WATER COOLER
The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
Latest Blog Entries
DeLay found guilty in money laundering case
Tom DeLay, former Republican House Majority Leader, was found guilty of money laundering charges in Austin today.
Freshman lawmaker calls House ban on hats 'sexist'
Freshman Democratic lawmaker Frederica Wilson, newly elected from Florida, first priority on Capitol Hill will not be to her constituents but to her own vanity. Ms. Wilson believes the House floor dress code that bans all members from wearing hats is "sexist." This is interesting considering men are not allowed to wear hats either, and the rule goes back to the 1800's when it was common for both men and women to wear hats on a daily basis.
Gore: I supported ethanol subsidies because of presidential ambitions
Former Vice President Al Gore made a candid admission about his past support for corn-based ethanol subsidies. According to a new Reuters article, Mr. Gore said that he only supported the subsidies in the past, a position he calls a mistake now, because he had presidential ambitions in 1999.
Mississippi Gulf Coast businesses need certainty not tax hikes from DC lawmakers
Visiting the Gulf Coast, Mississippi region this weekend, I was curious to see how the revival of the area has developed since not only the BP oil spill this year but also Hurricane Katrina from over five years past. While individuals in the community are still pulling together to draw tourism back to the Gulf Coast area since the the oil spill, Gulf Coast businesses like many across the nation wait anxiously for lawmakers in Washington D.C. to make decisions about tax rates, health care, and energy legislation.
Bonner to Rangel: You only have yourself to blame (video)
Rep. Jo Bonner, Alabama Republican, tore into Rep. Charlie Rangel, New York Democrat, on Thursday with remarks made by the Alabama GOP'er regarding Mr. Rangel's ethics committee violations.
Obama appointee under fire from liberals and conservatives
The Obama administration seems intent on appointing people to posts within the federal government who have backgrounds that are antithetical to the job appointments. Big Government covered a story a while back regarding former trial lawyer Dudley Butler who now serves as the federal government's Administrator of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA).
Americans for Tax Reform to host RNC Chairmanship debate
WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Monday, January 3, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) will host a debate among candidates for the Chairmanship of the Republican National Committee (RNC). The event will take place in the Ballroom of the National Press Club.
Kyl: ‘No’ to lame-duck consideration of New START Treaty
Not only did Senator Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, that appropriate consideration of the New START Treaty could not happen in the lame duck session of Congress but also a bipartisan group of former Senators released a joint letter calling on the Senate’s Democratic and Republican leaders not to break with past precedent and ensure that the New START Treaty is considered only at such time as it can be carefully deliberated and fully debated. The move by Mr. Kyl could throw a wrench into the Obama administration's relationship with Moscow over the nuclear arms agreement.
Final session for 111th Congress looking lamer for key Democratic legislation
What was once touted as an escape hatch period for Democrats to push through legislation like Cap and Trade, repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the DREAM Act, the lame duck session of Congress, which includes only members of the 111th Congress with newly sworn-in Senators from special elections this year, looks more like a limp across the finish line for Democrats than anything else right now. However, Vice President Joe Biden told me on Monday at the Capitol he was not worried about how the lame duck session was looking right now.
Tea Party Patriots fall flat on transparency and stupid on tactics
The Tea Party Patriots have got a lot of explaining to do. Fresh off helping campaigns for GOP wins in the U.S. House of Representatives, members in the Tea Party Patriots organization appear to be playing dirty tricks on Capitol Hill to the dismay of tea party activists who supported efforts of the organization during the midterm elections.
Congressman-elect Michael Grimm - a.k.a 'Mikey Suits'
If you thought the mob stopped using nicknames to refer to their associates, Congressman-elect Michael Grimm, New York Republican, will tell you otherwise. Mr. Grimm, a former undercover FBI agent who investigated organized crime on Wall Street, earned the nickname "Mikey Suits" by those he infiltrated during his crime-fighting days.
Conservative lawmakers go head to head on earmarks
Post GOP victory celebrations,conservative activists are wondering just how seriously Republicans in Washington will take their pledges to stop massive government spending. Senator James Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, has publicly spoken out against an earmark moratorium proposed by Republican Jim DeMint of South Carolina. Both conservative lawmakers are at odds with the issue and Mr. Inhofe plans to defend his position further next week.
Bachmann drops bid for GOP Conference Chair
Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, dropped her bid to become House Republican Conference chair. In a statement, Ms. Bachman released on Wednesday night, she threw her support behind Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican.
Conservative activists say 'no' to Lewis or Rogers to chair aprops
Concerns surrounding who will eventually take on leadership positions in the new 112th Congress next year are stirring up among Conservative activists in and about Washington, DC. As Republicans in the House prepare to take the reins from the Democrats, committee decisions must be made as to who will chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. However, conservative movement leaders are leery about what they are hearing over who could possibly end up chairman of House Appropriations. Chairmen and ranking members are term limited, but conservative activists fear that long-time senior ranking members are attempting to remain past their terms by requesting waivers from GOP leadership.
Chaffetz says newer members can fend off old spending habits of older members
Fresh from the 2010 mid-term election season, Republicans and Democrats on the hill are jockeying for leadership positions many were already speculating about prior November 2nd. While House Democrats take sides over how wise it may be for current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to remain in a top leadership position, as Minority Leader, when the GOP officially takes over the House majority in the beginning of next year, questions surrounding who will take over committee chairmanships among Republican members still need to be sorted out.
