U.S. Politics
Around-the-clock political news and analysis from Reuters. Follow @ReutersPolitics for more.
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"Vamanos!" McCain offers when discussing importance of passing reform and ensuring that issue of large numbers in U.S. illegally doesn't arise again. -
Schumer explains that upon the passage of their proposal as a bill, there would be an immediate clearance for working and living legally in the U.S., with a path to citizenship.
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Senators almost literally falling over each other to answer questions and get in complementary points as news conference comes to a close - seems to be real enthusiasm to move this proposal forward and spread its ideas, at least among this group.
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In immigration speech today, Pres Obama will say the bipartisan plan put forward by 8 Senators "very much in line" with his objectives.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 29, 2013 -
President Barack Obama arrives on stage to deliver remarks on immigration reform at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, January 29, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed
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US Senate confirms John Kerry as Secretary of State, 94-3; 1st Obama cabinet nominee to be confirmed @nbcnews
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) January 29, 2013 -
And now the clock starts ticking on Scott Brown. Will he or won't he run?
— The Fix (@TheFix) January 29, 2013 -
Senate votes to confirm Kerry as secretary of state (click for story)
WASHINGTON - Senator John Kerry received enough Senate votes on Tuesday to be confirmed as President Barack Obama's new secretary of state, succeeding Hillary Clinton.
The five-term senator and 2004 unsuccessful presidential candidate had broad support from fellow Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. As voting continued, he had received well over 60 votes in favor of his confirmation, and just two against it.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Will Dunham)
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Latest Points:
• Republican Transportation chief Ray Lahood to step down
• Obama approves additional $155mil humanitarian aid to Syria -
Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (L) delivers her opening remarks while seated next to her husband, former U.S. Navy Captain Mark Kelly, during a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary committee about guns and violence on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 30, 2013. REUTERS/Larry Downing
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Speaking now: Baltimore County Chief of Police James Johnson and the chair of the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence
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Johnson: "On behalf of my colleagues across the nation, I'm here to tell you that we are long overdue for strengthening our nation's gun laws."
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Johnson: "Background checks work... We already have a national background checks system in place," advocates extending the system to all firearms purchases without delay.
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Johnson: "The ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines must be reinstated."
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Johnson: "The common sense measures we've called for will not infringe on second amendment rights." Encourages panel to stand with his group on proposed reforms.
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Speaking now: Gayle Trotter, attorney and senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum in Washington, DC
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National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre arrives for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, on Capitol Hill in Washington January 30, 2013. The hearing comes six weeks after the massacre of 26 people at a Connecticut school ignited new calls to fight gun-related violence. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (2ndL) (D-VT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) look on at left. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Trotter: "Guns make women safer." Says that guns are the "great equalizer" for women in violent situations.
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Speaking now: Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Rifle Association
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LaPierre: "We join the nation in sorrow over the tragedy in Newtown, CT... We have no more sacred duty than to keep our children safe." Lapierre advocates school shield program that he introduced at his first press conference after the Newtown shooting.
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LaPierre: "Proposing new gun laws while failing to enforce the ones we already have? That's not a real solution."
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LaPierre: "Background checks will never be universal, because criminals will never submit to them."
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Giffords makes emotional plea as lawmakers confront gun violence
by Thomas Ferraro
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, grievously wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, made an emotional plea on Wednesday for Congress to take action to curb gun violence in the aftermath of last month's Connecticut school massacre, urging lawmakers to "be bold, be courageous."
Read More -
Mark Kelly, on closing gun show loophole and requiring sellers to do background checks before transferring a gun: "In my opinion and in Gabby's opinion, this is one of the most important things we must do... I can't think of something that would make our country safer than doing just that."
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Leahy asks LaPierre about 1999 quote that he didn't support any loopholes for anyone, presses LaPierre on whether he supports mandatory gun show checks. Unsatisfied with LaPierre's answer mentioning that laws should not be extended, Leahy says, "With all due respect, that was not the question that I asked."
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Kopel, on shooters in recent tragedies: "The long term solution isn't about background checks, it's about why are these people on the streets in the first place?"
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Grassley asks Trotter how AR-15 and other assault weapons are preferable for self-defense. Trotter mentions these guns' accuracy, lightweight design, and intimidating appearance.
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Sen. Feinstein thanks all witnesses for appearing. "Even you, Mr. LaPierre... we tangled - what is it? - 19 years ago. You look pretty good, actually." Leahy makes an exception for the laughter in the room.
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Gabby Giffords's husband Mark Kelly outlines mental health issues of Arizona shooter Jared Loughner, including expulsion from community college and drug use (flagged during failed military enlistment), in case for more strict background checks and closing loopholes.
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LaPierre says hearing's discussion has "little to do with making our children safe," more to do with twenty years of anti-gun movement and lack of enforcement of current laws.
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Sen. Durbin, on LaPierre's statement that criminals will not go through background checks: "That's the point!" Says background checks will keep criminals from trying to buy guns in the first place. Some applause in hearing room, Leahy asks for order.
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Senator Dick Durbin: "There should have been a hearing like this" after Rep. Giffords was shot in Tucson. "I'm sorry it's taken two years."
— Matthew Keys (@TheMatthewKeys) January 30, 2013 -
Durbin on violence in Chicago: "We are awash in guns... We have six times the guns in New York City. Some believe the solution to this is more guns. I disagree."
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Durbin says that the belief of the NRA is that the second amendment gives Americans the right to fight back against the government and the police. Durbin asks Police Chief Johnson how he feels about this. "I think it's creepy," Johnson says.
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Kelly describes Loughner dropping his second magazine when trying to reload during Arizona shooting of Giffords and others, which gave bystanders a chance to tackle him. Says 13th shot of high-capacity magazine hit 9-year-old-girl (first bullet and others hit Giffords). Kelly says that without high-capacity magazines, the girl would still be alive today.
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Sen. Graham (R-SC): "I don't want to own a gun to attack my government."
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Graham advocates high-capacity magazines for self-defense in the case of multiple attackers. Says he thinks that the best way to prevent tragedies is not to keep high-capacity magazines from citizens, but to have attackers encounter more armed guards instead.
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Graham says that the reason he's going to oppose the (gun control) legislation is because he sees cuts to police departments, longer response times, and the need for citizens to be able to defend themselves. Says one bullet in the hand of the wrong person we should try to prevent, but he rejects magazine regulations on those seeking utmost protection.
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Sen. Franken (D-MN) ties gun control debate to violence committed by the mentally ill, says he works every day to further the late Sen. Wellstone's work on mental health issues, and tomorrow he will introduce a bill to improve mental health diagnosis in schools.
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LaPierre says that Sen. Feinstein's assault weapons bill bans all kinds of types of guns while permitting other types that have the same or very similar functionality as the banned types.
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Professor Kopel attributes recent spate of mass shootings to "copycat effect," says that illustrates need for more protection in schools. Also mentions de-institutionalization of mentally ill, says that 50 years ago shooters like Loughner/Holmes/Lanza would have been civilly committed.
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Sen. Hatch (R-UT): "This is complex!" Commends panel witnesses on testimony.
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Andrew Goddard, (3L), Chairman of the Board of the National Gun Victims Action Council, whose son Colin was shot during the Virginia Tech massacre, puts his hand to his head as he listens to testimony during a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee about guns and violence on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 30, 2013. REUTERS/Larry Downing
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Obama to meet later today with Gabrielle Giffords at White House, Carney says
— Mark Felsenthal (@markfelsenthal) January 30, 2013
Venezuela's Maduro starts shutting borders to block humanitarian aid
CARACAS Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro threatened to close the border with Colombia on Thursday as opposition leader Juan Guaido and some 80 lawmakers ran a gauntlet of roadblocks trying to get to the frontier to receive humanitarian aid. | Video
