Yahoo! News: Politics - Democratic Party

Politics - Democratic Party

• No viable auto industry bailout plan: Democrats (AFP)

  AFP - Democrats in Congress Thursday put off a vote on a bailout for crisis-hit "Big Three" auto makers off until at least December, and told industry chiefs to come up with a new rescue pitch.

  
  

• Dems are postponing crucial vote on auto bailout (AP)

  AP - Democratic leaders in Congress sidetracked legislation to bail out the auto industry Thursday and demanded the Big Three develop a plan assuring the money would make them economically viable.

  
  

• Dems: Napolitano emerges for Homeland Security job (AP)

  AP - President-elect Barack Obama is likely to choose Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to be secretary of homeland security, top Obama advisers and several Democrats said Thursday as the shape of Obama's Cabinet begins to emerge.

  
  

• Ark. police close probe in Ark. Democrat's slaying (AP)

  AP - City and state police have closed their investigations into last summer's shooting of Arkansas' Democratic Party chairman without offering an explanation of why the attack occurred.

• New Senate to get major global warming bill (AFP)

  AFP - Top Senate Democrats on Thursday said they would introduce major global warming legislation early next year, saying Barack Obama's election meant a "sea change" in the battle against climate change.

  
  

• Waxman Topples Dingell, Claims Gavel at House Energy and Commerce (CQPolitics.com)

  CQPolitics.com - House Democrats on Thursday handed Henry A. Waxman of California the gavel of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, toppling veteran Chairman John D. Dingell of Michigan.

• Waxman topples Dingell for key panel chair (AP)

  AP - Rep. Henry Waxman — a liberal ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi — has wrested the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee from veteran Rep. John Dingell when the new Congress convenes in January.

  
  

• Dems look to stop endangered species rule changes (AP)

  AP - With the Bush administration on the verge of relaxing regulations protecting endangered species, Democratic leaders are looking at ways to overturn any last-minute rule changes.

  
  

• Seniority, Loyalty Loom Large in Committee Fight (CQPolitics.com)

  CQPolitics.com - House Democrats are scheduled Thursday to select the next chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, a vote that is viewed as a referendum not only on energy issues but also on the House's seniority system.

• Dems see new signs Gates will stay (Politico)

  Politico - Democratic officials said they see new signs that President-elect Barack Obama will ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to stay in his post.

  
  

• Democrats seek to lower expectations for bailout (AP)

  AP - Top Senate Democrats suggested Wednesday that a bill to rescue Detroit's Big Three automakers was stalled and challenged the Bush administration to take steps to save the industry if congressional efforts falter. The White House quickly rebuffed the suggestion.

  
  

• Leadership panel backs Waxman for energy chairman (AP)

  AP - Rep. Henry Waxman of California won backing from a House Democratic leadership panel Wednesday to replace veteran Rep. John Dingell as chairman of the committee with oversight of energy and global warming.

  
  

• Congo rebel pullback raises hopes for peace talks (Reuters)

  Reuters - Hundreds of Congolese rebel fighters pulled back on Wednesday from frontline positions in a move U.N. peacekeepers hoped would open the way for talks on ending weeks of conflict in east Congo.

  
  

• Stevens ousted; Dems eye power of 60 (Politico)

  Politico - The Democratic pursuit of 60 Senate seats received new life Tuesday night after Alaska Democrat Mark Begich was declared the winner over Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate.

  
  

• Obama to usher in major shift in trade policy (AP)

  AP - The election of Barack Obama has delivered a decisive victory to "fair traders," mainly Democrats and their allies who for years have contended that the free-trade policies of past administrations were recipes for American job losses and environmental degradation.

  
  

• Alaska Sen. Stevens concedes in re-election race (AP)

  AP - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens conceded defeat Wednesday in a re-election bid shadowed by his federal felony conviction, a bitter end to a four-decade career in which he held a commanding place in state politics and on some of the most influential congressional committees in Washington.

  
  

• Stevens Loss to Begich Brings Democrats Near Senatorial Clout (Bloomberg)

  Bloomberg - Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Alaska Senator Ted Stevens lost his bid to stay in office after being convicted on felony charges as ballot counts two weeks after Election Day gave Democrat Mark Begich an insurmountable lead.

  
  

• Alaska Sen. Stevens concedes in re-election race (AP)

  AP - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens conceded defeat Wednesday in a re-election bid shadowed by his federal felony conviction, a bitter end to a four-decade career in which he held a commanding place in state politics and on some of the most influential congressional committees in Washington.

  
  

• Democrats claim victory over veteran Alaskan senator (AFP)

  AFP - Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the US Senate, looked set Wednesday to be ousted by voters after a graft scandal, boosting Democrat hopes of winning a filibuster-proof majority.

  
  

• Broad drilling ban to stand (AP)

  AP - House Democrats have no interest in restoring the broad ban on oil and gas development off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts but will seek to "delineate areas available for drilling" when Congress returns next year, the second-ranking Democrat in the House said Tuesday.