Dems are hitting back at a new GOP Web video.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – On the day the June jobs report showed the U.S. labor market shedding 467,000 jobs, House Republicans released a tongue-in-cheek Web video featuring a bloodhound named "Ellie Mae" sniffing out stimulus jobs.

Narrated by Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, the clip shows the bloodhound "on the money trail" visiting AIG's headquarters in New York City and projects in Wisconsin and North Carolina supported by federal stimulus dollars. It was modeled on a campaign commercial run by the current Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell in his 1994 Kentucky Senate race.

House GOP Leader John Boehner poses with Ellie Mae at the end of the video. "She hasn't found any stimulus jobs yet, and neither have the American people," says Boehner. "It's time to stop runaway spending in Washington and help small businesses get the economy running once again. Hang in there, honey, we'll find 'em."

"This is a lighthearted web video, but the underlying point is no laughing matter," Boehner said in a written statement. "At a time when Americans are looking to Washington for leadership, the trillion-dollar 'stimulus' isn't working. Americans were promised the 'stimulus' would keep the unemployment rate from going above eight percent. It's now it's skyrocketing above nine percent. Where are the jobs?"

Nadeam Elshami, spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, wasn't amused by the video. "Looks like the hound couldn't track down any of the police officers, teachers or nurses who are working today because of the Recovery Act or the construction workers working on more than 1,900 highway projects already under way across the country."

Elshami also said the stimulus law still needed time to show results, and slammed the GOP: "Betting against the American economy is another fairly depressing political strategy from the House Republican Conference."

WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Republican Leader John Boehner may win the Hill prize for participating in the best event over this congressional recess. Boehner played 18 holes with Tiger Woods and Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo at the Earl Woods Pro-Am golf tournament on Wednesday. The team finished their round 8 under par.

As he headed out to play at Congressional Country Club with Woods, Boehner tried to lower expectations about where he'd finish on the tournament's leaderboard. "Well, listen — I can be the Republican leader of the House, and we'll know about the golf course at the end of 18 holes."

The team played a "best ball" format for the charity event that precedes the AT&T National, the pro tournament hosted by Woods. The foursome, which also included Ton Dundon, CEO of Santander Consumer USA, was followed by huge crowds along the course, mostly straining to see Tiger Woods in action. But Boehner did show he could keep up with the golf star when he sank a 35 foot putt on the eighth hole for a birdie.

Woods will tee-off with GOP leader John Boehner Wednesday.

(CNN) — House Republican Leader John Boehner, a longtime golfer, will tee off with Tiger Woods and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo at tomorrow's Pro-Am charity golf tournament at the A T&T National.

The Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation and is named after Tiger Wood’s late father. Thomas Dundon, the President and CEO of Drive Financial and Santander Consumer USA will be the fourth player, according to Boehner’s spokesman.

Boehner's handicap is seven and a half.

"He's always been a big fan and a big player," Boehner's communications Director Kevin Smith told CNN, but noted that he's had some back problems over the last year. Boehner occasionally combines golfing and fundraising during Congressional breaks, but tomorrow's outing will support local DC youth organizations.

But the GOP leader isn't the only member of Congress spending some time on the course during the Congressional recess. House Democratic Whip Jim Clyburn played in an earlier Pro Am tournament ahead of the AT&T National on Monday, according to his spokeswoman Kristie Greco.

Although Woods is scheduled to play with the House Republican leader, he's kept his political leanings close to the vest.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) — The House Ethics committee announced Thursday it is looking into allegations of possible misconduct by members of Congress regarding The PMA Group, a now-defunct lobbying firm.

PMA, which was raided by the FBI last year, lobbied primarily on behalf of defense-industry clients seeking earmarks. The company and its clients donated campaign contributions to senior members of the House Appropriations Committee, including Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, and Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Indiana.

The Ethics Committee did not disclose which specific lawmakers were under review.

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Missouri Republican Rep. Roy Blunt spoke out Monday against the public health insurance option that Democrats are advocating for as part of their health care reform proposal.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Missouri GOP Rep. Roy Blunt, who is heading up health care efforts in the House, said today he has made it clear to Democratic leaders that pushing for a public option in health care legislation is a non-starter for House Republicans. "That is a problem that is virtually insurmountable because we just don't think that it leads to real competition," Blunt said Monday.

President Obama sent a letter to Republican leaders last week responding to their plea that the GOP be included as a healthcare bill is developed. Blunt noted that the letter doesn't disclose any details, but makes it clear the president wants a bill passed by the House by August 1.

Blunt called that date an "artificial deadline" and said "we can't be part of the discussion if you won't let us in the room." House Republicans plan to unveil their own alternative healthcare legislation in the coming weeks and Blunt pledged that it will cost substantially less than the Democratic proposals.

According to the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, Rep Jack Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, who chairs the powerful Defense Appropriations committee, has steered over $130 million in projects to his district.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to force the House ethics committee to report whether or not it is investigating any misconduct by House members relating to the PMA Group, a lobbying firm that secured millions of dollars in earmarks for its clients.

The vote on a resolution offered by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was 270-134. Seventeen members voted present, including all of the members of the ethics committee. The Democratic resolution instructs the panel to report back to the full House in 45 days.

The reversal by House Democrats to address the controversy comes after repeated efforts by House Republicans to launch an investigation of PMA were blocked by Democrats. A series of news reports allege that several senior House Democrats on the Appropriations Committee received millions in campaign cash for their help steering federal projects to companies represented by the now defunct lobbying firm.

According to the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, Rep Jack Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, who chairs the powerful Defense Appropriations committee, has steered over $130 million in projects to his district. PMA’s chief lobbyist Paul Magliochetti is a former Appropriations staffer with ties to Murtha. Murtha’s spokesman denies he has done anything improper.

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PMG Group lobbying activities are under investigation by federal authorities.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Indiana, confirmed Friday that federal law enforcement officials had issued subpoenas for materials from his congressional and campaign offices in their investigation of a defense lobbying firm that had employed his former chief of staff.

The PMA Group was raided by the FBI earlier this year. Former Visclosky chief of staff Rich Kaelin had lobbied for the firm.

"Federal law enforcement officials have issued grand jury subpoenas to my Congressional office, campaign committees, and certain employees to request documents relating to PMA," Visclosky said in a statement. "It is my intention to fully cooperate with the investigation consistent with my constitutional obligations to Congress and my duties and responsibilities to my constituents.

"I will continue to work hard to represent the people of Indiana's First Congressional District as I have done since being elected to Congress. I am confident that at the end of this process, no one will conclude that I have done anything wrong or harmed my constituents in any way," he said. Citing respect for the investigative process, the congressman said he would not be commenting further on the situation.

Visclosky has returned thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the firm and its employees, who were among his biggest financial supporters.

Nancy Pelosi is no longer discussing her charge that the CIA misled Congress.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to answer questions Friday about her stinging accusation last week that the CIA misled her about the use of waterboarding and Republican demands that she provide evidence.

"I have made the statement that I'm going to make on this. I don't have anything more to say about it," she pointedly told reporters. "I stand by my comment and — and what we are doing is staying on our course, and not be distracted from it."

The speaker changed the format of her weekly press conference Friday. Instead of appearing solo, Pelosi brought in three of her Democratic leadership colleagues. After the leaders gave 25 minutes of statements about their legislative accomplishments, Pelosi took just 5 minutes of questions from reporters, and only answered one about the back-and-forth over enhanced interrogation methods.

Despite repeated efforts by reporters to follow up on the issue, Pelosi dismissed them, saying, "I won't have anything more to say about it."

Pelosi may be ready to turn the page, but Republicans clearly aren't. Just minutes after the press conference, Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee sent out a statement blasting her performance. "Speaker Pelosi stammered and filibustered around the elephant in the room because she knows full well that she has become a political liability to her fellow Democrats in Congress," he said.

"Her obsession with the previous administration and her disdain for America's intelligence officials has reduced her to cheerleader status within the far left wing of her party and a distraction to the substantive debate over how to best move our economy forward."

Updated at 1:00 p.m. with additional on-the-scene details.

The top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce committee, Texas Rep. Joe Barton, has been threatening to force the committee clerk to read the 900-plus page bill as a way to drag out the markup of the Democrats' climate change legislation. Worried that this could jeopardize his goal of voting the bill out of committee before the Memorial Day break, Democratic Chairman Henry Waxman of California hired a speed reader, in case one was needed to publicly race through the massive bill.

Barton decided not to follow through on his threat — but he wanted to find out what a speed reader sounded like. He requested that one of the Republican amendments be read in full, and asked that the new hire take over for the full time committee clerk. Waxman obliged, and Douglas Wilder sat before the committee and began reading rapidly. He spoke so quickly it was impossible to decipher his words, as listeners began to laugh and applaud.

Barton decided he'd heard enough, and said he didn't need to finish. He then joked with Waxman, that since he went to all that trouble, "we should at least get the benefit of the gentleman's expertise." Smiling, Waxman asked Wilder to state his name and asked if he was available for hire. Wilder enthusiastically told the committee: "yes!"

A bill that would create a 'cap and trade' system was passed by the House Energy and Commerce committee.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Obama's push for a new energy policy got a major boost Thursday when a key House panel approved a plan aimed at addressing climate change.

The House Energy and Commerce committee passed the bill largely along party lines, 33-25. One Republican, Rep Mary Bono Mack, of California, voted with the Democrats in favor of the bill.

The bill, drafted by Democrats, would create a so-called "cap and trade" system for U.S. businesses to sell credits for pollution.

It sets a target for cutting greenhouse gases by 17 percent from their 2005 levels by 2020. An auction for the credits, which effectively starts in 2014, allows businesses who meet the new energy standard to sell their credits to those who are still working to become more energy efficient.

"We are now one step closer to delivering on the promise of a new clean energy economy that will make America less dependent on foreign oil, crack down on polluters, and create millions of new jobs all across America," Obama said in a written statement.

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Rep. Rob Bishop offered a resolution on the House floor to create a bipartisan investigation of Nancy Pelosi.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Republicans' effort to push the resolution to create a bipartisan investigation of Speaker Nancy Pelosi failed Thursday afternoon.

When Utah Republican Rob Bishop offered the resolution on the House floor, the presiding officer in the House ruled it out of order. House rules require that any resolution must pertain to the House itself — the GOP resolution called for an evaluation of statements made by the executive branch (the CIA).

Republicans appealed the ruling and called for a vote, but Democrats rejected the appeal, and it was defeated largely on party lines — 272-172. Two Republicans — Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas — voted with the Democrats.

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Steny Hoyer is standing behind his colleague, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Seeking to put an end to questions about what Speaker Nancy Pelosi knew about waterboarding and demonstrate he is standing behind her, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Tuesday strongly defended the speaker.

"I want to be very clear because I think there's been some misinterpretation of my views. … I believe the speaker," Hoyer told reporters. "I believe the speaker when she says she was not specifically briefed on the types of — in very polite terms — enhanced interrogation techniques that were being employed."

Last week Hoyer had to clarify comments he made that seemed to suggest he supported an investigation into what Pelosi knew about waterboarding. He insisted he was talking only about a probe focused on former Bush administration officials who authorized the harsh interrogation methods.

A former leadership rival of Pelosi, Hoyer blamed Republicans for the continued focus on the speaker, saying, "It continues to be a Republican tactic to distract the public from focusing on what was done, what the justification for doing it was, and for … President Bush's comment that we don't torture."

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Congressional Democrats are dropping the administration's request for $80 million to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Pushing back at a request from President Obama, congressional Democrats are dropping the administration's request for $80 million to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, who is drafting an emergency war funding bill, told reporters he supported the president's plan to close the prison, but said more details were needed. "So far as we can tell there is yet no concrete program for that," said the Wisconsin Democrat. "And while I don't mind defending a concrete program, I'm not much interested in wasting my energy defending a theoretical program. So when they have the plan they're welcome to come back and talk to us about it."

According to Democratic aides, the Obama administration requested $50 million for the Defense Department and $30 million for the Justice Department to close down Guantanamo prison.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — House and Senate Democrats reached agreement late Monday on a budget resolution for 2010, which includes key spending priorities for the young Obama administration.

"This budget is a major accomplishment," Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said in a statement. "We are meeting President Obama's goals of reducing our dependence on foreign energy, striving for excellence in education, reforming our health care system, and providing middle-class tax relief."

The agreement came as lawmakers were reconciling the House and Senate versions of the budget package. The president's budget request is $3.67 trillion.

The full Senate and House are each expected to vote on the fiscal 2010 budget resolution this week. The House vote could come as soon as Tuesday.

Budget negotiators have fast-tracked part of the budget process. Major health reform is likely to pass this year, because the special process — known as budget reconciliation — won't allow Republicans to filibuster the legislation, as was widely expected.

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Paul Ryan is among the congressional Republicans criticizing the final details of a proposed budget deal

WASHINGTON (CNN) — As the final details of a proposed budget deal were worked out Monday, Republican lawmakers slammed Democrats for including special rules to speed up legislation for health-care reform.

"You won the election. You've got the votes. This is your right to do this and you are doing it. But let's not kid ourselves that there is some kind of bipartisan collaboration occurring here," Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin.

"Let's not kid ourselves that this isn't a negotiation with a gun in one hand."

Both the House and Senate are expected to vote this week on a fiscal 2010 budget resolution. The legislation includes a procedural rule known as reconciliation, which prevents Republicans from blocking legislation, limits debate and allows Democrats to pass the bill with a simple majority.

"You know, I can understand shaking Hugo Chavez's hand, but can't understand embracing his politics — basically shutting down the minority, which is essentially what this reconciliation issue is," Sen. Judd Gregg, R-New Hampshire, referring to President Barack Obama shaking the Venezuelan president's hand at the recent Summit of the Americas.

Ryan acknowledged that Democrats had authority to employ reconciliation, but said the tactic should be used to deal with spending issues — not major public policy proposals.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, who chairs the budget committee, also opposed using reconciliation, but said it wasn't his call to include it in the budget.

"It's in because the president, the speaker and the majority leader in the Senate all want it in," he said. "That's a lot more power than I bring to the table."

Still, Conrad said he didn't believe the Senate would need to use reconciliation, saying, "It's there as an insurance policy."

Under the budget proposal, Congress has until October 15 to develop a health-care bill. If lawmakers are unable to negotiate a bipartisan approach by that date, the Senate will be allowed to move forward with the expedited process.

Speaker Pelosi said Wednesday that she had been informed that fellow Democrat Rep. Jane Harman had been picked up on a federal wiretap.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she had been informed that Rep. Jane Harman had been picked up on a wiretap — after Tuesday telling reporters she didn't know.

According to a transcript of Pelosi's remarks at the Christian Science Monitor lunch provided by Pelosi's office, the speaker said, "A few years ago, maybe three years ago, they did brief me." She said she was not fully briefed on the nature of the conversation, but because of her leadership position she was told Harman had been overheard on a wiretap.

Pelosi did not say which agency had carried out the wiretap. A government official told CNN Harman's conversation was picked up by an FBI wiretap.

"In fact, I didn't even know if what they were talking about was real. All they said was that she was wiretapped," Pelosi said.

The speaker went on to defend Harman, a fellow California Democrat, telling reporters, "I have great confidence in Jane Harman, she is a patriotic American. She would never do anything to hurt her country."

Because the briefing was classified, Pelosi said, she was not in a position to share the information with Harman or anyone else.

The number two House Democrat, Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, told reporters that the stories about the government taping Harman's conversations gave him "great concern" and said the Justice Department needs to look into the matter.

"Hopefully they are. And I may have some conversations with the attorney general on that aspect," he said.

Hoyer also said he planned to talk to Pelosi about what action, if any, Congress needs to take.

– CNN's Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Two Democratic congressional sources confirm President Obama is submitting an $83.4 billion request for supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The request includes $75 billion for the Defense Department — the rest is non-defense money for diplomacy and assistance to areas like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.
This will be the last supplemental request for the rest of 2009. Going forward, President Obama has pledged to include the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in his budget.

Illinois Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr said he was notified last week about the investigation.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Illinois Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr said Wednesday he is cooperating with a preliminary congressional ethics probe into whether he was involved in any possibly improper efforts to secure President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

In a written statement released by his office after a published report in the Chicago Sun-Times, Jackson said he was "eager to answer any questions and provide any information to the OCE (Office of Congressional Ethics) about my actions related to last year's vacant Senate seat."

He said he was notified last week about the investigation.

Federal prosecutors announced in December they were investigating then Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged efforts to secure something in return for his appointment to the vacant Senate seat. Jackson was identified in the criminal complaint as someone Blagojevich discussed approaching, but prosecutors did not allege any criminal actions by Jackson.

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House GOP Leader John Boehner predicted Wednesday that Republican Jim Tedisco would prevail after all the absentee ballots are counted.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – House GOP Leader John Boehner predicted Wednesday that Republican Jim Tedisco, who is essentially locked in a dead heat in a special election for a House seat in upstate New York, would prevail after all the absentee ballots are counted.

"When all the ballots are counted, I'll be proud to escort Jim Tedisco down the center aisle of the House to be sworn in as our newest member," Boehner told reporters Wednesday morning.

After the votes were counted last night, Democrat Scott Murphy held an advantage of roughly five dozen votes over Tedisco, with thousands of absentee ballots had yet to be counted.

Murphy has not yet claimed victory in the race.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, predicted Murphy would edge out Tedisco. "From 21 points down to securing a majority of the vote tonight, congratulations to Scott Murphy who ran an extraordinary campaign focused on his record as a successful businessman who helped to create jobs and his strong support for President Obama's economic recovery act," he said. "As votes continue to be counted, we're confident that Scott Murphy will expand his lead."

The special election was held to fill the vacant congressional seat of Kirstin Gillibrand, who was appointed to rpace Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

President Obama met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats Tuesday to pitch his budget.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Barack Obama made a strong pitch for his budget to House Democrats in a closed-door meeting on Monday night, arguing that the budget includes key components to turning around the ailing economy, according to several Democratic sources who took verbatim notes in the meeting.

Emphasizing that voting for the measure also was good politics for Democrats on the Hill, the president told members, "I need your vote in passing the budget. If we do that, we will create a sense of momentum that will allow us to do health-care reform and education." But he warned, "If we don't pass the budget, it will empower those critics who don't want to see anything getting done," according to the sources.

Two Democratic House leadership aides also said Obama made a political case to members that they need to stay united to support his major agenda items, and now is the time to press for them. The president said, "We are all in this together," and warned Democrats they will not be able to separate themselves from him or Democratic leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Gesturing to the House Democratic leaders at the meeting, Obama said, "If you think that you're going to run away from us, I'm sorry, that's not the way it works."

Those aides noted that the president acknowledged that the bad economic situation could present Democrats as the majority party with a tough election fight next cycle. But he argued that working together to pass major initiatives like those in the budget was the best strategy for showing voters that they are acting on solutions to major challenges facing the country.

The House and Senate are both voting on the budget later this week.

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