Obama calls for new financial regulating body

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

President Barack Obama said that his administration is working on establishing a new regulatory framework to prevent future situations such as the one the government faces with AIG. Obama said these would be part of his broader economic plan, and would serve as tools to help maintain balance. The new body would be similar to the FDIC, and would protect consumers, investors, and depositors. (01:47)
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Feingold explains the line item veto bill

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) explains how the proposed Line Item Veto Bill works, and how it is Constitutional. (00:45)
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Pelosi attends Maria Leavey Breakfast with Media

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Speaks at the annual Maria Leavey Breakfast in the US Capitol. Pelosi talks about health care, education, working with President Obama, and the speed at which the economic recovery package was rushed through. The Speaker said jokingly about the recovery package that if she had wanted to, she "could have fast tracked it much faster". (56:41)
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Union members: Say goodbye to fair elections

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC, Michael Ruhl sat down with Ernest Istook, Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Istook spoke on the threat to the secret ballot in union elections, which he said would be a product of the Employee Free Choice Act, currently under consideration by Congress. The secret ballot is where a voter's choice is kept confidential. He said that "once you put a chink in the protection of the secret ballot election, who knows what's going to be next", saying that in the future public office elections could be threatened in the same way. Istook called it a "power grab for labor unions". (05:44)
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Hindsight is 20/20

At CPAC 2009, Bob Ney interviewed former Republican Congressman John Hostetter about why he opposed the war in Iraq in 2003 and about why the Republicans have had political difficulties in recent elections. (09:00)
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"We're up to the challenge"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Following the President's address to Congress on Tuesday evening, Michael Ruhl spoke to Representative Sam Farr (D-CA). Farr called the speech "The strongest President Speech I've ever heard since I've been in Congress", a speech that displayed the President's "commitment to making this nation an opportunity for all". He continued by saying that he thinks the American public is "up to the challenge", and likened it to the mission to the moon, except that this time everyone is involved in making it happen. He said that he was excited about facing the challenge, because it is what he was elected to do. (01:20)
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Rep. Brad Miller: "we have one country, and one economy"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) is confident that President Obama understands the severity of the economic crisis, and is equipped to deal with it. He said that "we have one country and one economy", and that we must work together to fix it or all suffer the consequences. (01:38)
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A new day for partisanship

House Republicans have felt the sting of Partisanship during the passing of the Economic Stimulus Package. Congressmen Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) speak about how they feel, the relationship between the House and President Obama, and the time frame involved in passing the legislation. Representative Chaffetz said that although Democrats won the election, he "was elected too", and his constituents in Utah should have a stake in deciding on the package. (02:45)

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service
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Census becoming a partisan 'tug of war'

Michael Ruhl interviews Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) about the concerns they have of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel being placed in charge of the 2010 Census, a job normally overseen by the Secretary of Commerce. (03:10)

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service
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Equal wage for equal work likely to pass in Senate

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service and Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Senator Barbara Mikulski speaks at a news conference today to discuss the progress of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 2009. January 22, 2009.


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Inaugural Radio Row: Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y)

Stacey Van Malden interviews Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y) about the Bush administration and Habeas corpus used by the Congress. (3:06)
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SCHIP's success a symbol for Democrats' new direction

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said during a press conference that the House's support for the State Children's Health Insurance Program signals a new direction for Democrats in Congress (0:28)
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Mobile technologies can help Congress

National Field Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Casey O'Shea says that mobile applications like Twitter and Qik can help Congressmen reach their constituents directly and without the filter of the media (0:25).
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Retirement plan still the best course of action

Research Director of the Employment Benefit Research Institute Jack VanDerhei should invest in their retirement and not overreact to the current economic downturn. (0:46)
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Retirement plans go down with ship

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) gives statistics as to how much the current retirement plans have lost in our current economy. (0:49)
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Frenzel sees too much anger between parties

Former Rep. William Frenzel (R-Minn.) says that partisanship in Congress is making this bailout bill harder than it would be otherwise. (0:52)
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U.S. 'sucking on thumb' when it comes to oil policy

Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio) says that the U.S. must take a cue from Russia and China and have a more aggressive approach to oil (0:14).
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Durbin jokes on Senate’s energy action

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) reads an official Senate transcript, saying it will help people understand how the Senate is dealing with high oil prices. He says Democrats have repeatedly tried to debate energy bills, 12 times in the past two months. He says Republican continue to block debate on Democratic energy bills that would lower gas prices, increase domestic supply of gas and renewable energy, and create new jobs for Americans. (1:02)

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Congressman Diaz-Balart: Free trade deal would even playing field

Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) speaks about the impact the struggling economy has been having on the hispanic community both in America and South American countries. Diaz-Balart was on hand to speak at the second annual Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute conference in which he serves as chairman. (1:12)


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Young people more open to improving domestic partner benefits

At a hearing on domestic partner benefits, John Podesta, President of the Center for American Progress, notes the increased involvement of young people. Senator Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) agrees and notes that Congress is a mirror to the people. (0:50)
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