The White House cannot ignore the unemployed any longer

Congressman Sandy Levin (R-Mich.) spoke today on a conference call about unemployment legislation. He said that if the unemployed Americans all came to Washington, then Congress would have to do something about it. He said that the unemployed cannot remain invisible, but the White House and Congress need to pass this legislation. (0:48)

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Patriot Act necessary

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) says that the Patriot Act is necessary to strengthen the abilities of law enforcement but that a balance of constitutional rights must be sustained, a balance that Congress has not kept. (0:35)
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Can Congress get busted too?

At the House Judiciary Committee FBI Oversight Full Committee hearing on the FBI, Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), says [to FBI Director Robert Mueller] can every member of Congress assume they can be broken into, like Jefferson? Mueller says that Jefferson wasn’t broken into, it was the execution of a search warrant. Conyers says, so that’s a yes? We can get busted too? Mueller there is an intervening circuit court opinion that requires them to follow protocols although he isn’t clear what the protocols are. We’re very sensitive, he says, to the debate clause and the debate opinion. Conyers says, “I’m glad you’re sensitive, we are too.” (1:12)


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GAO director says Dept. of Homeland Security has made progress, but still has work to do

Norman Rabkin, managing director for the Government Accountability Office's Homeland Security and Justice Team, tells Congress that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made advances in terms of its mission statement to protect America from terrorist attacks, but lacks managerial progress. (:58)
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Obama: Americans deserve health care, "you can take that to the bank"

At the CWA conference, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) outlines his health care reform plan and says that every American should have health care comparable to members of Congress because Americans pay Congress's salary, and "you can take that to the bank." (1:03)
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Eighty, The New Sixty-five?

The senior fellow at Project HOPE, Gail Wilensky, talks about the new retirement age and the cost of Medicare. (:55)
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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks about the effects of the satellite shoot down with Pentagon pool reporters

Sec. Gates says that a U.S. military mission to shoot down a broken satellite with a tactical missile has drawn attention and understanding to the missile defense program. (0:36)
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Congressman Reyes says that "we will not go dark" when the Protect America Act expires

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, says that the National Security Agency will still be able to conduct surveillance by getting court approval in a matter of minutes or even after the fact. (0:23)
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Majority Leader Hoyer says that the Bush Administration prefers to act without oversight, but that that is "neither necessary nor proper"

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, says that the Bush Administration would rather act unilaterally without oversight than to go to court, but that is "neither necessary nor proper," and both the Senate and House FISA reform bills include the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. (0:24)
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Congressman Conyers says that Congress cannot pass telecom immunity without knowing the specifics of the wiretapping program

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, addresses the White House's failure to grant the full House Judiciary Committee access to documentation of the Terrorist Surveillance Program. He says that the Congress cannot grant immunity to the telecommunications companies until they know what they are granting immunity for. (0:28)

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Congressman Conyers says that FISA reform can protect security and liberties at the same time

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), speaking at a press conference on Capitol Hill, says that the Democrats will work with Republicans to pass FISA reform that protects both security and liberties, but they will need to reject rhetoric of fear. (0:32)
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Tom Unsicker describes his plan to deliver packets of courage to Congress at CPAC

Tom Unsicker talks about his ride across the United States, from Santa Cruz, CA, to Washington, DC, to deliver packets of courage (two ping pong balls in a small sack) to Democratic and Independent members of Congress unwilling to protect civil rights and stand up to the Bush Administration. Along the way, he spoke with citizens who agreed with his dissatisfaction with the current government. (4:49)
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An interview with Kieron Lalor, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress for New York's 19th Congressional District at CPAC

Kieran Lalor is an Iraq war veteran running as a Republican for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 19th  District of New York. He speaks about his experience and his campaign at the Conservative Political Action Conference. (4:48)
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An interview with Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party

An interview with Colorado Republican Party Chairman, Dick Wadhams who explains how the Colorado Republican caucus process works.
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An interview with Jared Polis, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Colorado's 2nd District

Talk Radio News Service correspondent and Colorado native Meredith MacKenzie interviews  Jared Polis, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2nd District of Colorado. He provides a bit of perspective on Colorado politics and the Super Tuesday caucus process.
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Tina Jonas, Controller of the Department of Defense speaks about future requests for war funding during a briefing on the Pentagon 2009 budget request

Tina Jonas, Defense Department controller, says that there are many factors as to when and how much the Pentagon will request in war funding, including what the Congress does with 2008 war funding that has not yet been provided. (0:48)
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Admiral Steve Stanley, director of force structure, resources and assessment for the Joint Staff speaks about outstanding 2008 budget requests

Adm. Steve Stanley speaks on war funding for Fiscal Year 2008 and what consequences incomplete supplemental war funding have had on equipment distribution. (0:34)
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Senators Gregg and Conrad Discuss the Economic Stimulus Package at Senate Finance Committee Hearing

Judd Gregg (R-NH), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee calls the package a "feel-good event." Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) claims it is more than that, while expressing reservations.
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William Beach Refutes Claims of Recession at Joint Committee Hearing

William Beach, Director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for Data Analysis,  stated that recent economic indicators demonstrate slow growth rather than recession in his testimony before the Joint Economic Committee (JEC). (0:44)
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