David R. Sands
Articles by David R. Sands
Lawmakers hear of pirate menace
A House committee Thursday looked into a security threat as old as the republic itself — pirates. Published March 5, 2009
Top Democrats cross Obama on earmarks
UPDATED: President Obama's drive to change Washington's free-spending ways is running into a buzz saw of opposition from his party, as another top congressional Democrat on Tuesday bucked the president's plan to curb pork projects. Published March 4, 2009
Hoyer pushes back on earmarks
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Tuesday became the second leading congressional Democrat in a week to push back against President Obama's drive to curb member-directed earmarks on spending bills. Published March 3, 2009
Hispanics wary of future in GOP
Five years after former President George W. Bush attracted nearly half of the Hispanic vote in the 2004 presidential election, Hispanic Republicans are worrying that support for the party among Latinos is in a free fall. Published March 3, 2009
Charity tax limits upset many
Democrats and Republicans poured cold water on President Obama's budget plan to cut down on wealthy taxpayers' charitable giving tax deductions, the second of his ambitious cost-savings plans to earn lawmakers' scorn, and underscoring the legislative minefield he is entering. Published February 27, 2009
Senate nixes Fairness Doctrine revival
The Senate overwhelmingly put itself on record Thursday against any revival of the defunct Fairness Doctrine, designed to require public broadcasters to air "balanced" coverage of controversial issues of public importance. Published February 27, 2009
Senate nixes ‘Fairness Doctrine’ revival
The Senate overwhelmingly put itself on record Thursday against any revival of the defunct "Fairness Doctrine," designed to require public broadcasters to air "balanced" coverage of controversial issues. Published February 26, 2009
Reid defends earmarks, cites duty to direct spending
The Democratic president and the Democratic leader of the Senate are not exactly on the same page regarding earmarks. Published February 25, 2009
GOP gloom lightens for 2010
It's still an uphill fight, but Senate Republicans are finding the playing field has become just a little less tilted in the run-up to 2010 midterm elections. Published February 24, 2009
Pressure builds on Burris to resign
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and other Democratic officials called on Sen. Roland Burris to resign from the Senate, which is investigating him for perjury. The White House wants hi actions leading up to his appointment explained. Published February 21, 2009
Democrats revive Populist Caucus
A group of nearly two dozen House Democrats last week revived the party's moribund Populist Caucus, vowing to push aggressively for a broad "middle-class agenda" of good jobs, tougher corporate regulation, progressive tax cuts, universal health care and a deep suspicion of traditional trade deals. Published February 17, 2009
Senate voting on stimulus bill
The House passed a $787 billion economic recovery package of spending and tax cuts Friday, sending the bill to the Senate, which is expected to approve the measure this evening before it's forwarded to President Obama. Published February 13, 2009
Deal reached on historic stimulus
UPDATED: The White House and Democrat-controlled Congress struck a deal Wednesday for a $789 billion stimulus package. Published February 12, 2009
Bankers deny misusing TARP money
Eight of the nation's most prominent bankers, representing an industry pilloried for its lavish bonuses and perks, defended their use of billions of taxpayer bailout dollars Wednesday before a House panel whose members collected $1.8 million in political donations connected with those banks during the last election. Published February 12, 2009
Historic stimulus deal reached
The White House and Democrat-controlled Congress struck a deal Wednesday for a $789 billion stimulus package. Published February 12, 2009
Bankers defend bailout record
The expected grilling amounted to a light toasting Tuesday as executives of some of the nation's biggest banks came before a House panel angry over the results to date from the government's $700 billion Wall Street bailout. Published February 11, 2009
Congress works to preserve fragile stimulus
UPDATED: Congressional leaders began hurried negotiations Tuesday to merge House and Senate versions of an economic rescue package, struggling to keep the price tag low enough to preserve a few key Senate Republican votes while satisfying House Democrats eager for more spending. Published February 11, 2009
Struggle begins on stimulus bills
Congressional leaders began hurried negotiations Tuesday to reconcile House and Senate versions of an economic-rescue package, struggling to keep the price tag low enough to preserve a few key Senate Republican votes while satisfying House Democrats eager for more spending. Published February 11, 2009
Congress works to preserve fragile stimulus
UPDATED: Congressional leaders began hurried negotiations Tuesday to merge House and Senate versions of an economic rescue package, struggling to keep the price tag low enough to preserve a few key Senate Republican votes while satisfying House Democrats eager for more spending. Published February 11, 2009
Leahy calls for ‘truth commission’
UPDATED: The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday called for a "truth commission" with subpoena powers to investigate a string of policies adopted by the Bush administration in the post-Sept. 11 war on terror. Published February 10, 2009
