Blog Post

Blog Post
30-Something Democrats Discuss the Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health & Iraq Accountability Act
March 15, 2007
Rep. Tim Ryan and Chief Deputy Whip Debbie Wasserman Schultz discuss the Emergency Supplemental for Iraq and Veterans that was approved today by the Appropriations Committee:

"This war has got to end, and it's got to stop. And what we're doing is the quickest way for us to go about bringing a reasonable, thoughtful end to this war."

Rep. Tim Ryan:

Blog Post
Chairman Conyers Writes to Attorney General Gonzales
March 15, 2007
From the Judiciary Committee:

Conyers Demands More Answers from Attorney General Gonzales

National Journal reports that Gonzales may have advised President Bush to shut down OPR inquiry on warrentless wiretapping

Blog Post
36-28
March 15, 2007
Today's vote in the House Appropriations Committee on the Iraq war is a victory for the American people who want the Congress to do what the President has not: propose a plan to bring the war to an end. It is a victory for those who want our troops to have the equipment and training on which their lives depend, and a victory for those who believe that our nation must keep its promises to our wounded troops and veterans.
Blog Post
Iraq Supplemental Markup: The Lewis Amendment
March 15, 2007
UPDATE: The bill has been approved, 36-28, with an amendment by Rep. Murtha to keep Walter Reed open. The changes in the Lewis Amendment to strip the readiness and Iraqi government benchmark provisions were supported unanimously by Republicans, and opposed unanimously by Democrats, failing 37-27.
Blog Post
Hearings Being Held at This Moment
March 15, 2007
The Appropriations Committee markup of the Iraq supplemental is being aired on C-Span 3 currently and webcast at the committee website.

The Judiciary Committee is currently webcasting the markup of: H.R. 580, "Restoring Checks and Balances in the Confirmation Process of U.S. Attorneys"; H.R. 1433, "District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007"; and Approval of assignment to subcommittee vacancies.

Blog Post
Iraq Supplemental Markup: Opening Statements
March 15, 2007

"I expect a lot of amendments today. This is a serious proposition, and I think people on all sides of these questions will be taking it seriously, and I expect this will be a very long discussion. If it continues on past the adjournment of the House, the committee will remain in session until we have completed action on the bill -- even if we have to go around the clock this evening."

Appropriations Chairman David Obey:

Rep. John Murtha:
Blog Post
Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel onThe "Smoking Memo"
March 15, 2007

"As Washington debates whether Alberto Gonzales, the Attorney General, survives by the weekend, some of us want to know whether we can bring back to life these public corruption investigations in these five jurisdictions."

Rep. Emanuel:

Transcript:

Blog Post
The Markup Begins
March 15, 2007

"As Americans, we have a responsibility to ensure that our men and women in uniform, who have sacrificed so much in this time of war,
receive the care they rightfully deserve."
- Rep. John Murtha

The Appropriations committee markup of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act begins this morning at 9:00AM. To watch it live, click here.

Rep. Murtha issued the following statement this morning:

Blog Post
Energy Independence and Global Warming Agenda
March 14, 2007
Speaker Pelosi released the following statement tonight following a meeting with the Chairmen of the committees working on energy independence and global warming initiatives:

Blog Post
Skelton and Snyder Request Immediate Review
March 14, 2007
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton and Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Vic Snyder have asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to undertake an immediate review of allegations that wounded and injured soldiers are being sent to Iraq.

In an article entitled "The Army is ordering injured troops to go to Iraq," Mark Benjamin reports: