Latest News and Feature Stories
President's
Radio Address of 08/19/00 (RealPlayer Audio)
On Steps to Address the Teacher Shortage. (Text
only)
08/28/00 - Abraham Lincoln a Racist?
In his latest book, black American author, Lerone Bennett, presents evidence
supporting the theory that Abraham Lincoln was, in fact, racist harboring a
life-long desire to see all black Americans deported to Africa. Radical concept,
but is it fair?
08/25/00 - Supreme Court Set to Test Sexual
Predator Law
Can state laws extend the confinement of convicted “sexual predators”
beyond their release dates for “treatment,” or does this represent double
jeopardy under the 5th Amendment? On Oct. 31, the Supreme Court will be asked to
decide.
08/22/00 - DOT to Airlines: What's the Delay?
Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater is tired of commercial air flight delays
and cancellations. On Aug. 21, he met with airline executives to figure how to
fix the situation. Other than agreeing to agree, what came out of the 2-hour
summit?
08/21/00 Notch Babies - Can Congress Help
Them?
We are all familiar with the Baby Boomers’ Social Security fears -- will it be
there when the need it? Well, the Notch Babies need it now, and it’s not there
for them. Not all of it anyway. Can Congress help the Notch Babies?
08/17/00 - US Navy's Sub Rescue Team
As hopes fade for the rescue of the 118 sailors trapped aboard the sunken
Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, you might wonder what sort of systems the
United States has of rescuing sailors trapped on submarines of our Navy.
08/16/00 - Broken Arrows to Faded Giants
The Russian government says the nuclear submarine Kursk carried no atomic
weapons. Yet, her reactor and radioactive fuel remain at the bottom of the sea.
Learn how the US Department of Defense informs the public of similar nuclear
accidents.
08/14/00 - Supreme Court - A Brief History
"The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one
Supreme Court,” is all the Constitution says about the Supreme Court. So, how
did they get to where are today? Learn a little about the past and the present
of the Supreme Court.
08/10/00 - US Congress – Long Road, Short Time
When Congress returns on Sept 5, the President
wants them to take care of -- The 2001 Budget, Gun Control, China Free Trade,
Minimum Wage, Prescription Drug Benefits, HMO Patient’s Rights, and more --
all in about 20 days – in an election year
08/08/00 - Missing
pension search
According to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, nearly 10,000 Americans
are owed over $19 million in uncollected pension plan benefits. To help reunite
those people with their missing money, the PGBC operates the Pension Search Web
site.
08/08/00 - Helping Small
Business Employees Save
Employees of small businesses, women and low wage earners will get help in
planning and saving for retirement under several new U.S. government
initiatives recently announced by Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman.
08/08/00 - Historic
Confederate Sub Hunley Raised
The wreck of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley has been recovered intact
under the direction of a National Parks Service team. The Hunley became the
first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship during battle 136 years
ago.
08/07/00 - Grants
to train Americans for tech jobs
$80 million in grants will be available this year to train Americans for
high-tech jobs. The grants are partially funded by fees received through the
controversial H1-B visa program that allows companies to hire temporary foreign
workers.
08/04/00 - Good Old Fashioned Conventions
Major political party presidential conventions have become about as exciting as
watching the Electoral College vote. It wasn't always like this. Take the 1860,
for example, when the Democrats needed two conventions and nominated two
candidates.
08/02/00 - Ten Commandments - Kentucky Loses Again
For the second time since 1980, the U.S. federal
court system has issued a "separation of church and state" decision
preventing the state of Kentucky from commemorating the Ten Commandments.
07/31/00 - US Had to Pass
Innocent Child Act
Passage of a bill outlawing execution of pregnant women may have seemed like
a silly, politically-driven, election year move by the US House, but the United
States was required by treaty to enact such a law.
07/31/00 - Clinton Won't Stop
Gun Buyback Program
President Clinton will direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) to continue operating its gun buyback program despite being ordered by a
House appropriation subcommittee to stop it.
07/31/00 - Texas - Oklahoma
Finally Draw the Line
The governor of Oklahoma once rolled up to the
Red River in an Army tank to protect his state’s rights in a hot border
dispute with the state of Texas. After
200 years, the U.S. Congress may soon settle this riverbank ruckus.
07/27/00 - Child
gun deaths continue to decline
A report from the CDC shows the number of children per day killed by gunfire
has dropped from 16 to 10 since 1994. Crediting laws like the Brady Act and
tougher enforcement as the reason, President Clinton pushes for passage of even
more gun laws.
07/25/00 - Astronauts
Wanted - Travel Required
See the world – lots of them. Do you have the “right stuff” to apply for
one of the most exciting jobs in government? Thousands apply, but NASA picks
only about 20 people every-other-year to be astronaut candidates.
07/23/00 - E-sign - Be Careful
What You Ask For
When the President used a magnetic card to sign Digital E-signatures Act, he
also used an ink pen to sign a paper copy. Whether he did so to "make it
official," or "just in case," use of the pen signaled thorny
E-questions.
07/21/00 - Popular Government Toll Free Numbers
A handy index to hundreds of the most popular 1-800, toll-free customer
service telephone numbers at U.S. Government agencies.
07/19/00 - Job Openings in State Government
One of the hardest parts of finding state government jobs is... well,
finding them. State Web sites can be painfully hard to navigate. Well, finding
state government job listings just got a whole lot easier.
07/18/00 - House Passes E-mail
‘Spam’ Control Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill designed to help
Internet users prevent receipt of unsolicited commercial or sexually-oriented
e-mail messages, typically referred to as "Spam." Read the details of
this proposed law.
07/18/00 - Internet Gambling Ban
Now in Congress
Three bills now before Congress would effectively ban the more than 700 online
casinos now taking in over $1 billion in bets annually via their Web sites.
Read about the specifics of these bills and find out who supports them.
07/16/00 - A Day in the Supreme Court
"God save the United States and this Honorable Court,” chants the
Marshal as the U.S. Supreme Court enters the courtroom to hear arguments and
decide over 150 major cases every term. Read about the processes and traditions
of the Supreme Court.
07/14/00 - President will veto
death tax repeal
Congress today sent President Clinton a bill phasing out the estate, or
"death" tax and gift tax. The President is opposed to repealing the
estate and gift taxes and is expected to veto the bill. Read the President’s
official statement on the bill.
07/13/00 - Carnivore No
Threat to Privacy FBI Says
"Carnivore" is a new FBI system -- software installed on a dedicated
PC -- that scans all incoming and outgoing e-mail for messages associated with
a criminal investigation. According to the FBI, Carnivore is no threat to
personal privacy.
07/13/00 - Pick
a Park, Any Park
The National Parks Service enters the E-government arena with a pair of Web
sites designed to help vacationers find exactly the right park or parks to
visit. Pick your desired activities and interests and - bingo – they pick
your parks for you.
07/11/00 - FTC Cooling-Off Rule
Protects You
The FTC’s Cooling-Off Period Rule gives you the right to cancel for a full
refund many purchases made at locations like flea markets, fairs, traveling
shows and conventions. Find out the details in this important consumer
protection law.
07/09/00 - Web Sites From Mars
by 2009?
By 2009, we could be viewing Web pages served up from computers on Mars
via NASA's Mars Network, NASA’s first step toward “a virtual presence
throughout the solar system.” Are day trading from Jupiter or buying Pluto
rocks on E-bay be next?
07/08/00 - Kill
vehicle misses again
The Ballistic Missile Defense System's "kill vehicle" didn't, kill
that is, for the second time in two straight $100 million tests. Read the
fascinating official Defense Department details on how the kill vehicle should
work.
07/07/00 - You
mean that's NOT classified?
How might the U.S. military employ artificial intelligence technology in
battle? That’s Classified, Top-Secret information, right? No. You can find
this and more seemingly sensitive technical information on this Defense
Department Web site.
07/05/00 - Mission
Control comes to your PC
Space fans can now view real-time displays of the exact orbital positions of the
Space Shuttle, International Space Station and many other satellites on NASA’s
J-Track -- Liftoff 2.5 Web site. It’s like having Mission Control right on
your PC.
07/02/00 - SC Lowers Rebel flag,
but battle goes on
At midday on Saturday, July 1, 2000, as protestors both for and against the
action looked on, the Confederate Battle Flag was lowered from the flagpole atop
the South Carolina State Capitol dome in Columbia. Read some of your opinions on
this issue.
07/01/00 - Public Schools Don't Have a Prayer
American public school students can still -- under certain specific
conditions -- pray at school, but the opportunities to do so are dwindling fast.
Find out how and why our schools went from a prayer-a-day to no prayers at all
since 1962.
06/30/00 - Clinton
E-signs digital signature law
A very famous quill pen was used in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 to sign the
Declaration of Independence. Today, almost 224 years later, President Clinton
used a specially encoded "smart" card to sign into law a bill making
electronic signatures as valid as those signed by hand in ink.
06/28/00 - Supreme Court
Strikes Anti-abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court today issued a 5-4 ruling striking down as
unconstitutional a state law prohibiting the procedure referred to as a
"partial birth abortion" in the state of Nebraska.
06/28/00 - House Backs Religious
Ohio Motto
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution urging the Supreme
Court to reverse an Appeals Court decision and rule the Ohio state motto --
"With God All Things Are Possible" -- to be constitutional.
06/27/00 - Cuban Embargo Could
be Lowered
Republican Members of the U.S. House will attempt to pass, as an amendment to
another bill, legislation that would lower the 40-year old U.S. embargo on sales
of food and medicine to Cuba.
06/26/00 - Miranda Rights Upheld
by Supreme Court
In perhaps its most important criminal law case of the decade, the U.S.
Supreme Court today issued a decisive 7-2 decision upholding its legendary
Miranda ruling of 34 years ago.
06/25/00 - Do You Trust the
Government?
In 1994, the University of Michigan conducted a
poll asking people, "Do you trust the government to do the right things
most of the time?" Sadly, only 21 percent answered "Yes."
Have “Government Reinvention” efforts helped increase public trust?
06/23/00 - Federal
Tea-taster sips no more
The
official office of Federal Tea-taster, created in 1897, still existed in 1995.
When the Clinton Administration finally pulled the plug on the office in 1996,
the Federal Tea-taster was costing taxpayers $120,000 a year.
06/22/00 - Bad Air Day? Ask the
EPA
A new E-government Web site from the EPA provides current reports of ozone
air pollution levels in your area. The system is part of a larger initiative to
make all pollution information available online.
06/19/00 - Supreme Court - No
Football Prayers
Finding that the practice violates the constitutionally required separation
of church and state in the 1st Amendment, the Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that
public school districts may not allow students to lead prayers at high school
football games.
06/19/00 - Digital Signatures -
Not so Fast
After President Clinton signs the Digital Signatures Act, unanimously passed by
the Senate last Friday, what will you be able to do that you can't do now?
Nothing -- until the little problem of digital forgery is worked out.
06/18/00 - Financial
Assistance for Cancer Patients
Sources of government and private help with the enormous financial burdens
of cancer treatment.
06/15/00 - Opinion: Government
Computer Insecurity
Why don't we know the all the facts about events
like Roswell or the Kennedy assassination? Because, back then, the U.S.
government did not yet have PCs on which to store secrets for later theft or
"misplacement."
06/14/00 - Second Amendment Gets
its Day in Court
One day, a doctor legally owns a gun. Next day, his wife gets a routine
temporary restraining order against him, and "presto" the doctor turns
into a federal felon. Will the case of U.S. v. Emerson be the defining moment
for the Second Amendment?
06/12/00
- HMOs Win Big in Supreme Court
A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that
patients cannot sue their HMO under federal law when the HMO's cost-cutting
practices result in improper medical treatment. Links to the text of the case
and the Court’s complete ruling.
06/11/00 - Government Aid & Money – No Grant Needed
Where to find help with: Small Business Needs,
Healthcare, Work or Career, Home Improvements, Hunger and Child Care or Family
Needs. In most cases, you do not need a grant to get assistance from a
government program.
06/09/00 - Status of FY 2001 Spending Bills
Congress is now deciding how to spend about $600
billion of the over $1.7 trillion federal budget for 2001. The annual
“Appropriations” bills of the federal budget process are now being
considered. Learn about and track these important bills.
06/07/00 - Judge to Microsoft -
Break it Up!
District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson has today issued his final judgment
in the Microsoft antitrust case. In a surprise to nobody, Judge Jackson has
ordered that software behemoth Microsoft be split into two separate functional
units.
06/07/00 - Helping the Disabled
Find Jobs
The Social Security Administration launches a new Web site with important
information and support for disability beneficiaries, employers, service
providers, advocates and others whose goal is to help the disabled find and keep
jobs
06/05/00 - Supreme Court Rules
Against Grandparents
Dealing a major blow to grandparents’ rights, the U.S. Supreme Court today
issued a 6-3 ruling striking down as unconstitutional a Washington state law
under which courts could force parents to allow grandparents to visit their
children.
06/05/00 - Some Tritium with
Your Sunflower Seeds?
In October 1997, three New Jersey teenagers ate some sunflower seeds mixed with
radioactive liquid tritium. Fortunately, help came quickly from the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission and Brookhaven National Labs.
06/04/00 - US - Russia Agree to
Destroy Plutonium
Meeting in Moscow, President Clinton and Russian President Putin have agreed
that both nations should destroy their stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium and
work together on missile warning systems.
06/04/00 - Federal Grants - No Free Lunch
Resources for finding and getting government grants. But, beware -- a government
grant is no Christmas present. The government is not giving away
"free" grant money. Find out about the federal grant process.
06/01/00 - Buy T-bills and Bonds
Online
The Bureau of the Public Debt combines E-government and E-commerce
to allow Internet investors from individual to banks buy and manage T-bills and bonds
online.
05/31/00 - Get Airport Delay Reports from the FAA
Internet users can get near-real-time status
information for 40 major U.S. airports. The FAA hopes to increase coverage to
100 airports in the future.
05/29/00 - ATF Hits Mongols - 70
Guns Taken
The May 18 arrest of 29 Mongol motorcycle gang members by ATF agents and LA
County deputies resulted in seizure of over 70 illegal guns including machine
guns, ten pounds of narcotics, 21 stolen motorcycles, and in excess of $27,000
in cash.
05/26/00 - The Six
'Constitutional' Amendments
The Supreme
Court would throw out a law allowing schools to post the Ten Commandments. But,
the last six Commandments are clearly constitutionally clean by Court standards.
What did the Founding Fathers say about religion and government?
05/25/00 - File IRS Complaints
Online
Americans can now file complaints against employees of the Internal Revenue
Service via the Internet as a service of the Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) Web site.
05/24/00 - House Passes China
Free Trade Bill
After a rare non-partisan debate, the House by a vote of 237-197 today
approved a bill authorizing the United States' to extend permanent normal trade
relations (PNTR) status to the People's Republic of China.
05/23/00 - Supreme Court to Rule
on Air Pollution Laws
The U.S. Supreme Court announced on 5/22/2000 that it would rule on
the constitutionality of the national air pollution standards established by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Clean Air Act.
05/22/00 - US & China -
Warmer All the Time
As Congress prepares for a historic vote that could open
up trade, HUD has inked an agreement of its own with the People's Republic
of China.
05/21/00 - Register for the Draft - It's the
Law
Under the law, virtually all male U.S. citizens,
and male aliens living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to
register with Selective Service. Those who don't face possible stiff penalties.
05/18/00 - Postal Service
Offers Certified Email
The U.S. Postal service offers customers the ability to send
"certified" e-mail. Register now for a 30-day free trial of this new
service.
05/17/00 - Senate Takes
Non-Binding Gun Votes
The bill being considered was about spending for military construction, but
the two votes taken in the U.S. Senate today were about gun control.
05/17/00 - Gun Control Locks Up
Senate
All lawmaking in the U.S. Senate comes to a grinding halt as a surprise
battle over long-pending gun control legislation flares up.
05/16/00 - House Bans Internet
Access Fees
The House of Representatives approves a bill blocking fees for
accessing the Internet and ending forever the infamous myth of bill 602P and
Congressman Tony Schnell.
05/16/00 - House Passes Military
Construction Bill
The House passes a bill allocating
approximately $8.6 billion for new construction and renovation to military
facilities and family housing.
05/15/00 - Buy a HUD House and Save
Every month, over 500,000 Internet users visit the "Homes for
Sale" page of HUD’s Web site where they find daily-updated selections of
thousands of highly affordable homes and apartments sold at auction by HUD plus
nine other government agencies.
05/14/00 - The Minute Man Begs, "Beam Me
Up!"
"Furby Cited as Threat to U.S. Security" - is just one of
the topics in this selection of "one-minute" speeches to the House by
U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant, Jr. (D-Ohio).
05/13/00 - The Perfect Gift for
a Million Moms
The "experts" says the Million Moms march will not move Congress
to pass new gun control laws. It won’t, but that’s not all the moms are
marching for.
05/12/00 - Energy to Help
Rebuild Los Alamos
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson was quoted on May 11, 2000 as stating that his department would help rebuild
the wildfire ravaged town of Los Alamos, New Mexico.
05/11/00 - Los Alamos: After the
Fire
Long after the flames have died, the nuclear waste at the Los Alamos National
Laboratory will remain. But, for how long? Details on DOE plans to clean up Los
Alamos.
05/10/00 - House Extends
Internet Tax Freeze
The House passes a bill to extend the current 3-year moratorium on
Internet taxes for another five years.
05/09/00 - File Internet Fraud
Complaints Online
Using the Justice Department's secured IFCC Web site, consumers can now file
complaints of Internet fraud online.
05/08/00 - Get a Horse! And Make
it a Wild One
Since 1973, Americans have adopted over 169,000
wild horses and burros through the BLM. Read how to view and even place bids to
adopt wild horses and burros online or in person. Also, read about the
first-ever Satellite TV wild horse adoption.
05/07/00 - Nuclear Weapons: Pay Up to Cleanup
The U.S. spends about $96 million a day on
nuclear weapons. The DOE estimates that from $151 billion to $195 billion will
be needed through 2070 for cleanup and closure of nuclear weapons facilities.
05/07/00
- Nuclear Spring
Total number of U.S. nuclear bombs lost in accidents and never recovered: 11
-- This and more nuclear remembrances.
05/04/00 - FDA Will Only Monitor ‘Frankenfoods’
Consumer and environmental safety advocates are far from satisfied with the
Clinton Administration’s first steps toward regulating genetically-altered
foods.
05/04/00 - Senate Debates Public
School Funding
The time has come for Congress to update and renew the law setting federal
spending for public education,
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) last updated in 1965.
05/03/00 - Senate Fails to Override Nuclear Waste Act Veto
The U.S. Senate yesterday failed by a vote of
64 - 35 to override President Clinton's April 25
veto of the Nuclear
Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2000 - S. 1287.
05/02/00 - Clinton Plans to
Protect Consumer Financial Data
President Clinton on April 30, 2000, announced new proposed legislation
designed to protect the financial privacy of American consumers.
05/01/20 - Prison Cities Cash in
on Census 2000
The U.S. Census Bureau counts all prison inmates as residents of the city in
which their prison is located. The result is a financial windfall from the
census.
04/27/00 - What does a census taker do?
Census takers hit the streets of America today for follow-up visits to
addresses that did not return a mail-in Census 2000 forms. Does going out to get
answers to those “personal” census questions in person sound like a fun job?
04/27/00 - U.S. Will Call Child
Gun Victims in Court Battle
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo
is reported as stating that the Clinton Administration intends to call child
survivors of gun violence as witnesses in a looming court battle against gun makers.
04/26/00 - Gun Makers Return
Legal Fire
Seven gun makers file suit against U.S. Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo,
the state attorneys general of New York and Connecticut, and officials of
14 cities.
04/26/00 - INS Denies
Citizenship to Disabled Person
An Anaheim, CA woman has been denied citizenship because she suffers from severe
physical disabilities which prevent her from reciting the required oath of
allegiance.
04/24/00 - Editorial: Let's Just
Let Elian Go Home
Must we find some villains in his story before we can let Elian go home with
his father?
04/24/00 - National Parks Pass a
Money Saver
For $50.00 you can buy a personalized National Parks Pass card that will cover
your "per vehicle" or "per person" entrance fee at 379
national parks, wilderness areas, historic sites and monuments from Acadia to
Zion.
04/23/00 - Federalism: Who's Power is This
Anyway?
Federalism
is the division of powers between the U.S. and state governments. While the
dividing line is drawn by the Constitution, it often requires some
"touch-up" work by the Supreme Court.
04/20/00 -- Area 51: The
Pictures are Out There
When new satellite images of Area 51 were posted on the Internet Monday, the
demand was so high, that the pictures could not be accessed. The pictures are
now loading. Take a look. Is the truth finally out there?
04/18/00 - New Bill Would
Benefit Retired and Disabled Vets
The bill would correct a long standing inequity for veterans who have retired from
the Armed Forces with a service-connected disability.
04/17/00 - FDA 'Mad Cow' Rule
Could Reduce Blood Supply
The new FDA rule requires
U.S. blood banks to turn away donors who have spent a
cumulative total of six months or more in the United Kingdom.
04/16/00 - Why Third Parties?
Their presidential candidates stand little chance of being elected, but America's third
political parties have historically promoted concepts and
policies that have succeeded in becoming incorporated as important parts of our
social and political lives.
04/14/00 - Congress Passes Budget Resolution
First, Congress did not approve the Fiscal Year 2001 federal budget
yesterday. What they did approve was a proposed record $1.8 trillion dollar Budget
Resolution - a "blueprint" for the final budget.
04/13/00 - If Elian Goes Home
The U.S. Justice Department has ordered Miami relatives of Elian Gonzales to
hand the boy over to his father who wants to take him back to Cuba. Assuming
comes to pass and Elian is returned to Cuba, under what kind of government will
he be growing up?
04/12/00 - Maryland Gun Control
Law Details
President Clinton offered high praise for a new Maryland handgun control law
signed yesterday. Here are details on the major provisions of The Maryland Gun
Safety Act of 2000.
04/12/00 - Why Clinton Could
Pardon Himself
Learn about the constitutional basis under which President Clinton could
pardon himself from the future indictments suggested by Independent counsel Robert Ray.
04/12/00 - Census Director Defends Long Form
Census Bureau Director Kenneth W. Prewitt defends the Census 2000
"long form" in testimony before
the House Subcommittee on the
Census.
04/10/00 - House Votes U.S. G.I.s the Person
of the Century
The House today unanimously approved a resolution declaring the "Person of the Century" for
the 20th century to have been the American G.I.
04/09/00 - Cold War: Costs of Victory
The Berlin Wall and communism fell, but now the U.S. is spending $475.5
million to help the former Soviet Union dismantle and store its excess nuclear
weapons.
04/07/00 - Census May Drop Long
Form
In response to complaints and low return rates, the House Subcommittee on
the Census has announced a plan to replace the controversial long form in time
for the 2010 census.
04/05/00 - House Passes
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
President Clinton has vetoed two previous partial-birth abortion bills and
is expected to do so again..
04/05/00 - Costs of Government:
Capitol Buildings
From the FY 2000 Federal Budget, funds allocated for repairs, improvements,
and maintenance to the White House, Capitol Building and Capitol grounds.
04/03/00 - Microsoft is Guilty
Says Judge
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson today
issued a "Conclusions
of Law and Final Order " declaring Microsoft had violated the
Sherman Antitrust Act to "monopolize the web browser market.''
04/02/00 - Constitutional Questions
Instead of arguing about what it means, let's look at some interesting facts
about the creation and function of the United States Constitution.
04/02/00 - It's About Time:
Daylight Saving That Is
Why do we do this to ourselves twice a year? And, what time is it, anyway?
Find out the answers to these and many more fascinating questions about time
from the new Time.gov Web site.
03/30/00 - School of the
Americas: Human Rights or Not?
Did this U.S. Army training facility teach Central American soldiers to
torture and murder civilians? Read about upcoming D.C. protests calling for
closure of the SOA.
03/30/00 - Gas Tax Reduction
Debated by Senate
The proposed bill would reduce the federal gasoline tax by a least 4.3
cents per gallon though Jan. 1, 2001.
03/29/00 - Flag Protection
Amendment Fails in Senate
The U.S. Senate today failed to approve The Flag Protection Amendment by a roll call vote of
63 to 37. The resolution fell four votes short of the two-thirds (67 votes)
needed for approval.
03/28/00 - Senate Debates Flag
Protection Alternative
Rather than amend the Constitution, Senators consider a proposal for a flag
protection law setting penalties for specific acts of flag desecration.
03/26/00 - Troops to Teachers
We have a teacher shortage in America. Military downsizing has left lots of
former military personnel unemployed. Idea: Let's turn troops into teachers!
03/24/00 - Anti-Flag Burning
Amendment to be Debated in Senate
The proposed amendment would grant Congress the authority to enact laws
banning any intentional act desecrating of the
flag, but would not, in itself, ban such activities.
03/24/00 - House Passes Record
Budget Plan
The Republican backed, $1.8 trillion plan calls for a $200 billion tax cut.
President Clinton and Democrats promise to fight the plan.
03/21/00 - Supreme Court Rules
FDA Cannot Regulate Tobacco
The court finds that Congress has precluded the FDA from having authority
over tobacco and smokeless tobacco products.
03/21/00 - US Supreme Court to
Hear Texas School Prayer Case
A Texas school district is appealing a 5th Circuit Court's decision that
parts of its school prayer policy violate the "Establishment Clause"
of the First Amendment.
03/19/00 - Gun Control Laws: Where Does
Congress Get the Right?
The gun lobby fights gun control laws in Congress, but never in the Supreme
Court. One landmark case from 1939 is the reason.
03/18/00 - Census Answers Are
Required by Law
The don't want to and probably won't, but the Census Bureau can impose fines
for not responding or lying.
03/17/00 - Church and State: How the Court
Decides
The Court applies these three "tests" to religious
practices when deciding their constitutionality under the Establishment Clause
of the First Amendment.
03/15/00 - House Moves to Push
Gun Control Bill
The House passed a motion that will help bring the controversial gun control
bill backed by President Clinton before the entire House for
consideration.
03/14/00 - NRA: LaPierre's Words
Could Backfire -- Again
Wayne LaPierre's 1995 reference to federal law officers as "jack booted
thugs" prompted many Life NRA Members to leave the organization. One of
them was former President Bush.
03/13/00 - Census Forms Mailed
this Week
Watch your mailbox. Participating in Census 2000 is important to you and
your community. Your answers are private, and you might even be able to complete
your questionnaire online.
03/12/00 - Salaries and Benefits of U.S.
Congress Members
Presidential Pay and Compensation tells how much
the president makes. But what about the 535 men and women who make our laws?
03/10/00 - House Passes Minimum
Wage Increase
But, a GOP-backed tax cut companion bill may result in a veto by President
Clinton. [Minimum Wage Through the Years]
03/09/00 - House to Consider Gun
Control
After demands by President Clinton, the House is scheduled to consider a
bill controlling sales at gun shows, requiring trigger locks and other
regulations.
03/08/00 - Clinton Asks Congress to
Raise Minimum Wage
A proposed bill would increase the wage from $5.15 to $6.15 per hour in two
equal steps. House Republicans may fight the increase.
03/07/00 - Gas Prices: How Much is Too Much
Average
gas prices are predicted to hit $1.80 by Memorial Day. How much are you
willing to pay?
03/06/00 - US Supreme Court
Allows Indiana to Keep Good Friday Holiday
The U.S. Supreme Court today allowed the Indiana to continue the state's
observance of Good Friday as an official holiday.
03/05/00 - Gun Control Laws in Canada
In Canada, all gun owners must be licensed and all guns registered. Canadian
statistics indicate their laws work. Is this a glimpse into the future of U.S.
gun control?
03/03/00 - House Passes Senior
Citizens' Freedom to Work Act
This major bill eliminates the Social Security "earnings test"
which currently limits the amount of outside income retirees can make without
suffering a reduction in Social Security benefits.
03/01/00 - New '10-10' Phone Ad
Rules Issued
The FTC and FCC issue a joint policy intended to protect consumers from confusing and
deceptive advertising techniques used by "10-10" long distance plans.
02/29/00 - Internet Sales Tax:
Clinton, Governors Talk
President Clinton and the U.S. Governors held a face-to-face chat about the
Internet yesterday in Washington. The topic of the day was whether
states should collect taxes on Internet sales.
02/27/00 - World War II Memorial
American veterans, the citizens on the home front, and the nation at large will at
last have a memorial to World War II, "the defining event of the 20th century in American
history,"
if enough money can be raised.
02/25/00 - U.S. Halts Gun Sales
to Canada
The New York Times is reporting today that President Clinton has ordered the
suspension of all export of rifles, handguns, and ammunition to Canada.
02/24/00 - Clinton Proposed Plan
to Help Poor Get Jobs
A change to regulations in the food-stamp program would make it easier for
low-income families to own cars, thus having transportation to work.
02/22/00 - Supreme Court Will
Not Hear Electric Chair Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear an Alabama
death-row inmate's appeal that use of the electric chair in executions represents
unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.
02/20/00 - The Electoral College System
It is possible for a presidential candidate to lose the nationwide popular
vote, but still be elected. Learn how the Electoral College system works and why
the Founding Fathers created it.
02/18/00 - FTC Questions Privacy
on Health Care Web Sites
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating allegations that health
care-related Web sites may have collected and shared personal information about
consumers with other companies without permission or warning.
02/17/00 - Military Anthrax
Vaccine - Yes or No?
A Republican House subcommittee report recommends the U.S. Military make its
anthrax vaccination program voluntary. The Pentagon says it will not. The battle
lines are drawn.
02/15/00 - Clinton Proposes
National Cyber Security Center
Asking for $9 million to get the center going, President Clinton proposes a
combined Internet and E-commerce effort to defeat Web site hackers.
02/13/00 - Taxes 1999 - 2000
Where to get help with your taxes and what's new this year. Also, tax reform
and tax-related bills before Congress and where the presidential candidates
stand on taxes. (Need state tax forms?)
2000
Features
1999
Features
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1997 Features
Election
2000 Coverage 
The candidates, issues, and events of the 2000 US Elections. From your
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