First Read : Luke Russert

Pelosi: House passage by Thanksgiving

Mark Murray — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:02:00 GMT

From NBC's Luke RussertTaking questions from reporters after a press conference regarding her meeting with some of the top economists from the United States, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today said that the House would pass health-care reform by Thanksgiving, "We're on schedule, and we're pleased from our standpoint that we will have a bill passed well before Thanksgiving -- and hopefully in time for it to be signed with the work done with the Senate to be signed before Thanksgiving but certainly...(read more)

Pelosi denies Snowe in control

firstread — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:08:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke Russert and Ali Weinberg
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed back on, but did not outright deny, the idea that Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has more influence in the health care debate than the Speaker does. Snowe’s vote in favor of the Senate Finance Committee’s health care bill is thought by some to have opened the door to the future votes of Democrats from conservative voting districts.

When asked by a reporter today whether Sen. Snowe had more sway than herself, Speaker Pelosi said, "If I may say, a strange question. It is not about who has what kind of influence, it's a question of what is the best approach for America's middle class."

Pelosi also seemed to try to assuage the concerns of labor unions today, saying that all efforts to enact health care reform have the middle class's best interest at heart.
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Airline safety bill passes

firstread — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:06:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke Russert
Today the House of Representatives passed the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009, 409 to 11.

The bill requires that commercial airline pilots have an FAA airline transport license, which is given to pilots who have mastered flight training and have 1500 hours of in flight time. The bill also requires that the FAA teach pilots safety maneuvers in the event of a stalling. Also, airlines will now have to disclose on a passenger's ticket whether they will be traveling on a separate commuter jet company that is contracted by the larger commercial airline company.

Passed with huge bipartisan support, the bill was brought on by the terrible crash of Continental Connections Flight 3407 that occurred in February over Clarence Center, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. The crash of Flight 3407 is now believed to have been a case of pilot error, specifically brought on by the inexperience of pilots hired by Colgan Air, an airline that was contracted by Continental for the short flight from Newark, NJ to Buffalo, NY.
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Hoyer: Christmas deadline no guarantee

firstread — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:01:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke Russert
At his weekly off camera pen and pad session with Capitol Hill reporters, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) would not guarantee that a healthcare reform bill would be passed by Christmas. When asked by NBC News if reform would pass by the holiday, Hoyer said, "Can I guarantee that? No. Do I think it will? Yes."

Responding to another question about healthcare reform timing and the Christmas holiday, Hoyer said, "Healthcare, we want to get that done, although I don't guarantee it, certainly we are going to get it done in the House. And I'm hopeful that during this next month and half we will be working with the Senate…once they decide what they are going to do and what we are going to do, we'll talk about how we are going to resolve differences that we have."

Hoyer also predicted that financial regulatory reform would start to take shape in the next month, “Barney Frank's committee is working and focused on regulatory reform. It's going to start marking up this week and it's going to be focusing on the administration's proposal in addition to other issues related to derivatives and credit default swap.”

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Skelton on Afghanistan

firstread — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:35:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke Russert and Ali Weinberg
House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton (D-MO) reaffirmed his support for General Stanley McChrystal's recommendation for a 40,000 troop increase in Afghanistan today, as President Obama meets today for a fifth time with his military advisers on devising a new strategy.

Speaking at a hearing on Afghanistan, Skelton said, "General McChrystal's recent assessment presents a sober, serious view of the situation in Afghanistan and the challenges we face," Skelton said. "He also presents one possible way forward, a fully resourced, population-centric counter-insurgency campaign that would protect the population, build the Afghan security forces, and work to improve the government. As my colleagues know, I am a strong supporter of this approach."

Video: Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright explains with President Obama has yet to make a decision on troop deployment to Afghanistan

Skelton's support for McChrystal's plan puts him at odds with his counterpart, Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), who favors a focus on strengthening Afghan troops by sending in 2,000 to 3,000 American trainers. Skelton acknowledged suggestions by Levin and others that go against the McChrystal plan.

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GOP leaders slam Dems on economy

firstread — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:50:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke Russert
After their weekly caucus meeting on Capitol Hill, the GOP leadership attacked President Obama and Congressional Democrats for not doing enough to bolster the floundering U.S. economy.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) said, “The American people want to see this Congress begin to focus on policies that will create economic growth and opportunities for working families small businesses and family farms.”

Pence continued, “The American people are tired of runaway federal spending, borrowing, bailouts and take-overs and Republican solutions will be built on the fundamental strength of a free market economy.”

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) decried the emphasis on healthcare reform saying, “While Washington continues to focus in on this big government plan and healthcare debate, the American people are wondering, where are the jobs?”
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Pelosi predicts vote by Thanksgiving

firstread — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:57:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke RussertAt a press conference today on Capitol Hill touting Democrats' plan to add a provision to the healthcare reform bill HR 3200 allowing younger Americans to stay on their parents plan until the age of twenty-seven, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she expects that the House will vote on a healthcare bill by Thanksgiving: "We are right on track, and I am hopeful that we will have a bill by Thanksgiving. Others say Christmas. Certainly this year." On the public option,...(read more)

Ethics extends Rangel investigation

firstread — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:50:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke Russert
The House Ethics Committee issued a statement today saying that it would expand its investigation into the activities of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel, (D-NY) specifically on his revised personal financial disclosure forms that he submitted in August of 2009.

The Committee’s statement was as follows, “"The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct voted unanimously on October 8th, 2009, to expand jurisdiction of the investigative subcommittee inquiry regarding the Matter of Representative Charles B. Rangel to determine if Representative Rangel violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation or other standard of conduct applicable to his conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities with respect to all Financial Disclose Statements and all amendments filed in the calendar year 2009 by or on behalf of Representative Charles. B Rangel pursuant to Title I of the Ethics in Government Act."

The statement continues, “The investigative subcommittee has collaborated in a bi-partisan manner in the performance of its duties and obligations. To that end , the investigative subcommittee to date has: authorized the issuance of close to 150 subpoenas; interviewed approximately 34 witnesses resulting in over 2,100 pages of transcripts, reviewed and analyzed over 12,000 pages of documents; and held over 30 investigative subcommittee meetings.”
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Pelosi hits back on NRCC

firstread — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:51:00 GMT

from NBC's Luke RussertIn her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded to a claim by the National Republican Congressional Committee that Afghanistan Commander General Stanley McChrystal should “put her in her place.” “It’s truly sad that they really don’t understand how inappropriate that is. I am in my place, I am the Speaker of the House the first women Speaker of the House and I am in my place because the House of Representatives voted me there....(read more)

Boehner tees off

Domenico Montanaro — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:51:00 GMT

From NBC's Luke Russert
House Minority Leader John Boehner went off on a whole array of issues today, here are some of the highlights:

OBAMA GOING TO COPENHAGEN: "While the President is in Copenhagen tomorrow, the American people are going to wake up and find out that hundreds and thousands more Americans have lost their job. The Administration's trillion dollar stimulus plan clearly isn't working."

DEMOCRATS AND MEDICARE: "Democrats take over of healthcare is going to cut Medicare benefits for millions of seniors and by drastic amounts so how they can stand there and claim they are saving Medicare…just doesn't pass a straight face test."

CHARLIE RANGEL: "It's improper for Chairman Rangel to remain in his position with all the influence that he has while these serious allegations remain hanging."

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