New York to pass nation's first gun control bill since Newtown shooting
New York (CNN) - Lawmakers in New York are poised to pass a new set of gun laws intended to fortify the state's assault weapons ban, limit the number of bullets in ammunition magazines and strengthen laws that keep the mentally ill from firearms.
The Democratic-controlled Assembly, which has been largely in favor of tight gun laws, is expected to take up the measure early Tuesday afternoon.
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Schumer, key Jewish Democrat, overcomes reservations on Hagel
Washington (CNN) - Sen. Chuck Schumer, a key Democrat and Jewish lawmaker, said a Monday meeting with Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel helped him overcome his reservations about some of the nominee's past comments. Hagel has been received skeptically by some on both sides of the aisle because of positions he has taken on Israel, Iran, and his 2007 statement that a "Jewish lobby intimidated lawmakers."
Schumer, the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, becomes the second prominent Democrat in the last day to back the former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska.
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Details of Biden gun package emerge
(CNN) – Vice President Joe Biden's package of proposals on gun control – collected after meetings with various constituencies, including gun rights groups, retailers, and video game manufacturers – combines both "administrative actions" that the White House can take unilaterally and measures that will be presented to lawmakers in Congress, according to Democratic lawmakers who met with Biden this week.
The collection of measures includes 19 steps President Barack Obama can take himself using executive action, according to Rep. Jackie Speier, a member of the Democratic gun violence task force that met with Biden Monday.
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Rand Paul to speak at key conservative conference
Washington (CNN) - A second possible 2016 GOP presidential hopeful will speak at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, a popular cattle call for Republicans considering bids for the White House.
CNN has confirmed that Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky will address CPAC, which this year will be held March 14-16. Last week the American Conservative Union, which organizes the annual conference, announced that Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the House Budget Committee chairman and last year's Republican vice presidential nominee, will be a featured speaker at the gathering.
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Chelsea Clinton: We can make a difference
Editor's note: Chelsea Clinton works with the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative and serves on the boards of both organizations. She is a special correspondent for NBC News and also serves on the boards of the School of American Ballet, Common Sense Media and the Weill Cornell Medical College. She and her husband, Marc, live in New York City.
(CNN) - I'm proud to be the honorary chair of the National Day of Service happening this Saturday, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy. It's the perfect way to kick off the inauguration weekend because anyone can participate, and we know that when we work together, we will achieve more than one person could on his or her own.
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of Congress and their families will be rolling up their sleeves at service projects in our nation's capital. But you don't have to be in Washington to get involved. From repairing fire-damaged homes in Colorado and cleaning sidewalks in Detroit to spending time with children with disabilities in New Orleans, every state will offer opportunities to volunteer.
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Weak debt deal would risk U.S. rating – Fitch
London (CNNMoney) - The United States risks losing its AAA credit rating from Fitch if any deal to raise the legal borrowing limit does not include a plan to put public finances on a more sustainable footing, the ratings agency said Tuesday.
Fitch has long warned that a repeat of the 2011 debt ceiling crisis would result in a formal review of its AAA rating on U.S. sovereign debt. While it expects Congress to raise the debt ceiling - making the risk of a U.S. default extremely low - the nature and timing of the agreement will be critical.
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Obama pushes back on criticism regarding social outreach to Congress
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama pushed back on criticism that he has not reached out enough to members of Congress socially to help build more personal relationships.
"With respect to this 'truism' about me not socializing enough and patting folks on the back and all that stuff, most people who know me know I'm a pretty friendly guy. And I like a good party. And the truth is when I was in the Senate, I had great relationships over there, and up until that point that I became president this was not an accusation that you heard very frequently," the president said at his news conference Monday.
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POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The CNN Washington Bureau’s morning speed read of the top stories making news from around the country and the world. Click on the headlines for more.
CNNMoney: Obama administration: Debt ceiling deadline coming soon
The Obama administration on Monday turned up the heat on Congress to raise the debt ceiling. The Treasury Department, hours after President Obama again said he would not negotiate with Congress over the issue, said it will run out of ways to keep the country under the legal borrowing limit sometime between mid-February and early March.
CNN: Clinton to testify before House committee January 23
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify on January 23 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the U.S. Consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya, the office of Chairman Ed Royce announced Monday. Four State Department officials were disciplined last month after an independent review of the September 11, 2012, consulate attack revealed "systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies" at the State Department. The violence left four Americans dead, including the U.S. ambassador.
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