Highlights from today's news on CQ.com

Midday Update for Monday, June 29, 2009 – 2:25 P.M.

In This Issue

  • Critics Seize on Supreme Court Decision to Assail Sotomayor's Judgment
  • High Court Decides To Rehear Campaign Finance Case
  • Is Preventive Care a Cost Saver?
  • House Intelligence Panel's Report Warns of Emerging Threats
  • House Chairman Wants To Use Bailout Dividends for Affordable Housing Trust
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Today in Washington

The House is not in session; reconvenes at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 7.

The Senate is not in session; reconvenes at 2 p.m. Monday, July 6.

The President delivers remarks on energy policy; meets with President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia; with first lady Michelle Obama, hosts a reception for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month; attends a reception with National Finance Committee members.

In Washington, memorial service for retired Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr., and Ann Wherley, his wife, who died in the June 22 Metro rail crash, 6:00 p.m., DC Armory, 2001 E Capitol St S.E

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Top Stories

Critics Seize on Supreme Court Decision to Assail Sotomayor's Judgment

Critics of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor seized on Monday's high court ruling overturning a decision she'd joined in a high-profile reverse discrimination case, presaging questions likely to arise at her Senate confirmation hearings next month. [Read More]

High Court Decides To Rehear Campaign Finance Case

The Supreme Court wants to hear a new round of arguments in a closely watched case about how nonprofits can weigh in during political campaigns, and has signalled that it might broaden the case to cover print advertising in addition to TV programming. [Read More]

Is Preventive Care a Cost Saver?

Preventive care saves money, right? Uh, not exactly. Senate Democrats drafting the big health care overhaul were hoping not only to improve Americans' health by promoting preventive care but also to squeeze out savings for the government to help provide insurance coverage to people who lack it. [Read More]

House Intelligence Panel's Report Warns of Emerging Threats

The House Intelligence panel is worried about emerging threats in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Mexico, and thinks spy agencies are behind in addressing cybersecurity, diversity and foreign language training, according to a committee report released Monday. [Read More]

House Chairman Wants To Use Bailout Dividends for Affordable Housing Trust

With money tight for almost everything, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee has come up with a creative way to fund an affordable housing trust fund: Dividend payments by banks receiving bailout money from Uncle Sam. [Read More]

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Today on Governing.com

State and local government news from CQ’s sister publication
NEW YORK STATE: Former Health Commissioner Pleads Guilty
THE GREAT LAKES REGION: Biggest Threat to Lakes: Warming Globe
PITTSBURGH: Chief Wants 4,000 Police for G-20 Summit
LOS ANGELES: Council Advances Early-Retirement Plan

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Political Clippings

Gannett reports "Sen. John Ensign's admission of an extramarital affair with a campaign aide has cost Nevada some of its clout in Congress. Although the state still has a powerful champion in U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Ensign's humiliating resignation from his GOP leadership post makes it harder for him to rally Republican support for legislation that benefits Nevada, experts say."

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that "so far, none of North Carolina's big-name Democrats seems to want to run next year against [GOP] Sen. Richard [M.] Burr. Even as Burr has begun preparations for what could be a tough re-election fight, his most likely challengers are two dark-horse candidates, both lawyers with little political experience and even less statewide name recognition."

The WVIR-TV reports that "one Republican has thrown his hat into the ring to challenge" Virginia District 5 Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello. Bradley Rees of Bedford County announced his decision to run against the incumbent.

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