NEW YORK (Reuters) - Supporters say New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who appears set to win a third term this week, gets credit for saving the city from the worst of the financial recession but his critics say he did not do enough.
House GOP leader calls NY special election an unusual situation, says GOP wants moderates. House Republican leader John Boehner says the GOP wants moderates in the party and calls the special election for a New York congressional seat an unusual situation.
Third party challenges in NJ, NY seen as a warning sign for both parties in 2010 and beyond. Third party candidates are shaking up two major races in elections Tuesday, and the success of those candidacies is a warning shot fired at both major parties by voters angry at government and disillusioned by politics as usual.
MARRAKESH, Morocco (Reuters) - Russia and the United States are on track to sign a new deal to reduce their arsenals of nuclear weapons by the time a previous agreement expires next month, a Kremlin aide said at a policy conference in Morocco.
NJ governor's race turns on taxes as incumbent Corzine takes heat for his handling of economy. It sounds like another New Jersey joke. Except it's not funny if you actually live here.
Voters in three states on Tuesday will have the final say on gay rights issues. Voters in three states on Tuesday will have the final say on gay rights issues. In Kalamazoo, Michigan the backlash to a gay protections ordinance was so strong lawmakers were forced to rescind the law and ultimately put it up for a vote. Voters in Maine are the first to be asked to uphold ? or reject ? a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers in the spring. And whether a gay-inclusive domestic partnership law gets rolled back in Washington State will be decided on Tuesday by voters. Gay foes working in each state rallied to put the laws up for a vote. And while Maine's gay marriage law has drawn the most attention, all three contests are must-wins for a gay community crushed by big losses at the ballot box last year, including Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban. Gay marriage has yet to win a popular vote but advocates hope Mainers will buck the trend. Polls give a slight edge to proponents of gay
Biographical details on candidates for New Jersey governor. Biographical details on the candidates for New Jersey governor:
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ends run for California governor; says he can't commit time. Unable to move beyond his ultra-liberal image and far behind his rival in fundraising, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom dropped his bid to become governor, leaving former governor Jerry Brown as the only Democrat in the race to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger next year.
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - San Francisco's Democratic mayor, Gavin Newsom, withdrew on Friday from the 2010 race for California governor, saying he lacked time to mount an effective campaign.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican lawmaker on Friday asked the New York Federal Reserve and insurer American International Group for records relating to AIG's reimbursements to holders of credit-default swaps issued by AIG.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama White House on Friday said the $787 billion economic stimulus plan approved early this year had saved or created 640,329 jobs so far.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A prominent Islamic scholar and Iranian dissident said on Friday the United States was missing an opportunity by negotiating with Iran solely over its nuclear capability and not the country's nascent democracy movement.
Democrats have upper hand as they seek to retain open Northern California congressional seat. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, a fixture in state and national politics for 35 years, is expected to maintain the Democratic Party's hold Tuesday on a congressional seat that stretches from the eastern San Francisco Bay area through the California delta.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will outline the Obama administration's review of a long-delayed free trade agreement with South Korea in a speech next week, a U.S. business group said on Friday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has won praise for resolving a post-coup crisis in Honduras that caused regional turmoil, but some experts question why the Obama administration took so long to act in its own backyard.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Barney Frank has changed his position and supports requiring large financial firms to make payments into a fund for unwinding troubled competitors before the money is needed, an aide said on Friday.
Biographical details on Republican candidate for Virginia governor Bob McDonnell. NAME ? Robert F. McDonnell.
Biographical details on Democrat candidate for Virginia governor R. Creigh Deeds. NAME ? Robert Creigh Deeds.
A year after Obama paced a historic Democratic romp, GOP poised for a comeback in Va.. A year after Barack Obama handed the Republicans their first presidential defeat in Virginia in 44 years with a pledge to restore jobs, the Democrats appear to have squandered the party's advances.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. trade panel on Friday approved a Commerce Department investigation that could lead to new duties of nearly 100 percent or more on imports of about $382 million of steel pipes from China.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill pending in the Senate that would help unemployed workers, businesses and the housing market would add billions to the U.S. deficit in the short term but would be essentially budget-neutral over 10 years, congressional analysts said on Friday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers and consumer activists on Friday highlighted the need to reform overdraft fees that banks charge their customers, saying all too often a cup of coffee can wind up costing $40.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers and consumer activists on Friday highlighted the need to reform overdraft fees that banks charge their customers, saying all too often a cup of coffee can wind up costing $40.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Revenue limits, casino gambling and some big bond issues for veterans, schools, a hospital and other projects will be decided by voters in several U.S. states on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday defended her blunt talk on Pakistan, saying it was important to have an open relationship between the countries even if it meant some tough words.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signaled on Friday that the United States will allow talks with Iran over its nuclear program to play out before considering fresh sanctions against Tehran.
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised on Friday the end of a political stalemate in Honduras that will see the return of President Manuel Zelaya, who was toppled in a military coup four months ago.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nearly half the members of a House of Representatives panel in control of Pentagon spending are under scrutiny by ethics investigators in Congress, The Washington Post reported on Friday.
Administration argues in latest DOMA filing that there is 'no fundamental right' to gay marriage benefits . In its latest filing in an ongoing federal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the Obama administration argues there is ?no fundamental right? to gay marriage benefits, the AP reported. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley sued the federal government in July on behalf of the 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have legally wed in Massachusetts since the state legalized gay nuptials in 2004. The suit challenges section 3 of the 13-year-old law, which defines marriage as a heterosexual union for federal agencies. Section 3 denies gay and lesbian couples federal benefits such as federal income tax credits, employment and retirement benefits, health insurance overage, and Social Security payments. ?There is, however, no fundamental right to marriage-based federal benefits,? Assistant Attorney General Tony West says in his 36-page filing. The lawsuit does not chal
Administration argues in latest DOMA filing that there is 'no fundamental right' to gay marriage benefits. In its latest filing in an ongoing federal challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the Obama administration argues there is ?no fundamental right? to gay marriage benefits, the AP reported. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley sued the federal government in July on behalf of the 16,000 gay and lesbian couples who have legally wed in Massachusetts since the state legalized gay nuptials in 2004. The suit challenges section 3 of the 13-year-old law, which defines marriage as a heterosexual union for federal agencies. Section 3 denies gay and lesbian couples federal benefits such as federal income tax credits, employment and retirement benefits, health insurance overage, and Social Security payments. ?There is, however, no fundamental right to marriage-based federal benefits,? Assistant Attorney General Tony West says in his 36-page filing. The lawsuit does not chall
Maine judge tells NOM it must comply with reporting requirements, asks for donor list. The latest skirmish in the battle for anti-gay secret advocacy took place in a Maine courtroom Wednesday where federal Judge D. Brock Hornby ruled the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) could not conceal its donor list. NOM is the nation's most vociferous opponent of gay marriage and the largest contributor to the campaign to repeal gay marriage in Maine. Voters on Tuesday will be asked to affirm ? or reject ? a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers in the spring. ?Maine is entitled to conclude that its electorate needs to know, on an ongoing basis, the source of financial support for those who are taking positions on a ballot initiative,? Hornby said in his 32-page ruling. Hornby went on to say that financial disclosure was ?not only compelling but critical? to the health of direct democracy. Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) Attorney James Bopp Jr. is representing NOM in its fight to keep the reco
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's two-year deficit has climbed to $10 billion from approximately $8.7 billion and the state cannot pay all the bills that come due in December, Governor David Paterson said on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A temporary measure that would keep the U.S. government running through December 18 cleared Congress on Thursday, giving lawmakers more time to work on spending bills for the current fiscal year.
How fat am I? GOP governor candidate in NJ jokes about own weight after issue is raised ads. The Republican in New Jersey's race for governor wants the incumbent to weigh in more candidly about the challenger's heft.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House and Congress could take up delayed free trade deals with Panama and Colombia once work on healthcare reform is done, two Democratic lawmakers who support the pacts, said on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A California financial products firm, two current executives and a former executive were indicted on Thursday for bid rigging and fraud related to municipal bond contracts, the Justice Department said.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A temporary measure that would keep the U.S. government running through December 18 cleared Congress Thursday, giving lawmakers more time to work on spending bills for the current fiscal year.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill to impose sanctions on companies providing Iran with gasoline and limit other business dealings with the country cleared a U.S. Senate panel on Thursday, as lawmakers stepped up pressure on Tehran to stop its nuclear work.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration's new proposal for tackling financial risk in the U.S. economy, unveiled just two days ago, came under attack on Thursday from Congress and regulators, with questions raised about its funding and scope.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama broadened his pitch for healthcare reform on Thursday with an appeal to business leaders, some of whom have criticized his efforts to overhaul the multibillion-dollar industry.
Even in corruption-as-usual New Jersey, recent stings color local elections. Did you hear the one about the best way to identify public officials in New Jersey? Check for the handcuff marks on their wrists.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The expected extension and expansion of a popular home-buyer tax credit should be the last extension Congress should consider, the tax credit's chief proponent said on Thursday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a stopgap funding measure to keep the government running through December 18 as lawmakers continue to work on spending bills for the current fiscal year.
WASHINGTON/HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - China pledged to lift its ban on U.S. pork on Thursday and the United States took a step toward easing restrictions on chicken imports as the two superpowers agreed to tackle a series of trade irritants.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday hailed third-quarter U.S. economic growth as "affirmation that this recession is abating."
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas when she travels to the Middle East this weekend, a U.S. official said.
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's said on Thursday it was "hard to believe" that no one in Pakistan's government knew where al Qaeda leaders were hiding, striking a new tone on a trip where Washington's credibility has come under attack.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government has restricted travel to the United States by Guinea's military junta, which has been accused of planning a bloody crackdown on opposition protesters who killed more than 150 people.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top economic adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday that gross domestic product growth is an encouraging sign that the economy is moving in the right direction, but things must improve more to restore growth in the job market.
