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Thursday, January 31, 2008

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

HillaryClinton.com - Media Release

HillaryClinton.com - Media Release: "American Nurses Association Endorses Clinton" The Clinton campaign today announced the endorsement of the American Nurses Association (ANA). The ANA represents the interests of the nation’s 2.9 million registered nurses. "I am honored to have the support of the American Nurses Association," said Clinton. "We owe nurses a great debt of gratitude for the critical role they play every day in providing quality care. As President, I will continue to support efforts to attract and retain qualified nurses, especially in rural and urban areas, and to improve working conditions. I look forward to working with America’s nurses to deliver affordable, quality health care to every American." Hillary has a history of working for America’s nurses. In the Senate, Hillary introduced the Nursing Education and Quality of Care Act, which would expand the number of programs that address nursing faculty shortages and increase the supply of nurses in rural areas. As part of the Nurse Reinvestment Act, she helped create grants that expanded nurse Magnet hospitals. Hillary also supported increased funding for both Title VII and Title VIII, which help to address the higher education needs of nurses and nursing faculty. Finally, she has supported programs to attract nurses to the field, including efforts to improve the quality of the working environment for nurses. Hillary’s American Health Choices Plan will cover all Americans and improve health care by providing consumers new choices, lowering costs and improving quality. Under Hillary’s plan, Americans who like the insurance they have can keep it and stay with their doctor. But Americans who don’t like the coverage they have will be able to pick from the same set of plans Members of Congress choose for themselves. Under Hillary’s plan, insurance companies won’t be able to deny people coverage for a pre-existing condition and tax credits will ensure that working families never have to pay more than a limited percentage of their income for quality health care. People who change jobs will be able to keep their health care. ANA has been making presidential endorsements since 1984. The endorsement process includes sending a questionnaire on nursing and health care issues to all of the Democratic and Republican candidates, an invitation to all of the Democratic and Republican candidates for a personal interview and an online survey of ANA’s membership regarding which candidate is most supportive of nursing’s agenda.

Giuliani Leaves Race, Endorses McCain - Yahoo! News

Giuliani Leaves Race, Endorses McCain - Yahoo! News: "Giuliani Leaves Race, Endorses McCain" By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff Wed Jan 30, 6:55 PM ET Fresh off his victory in the Florida primary, Sen. John McCain got a boost Wednesday when fellow Republican Rudy Giuliani dropped out of the presidential race and threw his support to the Arizona senator.

Edwards exits presidential race - Yahoo! News

Edwards exits presidential race - Yahoo! News: "Edwards exits presidential race" By NEDRA PICKLER and BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press Writers NEW ORLEANS - Democrat John Edwards bowed out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination on Wednesday, saying it was time to step aside "so that history can blaze its path" in a campaign now left to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. "With our convictions and a little backbone we will take back the White House in November," said Edwards, ending his second campaign in a hurricane-ravaged section of New Orleans where he began it more than a year ago. Edwards said Clinton and Obama had both pledged that "they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency." "This is the cause of my life and I now have their commitment to engage in this cause," he said before a small group of supporters. He was joined by his wife Elizabeth and his three children, Cate, Emma Claire and Jack. It was the second time Edwards sought the Democratic presidential nomination. Four years ago he was the vice presidential running mate on a ticket headed by John Kerry. Four years later, he waged a spirited, underfunded race on a populist note, pledging to represent the powerless against the corporate interests. He finished second in the Iowa caucuses that led off the campaign, but he was quickly overshadowed — a white man in a race against the former first lady and a 46-year-old black man, each bent on making history. Edwards said that on his way to making his campaign-ending statement, he drove by a highway underpass where several homeless people live. He stopped to talk, he said, and as he was leaving, one of them asked him never to forget them and their plight. "Well I say to her and I say to all those who are struggling in this country, we will never forget you. We will fight for you. We will stand up for you," he said, pledging to continue his campaign-long effort to end what he frequently said was "two Americas," one for the powerful, the other for the rest. The former North Carolina senator did not immediately endorse either Clinton, seeking to become the first female president, or Obama, the strongest black candidate in history. Both of them praised Edwards — and immediately began courting his supporters. "Particularly during this campaign he has made poverty a centerpiece of his candidacy and it needs to be on top of the list of American priorities. ... I want to wish John and Elizabeth well and thank him for running a great campaign that was really important for millions of Americans," Clinton told reporters. John Edwards ended his campaign today in the same way he started it — by standing with the people who are too often left behind and nearly always left out of our national debate," Clinton said. Obama, too, praised Edwards and his wife. At a rally in Denver, he said the couple has "always believed deeply that two Americans can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose," Obama said. "So while his campaign may have ended, this cause lives on for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America." Edwards, trudging through mud toward a Habitat for Humanity House he was to help work on, told reporters he would meet again with Clinton and Obama before deciding whether to make an endorsement. He set no timetable for deciding whether to endorse either candidate. The impact of Edwards' decision will be felt in one week's time, when Democrats hold primaries and caucuses across 22 states, with 1,681 delegates at stake. Four in 10 Edwards supporters said their second choice in the race is Clinton, while a quarter prefer Obama, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo poll conducted late this month. Edwards amassed 56 national convention delegates, most of whom will be free to support either Obama or Clinton. As expected, Edwards said he was suspending his campaign rather than ending it, but aides said that was simply legal terminology so that he can continue to receive federal matching funds for his campaign donations. An immediate impact of Edwards' withdrawal will be six additional delegates for Obama, giving him a total of 187, and four more for Clinton, giving her 253. A total of 2,025 delegates are needed to secure the Democratic nomination. Edwards won 26 delegates in the Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina contests. Under party rules, 10 of those delegates will be automatically dispersed among Obama and Clinton, based on their vote totals in those respective contests. The remaining 16 remain pledged to Edwards, meaning his campaign will have a say in naming them. Three superdelegates — mainly party and elected officials who automatically attend the convention and can support whomever they choose — had already switched from Edwards to Obama before news of Edwards' withdrawal from the race. Edwards waged a spirited top-tier campaign against the two better-funded rivals, even as he dealt with the stunning blow of his wife's recurring cancer diagnosis. In a dramatic news conference last March, the couple announced that the breast cancer that she thought she had beaten had returned, but they would continue the campaign. Their decision sparked a debate about family duty and public service. But Elizabeth Edwards remained a forceful advocate for her husband, and she was often surrounded at campaign events by well-wishers and emotional survivors cheering her on. The campaign ended as it began 13 months ago — with the candidate pitching in to rebuild lives in a city still ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards embraced New Orleans as a glaring symbol of what he described as a Washington that didn't hear the cries of the downtrodden. Edwards burst out of the starting gate with a flurry of progressive policy ideas — he was the first to offer a plan for universal health care, the first to call on Congress to pull funding for the war, and he led the charge that lobbyists have too much power in Washington and need to be reigned in. The ideas were all bold and new for Edwards personally as well, making him a different candidate than the moderate Southerner who ran in 2004 while still in his first Senate term. But the themes were eventually adopted by other Democratic presidential candidates — and even a Republican, Mitt Romney, echoed the call for an end to special interest politics in Washington. Edwards' last primary was in his home state of South Carolina last week. He finished a poor third, wining only his home country, his victory in the 2004 race a distant memory. ___ Associated Press Writers Mike Baker in North Carolina and Mike Glover in Arkansas contributed to this report. Nedra Pickler reported from Denver.

Why you should enter The Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards

Why you should enter The Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards: "Are you green enough to be celebrated by the Sunday Times? Enter The Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards and find out, says Richard Caseby, the paper's managing editor" How to enter We are seeking entries for the inaugural Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards – a project designed to encourage, acknowledge and publicise businesses and other organisations, which are striving to improve their environmental performance. Anyone can nominate an organisation – from the cleaner to the CEO. You don’t even have to work for the business you nominate. Entries are invited NOW. The competition will remain open until February 29, 2008. The winners will be announced in May. There are five competitions within the overall contest Large companies of more than 5,000 employees and mid-sized companies of 250-4,999 employees, operating in high environmental impact sectors Large and mid-sized companies operating in medium impact sectors Large and mid-sized companies operating in low impact sectors Small companies of between 50-249 employees, operating in high and medium environmental impact sectors Small companies operating in low impact sectors What an award can do for you Imagine the benefits a listing could bring you. It would generate credit among the general public for your success and tell all your business partners, suppliers and customers that you are helping to tackle one the of the biggest problems facing all industrialised nations. The winning companies will be profiled in a dedicated Sunday Times supplement, which will be distributed with 1.3m copies of the paper in the spring next year, and their achievement will also be marked at an awards event. Winners will also be given our special logo for branding on publicity, advertising and letterheads. The survey It is unique in a marketplace where several corporate environmental awards compete for your attention. The Sunday Times, working with leading environmental consultancy Bureau Veritas and data analysts Munro Global, has developed measures of environmental performance that will encompass a wide range of organisations - in size, activity and environmental impact. These have been incorporated in a two-part assessment: The company survey (worth 70% of the overall score) The first section collects information from organisations on their approach to environmental management and measures performance on key indicators. This includes standard core areas such as energy use and recycling, but also allows organisations to describe their environmental objectives and efforts to increase awareness of green issues in the workplace. The employee survey (worth 30% of the overall score) The unique bit. This second section will be answered by employees (40% of your workforce up to a maximum of 1,000 employees) and seeks to understand the extent to which management strategies are embedded in, understood and acted on, throughout the organisation. Employees are asked to rate from strongly agree to strongly disagree their responses to a series of more than 50 statements to do with their company’s approach to the environment. The environmental impact of your business To ensure fairness companies will be divided into high, medium or low impact organisations (depending on the environmental effect of their business) and again into large and small enterprises. The impact categories are in line with those contained within the FTSE4Good criteria. They are based on a common knowledge and acceptance of environmental impacts. View our table of industry impact categories What’s in it for you? All participating companies will receive a free four-page report from Bureau Veritas outlining the key findings from the two surveys and showing the overall score recorded in each survey. From this you will be able to see at a glance in which areas your environmental strategy has been a success with your staff, engaging them and drawing upon their commitment. More detailed analysis of the surveys’ findings – benchmarking your performance against others in your sector, your region, or those with similar sized workforces - will be available from Bureau Veritas and Munro Global at extra cost. * * * This venture deserves your attention and could bring you great credit. There is no greater challenge facing us. If you believe you have taken the key steps to address your organisation’s impact on the environment – and you have also recognised that the key to success is to carry your workforce with you – then enter our unique contest. Enter at www.bestgreencompanies.co.uk I wish you the best of luck should you choose to join the Sunday Times Best Green Companies project. Richard Caseby Managing Editor, The Sunday Times

KXLY.com: News, Weather and Sports for Spokane, WA and Coeur d'Alene, ID | Washington Senator Patty Murray to endorse Hillary Clinton

KXLY.com: News, Weather and Sports for Spokane, WA and Coeur d'Alene, ID Washington Senator Patty Murray to endorse Hillary Clinton: "Washington Senator Patty Murray to endorse Hillary Clinton" Posted: Jan 30, 2008 08:01 AM EST WASHINGTON D.C. (AP) -- Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state is ready to endorse New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for president. A Senate source said that Murray, the fourth-ranking Democratic senator, plans to announce her endorsement later Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement was not yet official. Washington state's other U.S. senator, Democrat Maria Cantwell, endorsed Clinton last month. The former first lady has also picked up endorsements in Washington state from former Gov. Gary Locke, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, King County Executive Ron Sims and Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire has not endorsed a presidential candidate but says she will do so before the state's presidential caucuses on Feb. 9.

Victory in Florida

Hillary for President
Dear Phillip,
You can make the difference for Hillary
I know I told you our campaign journey would be filled with high-stakes twists and turns. But I never knew it would be quite as dramatic as this. And last night we celebrated another big moment in this campaign with our resounding victory in Florida. Now we face the biggest day of the campaign on Tuesday, with 22 races across the country. And no one can predict the outcome. In a race this close, whatever you and I do now can make the difference. Every campaign stop, every voter we talk to, and every dollar you give can be the difference on Tuesday. Only our online supporters like you can act decisively enough to make sure the excitement and energy of this victory carries through on February 5. Contribute now. We're just days away from the biggest day of our campaign. At every rally, every campaign event, you can see it in people’s eyes and hear it in their voices. Millions of people in 22 states are cherishing their opportunity to be part of history -- their chance to play a compelling personal role next Tuesday in moving America out of the Bush era and into the future. They know that everything we care about -- the values we live by, the economic prosperity our families need, the restoring of American leadership in the world, the future of our environment -- depend on electing a president who is ready to lead. When we began this journey together, this is the moment you and I hoped for -- the chance to use every ounce of our energy, strength, and passion to convince millions of people to join us in moving America forward. Contribute now. We only have six days to reach millions of people. The stakes are high, and I need you to throw yourself heart and soul into this remarkable moment. That's exactly what I'm doing, criss-crossing the country, doing everything I can to carry our campaign to victory next Tuesday. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible journey with me -- and for the spirit and passion you are bringing to our campaign. I promise that as president, I will carry your voice with me to the White House. Sincerely, Hillary Hillary Rodham Clinton P.S. Campaigns prove themselves in moments like this. Every minute counts. Please contribute now to help carry our campaign to victory.
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Bush says faith helped him beat drinking - Yahoo! News

Bush says faith helped him beat drinking - Yahoo! News: "Bush says faith helped him beat drinking" By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago BALTIMORE - President Bush is talking more openly lately about his old drinking habit, and on Tuesday he offered perhaps his most pointed assessment yet by saying plainly that the term "addiction" had applied to him. "Addiction is hard to overcome. As you might remember, I drank too much at one time in my life," Bush said during a visit to the Jericho Program, a project of Episcopal Community Services of Maryland that helps former prisoners deal with problems such as drug addiction so they can find jobs and reintegrate productively into society. Bush spoke to reporters after meeting privately with two men who have graduated from Jericho's program and dealt with drug problems. During that session, which the White House allowed one reporter to attend, Bush spoke frankly about himself.

Clinton wins primary but no delegates - Yahoo! News

Clinton wins primary but no delegates - Yahoo! News: "Clinton wins primary but no delegates" By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer 49 minutes ago DAVIE, Fla. - Hillary Rodham Clinton won the Florida Democratic primary Tuesday night, an event that drew no campaigning by any of her presidential rivals and awarded no delegates to the winner. But Clinton promptly declared it a welcome victory. The New York senator, fresh off her lopsided loss to Barack Obama in last weekend's South Carolina primary, arranged a rally in the state as the polls were closing, an evident attempt to gain campaign momentum. She and Obama collide next week in a coast-to-coast competition for delegates across 22 states. "I am convinced that with this resounding vote, with the millions of Americans who will vote next Tuesday, we will send a clear message that America is back and we will take charge of our destiny once again," she said to a boisterous crowd. Last year, the national party stripped Florida of its delegates as punishment for moving its primary ahead of Feb. 5 and the candidates pledged to bypass the state. At stake Tuesday were 185 delegates. Still, Clinton winked at that pledge, holding two closed fundraisers in recent days and scheduling a rally with supporters after the polls closed in Florida. It is expected that the eventual nominee will try to seat delegates from Florida and Michigan, reversing the Democratic National Committee's punishment. "I could not come here in person to ask you for your votes, but I am here to thank you for your votes today," she said. "This has been a record turnout because Floridians wanted their voices to be heard. I promise you I will do everything I can to make sure not only are Florida's Democratic delegates seated but Florida is in the winning column for the Democrats in 2008." Michigan also violated party rules by moving its primary to Jan. 15, and party leaders voted to strip the state of its 156 delegates as punishment. Clinton has also made a plea for Michigan delegates to be seated at the convention Democrats participated in Tuesday's primary, driven to vote in part by ballot initiatives on property tax relief and gambling in some counties. Exit polls of Florida Democrats conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks showed that the economy was the most important issue facing the country. Half of Democrats called the economy poor, compared to only about one in seven Republican primary voters. Both parties' electorates were older than in any other presidential contest this year. A third or more in each primary were at least 65 years old. In earlier Democratic contests no more than a quarter were senior citizens.

Lieberman rules out running with McCain - Yahoo! News

Lieberman rules out running with McCain - Yahoo! News: "Lieberman rules out running with McCain" By ANDREW MIGA, Associated Press Writer 43 minutes ago WASHINGTON - Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent who nearly won the vice presidency as a Democrat in 2000, says there's no way he'll be Republican Sen. John McCain's running mate should McCain become the party's presidential nominee. "No, I'd tell him, 'Thanks, John, I've been there, I've done that. You can find much better,'" Lieberman told The Associated Press during an interview Tuesday in his Senate office. "I'm not seeking anything else." The Connecticut senator said he was unequivocally ruling out sharing the GOP ticket with McCain. Lieberman's endorsement of McCain in December and the campaigning he since has done in states such as New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina and Florida have stoked speculation that the Arizona senator might choose Lieberman as his running mate. Lieberman planned to be back on the road for McCain as the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests near. Lieberman's flirtations with Republicans worry Democrats. His defection to the GOP could tip the balance of power in the narrowly divided Senate away from Democrats, who need Lieberman's vote to maintain their fragile 51-49 Senate majority. Lieberman, in his fourth term, said his decision to endorse a Republican should not be seen as a step toward him jumping to the GOP. "I don't have any intention of leaving the Democratic Party," he said. "I want to be a senator." But Lieberman did say that if McCain wins the nomination, he'd likely attend the Republican convention. "I'd probably be more welcome there," he said. Lieberman said he endorsed his longtime Senate colleague because of his leadership on national security issues and his bipartisan approach. Both men are strong supporters of the Iraq war. Lieberman was Democrat Al Gore's running mate in 2000. In 2004, he mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. After losing the 2006 Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut to Ned Lamont, Lieberman defied party leaders and ran as an independent in the general election to keep his seat. Top Democrats abandoned him after the primary defeat and backed Lamont. Lieberman enjoyed support from the GOP, including praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans such as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

McCain leads Romney in tight Fla. race - Yahoo! News

McCain leads Romney in tight Fla. race - Yahoo! News: "McCain leads Romney in tight Fla. race" MIAMI - John McCain stepped out ahead of Mitt Romney in the Florida primary Tuesday night, a key pivot point in their increasingly caustic two-man race for the Republican presidential nomination. Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee trailed, each one struggling to remain relevant in a campaign about to explode into a coast-to-coast chase for delegates on Feb. 5.

House passes economy stimulus package - Yahoo! News

House passes economy stimulus package - Yahoo! News: "House passes economy stimulus package" WASHINGTON - The House, seizing a rare moment of bipartisanship to respond to the economy's slump, overwhelmingly passed a $146 billion aid package Tuesday that would speed rebates of $600-$1,200 to most taxpayers. The plan, approved 385-35 after little debate, would send at least some rebate to anyone with at least $3,000 in income, with more going to families with children and less going to wealthier taxpayers. It faced a murky future in the Senate, though, where Democrats and some Republicans backed a larger package that adds billions of dollars for senior citizens and the unemployed, and shrinks the rebate to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples. That plan, written by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, would deliver checks even to the richest taxpayers, who are disqualified under the House-passed measure. Both versions would provide tax breaks to businesses to spur equipment and other purchases. President Bush and House leaders urged the Senate to take the bipartisan agreement and pass it quickly, even as Baucus, D-Mont., planned a Wednesday vote in his committee on a larger package that could face a slower path. "We need to get this bill out of the Senate and on my desk," Bush said in the Oval Office. Congressional leaders are aiming to send the measure to Bush by Feb. 15. But the divergent plans — and bids by Senate Democrats and Republicans to swell the package with more add-ons — could drag out that schedule. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she hoped the Senate would "take this bill and run with it." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that was unlikely in the freewheeling Senate, where members have elaborate wish-lists for adding to the bill, including food stamps, Medicaid and heating assistance for low-income people and spending on infrastructure projects, among other things. "I think that there's 51 Democratic senators without exception who believe this package can be made better," Reid said, adding that he also expected to have enough GOP support to change it. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, said reopening the deal would be inappropriate. "This is not a time to get into some kind of testing of wills between the two congressional bodies. This is a time to show we can rise above partisanship, do something important, and do it quickly," McConnell said. The House plan brought together Democrats and Republicans, both of whom surrendered cherished proposals to reach a deal. Pelosi cautioned against adding items that could hinder an economic recovery or scuttle the bipartisan agreement. "It's important that this bill not get overloaded. I have a full agenda of things I would like to have in the package, but we have to contain the price," Pelosi said. "We made a decision, because that's where we could find our common ground." Republican leaders, too, described the measure as an imperfect compromise that would provide a needed jolt to the economy. Americans "expect us to find ways to work together, not reasons to fight with each other," said Rep. John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, who forged the agreement with Pelosi in consultation with Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson. "The sooner we get this relief in the hands of the American people, the sooner they can begin to do their job of being good consumers," Boehner said. The measure would send rebates to some 111 million people, including roughly 35 million families who don't make enough to pay income taxes. Individuals with adjusted gross income of $75,000 and couples making $150,000 would get rebates equal to the taxes they paid, up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples. Those making more than that would see their rebate go down by 5 percent of every dollar of income over the limits. Taxpayers would get at least $300, even if they paid less than that in taxes — or $600 for couples. That's also the case for those who don't pay income taxes but earn at least $3,000. All eligible people would get an additional $300 per child. In the Senate, Baucus' proposal removes the income caps and would send rebates to some 20 million senior citizens not covered by the House plan because they don't have income. Reid blasted the proposal to send rebates to those with higher incomes, saying it "causes me to want to gag." The feeling is widespread among Democrats, he added, saying the "the gag reflex is coming upon everybody" over the plan. Baucus' plan also extends unemployment payments for 13 weeks for those whose benefits have run out, with 26 more weeks available in states with the highest jobless rates. The Senate measure would restore a business tax break dropped during the House negotiations that would permit corporations suffering losses now to reclaim taxes previously paid. Both packages include roughly $50 billion worth of tax incentives for businesses to invest in new plants and equipment. Baucus said he, too, wanted to avoid burdening his proposal with extras. "The more that this is kept slimmed down and it's clean and simple, the better. I do not want it loaded up with lots of other provisions," Baucus said. "Nobody wants to be held responsible for stopping this from going through." To address the mortgage crisis, the House bill would raise the limit on Federal Housing Administration loans from $362,790 to as high as $729,750 in expensive areas, allowing more subprime mortgage holders to refinance into federally insured loans. To widen the availability of mortgages nationwide, it also would boost the cap on loans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy, from $417,000 up to $729,750 in high-cost markets. Those measures would expire at the end of the year. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y, said Tuesday that he plans to ensure those changes are part of the Senate stimulus bill. ___ On the Net: Senate Finance Committee: http://finance.senate.gov/

Hillary Clinton would be good for middle class, says former President Clinton

Hillary Clinton would be good for middle class, says former President Clinton: "Hillary Clinton would be good for middle class, says former President Clinton" By ANGELA DELLI SANTI , Associated Press Last update: January 29, 2008 - 11:47 AM BLACKWOOD, N.J. - Former President Clinton said his wife would strengthen the nation's middle class as he did, and that she would be his favorite candidate for president even if they weren't married. "These are tough times. We can bring America back. We've done it before," Clinton told a boisterous crowd Tuesday at Camden County College, a week before New Jersey and more than 20 other states hold nomination contests. "She will do it." The event comes three days after Barack Obama won an easy victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton in South Carolina. There, the former president was outspokenly critical of Obama, a tactic that some say cost his wife votes. Tuesday, Clinton hit issues ranging health care to energy independence to the federal budget to college loans in his half-hour talk. On student loans, he talked about how his wife's policies would echo those he implemented. And he addressed how as a senator representing New York, Hillary Clinton was among the first politicians to realize that 9/11 rescue workers could be at risk because of toxins in the air after the attacks. "That's the person I would be here for if we never had been married," he said. He briefly mentioned race, promising that if his wife were president, no one would be excluded from opportunities because of their race. Also Tuesday, Sen. Clinton won the backing of California Rep. Maxine Waters, an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus whose support could help blunt charges of racial polarization against the Clinton campaign in the South Carolina primary. Clinton and Waters were expected to announce the endorsement via conference call. In a statement, Waters praised the former first lady's readiness to tackle the nation's economic woes. "At a time when the economy continues to worsen and so many of my constituents are losing their homes and their jobs, we need someone with the leadership and experience who can step in on day one to tackle the economic challenges our country is facing," Waters said. "Hillary understands the daily challenges that people are facing and she will fight for them everyday she is in the White House." Issues of race and gender have come to the forefront of the campaign, pitting Clinton, who hopes to be the first female president, against Obama, seeking to become the first black to hold the job.

DC Vote Launches 'On the Road' Blog

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Dear Friends:

Kevin and Jaline on the way to MontanaAs we launch our public awareness campaign and head to the states, you will have one more way to get the latest news on DC Vote. Check out our blog about our travels to Montana, Oregon, Virginia and beyond. We'll be visiting community groups, students, and the media. DC Vote is going national to educate constituents in states where Senators are filibustering the DC Voting Rights Act.

Jaline Quinto and I will be in Montana from January 28 - February 1. See the details about our trip, check out our photos, and post your comments at blog.dcvote.org.

Tell your friends and get the word out!

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Stocks higher as investors wait on Fed - Yahoo! News

Stocks higher as investors wait on Fed - Yahoo! News: "By JOE BEL BRUNO, AP Business Writer" NEW YORK - Wall Street advanced sharply Tuesday as the Federal Reserve opened a two-day meeting expected to bring another interest rate cut to revitalize the U.S. economy. The Fed's rate decision is clearly the market's focus this week, and trading is marked by investors' conjectures about policymakers' thoughts on the weak economy and crunched financial industry. With an announcement not expected until Wednesday afternoon, the market in the meantime digested data on earnings, consumer spending and durable goods. Investors did get some encouragement about the economy after the Commerce Department said orders for big-ticket items rose 5.2 percent in December, the widest jump in five months. In addition, the Conference Board reported consumer confidence fell in January — pretty much as expected. Economic data will continue to be scrutinized as investors try to determine what the Fed's take is on the economy. Investors are angling for a half-point cut following its emergency three-quarter-point cut last week. "The market is just in a holding pattern," said Todd Leone, managing director of equity trading at Cowen & Co. "It seems we've hit a short-term bottom, and the market has been stabilizing as we wait to hear what the Fed says." According to preliminary calculations, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 96.41, or 0.78 percent, to 12,480.30. The blue chip index closed near its high of the day. Broader indexes were also higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 8.33, or 0.62 percent, to 1,362.29, and the Nasdaq composite advanced 8.15, or 0.35 percent, to 2,358.06. ___ On the Net: New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com

House passes economy stimulus package - Yahoo! News

House passes economy stimulus package - Yahoo! News: "House passes economy stimulus package" WASHINGTON - The House, seizing a rare moment of bipartisanship to respond to the economy's slump, overwhelmingly passed a $146 billion aid package Tuesday that would speed rebates of $600-$1,200 to most taxpayers. The plan, approved 385-35 after little debate, would send at least some rebate to anyone with at least $3,000 in income, with more going to families with children and less going to wealthier taxpayers. It faced a murky future in the Senate, though, where Democrats and Republicans backed a larger package that adds billions of dollars for senior citizens and the unemployed, and shrinks the rebate to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples. That plan, written by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, would deliver checks even to the richest taxpayers, who are disqualified under the House-passed measure. Both versions would provide tax breaks to businesses to spur equipment and other purchases. Baucus, D-Mont., planned a Wednesday vote in his committee, and Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he hopes to have it approved by week's end. Congressional leaders are aiming to send the measure to President Bush by Feb. 15. But the divergent plans — and bids by Senate Democrats and Republicans to swell the package with more add-ons — could drag out that schedule. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, said the Senate should simply pass the House measure, which would send it straight to Bush for his signature. "This is not a time to get into some kind of testing of wills between the two congressional bodies. This is a time to show we can rise above partisanship, do something important, and do it quickly," McConnell said. The House plan brought together Democrats and Republicans, both of whom surrendered cherished proposals to reach a deal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., cautioned against adding items that could hinder an economic recovery or scuttle the bipartisan agreement. "It's important that this bill not get overloaded. I have a full agenda of things I would like to have in the package, but we have to contain the price," Pelosi said. "We made a decision, because that's where we could find our common ground." Republican leaders, too, described the measure as an imperfect compromise that would provide a needed jolt to the economy. Americans "expect us to find ways to work together, not reasons to fight with each other," said Rep. John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, who forged the agreement with Pelosi in consultation with Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson. "The sooner we get this relief in the hands of the American people, the sooner they can begin to do their job of being good consumers," Boehner said. The measure would send rebates to some 111 million people, including roughly 35 million families who don't make enough to pay income taxes. Individuals with adjusted gross income of $75,000 and couples making $150,000 would get rebates equal to the taxes they paid, up to $600 for individuals and $1,200 for couples. Those making more than that would see their rebate go down by 5 percent of every dollar of income over the limits. Taxpayers would get at least $300, even if they paid less than that in taxes — or $600 for couples. That's also the case for those who don't pay income taxes but earn at least $3,000. All eligible people would get an additional $300 per child. In the Senate, Baucus' proposal removes the income caps and would send rebates to some 20 million senior citizens not covered by the House plan because they don't have income. It also extends unemployment payments for 13 weeks for those whose benefits have run out, with 26 more weeks available in states with the highest jobless rates. The Senate measure restores a business tax break dropped during the House negotiations that would permit corporations suffering losses now to reclaim taxes previously paid. Both packages include roughly $50 billion worth of tax incentives for businesses to invest in new plants and equipment. Baucus said he, too, wanted to avoid burdening his proposal with extras. "The more that this is kept slimmed down and it's clean and simple, the better. I do not want it loaded up with lots of other provisions," said Baucus, D-Mont. "Nobody wants to be held responsible for stopping this from going through."

Kennedy: No Clinton slight intended - Yahoo! News

Kennedy: No Clinton slight intended - Yahoo! News: "Kennedy: No Clinton slight intended" WASHINGTON - Sen. Edward Kennedy says his endorsement of Barack Obama for president wasn't intended as a repudiation of Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign or of her husband, the former president. "I have great respect for President Clinton and respect for Senator Clinton," the Massachusetts Democrat said Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show as he made a round of appearances on morning network news programs. Kennedy said he'll support the New York senator if she is the eventual Democratic presidential nominee. "It's enormously important that we elect a Democrat and change the direction of the nation. Should Barack Obama not get the nomination, I'll support her," or John Edwards or whoever wins the nomination, Kennedy said on CBS' "The Early Show." He described the Clintons as friends. "I've known them a long time. I've worked very closely with the Clintons." But, he added, "We need new energy. We need someone who can bring people together. People are basically saying that they want to new day and a new generation." Obama, an Illinois senator, appeared with Kennedy on NBC and said he was honored by Kennedy's endorsement. "I have to make my case but obviously Ted Kennedy helps me get some people to listen who might not otherwise have listened." Kennedy praised Obama's proposal to extend health care coverage and said universal health care coverage was "the passion of my life." Sen. Clinton has been critical of Obama's health care plan, which her campaign estimates would leave 15 million people uninsured. Kennedy, his niece Caroline Kennedy and son Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island appeared at a rally for Obama on Monday at American University. Clinton announced, meanwhile, that she had the backing of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a daughter of Robert F. Kennedy and former Maryland lieutenant governor. Townsend lost the gubernatorial election in Maryland five years ago.

Winter storm chaos grips China - Yahoo! News

Winter storm chaos grips China - Yahoo! News: "Winter storm chaos grips China" By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press Writer GUANGZHOU, China - Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers desperate to get home for the Chinese New Year shivered in the cold under a sea of umbrellas outside train stations Tuesday, as the worst winter storms in half a century paralyzed China.

MyFox St. Louis | Could Hillary Clinton Win Missouri In The General Election?

MyFox St. Louis Could Hillary Clinton Win Missouri In The General Election?: "Could Hillary Clinton Win Missouri In The General Election?" Can Hillary Clinton Win Missouri In The General Election? (KTVI - myFOXstl.com) -- On February 5th, Missouri, Illinois, and more than 20 other states have presidential primaries or caucuses. For democrats in conservative swing states like Missouri, one question keeps popping up: Hillary Clinton is running ahead of Barack Obama so far, but could she actually win Missouri in the general election? FOX 2’s Sandy Miller looks into that question.

CDU suffers losses in state elections | At a Glance | Deutsche Welle | 28.01.2008

CDU suffers losses in state elections At a Glance Deutsche Welle 28.01.2008: "CDU suffers losses in state elections" German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union has lost support in two state elections. In Hesse, State Premier Roland Koch, who made immigrant crime an election issue, lost his absolute majority in parliament. While the CDU might still form a coalition, its vote share was barely above that of the Social Democrat SPD. The balance of power in Hesse now lies with the smaller parties, the Greens, the liberal FDP and the Left Party and it is still not clear who will be able to form a coalition government. Meanwhile, in Lower Saxony, the CDU, led by Premier Christian Wulff has been returned to power with enough of the votes to form a government with the FDP. The CDU and SPD, traditional political foes, have ruled Germany in an uneasy Grand Coalition since 2005. Sunday's results are likely to lead to more in-fighting in the Grand Coalition.

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Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
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