democratic-led House successfully passed all six of its "first 100 hours" initiatives. The final bill, the CLEAN (Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation) Energy Act of 2007, passed in a 264-163 vote last Friday.

    New transparency in Congress

    by Conor Kenny — January 19, 2007 - 7:23pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress, Secrecy

    • If you look beyond the headlines of the recently passed ethics reform bills, a revolutionary leap forward in transparency has been made by two members of Congress. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have each begun posting their schedules online, which we have included in their Congresspedia profiles (see here for Gillibrand and here for Tester). The idea of letting constituents know how their elected officials spend their day seems basic but, to my knowledge, has never been tried before.

    Tester has thus far kept his previous schedules available in an online archive and Congresspedia has begun archiving Gillibrand's on the wiki, so don't worry if you don't catch her schedule on a particular day.

    Congresspedia's "Congress in the News" updates, Dec. 1-Dec. 17

    by Conor Kenny — January 18, 2007 - 5:15pm
  • Topics: Congresspedia News Updates, U.S. Congress, Democracy, U.S. Government
    • Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) announced that he will not seek the presidency in 2008. (NY Times story)
    • Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) is in stable condition following brain surgery.

    Five for Five: Democrats deliver on another "first 100 hours" initiative

    by Conor Kenny — January 17, 2007 - 7:17pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, Politics, U.S. Government

    • Early Wednesday evening, the House passed the College Student Relief Act of 2007, a bill which would reduce the interest rate on subsidized federal Stafford Loans from 6.8 to 3.4 percent over a five-year period.

    New Bills Challenge President Bush's Troop "Surge"

    by Conor Kenny — January 12, 2007 - 6:15pm
  • Topics: Iraq, U.S. Congress, U.S. Government

    • In a nationally televised address Wednesday night, President Bush announced a new plan to send 21,500 more American troops into Iraq to help settle the country’s increasing violence, particularly in the capital city of Baghdad. While Bush expressed confidence in his plan, most Americans did not appear to follow. A CNN poll taken after the speech found that 66% opposed this “surge” in troop levels, while only 32% supported it.

    9/11 Bill Passes the House; Status Uncertain in the Senate

    by Conor Kenny — January 10, 2007 - 7:04pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, Politics, U.S. Government

    • The House passed a bill Wednesday enacting several recommendations of the 9/11 commission, accomplishing the first of several “first 100 hours” initiatives put forth by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democratic-led 110th Congress.

    House Democrats Kick Off Their First 100 Hours

    by Conor Kenny — January 9, 2007 - 6:36pm
  • Topics: U.S. Congress, Democracy, Politics, U.S. Government

    • The long anticipated “first 100 hours” of the Democratic-led 110th Congress is now officially underway. The new House Speaker, Rep.

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