Yahoo! News: Politics News

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• No ethics breaches found in Countrywide VIP loans
• House to return to session Sunday evening
• Time runs short to avert longshoremen's strike
• Mich. governor signs new emergency manager law
• Jackson to step down as Obama's environmental chief
• Former President George H.W. Bush remains in intensive care
• Iraq war veteran charged with killing his Wisconsin cop wife
• Nigeria says destroys bomb factory, kills 5 gunmen
• Recall news
• Michigan governor signs bill giving local governments fiscal options
• New York City faces $811 million budget gap in FY 2014: report
• Republican lawmakers set up 11th-hour bid on "fiscal cliff"
• Timeline: America's long stumble toward the "fiscal cliff"
• Georgian leader vetoes amnesty bill in duel with parliament
• Factbox: "Fiscal cliff" tax, budget provisions in detail
• Factbox: Corporate tax breaks in play at "cliff" and beyond
• Factbox: EPA chief Lisa Jackson sought to tighten pollution rules
• Senator McConnell says still time to avert "fiscal cliff"
• Biden swears in Schatz as new senator for Hawaii
• House sets Sunday session as "fiscal cliff" deadline nears
• Timeline: Key dates ahead as U.S. nears edge of "fiscal cliff"
• Egypt's Mubarak moved to army hospital on health concerns
• House may extend session to January 2: Republican aide
• Central African Republic president urges U.S., France to help fight rebels
• Central African Republic appeals for French help against rebels, Paris balks
• Americans blame Republicans more than Democrats for "fiscal cliff": Reuters/Ipsos poll
• Storm-damaged New York hospital partially reopens its doors
• Biden swears in Schatz as Hawaii's new senator
• South Africa president prefers people over pets
• U.S. population projected at 315.1 million on New Year's Day: census
• EPA Administrator Jackson announces resignation
• After setbacks, Russia boosts space spending
• Russia's Putin signals he will sign U.S. adoption ban
• Iran's Ahmadinejad sacks only female government minister
• Petition urges White House to classify Westboro church as hate group
• Iraq Sunni rallies gather steam
• Schatz to be sworn in as US senator for Hawaii

No ethics breaches found in Countrywide VIP loans Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:56 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee says it found no violations by House members whose mortgage loans went through the VIP section of the former Countrywide Financial Corp.

House to return to session Sunday evening Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:20 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The House will be back in session Sunday evening as the "fiscal cliff" looms, threatening across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts with the new year.

Time runs short to avert longshoremen's strike Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:44 PM PST NEW YORK (AP) — In just a few days, a walkout by thousands of dock workers could bring commerce to a near standstill at every major port from Boston to Houston, potentially delivering a big blow to retailers and manufacturers still struggling to find their footing in a weak economy.

Mich. governor signs new emergency manager law Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:59 PM PST DETROIT (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder put a new emergency manager law on the books in Michigan on Thursday, weeks after voters repealed a version that gave sweeping powers to a single person to overhaul financially distressed communities.

Jackson to step down as Obama's environmental chief Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:44 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson, who spearheaded the Obama administration's crackdown on carbon emissions, said on Thursday she will step down after almost four years of battles with Republicans and industry over proposed regulations. Under her leadership, the agency declared for the first time that carbon dioxide was a danger to human health and could be regulated under the Clean Air Act, leading the EPA to develop a new regulatory regime to limit carbon emissions. ...

Former President George H.W. Bush remains in intensive care Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:38 PM PST AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Former President George H.W. Bush remained in the intensive care unit of a Houston hospital on Thursday, according to a hospital spokesman. Bush, 88, a Republican who during his one term in office led a coalition that ejected Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991, was admitted to Methodist Hospital November 23 for bronchitis. He was transferred to intensive care on Sunday after setbacks including a persistent fever, family spokesman Jim McGrath has said. "I don't have any guidance so far today except to say no news is good news," McGrath said on Thursday. ...

Iraq war veteran charged with killing his Wisconsin cop wife Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:37 PM PST MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - A decorated U.S. Iraq War veteran was charged on Thursday with gunning down his wife, a Wisconsin police officer, in a parking lot as she was on patrol duty the day before Christmas. Benjamin Sebena, 30, who faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide, is accused of shooting his wife, Jennifer, 30, five times outside a fire station in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa early Monday. Benjamin Sebena "laid in wait" for his wife for several hours and when she left the building, he shot her, according to the criminal complaint. ...

Nigeria says destroys bomb factory, kills 5 gunmen Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:23 PM PST KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - The Nigerian army said soldiers killed five "suspected terrorists" and destroyed a bomb making factory on Thursday in the northern city of Kaduna where the Islamist sect Boko Haram is active. Kaduna, in the mainly Muslim north, has been the target of several attacks by Boko Haram since the group's low-level insurgency intensified over two years ago. "On the approach to the factory, some suspected terrorists opened fire and also threw already primed Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) at the troops," Kaduna Army spokesman Sani Kukasheka Usman said in a statement. ...

Recall news Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:15 PM PST The following recall has been announced:

Michigan governor signs bill giving local governments fiscal options Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:01 PM PST (Reuters) - Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law on Thursday a bill that gives options to cities and school districts for dealing with severe financial problems, including bankruptcy. The law, passed by the Republican-controlled legislature earlier this month, allows local elected officials to choose between Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy, if the move is approved by the governor; an emergency manager; arbitration with a neutral party; or a consent agreement laying out terms for fixing the government's finances. ...

New York City faces $811 million budget gap in FY 2014: report Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:57 PM PST (Reuters) - New York City faces an $811 million budget shortfall in fiscal year 2014 and lowered revenue projections in part because of Superstorm Sandy, the city's Independent Budget Office said on Thursday. The city's tax revenue collections are likely to grow by just 3.4 percent in fiscal 2014 to $44.8 billion. That figure is $347 million lower than the IBO projected in May, it said. The dimmer outlook is due to slower expected economic growth, particularly in the banking and securities industries, the IBO said. ...

Republican lawmakers set up 11th-hour bid on "fiscal cliff" Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:49 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers on Thursday gave themselves a last chance to prevent the United States from plunging off a "fiscal cliff" by setting up a late session in Congress just about a day before taxes are due to rise for most working Americans. Republican leaders in the House of Representatives told their members to be back in Washington from the Christmas holiday break on Sunday night in case they need to vote on budget measures. ...

Timeline: America's long stumble toward the "fiscal cliff" Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:31 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The long, bumpy road to America's "fiscal cliff" on December 31 has been traveled over many years by Congress and a series of U.S. presidents, including Democrat Barack Obama. Some of the steps taken along the way had good intentions; some had no intention other than to put off hard decisions, while ideological divisions on fiscal policy steadily hardened. On Thursday, Congress seemed to be headed toward another crucial deadline unable again to do much more than muddle through. And even that might be overly optimistic. ...

Georgian leader vetoes amnesty bill in duel with parliament Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:19 PM PST TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili vetoed on Thursday a bill that would free 3,500 prisoners, some considered political prisoners by the parliament dominated by his opponents, adding to a bitter power struggle in the former Soviet republic. Georgia's parliament last week passed an amnesty law that would release many prisoners jailed under Saakashvili, whose party was ousted by an opposition coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili in an October 1 election. ...

Factbox: "Fiscal cliff" tax, budget provisions in detail Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:16 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The "fiscal cliff" is only days away and efforts to avert it are making little progress, with some U.S. lawmakers predicting the tax increases and federal spending cuts involved will start taking hold in January, unless a deal comes together very quickly. If these jolts to the economy are allowed to occur, a recession could follow, economists have forecast. Consumer spending power suddenly would be reduced if the nation tumbles over the "cliff." The U.S. ...

Factbox: Corporate tax breaks in play at "cliff" and beyond Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:15 PM PST (Reuters) - The White House and the U.S. Congress are sizing up a range of corporate tax breaks as part of the "fiscal cliff" debate and a possible comprehensive revamping of the tax code next year. No major changes are likely before January 1, when a host of sharp tax increases and federal spending cuts will begin to take effect unless lawmakers move quickly to avoid the "fiscal cliff," according to Capitol Hill aides and lobbyists. But the Obama administration has said it would support corporate tax reform under a "fiscal cliff" deal. ...

Factbox: EPA chief Lisa Jackson sought to tighten pollution rules Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:13 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As President Barack Obama's nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa Jackson vowed that the United States would enter a "new world of carbon dioxide control" with planned regulations for power plants, industrial facilities, refiners and vehicles. During her confirmation hearing in January, 2009, Jackson laid out an ambitious EPA agenda, using the Clean Air Act to begin regulating U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. ...

Senator McConnell says still time to avert "fiscal cliff" Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:10 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Republican in the U.S. Senate, Mitch McConnell, on Thursday said that there is still time to avert the "fiscal cliff" and a "wholly preventable economic crisis." In a speech on the Senate floor McConnell warned, however, that Senate Republicans "aren't about to write a blank check for anything Senate Democrats put forward just because we find ourselves at the edge of the cliff. ...

Biden swears in Schatz as new senator for Hawaii Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:06 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Brian Schatz symbolized a generational change in Hawaii's Senate delegation, taking the hand of his new colleague, 88-year-old Sen. Daniel Akaka, moments before being sworn in Thursday as the successor to the late Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye.

House sets Sunday session as "fiscal cliff" deadline nears Posted: 27 Dec 2012 01:00 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives will return to Washington on Sunday night, just over a day before income tax rates are set to spike higher, in a last-ditch chance to avert the year-end "fiscal cliff." Senior Republican aides confirmed that House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday told members to be back in Washington in time for a 6:30 p.m. EST (2330 GMT) legislative session on Sunday. The House may then stay in session until January 2, the final day of the current Congress, according to a Twitter message from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. ...

Timeline: Key dates ahead as U.S. nears edge of "fiscal cliff" Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:51 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sharp U.S. tax increases and government spending cuts will take effect in January as part of the "fiscal cliff" unless Congress and President Barack Obama can agree soon on a deal to avoid it. With few signs at the moment of such an agreement emerging, here are some key dates ahead: * December 27. Senate reconvenes after holiday break. Spends day debating measures unrelated to the fiscal cliff. * December 28. Senate expected to continue debating measures unrelated to the fiscal cliff. * December 30. House of Representatives expected to reconvene. * January 1. ...

Egypt's Mubarak moved to army hospital on health concerns Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:44 PM PST CAIRO (Reuters) - Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian strongman ousted last year after 30 years in power, was moved to an army hospital from a prison hospital on Thursday following a fall that raised fresh concerns about his fragile health. Mubarak, 84, was forced out in a 2011 uprising and sentenced to life in prison in June of this year for his role in killing protesters during the revolt. He was admitted to a prison hospital that month following what security officials called a "health crisis". ...

House may extend session to January 2: Republican aide Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:29 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican leaders in the House of Representatives may keep the House in session from Sunday evening through January 2, the final day of the current Congress, a senior House Republican aide said on Thursday. The next Congress, elected in November with a slightly diminished Republican majority, will be convened for the first time on January 3. (Reporting By David Lawder; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Central African Republic president urges U.S., France to help fight rebels Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:23 PM PST BANGUI (Reuters) - Central African Republic President Francois Bozize on Thursday urged the United States and former colonial master France to help push back rebel forces who have advanced towards the capital Bangui. "We are asking our cousins the French and the United States, which are major powers, to help us push back the rebels to their initial positions in a way that will permit talks in Libreville to resolve this crisis," Bozize told a crowd at a main square in Bangui. ...

Central African Republic appeals for French help against rebels, Paris balks Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:23 PM PST BANGUI (Reuters) - The president of the Central African Republic appealed on Thursday for France and the United States to help push back rebels threatening his government and the capital, but Paris said its troops were only ready to protect French nationals. The exchanges came as regional African leaders tried to broker a ceasefire deal and as rebels said they had temporarily halted their advance on Bangui, the capital, to allow talks to take place. ...

Americans blame Republicans more than Democrats for "fiscal cliff": Reuters/Ipsos poll Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:17 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans blame Republicans in Congress more than congressional Democrats or President Barack Obama for the current "fiscal cliff" crisis, as the deadline approaches for action to avert big tax increases and spending cuts, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Thursday. When asked who they believed to be more responsible for the "fiscal cliff" situation, 27 percent blamed Republicans in Congress, 16 percent blamed Obama and 6 percent pointed to Democrats in Congress. The largest percentage - 31 percent - blamed "all of the above. ...

Storm-damaged New York hospital partially reopens its doors Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:14 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - The NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City partially reopened its inpatient facilities on Thursday, nearly two months after it was flooded by Superstorm Sandy and sustained damages that could exceed $1 billion. Storm damage in New Jersey, New York City's outer boroughs and New York state's Long Island captured most of the world's attention after the second-costliest hurricane in U.S. history made landfall on October 29, obscuring much of the damage sustained in Manhattan. The emergency department at the Manhattan hospital could remain closed until the end of 2013. ...

Biden swears in Schatz as Hawaii's new senator Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:07 PM PST Brian Schatz is Hawaii's new senator after a swearing-in ceremony Thursday led by Vice President Joe Biden.

South Africa president prefers people over pets Posted: 27 Dec 2012 12:04 PM PST JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa's president says a dog should not be man's best friend.

U.S. population projected at 315.1 million on New Year's Day: census Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:51 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An estimated 315.1 million people will be living in the United States on New Year's Day, the Census Bureau said on Thursday. That is an increase of 2.3 million people or 0.73 percent from January 1 this year. It is also a gain of 6.3 million people or 2.05 percent since the last census in April 2010. "In January 2013, one birth is expected to occur every eight seconds in the United States and one death every 12 seconds," the Census Bureau said in a statement. (Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Sandra Maler)

EPA Administrator Jackson announces resignation Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:50 AM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the Obama administration's chief environmental watchdog, is stepping down after nearly four years marked by high-profile brawls over global warming pollution, the Keystone XL oil pipeline, new controls on coal-fired plants and several other hot-button issues that affect the nation's economy and people's health.

After setbacks, Russia boosts space spending Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:43 AM PST MOSCOW (Reuters) - The country that oversaw the launch of the world's first artificial satellite hopes to regain some of its former glory with a big boost in space spending announced by Russia on Thursday after a series of failures. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev approved a plan to spend 2.1 trillion roubles ($68.71 billion) on developing Russia's space industry from 2013 to 2020, state-run RIA news agency reported. ...

Russia's Putin signals he will sign U.S. adoption ban Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:40 AM PST MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin signaled on Thursday he would sign into law a bill barring Americans from adopting Russian children and sought to forestall criticism of the move by promising measures to better care for his country's orphans. In televised comments, Putin tried to appeal to people's patriotism by suggesting that strong and responsible countries should take care of their own and lent his support to a bill that has further strained U.S.-Russia relations. "There are probably many places in the world where living standards are higher than ours. ...

Iran's Ahmadinejad sacks only female government minister Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:37 AM PST DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday dismissed his only female cabinet minister, Health Minister Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, after she criticized her colleagues for failing to provide funds to import vital medicines. Appointed in 2009, Dastjerdi was the first woman government minister since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979. While seen as politically conservative, the gynecologist has advocated a greater role for women in society. ...

Petition urges White House to classify Westboro church as hate group Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:29 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 475,000 people have signed petitions asking the White House to crack down on Westboro Baptist Church after the group, known for holding anti-gay demonstrations at funerals, threatened to picket in Newtown, Connecticut. Newtown was the site of a school massacre on December 14 in which 20 young children and six adults were killed. Five petitions posted on the White House website since the shootings have asked the government to name the church, based in Topeka, Kansas, as a hate group or end its tax-exempt status. ...

Iraq Sunni rallies gather steam Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:24 AM PST RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters from Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority kept up a week-old blockade on a key highway on Thursday and readied mass rallies for Friday to demand concessions from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Protests flared last week after troops loyal to Maliki, who is from the Shi'ite majority, detained bodyguards of his finance minister, a Sunni. Many Sunnis, whose community dominated Iraq until the fall of Saddam Hussein, accuse Maliki of refusing to share power and of favoring Shi'ite, non-Arab neighbor Iran. A year after U.S. ...

Schatz to be sworn in as US senator for Hawaii Posted: 27 Dec 2012 11:22 AM PST HONOLULU (AP) — Incoming U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz was scheduled to be sworn into office Thursday afternoon, a day after being appointed by Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and flying to Washington with President Barack Obama aboard Air Force One.

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