U.S. Congress News

WASHINGTON - To rebut a lengthy list of alleged ethical misdeeds, Rep. Charles Rangel is trotting out this three-way defense: I didn't do it. I did it, but was inattentive. Others lawmakers were allowed to do the same thing without penalty. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard has routinely approved BP requests to use thousands of gallons of toxic chemical a day to break up oil slicks in the Gulf of Mexico despite a federal directive that the chemicals be used only rarely on surface waters, congressional investigators said Saturday after examining BP and government documents. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A second senior Democratic lawmaker may face a public ethics trial this fall, adding a new threat to their party's efforts to keep control of the House of Representatives in the November elections. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - Rep. Charlie Rangel is getting sympathy from some fellow Democrats but scant support from others as he faces trial on several ethics charges. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson has announced he will oppose the nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, making him the first Democrat to declare against her. Full Story »

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A tea party success story in search of a statewide triumph, Kentucky Republican senatorial candidate Rand Paul volunteers that he's spent two decades "popping off" about one issue or another. Not quite so much now, though. Full Story »

BILOXI, Mississippi (Reuters) - BP said on Friday it could seal its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well by next week as the House of Representatives voted to toughen regulation of offshore energy drilling. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - A second House Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters of California, could face an ethics trial this fall, further complicating the election outlook for the party as it battles to retain its majority. Full Story »

TOPEKA, Kan. - The big issue in Kansas' U.S. Senate race is which of two veteran Republican congressmen will fight hardest — and loudest — against President Barack Obama's agenda. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Friday approved the toughest reforms ever to offshore energy drilling practices, as Democrats narrowly pushed through an election-year response to BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US House of Representatives on Friday voted to overhaul offshore drilling safety rules and to protect whistleblowing workers in a sweeping response to the disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Friday voted to end the federal moratorium on deepwater drilling for oil companies that meet new federal safety requirements. Full Story »

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Charlie Crist is slightly ahead of Republican Marco Rubio in a three-way general election matchup for the U.S. Senate while the race to succeed Crist as governor is about even, a poll released Friday suggests. Full Story »

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - He calls her a "rubber stamp" for President Barack Obama and liberal congressional leaders. She "calls bull" on his attempts to represent regular folks, suggesting he's more attuned to lobbyists and corporate interests. Full Story »

House Democrats, who yanked a tax bill off the floor Thursday in response to a GOP move to repeal a small-business tax compliance law, are trying to react with a new bill Friday. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - A House investigator says the panel handling Rep. Charlie Rangel's ethics case has recommended a reprimand by the full House — but that decision could be months away. Full Story »

Washington - If the midterm elections were held today, the Republicans would have a decent shot at taking over the House of Representatives, Democrats themselves admit. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama's chief spokesman predicted Friday that the White House's Democratic allies would keep control of the Senate and House of Representatives in November elections. Full Story »