Boehner: Democrats' Tax Bill Is 'Chicken Crap'

Incoming Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) calls the tax bill being taken up in the House “chicken crap.” (0:42)

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Hoyer Says Republican Policies Are 'Driving Country Into Ditch'

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) says past Republican policies “drove the country into a ditch,” leaving America with its current economic and job problems. (0:35)

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Democrats Using Healthcare For Political Gain, Says Gregg

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) says Thursday that the ongoing healthcare debate isn't really about healthcare policy, but rather about politics. (0:47)
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Missouri Democrat Appreciates President's Attention To Detail In Joint Session Address

Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) said that he enjoyed the in depth overview the President gave his health care plan during Wednesday's address to Congress. (0:40)
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Pence Slams Stimulus Package, Says GOP Has Better Alternatives

Congressman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) accuses the Obama administration's economic stimulus package of causing further job losses instead of decreasing unemployment rates. Pence argues that Republicans are advocating fiscal discipline and tax relief for working families and small businesses. (0:50)
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Rep. Kind: The SHOP Act Is A Simple Concept For Small Businesses & The Self Employed

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Today U.S. Representatives reintroduced a health care reform model that they believe will make health insurance less costly to the self employed and small businesses. Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) said that the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Act is a simple concept and believes it’s the right time for it to be implemented. (01:34)


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Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) Talks About His Efforts on Capitol Hill

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Talk Radio News Service speaks with Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) about the Red River catastrophe and what efforts he is making in Washington, D.C. for North Dakotans. Pomeroy also addresses the H1N1 epidemic and expresses what precautions Americans should take. (09:00)
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The Democrats Will Support Arlen Specter

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

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) talks with Ron Brownstein of the National Journal at a breakfast on Capitol Hill. Reid, President Barack Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden all said that they would personally support Arlen Specter in his 2010 election. Reid said that support was not conditional.

“I’m not going to be in a forever, never position, but the facts are that [Specter is] going to vote with us most of the time,” Reid Said. “I can’t foresee him doing anything that would be so mean spirited that Obama, Biden, and Reid would turn against him.” (00:44)
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Congressman Sestak On Arlen Specter

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

Regarding Arlen Specter changing parties, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Penn.) said that it's better for the constituents of Pennsylvania to decide which candidate should win the primary. He feels like the Democratic National Party backing Specter may be giving him too much of an advantage in the Pennsylvania primary. President Barack Obama and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have already committed to personally supporting Specter in his 2010 election. (00:47)
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General Petraeus Talks About Educating Soldiers

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

General David Petraeus says before Congress that it is important for soldiers to have an expanded understanding of Afghanistan, so that the army can function better as a whole. (01:18)
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Child Questions Pelosi On Why She's A Democrat

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s weekly press conference took a different turn today as she fielded questions from children instead of reporters.
A young boy asked Pelosi: “Why did you join them and not us, and by them I mean the Democrats, and by us I mean the Republicans?” Pelosi responded in good humor. “I am delighted you associate yourself with a political party. I wish more people would and I hope the next generation will take back the Republican Party for the grand old party that it used to be,” she said.

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Somalia's Piracy Problem

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

Correspondent Michael Ruhl reports on the security and humanitarian crisis presently plaguing Somalia. Ruhl interviews Somalia's Ambassador-At-Large to the U.S., Abdi Awaleh Jama, and also speaks with Joel Carny from Refugees International.

Read the full article here

Version 1: (00:30)
Version 2: (02:00)
Version 3: (03:25)
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The unemployment crisis

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

Correspondent Michael Ruhl reports on the recent release of the unemployment statistics for March.

Long segment: (01:00)
Short segment: (00:32)
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The unemployment statistics for march

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

Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall testifies before Congress on the nation's unemployment numbers from March 2009, and how the recession has affected employment.

Hall said that unemployment numbers have climbed from 8.1 percent to 8.5 percent, and that the industries hardest hit are manufacturing, construction, and temporary services.

(00:34)
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Ralph Nader interview on the need for election reform

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

Former presidential candidate and long time consumer rights advocate Ralph Nader talked with Michael Ruhl to discuss the status of his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This was immediately following the circuit court argument for Nader vs. DNC. Nader claims that he was harassed and burdened in 2004 presidential election by the DNC, in what he calls "an abuse of the legal process" and malicious prosecution. In this interview, Nader explained background of the case, and the case's current status. He said, "there is no other western democracy that comes close to obstructing voters and obstructing candidates as is the case in our country."

Nader also spoke about the two-party system, and the effect that his case has on future third party candidates in the presidential process. He said that his case is designed to draw boundaries, to make sure that third party candidates can exercise their First Amendment rights. Nader also referred to the issue as one of democracy, because he said in limiting ballot access, one is truly limiting the right of the people to decide who they want to represent them. Nader called for national ballot standards, instead of ballot standards which vary state by state. He also advocated instant runoff voting and public funding of public campaigns.

Nader said that the two-party system is not allowing third parties access to the higher tiers of federal government, and this two-party system is moving gradually to a one-party system, where gerrymandered districts make reelection almost certain for many members of Congress. He called this a system that can be rented by the rich. In spite of the stronghold that the two parties have on the system, Nader said that he has talked with several members of Congress who may be interested in helping to move legislation on election reform. He mentioned by name: John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), and Jessie Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.). He anticipates this reform effort to be difficult, because as he said, "the foxes are guarding the chicken coop." Nader seems ready for a fight.

(08:50)
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Pomeroy: Grand slam, home run of a speech

Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) says "I think it was the 17th State of the Union I've heard, and I thought under the total circumstances facing this country, it was the best" and Pomeroy says it was a grand slam, home run of a speech.

by Suzia van Swol and Candyce Torres, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
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McCain says stimulus bill is bad for economic future of America

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz), made a speech on the Senate floor, today, on the compromised version of the stimulus package. In his statement he said: "This legislation, in my view, is very, very bad for the economic future of America."
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"Come on in, fraud is welcome"

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) made this comment in an opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee on how he felt banks and private mortgage companies had relaxed their standards for loans.
February 11, 2009.
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"Was the First 350 of the TARP spent well?"

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Representative J. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.), asks this questions to Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, at the House Financial Services Committee today.
February 10, 2009.
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Director for CIA nominee calls for cross-party unity

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Leon Panetta, nominee for Director of the CIA called for Republicans and Democrats to work together in tackling security at his hearing before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee today. February 5, 2009.
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