(15 stories) House Republicans unveiled their American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act

US News - News February 7, 2012 See US News Weather House Republicans unveiled their American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act (transportation.nationaljournal) The generally bipartisan, if wonky, surface transportation issue got a major dose of political (and partisan) medicine last week when House Republicans unveiled their American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act. The measure combines elements of a highway bill constructed by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., with several hot-button energy proposals that are sure to raise the hackles of Democrats and environmentalists alike--new offshore drilling, opening parts of the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge, and possibly approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The green agenda: bike sharing then world domination? (smartpl) Glenn Beck has promoted a conspiracy that the United Nations is plotting to centrally control local communities through green initiatives. Prop. 8: Gay-marriage ban unconstitutional, court rules (latimesblogs.latimes) A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage, clearing the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage as early as next year. Ducking Climate Warming Evidence (consortiumnews) The U.S. mainstream news media does not seem to have the foggiest idea how serious the climate crisis is (or at least many journalists pretend not to). That is the only conclusion one can infer based on the abysmal track record of climate-related news reporting. A recent eight-paragraph story in The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, helps illuminate the point. It cites what is called "a new tactic" among Republicans for scuttling the Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas rules – demanding that the White House to block them. Newly Discovered Alien Planet is 'Best Candidate for Life' Yet Found (plsave) It's called GJ 667Cc and it's just 22 light years from Earth — virtually a next door neighbor in our little corner of the galaxy. Most compelling to astronomers is that the planet is smack dab in the middle of its parent star's habitable zone, the circumstellar region within which liquid water can be sustained on a planet's surface. Mortgage Relief Plan Is Closer to Winning Support of California (nytimes) With a deadline looming on Monday for state officials to sign onto a landmark multibillion-dollar settlement to address foreclosure abuses, the Obama administration is close to winning support from a crucial state that would significantly expand the breadth of the deal. MasterCard Doubles Dividend After Earnings Rise in 2011 (businessweek) Net income for the fourth quarter increased to $514 million, or $4.03 a share,MasterCard Inc., the second-biggest payments network, doubled its quarterly divided to 30 cents a share after reporting fourth-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates. Job openings rise to 3.4 million in December (reuters) The mad rush to move client money out of MF Global Inc. after its collapse left two firms with the bulk of customer accounts, while other brokerages emerged with only minor gains from the chaos of carving up a multibillion-dollar business. Catholics want birth control coverage (content.usatoday) Catholic women side with Obama on this, a new survey saysPundits and bishops warn President Obama he could lose the white Catholic vote over requiring a contraception option for insurance plans. But Catholic women side with Obama on this, a new survey says.The pivot point is how you see this. Is it a battle over birth control -- used by 98% of U.S. women at some time in their lives -- or over government intrusion into the right of religious organizations to live by their teachings? Earmarks sometimes land near lawmakers' property (content.usatoday) earmark ties to lawmakers' gainA lengthy investigation by The Washington Post finds that 33 members of Congress have directed more than $300 million in earmarks and other spending provisions to dozens of public projects next to or within two miles of their own property. A Satellite Image Tour of Congressional Earmarks (theatlanticwire) If you live next to a member of Congress, you're in luck. A new Washington Post investigation shows the myriad ways lawmakers "spruce up" their neighborhoods by steering more than $300 million in earmarks to public projects that are "next to or near" their own properties. In Reversal, Obama Urging Super-PAC Donations (sun-sentinel) The Obama campaign's announcement late Monday that it plans to publicly support fundraising for an allied outside political group is the final, stark admission that the president can no longer afford to keep the lightly regulated but increasingly influential political organizations at arm's length. Egypt cancels meetings with U.S. amid growing tensions (The Toronto Star) A delegation had been scheduled to meet with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin on Monday and the panel's top Republican, John McCain, on Tuesday. US condemns Uganda's anti-gay bill (Cast) The Ugandan parliamentarian who first introduced an anti-gay bill that carried the death penalty for some homosexual acts reintroduced the bill on Tuesday, raising concerns among rights activists who have been fighting the legislation. APNewsBreak: Komen exec quits after funding flap (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) In a Tuesday Aug. 10, 2010 file photo, Georgia gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel speaks to reporters after casting her ballot in the Georgia runoff election in Roswell, Ga. More US News News...

Manage your subscriptions or Unsubscribe Topix has Job listings for your town! Find Local Singles in your town! Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Install the Topix Community Toolbar Copyright (C) 2012 Topix All rights reserved.