Spending cut countdown: What's Congress doing?
Washington (CNN) - There are four days left before $85 billion in widely disliked forced spending cuts start to take effect. So what's Congress - back from a weeklong break - doing Monday to change course?
Not much - at least publicly.
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'These cuts do not have to happen,' Obama says
(CNN) - In his latest push to pressure Congress before a series of massive, across-the-board forced spending cuts kick in on Friday, President Barack Obama is bringing state governors into the conversation.
The president spoke Monday morning before the National Governors Association at the White House, where he urged the state executives to weigh in on the matter.
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In 2013, television ad wars underway for 2014 elections
(CNN) - The current political fight over gun control is front and center right now in next year's re-election campaign for the top Republican in the U.S. Senate.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee says it went up Monday with a new ad that criticizes Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky over his opposition to some gun control efforts in the wake December's mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. And McConnell's re-election campaign is pushing back against the spot.
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Perry to speak at CPAC
(CNN) - Add Texas Gov. Rick Perry to the list of potential 2016 presidential hopefuls set to speak at a major gathering for conservatives next month.
Perry, who ran an unsuccessful 2012 bid for the White House, will deliver remarks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, hosted by the American Conservative Union.
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Justices reject campaign finance appeal over corporate contributions
Washington (CNN) - The congressional ban on direct campaign contributions to federal candidates by corporations will stay in place after the Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from a campaign supporter of Hillary Clinton.
The justices last week accepted for a review a separate appeal over individual donation limits. That case will be argued in the fall, with an expected ruling some months later.
The case denied Monday is Danielczyk v. United States (12-579).
Sotomayor slams controversial remarks by prosecutor
Washington (CNN) - Two members of the Supreme Court took the unusual step of speaking out over racially insensitive remarks by a federal prosecutor in a drug case, when rejecting review of the defendant's appeal.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a strongly worded statement Monday, saying the prosecutor's remarks about an African-American suspect were "an affront to the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection of the laws."
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Priebus travels west for GOP review
(CNN) - Following through with efforts to refigure the GOP's messaging, the Republican National Committee chairman is traveling west this week to talk to minority voters and technology experts, RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski confirmed Monday.
On the four-day trip, Reince Priebus will stop in Denver to hear Hispanic voters and GOP activists before heading to Los Angeles on Tuesday to meet with Hispanic and Asian voters.
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And the biggest surprise of the night goes to...Michelle Obama
(CNN) - When actor Jack Nicholson stepped on the Oscar stage Sunday night to announce the nominees for best picture, few expected him to toss to a co-presenter.
"Tonight, it is my great pleasure to introduce live from the White House, the first lady of the United States: Michelle Obama," he said.
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Spending cuts showdown may drag on
New York (CNNMoney) - Chances are slim that Congress will avert the automatic spending cuts before they take effect on Friday. It's more likely lawmakers will reach a deal to replace the cuts after they begin.
But there's no telling when.
Funding for numerous federal agencies and programs will be slashed, half from defense and half from nondefense spending.
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CNN Washington AM Note
BREAKING OVERNIGHT:
Michelle Obama tweets: @FLOTUS It was a thrill to announce the #Oscars2013 best picture winner from the @WhiteHouse! Congratulations Argo! -mo
URGENT Syria regime ready to talk 'with all who want dialogue': Muallem
MOSCOW, Feb 25, 2013 (AFP) – The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is ready to talk with all parties, including armed groups, who want dialogue to end the conflict, Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said on Monday at the start of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"We are ready for dialogue with all who want dialogue, including those who are carrying arms," Muallem said at the Moscow talks with Lavrov, who warned there was "no acceptable alternative" to a political solution and that further bloodshed risked Syria's collapse.
NATIONAL STORIES:
CNN: 'Crippling' winter storm bearing down on Great Plains region, forecasters say
Just days after a storm walloped the Great Plains, a second one - bringing with it heavy snow and strong winds - was slamming the region early Monday, forcing airline cancellations and school closures from Colorado to Texas. National Weather Service forecasters warned the storm was bringing potentially "life threatening" and "crippling" blizzard conditions with freezing temperatures to portions of southeast Kansas, northwest Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle overnight.
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