Clay

(Note: Jacob Carpenter of the P-D Washington Bureau sent this from the committee.)

WASHINGTON — When U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves appeared in front of a House subcommittee today, Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St Louis, said he was squarely in Groves’ corner…

Rep. Clay

WASHINGTON — Could this have simply been a ploy to get liberals as riled up as conservatives?

Whatever the motivation, the Obama administration’s suggestion that they might drop the drive for a public option from health-care reform has left the impression…

Nancy Pelosi

WASHINGTON — In the blowback to the shifting health care debate, many progressives were wondering today what kind of reform would be left if Democrats back off the demand that any package contain a government entity to compete with insurance companies.

Some…

Robert Groves

UPDATED   WASHINGTON — Late afternoon on Monday, the Senate will take up a knotty problem that has slowed preparation for the 2010 Census — the stalled nomination of Robert Groves to head the Census Bureau.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced today…

WASHINGTON — What’s the biggest issue confronting Congress in the months ahead?

No, not the economy. It’s health care, the most vexing issue for many families and a cost to Americans that rose last year at twice the rate of inflation. Again.

On…

WASHINGTON — As the Tuesday deadline approaches for the Obama administration to evaluate auto makers’ restructuring packages, Democrats from  Missouri and Illinois are pushing to save 5,000 jobs at a Chrysler plant near St. Louis.

In a letter to Steven Rattner, a top adviser for President Obama’s…

Clay

WASHINGTON — Minorities and urban neighborhoods have long been under counted by the U.S. census and officials are hoping that a $312 million ad campaign can reverse the trend for the 2010 tally.

But Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, is wondering…

Sen. Bond

WASHINGTON – It’s doubtful, despite what President Barack Obama said this morning in signing into law that big-whoppin’ $410 billion government spending bill chock full of special spending projects earmarked by senators and House members.

But if Washington follows Obama’s lead, Sen. Claire McCaskill might…

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s budget proposal today is about much more than spending money.

From health-care reform to fighting climate change to ending farm subsidies to many absentee landlords and insurance companies, Obama’s budget would make some wholescale changes in the nation’s priorities.

I say “would” rather than…

Clay

WASHINGTON — Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, spoke about honesty and transparent governing in sizing up Barack Obama’s speech

“The President committed to being honest about the difficulties ahead and he challenged Congress and the American people to pull together, confront boldly the problems…