Interactive Podcast from Capitol News Connection

Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:54:04 +0000

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:19:31 +0000

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) Answers Your Questions on the Economy, the BP Oil Spill, and his Indian Lineage.

capitolnewsconnection.org — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:30:58 +0000

Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:29:19 +0000

Rep. Jason Chaffetz Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:16:42 +0000

Dennis Kucinich Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:01:56 +0000

Donna Edwards Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:45:54 +0000

Rep. Bob Latta Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:53:54 +0000

Rep. Chris Van Hollen Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:08:17 +0000

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:00:37 +0000

Sen. Harry Reid Listens to Power Breakfast

capitolnewsconnection.org — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:05:30 +0000

Rep. Patrick McHenry Answers Your Questions

capitolnewsconnection.org — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:29:27 +0000

Bill Would Limit National Monument Designation

capitolnewsconnection.org — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:58:58 +0000

The monuments are not buildings or statues at all. Instead, Colorado Springs Republican Doug Lamborn says, they’re huge swaths of land – land with lots of potential.

“We want to make sure energy for America is available, because that is what drives our economy. But number two, the process should be inclusive, and shouldn’t be done unilaterally from the top.” (.10)

Republican Mike Coffman signed onto the bill, and other western lawmakers have similar ones.

At a Senate hearing, Utah Republican Bob Bennett told Interior Secretary Ken Salazar the White House hid its plans in 1996 to designate the Escalante National Monument.

Salazar insists that the current administration won’t hide any moves from local leaders.

“Let me assure you that there is no direction from the White House on any of this for the Department of the Interior. Zero. Nada.” (.10)

The Natural Resources Committee will debate the bill, but it is unclear when.

From Capitol News Connection, I’m Peter Granitz, KRCC News

Congresswoman Pitches Bill to Curb Foreclosures

capitolnewsconnection.org — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:52:19 +0000

President Obama’s loan program hasn’t made much of a dent in Ohio.

The White House recently reported about 2,500 Ohio homeowners got permanent help who applied through the Home Affordable Modification Program.

Congresswoman Marcia Fudge says her plan is better.

FUDGE: “I look at my community and I know that I have 17,000 vacant homes and abandoned buildings. I don’t want anymore.” (:06)

Ohio Congress women Betty Sutton and Mary Jo Kilroy are co-sponsoring the bill.

Fudge says it would mandate mediation

FUDGE: “Most homeowners don’t know what the heck is in their agreements, they know they are having a problem and they need help. The people who hold their mortgages really find it is in their best interest to come up with an agreement, but because most times those parties don’t come together until they’re in a courtroom, they don’t give themselves the opportunity to solve the problem beforehand.” (:19)

The president recently announced a $1.5 billion foreclosure relief plan to help five of the hardest hit states. Ohio was not on the list.

For 90.3, I’m Megan Hughes, Capitol News Connection in Washington

Senate Makes Deal With Bunning

capitolnewsconnection.org — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Hours before Senator Jim Bunning relented his effort to continue blocking an extension of unemployment benefits, Senator Mitch McConnell refused to give an opinion about his Republican colleague. He only offered this.

MCCONNELL: “We are hoping to work all of this out in the near future and move on.” (:06)

Democrats and Republicans expressed frustration over the hold. John Cornyn is a GOP Senator from Texas.

CORNYN: “Ya know this is one Senator it doesn’t rep resent the Caucus.” (:06)

Bunning spent the past few days running from reporters as much as possible, and reportedly even made an offensive gesture as he was walking towards an elevator to escape questioning. Prior to the agreement Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown accused the Kentucky Senator of obstructionism.

BROWN: “I think they must give awards in the Republican Caucus for who can come up with the most creative way to obstruct and Jim Bunning is going to win the award this week.” (:10)

The Senate made an agreement with Bunning to pay for the extension. According to the Department of Labor inaction could have kicked off forty-three hundred Kentucky residents from the rolls.

For WEKU News, I’m Sara Sciammacco, Capitol News Connection