USTVotes | Latest News

Check back often for the latest news.

'Presidential economics' favors those no longer in the White House
Nov 18, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
After Harry Truman left the White House in 1953, his only income was his pension from the Missouri National Guard. A fleet of helicopters, the most prominent of which is known as Marine One, also serves the first family. Camp David serves as the presidential retreat, in the woods atop the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland, and the president has black Cadillac missile-proof limos at his disposal.
Chicago Tribune Mary Schmich column Promises backed by actual policies May they sing for the nation Real portrayals of real Chicago Repeal gambling rules? You bet
Nov 18, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
New York and Los Angeles may still believe they hold the levers of power when it comes to entertainment. Governments back lotteries, which prey on the stupid. Why should people playing a game of skill such as poker get the criminal treatment? Your deal, Mr.
FDIC chief Sheila Bair could have role on Obama team
Nov 18, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Bush appointed Bair, 54, to a five-year term as chairwoman of the FDIC in 2006. Bair's work has drawn praise from many congressional Democrats. And his administration has been cool to Bair's mortgage restructuring plan because it calls for additional spending.
Among Republicans, a Debate Over the Party's Roadmap Back to Power
Nov 17, 2008 — New York Times
And how can conservatives chart a path back to power after this month’s Republican defeats? McCain’s running mate was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm among many social conservatives at the leadership and grass-roots levels. “But Ronald Reagan was president a long time ago,” Mr.
At National Review, a Threat to Its Reputation for Erudition
Nov 17, 2008 — New York Times
Buckley’s son, the writer and satirist Christopher Buckley, after he endorsed Barack Obama for president. Lowry, in the magazine’s mostly empty New York offices two days after Mr. And Bill Clinton was elected in 1992, which helped energize the magazine.
Bailout foe: Auto industry a 'dinosaur'
Nov 17, 2008 — CNN
They're a dinosaur in a sense." Added Kyl, the Senate's second-ranking Republican: "Just giving them $25 billion doesn't change anything. At least two Republican senators support an automaker bailout - George Voinovich of Ohio and Kit Bond of Missouri. Obama easily won Michigan after Republican John McCain publicly pulled out weeks before Election Day.
Chicago Tribune Dawn Turner Trice column
Nov 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
He said that although he had been identifying himself as African-American for years, he now was going to drop the hyphen and get rid of the qualifier. It's the imperfect union Obama spoke about during his Philadelphia speech on race in March. Race here is complex for so many reasons. Complex because of the wounds -- too many of them self-inflicted -- facing some within the black community.
Clinton Vetting Includes Look at Mr. Clinton
Nov 17, 2008 — New York Times
Obama is considering bringing his onetime rival for the Democratic presidential nomination into his cabinet. A law school friend of the Clintons who represented Mr. Giustra gave $31.3 million to the Clinton foundation, its largest known donation.
Congress Meets for One Last Fight and to Look Ahead
Nov 17, 2008 — New York Times
He has drawn a challenge from Representative Dan Lundgren of California. Obama, of Illinois, resigned his Senate seat as of Sunday, and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, the vice president-elect, is not expected to be voting. Those absences and others will complicate Democratic efforts to get 60 votes for the auto bailout in a vote expected on Wednesday.
Democrats weigh how hard to hit agenda
Nov 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
The coalition that put Obama in office depends on support he secured from independent voters. Now he's got to govern that way." Indeed, Obama throughout his political career has cultivated a persona as a unifying figure.
Envoy can be enviable gig: But diplomats are asking Obama to limit granting of plum posts to pals
Nov 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
Or how about Chicago's Penny Pritzker, the Obama campaign's national finance chairwoman? Pritzker, whose family owns the Hyatt Hotel chain and who has overseen many of its investments, could not be reached for comment. Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, prefer to have politically appointed envoys because they believe it gives them better access to the president.
Is she or isn't she Will Hillary be Obama Secretary of State?
Nov 17, 2008 — Newsday
And Clinton herself, while addressing the New York Public Transit Association in Albany at noon, said she would not "speculate or address" the reports of a Chicago meeting. Briefly ran against Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Joe Biden and the others.
Obama, on '60 Minutes,' talks about the challenges ahead
Nov 17, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
John McCain (R-Ariz.) are scheduled to meet today in Chicago. The president-elect's transition team also announced several new appointments. In Obama's debate practice sessions, Craig played the role of McCain.
OPINION Entrenched majority and Obama
Nov 17, 2008 — Newsday
Bositis curiously overlooked this pattern nationally. "You said that Obama got the majority of white votes in 16 states, which is to say that in 34 states he did not get the majority of white votes, correct?" I asked Bositis. "McCain carried the white popular vote nationally, 55-43 percent, which is to say a 12-point gap?" Somewhere around there, he replied. "Would McCain/Palin have carried the electoral votes among whites?" Bositis explained that strictly among whites,...
Seeking a spiritual home in D.C.; Pastors hope Obama will become member
Nov 17, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
Elsewhere, the choir at Shiloh Baptist Church has already begun arranging hymns for a January worship service marking Obama's inauguration and the birthday of the Rev. The man who wants to renew America could remind churches of their mission to create a new humanity, he said.It also would turn the spotlight on another pulpit. Citing a phrase from King, he said: "It ought to be a creative tension.
The Caucus: Those Lazy, Hazy Days of Presidential Transition
Nov 17, 2008 — New York Times
Reagan basked in an external event that heartened the entire country when Iran released American hostages. Bush saw the Senate slip from Republican control when Senator James M. Jeffords of Vermont switched to become an independent. And within eight months, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks thrust Mr.
What helped Obama win election now could hurt him
Nov 17, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
In ordinary times, even serious economic troubles would not be enough to force a president-elect to act before assuming office. The reason is that as the financial crisis knocks over more pieces of the wider economy, the resulting problems are causing still more financial dominoes to fall. Cole argues that such a development would result in those firms' destruction, and his automotive research center estimates that it could cost as many as 3 million jobs.
Who would Obama pick for the Supreme Court?
Nov 17, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Since Richard Nixon's election in 1968, Republican presidents have named 12 of 14 justices to the high court. By contrast, Warren, Marshall and Brennan were leaders of the court in its liberal era. The Republican appointees of Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush put a halt to the liberal activism of the Brennan and Marshall era.
With Obama, Murdoch Defies His Image
Nov 17, 2008 — New York Times
Murdoch, in his company and his family, support Democrats. Murdoch arranged a meeting early this year with Mr. Obama and Roger Ailes, president of the Fox News Channel, in what Mr.
A labor-union problem looms for Obama
Nov 16, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
The bill would take from employers the right to decide between accepting workers' signed union cards or demanding a secret ballot on unionization. The secret ballot was designed to prevent unions from coercing workers. Under the Employee Free Choice Act, instead of holding elections, organizers would gather support by persuading workers to sign union cards.
Barack Obama: 'Change has come'
Nov 16, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Obama first had to wrest the Democratic nomination from Sen. Can Obama forge his onetime coalition of voters into a realignment that lasts a generation? The questions at his news conference were about the economy and foreign policy and his daughters' promised puppy.
Barack Obama: In search of identity
Nov 16, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
He was a graduate student from Kenya, the first African enrolled at the university. Ann married Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian student at the university. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., who welcomed his help.
Clinton, Obama's foreign policy views not so different
Nov 16, 2008 — Newsday
Clinton's vote to authorize the war, and Obama's speech against it, helped power him to victory in the primaries. Early on, policy analysts noted that Obama's advisers tended to include a younger generation of experts who were bigger fans of "soft power" methods.
G.O.P. Senators Oppose Auto Bailout
Nov 16, 2008 — New York Times, A1
Shelby, the senior Republican on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. At least two Republican senators support an automaker bailout — George Voinovich of Ohio and Kit Bond of Missouri. Obama easily won Michigan after the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, publicly pulled out weeks before Election Day.
House will help automakers - Pelosi
Nov 16, 2008 — CNN
U.S. automakers are lobbying lawmakers furiously for an emergency infusion of cash. Pelosi did not mention any plans for the UAW to make any concessions as part of the legislation. A House aide said Saturday that $25 billion was still the amount being discussed. "There's a need for immediate action," Alan Reuther, the United Auto Workers union's legislative director, said Friday.
Obama could change dynamics in the Arab world
Nov 16, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Obama's presidency also comes when the Middle East is engaged in intense debate between Muslim moderates and conservatives over the role of Islam. Arab newspapers are already criticizing Obama for his postelection comments and decisions, especially regarding the Arab-Israeli divide. Arabs say the Bush administration seldom understood this; they're hoping Obama's does.
Obama's role in the economy debate
Nov 16, 2008 — CNN
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama is an invisible force as foreign leaders and Congress convene separately in Washington, the economy at center stage. Obama is being especially cautious about the economic summit, letting President George W. Bush represent the nation. Asked if administration officials were listening, Obama said: "We'll find out." On the global front, Obama has acknowledged the need for a coordinated international response to the crisis.
Russia President Dmitry Medvedev warms up toward U.S.
Nov 16, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Obama has said that he wants better ties with Moscow. He clarified Saturday that his government had no intention of delploying missiles at the present, but reserved the right to respond to the missile defense system. The Russian leadership has been eager to engage Obama's team as soon as possible on the missile defense issue and other matters, including concern over Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia.
Seeking a spiritual home in D.C. Pastors hope Obama will become member
Nov 16, 2008 — Chicago Tribune
Elsewhere, the choir at Shiloh Baptist Church has already begun arranging hymns for a January worship service marking Obama's inauguration and Rev. He must seek a church that not only reflects the principles of his administration but also helps shape the religious and cultural values of his young daughters. The man who wants to renew America could remind churches of their mission to create a new humanity, he said. It also would turn the spotlight on another pulpit.
The Los Angeles Times endorses Obama
Nov 16, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Indeed, the presidential campaign has rendered McCain nearly unrecognizable. We are not sanguine about Obama's economic policies. In fact, Obama is educated and eloquent, sober and exciting, steady and mature.
Animal shelters perk up over First Pooch candidates
Nov 15, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Though many people think shelter dogs are all mixed breeds, in fact a quarter of them are purebred, said Saul, whose database lists about 150,000 dogs from rescuers and shelters across the country. It's the protein that often triggers an allergic response, and all dogs have hair follicles, even the hairless breeds, he said. The Obamas could find many sought-after breeds through private rescue groups.
Chorus grows to remove Lieberman from top committee post
Nov 15, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy and his Vermont colleague, Sen. But since then Reid has been working to find a compromise. John Ensign of Nevada and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, have said they would welcome Lieberman to the GOP caucus.
Economic stimulus package is scaled back
Nov 15, 2008 — Los Angeles Times
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to offer that package Monday, the first day of what is scheduled to be a weeklong lame-duck session of Congress. As of Friday evening, Reid was considering methods of offering the money to the auto industry. Bush's Big Three bailout proposal The White House wants to use fuel-efficiency loans.
Election's Over, So What's Next for the Cable News Channels?
Nov 15, 2008 — New York Times
They were up 101 percent for the Fox News Channel. For cable channels with strong points of view, it was a very good election. Griffin of MSNBC acknowledged when discussing the channel’s ratings performance.
Employers Offer Workers Fewer Health Care Plans
Nov 15, 2008 — New York Times
Employers generally try to offset the high deductible with a somewhat lower monthly premium than workers pay with conventional insurance. Many employers also make contributions to those worker accounts. For families, the company contributes $2,250, which the employees can put toward the $4,500 deductible for family coverage.

Get involved in the issues that affect our companies and quickly contact your elected officials. When there is a legislative alert, we will post it here.