House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized Republicans Friday for choosing not to work through the weekend on payroll relief.
“Americans can’t wait,” Pelosi said during a press conference. “We must act now.”
Pelosi’s comments came on the same day that Republicans released their alternative to Democrats’ plans to extend the payroll tax cut.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is still endorsing President Obama in the 2012 election, despite claims in a fake press release that circulated Tuesday night.
“We stand by our Nov. 16, 2011 endorsement of President Obama as part of a broader ‘99 percent’ strategy to create good jobs now, end devastating cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and require everyone to pay their fair share,” read a statement on the SEIU blog.
The fake press release quoted SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry as saying, “Our members gave $60.7 million dollars to the Obama campaign in 2008 and fought hard for his election because we were promised change. We’re still waiting.”
No word yet on the identity of the prankster or the purpose of the hoax.
2012 election, Obama, SEIU in Quick News Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will pick up a key endorsement Tuesday from former Vice President Dan Quayle.
Romney, whose seen his numbers in recent polls skid with the emergence of Newt Gingrich, could not have picked a better time to pick up as influential an endorsement as Quayle.
Quayle, who served as vice president under George H.W. Bush, is expected to announce his endorsement of Romney in Paradise Valley, Ariz. where he has a home. Quayle’s son, Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), is a member of the Republican freshman class.
Romney’s new endorsement comes just days after meeting with Bush senior, though sources have indicated that the meeting was just a “casual get-together,” according to reports.
By Janie Amaya
Local activists began preparations Monday for three days of protests in the nation’s Capitol.
OurDC, a Washington-based nonprofit, is organizing the protests in hopes of drawing attention to unemployment within the district and beyond.
“I’m hoping [Congress] will see the multitude of people that are unemployed. And I’m hoping that it will make them think and re-route their thought pattern as far as cuts, and bring good jobs back into the district,” said Linda Evans, an activist with OurDC.
The demonstrations, entitled “Take Back The Capitol,” will include candlelight vigils, marches and rallies.
OurDC anticipates being joined by 3,000 activists from across the country and are mobilizing for the influx.
“We’re … making sure that the people that come to town have housing. We’ve got churches and various community support groups that are helping out with feeding people,” OurDC activist John Butler told Talk Radio News.
UPDATE: FAA head Randy Babbitt has been placed on leave after his DWI arrest according to a statement released by the Department of Transportation. Deputy administrator Michael Huerta will serve as acting FAA leader
Story updated by Mike Hothi at 2:55p.m. EST…
WASHINGTON — At least he wasn’t flying a plane.
Randolph “Randy” Babbitt, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was charged with drunk driving over the weekend.
Babbitt was arrested without incident on Saturday for driving on the wrong side of the road, according to The Washington Post. Fairfax City police spotted him on the Old Lee Highway.
Babbitt was reportedly released on his own recognizance. He faces a February 2 court date, a Fairfax City police spokesman told the Post.
President Obama nominated Babbitt to become the 16th FAA Administrator in 2009. Babbitt has previously served under President Bill Clinton as FAA Management Advisory Council.
Neither the FAA or Department of Transportation have issued statements on the arrest.
