Obama presses lawmakers...Obama to lift gag rule...Gillibrand expected ...

Obama presses lawmakers...Obama to lift gag rule...Gillibrand expected pick



WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama is urging lawmakers from both parties to back his economic stimulus package. He told leading members of Congress at the White House that the economy's dire problems require congressional action even if some members object to portions of the $825 billion plan.

WASHINGTON (AP) The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is releasing details of his economic stimulus proposal. Montana Democrat Max Baucus says under his plan, senior citizens receiving Social Security would get a bonus payment of $300, as would veterans who get disability payments.

WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama is expected to sign an executive order lifting a ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortions. Organizations that have pressed Obama to make the abortion-ban change are jubilant over the news.

ALBANY, New York (AP) A New York congresswoman appears in line to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S.

Senate. An aide to New York Gov. David Paterson says Kirsten Gillibrand (JIL'-uh-brand) is the choice to replace Clinton. Word of the selection comes a day after Caroline Kennedy withdrew from consideration.

CHICAGO (AP) Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY'-uh-vich) says everything he's done as governor has been for the good of the state and "in the best interest of the people." Speaking on Chicago radio station WLS, Blagojevich said he couldn't discuss specifics of the federal corruption charges against him but insisted he hasn't done anything wrong.


Source: kxmc.com