U.S. Congress

By Camille Elhassani in Americas on January 7th, 2011
picture from AFP

As the new US Congress settles in at one end of Pennsylvania Avenue, new faces are also showing at the other end of Washington's most famous street, the White House.

The staff shuffle in the Obama Administration is an attempt to inject new blood after the shellacking Obama and the Democrats took in last November’s Midterm Elections.  But Obama isn’t waiting to prepare for the next election.  Many of those leaving are heading back onto the campaign trail ahead of the 2012 Presidential contest.

By Camille Elhassani in Americas on January 5th, 2011
Photo by Reuters

The 112th US Congress has opened. Republicans hold the majority in the House of Representatives, and Democrats remain in control of the Senate but with a smaller majority. The balance of power in Washington changed after last November’s Congressional Midterm Elections. The American public, angry at the state of the economy and high unemployment, voted for change.

On Wednesday, the new members of Congress were sworn-in.  Republican John Boehner has taken over the job of Speaker of the House from Democrat Nancy Pelosi.  In assuming the third highest position in the US government, Boehner said, “Hard work and tough decisions will be required of the 112th Congress. No longer can we fall short. No longer can we kick the can down the road.

By Camille Elhassani in Americas, Europe on November 16th, 2010
Photo: EPA

As the US Congress makes its to-do list for the last few weeks of the year, one piece of legislation that is not likely to be on it is the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as START.  The White House has been pressing the Senate to ratify the treaty with Russia which would reduce both countries' nuclear arsenals and deployment systems.  

The Senate Republican tasked with negotiating with the Obama administration threw cold water on the treaty on Tuesday. 

Jon Kyl put out a statement saying he didn't think START would be considered this term, "given the combination of other work Congress must do and the complex and unresolved issues related to START and modernisation".  Republicans have been pressing for a multi-billion dollar modernisation of the US nuclear arsenal. 

Kyl's statement means the treaty will likely be shelved for the year.

That means next year, the ratification process will begin all over again in the Se

By Camille Elhassani in Americas on November 15th, 2010

The US Congress is back to work in Washington for the lame-duck session meant to finish the last bits of legislative business before handing the gavel over to the new Congress in January. 

Lame-duck refers to legislators who lost in the midterm elections two weeks ago but come back for a few weeks to complete the session (and pack up their office). 

Democrats lost more than 60 seats in the House of Representatives two weeks ago and control of the lower chamber.

They also lost six seats in the Senate.

By John Terrett in Americas on March 17th, 2010
Photo by AFP
Hundreds of Tea Party activists rallied outside the US Congress on Tuesday in protest at President Barack Obama’s almost $900bn healthcare reform.
 
The group of mostly rightwing grassroots protesters are opposed to the way the administration is driving healthcare through congress.
 
They called it a "Surge Against Obamacare." 
 
It was a rally for conservatives and Tea Party activists who are determined to stop the president’s healthcare reform which is now - as they see it - being forced through the House of Representatives and senate
 
 Grandma isn’t shovel ready.
 
 
By John Terrett in Americas on February 25th, 2010
Photo by AFP

It was a rare sight indeed at the US congress on Wednesday.
 
The head of an overseas corporation being grilled by another country's legislators over his firm's mistakes.
 
Akio Toyoda came to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee here on Capitol Hill in Washington DC to say he's sorry for the deaths and injuries caused by Toyota's faulty vehicles and to pledge change.
 
"As you well know, I am the grandson of the founder, and all the Toyota vehicles bear my name.  For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well. I, more than anyone, wish for Toyota's cars to be safe, and for our customers to feel safe when they use our vehicles."
 
He said he feared the speed with which Toyota had pursued the growth of its businesses was greater than the speed at which it was able to develop its people and organisation.
 

By John Terrett in Americas on February 24th, 2010
Photo by EPA

"I think we lost sight of the customer."

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