Mediaboss Marketing

One Senate Republican is finding that even his pleas to the House to take up an extension of unemployment insurance benefits is falling on deaf ears.

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., who was one of the architects of the bipartisan compromise to retroactively pay emergency unemployment benefits that expired on Dec. 28 and extend the program through the end of May, pleaded his case with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Tuesday. Boehner has insisted that any legislation must both be paid for and include ways to promote job growth (although he opposes the bill for other reasons too, arguing it cannot be implemented).

According to the Las Vegas Sun, Heller spoke with Boehner by phone Tuesday and asked him to bring the bill up for a vote in the House.

"He encouraged the Speaker to allow the unemployment insurance extension legislation to move forward in the House, making the case that this bill is not just important for Nevada, but for the entire country," Heller's communications director, Chandler Smith, told the Sun.

Although the bill does not enjoy widespread Republican support, seven Republicans have signed onto a letter to Boehner requesting the same. On the House side, Democrats are filing a "discharge petition," which would force the Republican leadership to put their version of an unemployment benefits extension up for a vote if a majority of House members sign on. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Wednesday there were more than 100 House Democrats who were immediately signing the petition, but it's unlikely to get enough Republican support to make it to the floor.

But Boehner is sticking to his guns and won't consider the legislation because it doesn't include separate job-creation measures. Senate Republicanstried to add a series of measures in a catch-all amendment to the bill they say would boost job growth, like approving the Keystone XL pipeline, reducing taxes on small businesses, and eliminating the 30-hour workweek rule in Obamacare. But it was dropped from consideration because there was enough Republican support for the bill to overcome a potential filibuster.

For now, it seems unlikely that the situation will change. The House Republicans' spring agenda, laid out in a memo circulated by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., last week, includes legislation dealing with charter schools, human trafficking and small tax measures - not unemployment.

2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Go here to see the original:
Republican senator pushes John Boehner to pass unemployment bill

SPRINGFIELD Republican lawmakers say they're pleased to see a federal investigation of Gov. Pat Quinn's controversial anti-violence program.

State officials confirmed Thursday that the Justice Department has requested information about the Democratic governor's Neighborhood Recovery Initiative in response to claims of abuse and corruption.

"People want to know their tax dollars are being spent right," said state Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill. "That's from a policy standpoint. If there's any criminal activity, we want to root that out, too."

The neighborhood initiative was set up to combat crime in Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, but it came under scrutiny after Auditor General William Holland criticized the program for mismanagement of its funds.

A March report detailed some of the program's failings and described the effort as "hastily implemented." Recently, claims have circulated that the program was set up to benefit Quinn's political allies.

Shortly after that report was issued, Reis joined with several Republican lawmakers to call for a federal investigation of the program.

"I'm happy that it's moving forward, because we felt from the beginning that this wasn't right," he said.

State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, was part of that effort, co-signing a March 6 letter to the U.S. Attorney's office in Springfield and Chicago.

"Here we've seen that there are massive gaps of information, and I think it's absolutely appropriate that the U.S. government step in and take a look," Barickman said. "I think the audit report shows evidence of a high number of questionable actions that warrants law enforcement action."

Reis argued that the controversy has been politically revealing for Quinn, who is in the midst of a race for re-election against wealthy Republican businessman Bruce Rauner.

Original post:
Republican lawmakers praise probe of Quinn program

SPRINGFIELD Republican lawmakers say theyre pleased to see a federal probe of Gov. Pat Quinns controversial anti-violence program.

State officials confirmed Thursday that the Justice Department has requested information about the Democratic governors Neighborhood Recovery Initiative in response to claims of abuse and corruption.

People want to know their tax dollars are being spent right, said state Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill. Thats from a policy standpoint. If theres any criminal activity, we want to root that out, too.

The program was set up to combat crime in Chicagos most dangerous neighborhoods, but it came under scrutiny after Auditor General William Holland slammed the program for mismanagement of its funds.

A March report detailed some of the programs failings and described the effort as hastily implemented. Recently, claims have circulated that the program was set up to benefit Quinns political allies.

Shortly after that report was issued, Reis joined with several Republican lawmakers to call for a federal investigation of the program.

Im happy that its moving forward, because we felt from the beginning that this wasnt right, he said.

State Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, was part of that effort, co-signing a March 6 letter to the U.S. Attorney's office in Springfield and Chicago.

Here weve seen that there are massive gaps of information and I think its absolutely appropriate that the U.S. government step in and take a look, Barickman said. I think the audit report shows evidence of a high number of questionable actions that warrants law enforcement action.

TJ.Fowler@lee.net /217-557-9650

Continue reading here:
Republican lawmakers praise feds' investigation

Republican Darling, Rancher Cliven Bundy, Wonders if Blacks Were #39;Better Off as Slaves #39;
The hornery 67-year-old Nevadan cattle rancher Cliven Bundy, who has kicked up a great deal of dust the past month about the Bureau of Land Management planni...

By: ojosasi

More:
Republican Darling, Rancher Cliven Bundy, Wonders if Blacks Were 'Better Off as Slaves' - Video

2014 National 1916 Easter Rising Commemoration
Oration by Republican Sinn Fin Vice President Fergal Moore TEAGMHIL / CONTACT Head Office; Teach Dith Conaill, 223 Srid Pharnell, BC 1, ire. Teil: 0...

By: Republican Sinn Fin

Read the original here:
2014 National 1916 Easter Rising Commemoration - Video