House's Civility Retreat Ends Peacefully
House's Civility Retreat Ends Peacefully
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 10) -- It's too soon to tell if the House of Representatives' civility retreat this past weekend has had an effect. But there were no reports of fistfights on the train back home, which was a good sign. About half the House took off to Hershey, Pa., to meet informally with each other and each other's families. "Having these children here is invaluable," House Speaker Newt Gingrich told Harrisburg's Patriot-News. "First of all, it reminds each other that when I attack you, you have a son or a daughter who is watching the attack. If we bicker like children, how can we turn to these kids and tell them we need to behave like adults? ... The children actually dramatically improve the atmosphere."
Cohen: We'll Be Out Of Bosnia On Time
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 10) -- The United States will leave Bosnia on time in June 1998, regardless of whether Bosnians decide they want peace or war, says Defense Secretary William Cohen. "You can't impose a peace; that has to lie in the hearts of men and women. We will find out if they are prepared to do that," Cohen said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." The Clinton Administration has been roundly criticized for breaking its December 1996 deadline for leaving the war-torn country, and officials are saying as often as possible that the June 1998 date will not slip as well.
Report: Welfare Money Going To Other Uses
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 10) -- USA Today reports today that states are increasingly spending surplus federal welfare money on social programs, schools, roads and prisons. Welfare rolls have dropped from 14.4 million in March 1994 to about 11.5 million now. Many states are spending the surplus funds on services meant to assist welfare recipients, such as child care and job training. But under the new welfare law signed last year, up to a quarter of the federal dollars can be put to other uses, and states aren't being shy about making the shift: California will spend $141 million on juvenile probation programs this year.
Shelby Wants To Chat With Lake's NSC Staff
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 10) -- Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) says he wants to question the former National Security Council staff of CIA director-designate Anthony Lake, and will subpoena them if necessary. Shelby is concerned about possible contacts the staff may have had with Democratic fund-raisers, or with the FBI over a reputed plan by China to influence the elections. "We're willing to go as far as we need to get the information we think is pertinent to Mr. Lake's ability to serve as the director of central intelligence," Shelby said on CBS's "Face the Nation."
Enough! Says Sanchez
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 10) -- Enough is enough, says Rep. Loretta Sanchez. The California Democrat has asked a House task force to drop its consideration of former GOP Rep. Bob Dornan's challenge to her election last year. "Developments relating to Mr. Dornan's claims reveal that he will never be able to carry forward any credible claim" to his old seat, she said in papers filed with the House clerk. Dornan claimed voter fraud, and had challenged the validity of 1,789 ballots, but his attorneys shaved that number last week to 1,072, barely more than the 984 votes Sanchez beat Dornan by.