WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jim Himes has a solution to the leadership crisis in the House: Republican leaders should replace the hard-to-get votes of Tea Party sympathizers with those of moderate Democrats like himself.
John Boehner
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CT lawmakers say Boehner’s resignation cuts shutdown odds, but threat remains
WASHINGTON – House Speaker John Boehner’s decision to resign may have lessened the prospects of a government shutdown, but that won’t be known for sure until Congress considers a short-term spending bill next week. Meanwhile, Connecticut agencies have been told to draw up contingency plans.
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Connecticut’s Washington Week
Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, which included an address to the joint session of Congress, overshadowed everything this week — except perhaps House Speaker John Boehner’s subsequent resignation.
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Himes’ New Dems may bridge troubled congressional waters
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Himes has not been a stranger to controversy this year, and he’s likely to once again pop up again at the center of new congressional scuffles.
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CT lawmakers help deal Obama a blow on trade
Washington – Connecticut Reps. Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney and Elizabeth Esty, all Democrats, helped hand President Obama an embarrassing defeat Friday on his trade agenda.
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Himes says he’ll side with Obama on key Pacific trade deal vote
WASHINGTON – Rep. Jim Himes, targeted as a key swing vote, has decided to back President Obama on legislation that would help the president negotiate a controversial trade deal with 11 Pacific Rim nations.
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Murphy to attend Netanyahu speech, joining rest of CT delegation
Washington – After some indecision, Sen. Chris Murphy has decided to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
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CT lawmakers will attend Netanyahu’s speech — with misgivings
Washington – At least four of Connecticut’s Democratic lawmakers say they’ll attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu’s controversial address to Congress next month, even as some criticize the way House Speaker John Boehner made the invitation.
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Deal on bill to allow vets to see private doctors
Washington – The scandal at the Veterans Affairs Administration has done what little else could do in Congress – bring Democrats and Republicans together on a bill.
Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and John MCain, R-Ariz., announced an agreement late Thursday afternoon that combined elements of three separate bills aimed at reforming the VA, which is under investigation because of allegations that staff had covered up delays in the providing care to veterans and other wrongdoing.
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Congress to move ahead, then freeze up, on jobless benefits
Washington – Because Congress failed to act, Joanne Lavieri of Manchester received her last unemployment check at the end of March and faces a very uncertain future.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy blasts Boehner for saying CT ‘cheating’ on food stamps
Washington – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said House Speaker John Boehner is “shameful” and “reprehensible” when he says states like Connecticut are cheating when it comes to the federal food stamp program.
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Connecticut dairy farmers at center of fight over farm bill (updated)
Washington — Rep. Joe Courtney and the state’s dairy farmers are in a pitched battle with the most powerful member of the House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, a fight that has stalled the farm bill and whose outcome is likely to affect the price of milk across the country. “Speaker Boehner, in my opinion, is interjecting his own special interests agenda to the detriment of the farm industry and rural American as a whole,” Courtney said.