Author: Alan Fram
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Senate Dems curb filibuster, risk future problems
WASHINGTON — Democrats quickly enjoyed the first fruits of a milestone Senate vote making it harder for the Republican minority to block President Barack Obama’s nominations: They swiftly ended a GOP filibuster against one of his top judicial selections and prepared to do the same for two others. Over the longer term, they might regret…
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Obama slams senators who opposed gun measure
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans backed by a small band of rural-state Democrats scuttled the most far-reaching gun control legislation in two decades on Wednesday, refusing to tighten background checks on firearms buyers or ban assault weapons as they spurned the personal pleas of families of the victims of last winter’s elementary school shootings in Newtown,…
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AP-Univision Poll: Hispanic discrimination high
WASHINGTON — Who’s discriminated against in America? More people say Hispanics than blacks or women — and it’s far from just Hispanics who feel that way. An Associated Press-Univision Poll found that 61 percent of people overall said Hispanics face significant discrimination, compared with 52 percent who said blacks do and 50 percent who said…
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Poll: Americans say U.S. cars top Asian autos
WASHINGTON — America’s love affair with the automobile has a new spark — a renewed affection for U.S.-made cars after a long dalliance with foreign automakers. Slightly more Americans now say the United States makes better-quality vehicles than Asia does, with 38 percent saying U.S. cars are best and 33 percent naming autos made by…
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Senate passes fix-it health bill; House is next
WASHINGTON — Democrats muscled legislation through the Senate on Thursday reshaping parts of the new health care overhaul law, sending it back to the House for what is expected to be final congressional approval. With Vice President Joe Biden presiding in case his vote was needed to break a tie, the Senate approved the measure…
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Obama says time for debating health care is over
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged Congress Wednesday to vote “up or down” on sweeping health care legislation in the next few weeks, endorsing a plan that denies Senate Republicans the right to kill the bill by stalling with a filibuster. “I don’t see how another year of negotiations would help. Moreover, the insurance companies…
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Obama disapproval on health care up to 52 percent
WASHINGTON — Public disapproval of President Barack Obama’s handling of health care has leaped to 52 percent, according to Associated Press-GfK poll that underscores the country’s glowering mood as the White House made a renewed pitch for an overhaul. Just 42 percent approve of the president’s work on the high-profile health issue. The survey was…
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Most pet owners say they understand pets’ language
WASHINGTON – When your dog says “Woof,” you hear an eager, “Let’s take a walk.” And your cat has a certain entitled meow that you know means, “Put more food in my bowl – now!”You are not alone.Sixty-seven percent of pet owners say they understand their animals’ barks, purrs and other sounds, according to an…
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Poll: Voters souring on McCain, Obama stays steady
WASHINGTON – When it comes to the public’s image of John McCain, it’s as if somebody dialed the electricity down in the past month. For Barack Obama, the juice is still flowing. People’s regard for the Republican presidential nominee has deteriorated across the board since September, an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll showed Friday, with McCain…
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Poll: Obama struggling to win over Clinton voters
WASHINGTON – Barack Obama’s support from backers of Hillary Rodham Clinton is stuck smack where it was in June, a poll showed Tuesday, a stunning lack of progress that is weakening him with fellow Democrats in the close presidential race.An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll shows that among adults who backed his rival during their bitter…