Dec 30th, 2008 · Prisons are excluded from legislation giving millions of dollars to television viewers for coupons to cut the cost of a converter box for digital television. TV is crucial for cash-strapped, under-staffed prisons, many of which rely on analog television sets to keep prisoners occupied.
Dec 17th, 2008 · The D.C. City Council has passed emergency legislation that would allow bars and restaurants to serve alcohol around the clock until 5 a.m. in the days leading up to the inauguration. The city's mayor says he'll sign the bill.
Dec 14th, 2008 · Liane Hansen and NPR News Analyst Juan Williams continue their series of discussions on the civil rights milestones that led to the election of Barack Obama. They discuss the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, and the state of racial discrimination in the U.S. leading up to that time. That includes reluctance to pass anti-lynching legislation, A. Philip Randolph's threat to Franklin D Roosevelt to organize a march on Washington if military industries did not hire blacks, segregation in the military, and the paltry representation of blacks in U.S. politics.
Dec 11th, 2008 · Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn says if Illinois legislators do not begin impeachment hearings soon, he supports having the state attorney general going to the Supreme Court to remove Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office. Quinn talks about the reasons for his position.
Dec 7th, 2008 · Several toy companies agreed to pay a total of nearly $1.8 million last week to settle a lawsuit over lead-tainted toys made in China. The discovery last year prompted a toy recall across America and new legislation forcing toymakers to step up their safety standards.
Nov 19th, 2008 · On Thursday, Democrats in the House will cast a vote deciding who they want to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee. The face-off is a battle between two legislative titans in Congress: Current Chairman John Dingell, from Michigan, and California Rep. Henry Waxman.
Nov 19th, 2008 · CEO's from GM, Ford and Chrysler appear Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee. Barney Frank, the committee's chairman, has drafted legislation extending the $700 billion rescue program to Detroit's Big Three. He talks with Steve Inskeep about whether Congress can pass the measure.
Nov 11th, 2008 · President-elect Barack Obama's transition from the Bush administration to his own Cabinet and staff will be the toughest since the Civil War, according to Paul Light of New York University's School of Public Service. "There are enough Republicans in the Senate to place legislative holds on nominations," Light said.