Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Obama to address drones, Gitmo in security speech

Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:29:58 -0400

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is set to at least partially bring out into the open some of the U.S.-directed drone program, a key component of counterterrorism strategy, as he outlines the contours of the continuing threat to American security.

Presidential reaction?

Holly Robichaud — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:45:00 -0400

Yesterday IRS official Lois Lerner claimed she did nothing wrong and then took the 5th. That's her right. But it doesn't make it right.

Her actions outraged not only the Republicans, but it also fired up Congressman Steve Lynch. Shouldn't the President have had a similar reaction as Lynch??? This is Obama's administration and his official is taking the 5th. It doesn't make her look innocent and it certainly gives the impression she is protecting someone.

House passes GOP bill to speed pipeline approval

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:37:18 -0400

WASHINGTON — House Republicans pushed through a bill Wednesday to bypass the president to speed approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. Democrats criticized the legislation as a blatant attempt to allow a foreign company to avoid environmental review.

The bill was approved, 241-175, largely along party lines.

Republicans said the measure was needed to ensure that the long-delayed pipeline, first proposed in 2008, is built.

"This is the most studied pipeline in the history of mankind," said Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., the bill's sponsor.

Broke no laws, IRS official says _ then takes 5th

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:23:54 -0400

WASHINGTON — At the center of a political storm, an Internal Revenue Service supervisor whose agents targeted conservative groups swore Wednesday she did nothing wrong, broke no laws and never lied to Congress. Then she refused to answer lawmakers' further questions, citing her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself.

Senate rejects bid to let states run food stamps

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:56:47 -0400

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday rejected a Republican bid to turn the federal food stamp program over to the states.

Known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the food stamp program is administered by the Agriculture Department and federal dollars are unlimited as long as recipients qualify. The program cost $78 billion last year, more than double the price in 2008.

Key House chairman slams Senate immigration bill

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:34:02 -0400

WASHINGTON — A key House committee chairman on Wednesday sharply criticized a wide-ranging immigration bill just passed by a Senate committee, underscoring the difficulties ahead as the politically volatile measure moves forward in a divided Congress.

Separately, a bipartisan House group that has been working behind the scenes to craft its own immigration measure encountered fresh difficulties.

4 Americans killed since 2009 in US drone strikes

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:17:14 -0400

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration acknowledged for the first time Wednesday that four American citizens have been killed in drone strikes since 2009 in Pakistan and Yemen. The disclosure to Congress comes on the eve of a major national security speech by President Barack Obama.

First lady lauds effort to preserve DC slave house

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:13:23 -0400

WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama said Wednesday that stories of toil and sweat by slaves once held at a historic home within sight of the White House are an important part of U.S. history, including her own personal story, and are "as vital to our national memory as any other."

House panel moves to curb military sexual assaults

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:05:34 -0400

WASHINGTON — Members of a House panel angry over the growing epidemic of sexual assaults in the military took a key step toward tackling the problem by passing legislation Wednesday that would strip commanding officers of their longstanding authority to unilaterally change or dismiss court-martial convictions in rape and assault cases. Lawmakers believe the revision will lead to a cultural shift and encourage victims to step forward.

Judge apologizes for lag in unsealing documents

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:41:49 -0400

WASHINGTON — A federal judge apologized Wednesday for an 18-month delay in unsealing documents in a case involving an alleged leak of classified information to a reporter.

The documents include two warrants and related materials for the email accounts of Stephen Kim, a State Department adviser who faces charges of leaking secret information about North Korea to Fox News reporter James Rosen.

Benghazi review leader OKs meeting with committee

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:24:48 -0400

WASHINGTON — A House committee chairman has withdrawn a subpoena to compel a retired diplomat to answer questions in private about an independent investigation of last year's attack in Benghazi, Libya.

Rep. Darrell Issa (EYE'-suh) says he acted after Thomas Pickering agreed to meet with the House Oversight and Committee Reform Committee behind closed doors.

Pickering and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen led the investigation into the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. diplomat mission. Four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador, were killed.

Wis. governor to court Iowans, stoking 2016 talk

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:04:51 -0400

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is gearing up for re-election next year. But the Republican's actions suggest he might be seeking a much bigger prize — the presidency in 2016.

Walker is courting outside-the-state donors and conservatives.

This week, he plans to talk to Republicans in Iowa, which traditionally holds the nation's first presidential caucus.

He's also refusing to say whether he would serve out another full term if re-elected governor.

House preserves its own budget as others face cuts

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:07:21 -0400

WASHINGTON — House lawmakers are moving to protect Capitol Hill's budget even as they're working to slash other programs like education, health research, water projects and housing aid for the poor.

The effort by the House Appropriations Committee promises a small budget increase for legislative branch operations even as funding for labor, health and education programs would absorb an almost 20 percent cut. Federal firefighting efforts also face big cuts, as do transportation and community development grants.

Obama to visit tornado-ravaged Oklahoma town

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:48:55 -0400

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will travel to tornado-ravaged Moore, Okla., on Sunday.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says the president will view the tornado damage first-hand. He also plans to meet with victims and first responders.

The monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday afternoon, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of rubble. State authorities say two infants were among the 24 people who perished in the twister.

Intercontinental missile test-launched in Calif.

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:44:54 -0400

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — The U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile from a California base on Wednesday, a month after the test flight was postponed because of tensions with North Korea.

The Minuteman 3 lifted off at 6:27 a.m. PDT Wednesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base. It splashed down less than 30 minutes later and 4,000 miles away at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean, Air Force officials said.

House Republicans promote 20-week abortion ban

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:34:00 -0400

WASHINGTON — House Republican who oppose abortion promoted legislation Wednesday that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

These Republicans want to move ahead despite recent court decisions that have struck down similar state laws. The GOP lawmakers also are taking on their own leadership, which has shown little desire to hold votes on contentious social issues.

Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, joined by 10 other Republicans and anti-abortion advocates at a news conference, said there was a "good chance" that his bill would see action in the full House this year.

GOP questions IRS scrutiny of anti-abortion groups

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:12:59 -0400

IOWA CITY, Iowa — When a small anti-abortion group in Iowa sought nonprofit status, the Internal Revenue Service asked its board to promise not to organize protests outside Planned Parenthood and demanded to know how its prayer meetings and protest signs were educational.

Although the Coalition for Life of Iowa's application was ultimately approved in 2009, the tax collection agency's treatment of that and other anti-abortion groups has gotten new attention in the wake of an ongoing scandal over the alleged targeting of conservative groups.

Obama seeks to make acting GSA head permanent

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:45:54 -0400

WASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama will nominate Dan Tangherlini to run the General Services Administration, the agency in charge of federal buildings and supplies.

Tangherlini has been the GSA's acting administrator since April 2012. Obama is nominating him to the full post, which requires Senate confirmation.

Lt. Governor going?

Holly Robichaud — Wed, 22 May 2013 09:30:00 -0400

It is being reported that the Lt. Governor Tim Murray is going to resign to take a job at the Worcester Chamber of Commerce. Will he be taking his cell phone records with him?

Who leaves the job of being Lt. Governor with 19 months to go? Does this have any thing to do with the Chelsea Housing scandal?

What is the Chamber's policy on cell phone records?

Are you sad or happy the Lt. Governor is going?

GOP Senate hopeful Gomez targets Markey in TV ad

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:40:11 -0400

BOSTON — Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Gabriel Gomez has launched a new television ad criticizing what he calls the "dirty politics" of Democratic rival Edward Markey.

In the 30-second spot, a narrator says Markey has compared Gomez to Osama bin Laden and "actually blames Gomez for the Newtown shooting."

Markey has faulted Gomez for speaking on behalf a group that criticized President Obama for taking too much credit for the raid that killed bin Laden.