Obama Signs Temporary Spending Bill

President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday that will keep the government funded through December 16^th.

The continuing resolution, the latest in a series of temporary spending bills, was included in a legislative package alongside appropriations bills for several government agencies- Agriculture, Justice, Transportation, Commerce and Housing and Urban Development.

On Thursday, the bill passed through the House with a 298-121 vote and through the Senate 70 to 30. The measure, priced at approximately $130 billion, is a clean extension of current funding levels.

Another Dem Calls For Hearing Into Penn State Scandal

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) on Thursday called on the head of Congress’ committee on education to investigate what went wrong at Penn State University, where a former football coach allegedly sexually abused a series of young boys from 1994 to 2009.

In a letter to House Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.), Miller asked whether federal laws designed to prevent such abuse from taking place at public institutions need to be reformed.

“We have a responsibility to our children and our communities to maintain vigorous oversight of child safety issues,” Miller wrote. “Any specific remedies we identify through such collective oversight should be immediately taken up by this House.”

Earlier in the week, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) called for congressional hearings into the matter, as well.

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Dean Of The House Challenges Congress To Stay In Session

Dean of the House Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) challenged Congress to stay in session until ” we can accomplish something of value, something worthwhile for the American people.”

In a Politico Op-Ed published late Wednesday evening, Dingell expressed his frustration with the political atmosphere that has engulfed Capitol Hill and argued that, thus far, the 112th Congress has been spinning its wheels and has failed at being a productive legislative body. 

“We’ve wasted the time of this great institution in a fashion worthy of the dreamiest kindergartener,” Dingell said. “I’m not willing to say Congress is broken. I am, however, ready to say that we need some repair work.”

Dingell, the longest-serving member in the House, challenged Congress to remain in Washington until it takes significant steps towards resolving the wide-array of issues currently facing the country. 

“There are traditionally bipartisan proposals in these areas,” Dingel wrote. “There is no reason there shouldn’t be today if members of Congress are willing to put their country ahead of their career.”

Click Here to read the full text of Dingell’s challenge to Congress… 

Ron Paul Calls For Return To Gold Standard

By Mike Hothi

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has a solution to Chinese currency manipulation — return to the gold standard.

“The ideal world would be for all governments to endorse the [gold standard] and provide it internationally,” said Paul, who is running for GOP presidential nomination.

Paul said the gold standard would solve complaints by U.S. officials that China’s weak currency gives it an unfair trade advantage. “You wouldn’t have competing devaluations in currency that lead to trade wars.”

Speaking at the Cato Institute, Paul also claimed that China is not the only country guilty of currency manipulation.

“What about us?” Paul asked. “Don’t you think we manipulate our currency?”

Paul finished first in a new South Carolina straw poll out today, taking home 38 percent of the vote. He also won a San Diego straw poll on Monday, finishing at 30 percent.

Casey Calls For Hearing In Wake Of Penn State

Citing the Penn State scandal, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) is pushing for a hearing to discuss strengthening laws that require Americans to report incidents of child abuse.

“The tragic events reported from Penn State have been a shock to the nation’s conscience,” Casey said in a statement. “It is clear we need to examine the federal laws that are designed to protect children from this type of heinous abuse.”

The Pennsylvania Democrat sent a formal request to Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the Chair and Ranking Member of a Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families.

Meanwhile, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) said today that she will soon file legislation that would end federal funding to public institutions that fail to report incidents of sexual abuse.

“The failure of top university officials to act on reports of Mr. Sandusky’s alleged sexual misconduct, even after it was reported to them in graphic detail by an eyewitness, possibly allowed a predator to walk free for years - continuing to target new victims,” Jackson Lee said in reference to former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky. “Equally disturbing is the lack of action and apparent lack of concern among those same officials, and others who received information about this case, who either avoided asking difficult questions or chose to look the other way. My legislation will hopefully put an end to situations like this.”

This report was updated at 10:54 a.m.