BLOOMBERG News, Jul 06, 2011

Senate's Reid scraps Libya measure for debt Tue,5 Jul 2011 04:35 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Tuesday pulled a resolution to authorize the U.S. military conflict in Libya from the Senate schedule, after Republicans said they wanted to focus on the debt crisis instead. Full Story1

Obama to meet Congress leaders Thursday on debt Tue,5 Jul 2011 04:27 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama rejected proposals on Tuesday for a short-term deal to raise the U.S. debt limit and pressured congressional leaders to reach a broad agreement within two weeks to avoid a government default by August 2. Full Story1

Mondale and others seek to end Minnesota shutdown Tue,5 Jul 2011 03:50 PM PDT Reuters - MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Former Vice President Walter Mondale, calling Minnesota's budget crisis a "deadlocked train wreck," on Tuesday offered expert help to end his home state's government shutdown. Full Story1

Senator Baucus asks Exxon for details on pipe spill Tue,5 Jul 2011 03:48 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. senator from Montana asked Exxon Mobil Corp on Tuesday for details about the pipeline that ruptured over the weekend spilling about 1,000 barrels of oil into the rain-swollen Yellowstone River. Full Story1

Factbox - Raw materials covered by China loss at WTO Tue,5 Jul 2011 03:27 PM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - A World Trade Organization panel ruled on Tuesday that various quotas, duties and other devices used by China to restrict exports of key raw materials violated commitments it made to join the world trade body. Full Story1

WTO rules China curbs on raw material exports illegal Tue,5 Jul 2011 03:27 PM PDT Reuters - BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China broke international law when it curbed exports of coveted raw materials, the World Trade Organization ruled Tuesday, in a landmark case threatening Beijing's defense for similar export brakes on rare earths. Full Story1

Wounded Giffords aide makes emotional return to work Tue,5 Jul 2011 03:17 PM PDT Reuters - TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) - An aide to Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords made an emotional return to work on Tuesday, nearly six months after he was seriously wounded in the Tucson shooting rampage. Full Story1

House Republicans defy Obama on trade bill add-on Tue,5 Jul 2011 03:06 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers set the stage on Tuesday for a second showdown with the White House over the Obama administration's demand Congress pass legislation to help workers hurt by trade as part of a package of long-delayed trade deals. Full Story1

Boehner: Debt talks fruitless if taxes on the menu Tue,5 Jul 2011 02:49 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Tuesday that debt-reduction talks will be "fruitless" as long as President Barack Obama continues to call for closing $400 billion in tax breaks as part of the deal. Full Story1

McConnell will meet at White House with Obama: aides Tue,5 Jul 2011 02:06 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell accepted an invitation to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday amid efforts to cut a bipartisan deal to raise the U.S. debt limit, aides said. Full Story1

Obama says talked with leaders on debt, cites progress Tue,5 Jul 2011 02:04 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that he spoke over the weekend with both Democratic and Republican congressional leaders on their impasse over the U.S. debt and deficits and that the discussions are yielding progress. Full Story1

U.S. dismisses "clumsy" Iran threat of rights trials Tue,5 Jul 2011 01:02 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday dismissed an Iranian threat to try U.S. officials in absentia on human rights charges as a clumsy attempt to deflect international attention from Tehran's own rights record. Full Story1

Analysis: Debt deal not that far out of reach Tue,5 Jul 2011 11:40 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - You would never know it from all the hot air rising out of Washington, but President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans could easily reach a deal to raise the debt limit and avoid an early August default. Full Story1

Russia criticizes U.S. over abuses in wars abroad Tue,5 Jul 2011 08:32 AM PDT Reuters - MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia urged the United States on Tuesday to give more scrutiny to allegations of human rights violations by U.S. soldiers and agents during conflicts abroad, pointing to reported abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan. Full Story1

National teachers' group endorses Obama for 2nd term Tue,5 Jul 2011 03:45 AM PDT Reuters - CHICAGO (Reuters) - The nation's largest teachers union voted on Monday to recommend that President Barack Obama be elected for another term. Full Story1

Montana governor reviewing oil, gas pipeline safety Mon,4 Jul 2011 03:27 PM PDT Reuters - KALISPELL, Montana (Reuters) - Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer on Monday said authorities will review safety of all oil and gas pipelines which cross waterways in the state and close those that did not meet standards. Full Story1

Minnesotans frustrated, angry over state government shutdown Mon,4 Jul 2011 07:18 AM PDT Reuters - (Warning: Use of strong language in paragraph 3) Full Story1

White House to pay $37 million in salaries for 2011 Sun,3 Jul 2011 09:16 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it will pay $37,121,463 in salaries for 454 employees in 2011. Full Story1

Myanmar diplomat defects in Washington: report Sun,3 Jul 2011 09:14 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The deputy chief of mission at Myanmar's embassy in Washington is seeking political asylum in the United States, Radio Free Asia reported Sunday. Full Story1

Afghan drawdown may hurt battle for east: McCain Sun,3 Jul 2011 03:05 PM PDT Reuters - KABUL (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's decision to bring troops home from Afghanistan faster than the military recommended could jeopardize the next major push of the war, to unseat insurgents in the east, U.S. senator John McCain said on Sunday. Full Story1

French Socialist party head calls for calm amid DSK affair Sun,3 Jul 2011 01:57 PM PDT Reuters - Jul (Reuters) - By Leila Abboud Full Story1

Minnesota Zoo reopens using own revenue during state shutdown Sun,3 Jul 2011 12:48 PM PDT Reuters - MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - As day three of the Minnesota state government shutdown began on Sunday, residents shut out of state parks and historical sites had one option restored over the holiday weekend -- the Minnesota Zoo. Full Story1

California calls on citizen to redraw political lines Sun,3 Jul 2011 05:02 AM PDT Reuters - LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - When Stanley Forbes is not helping to redraw California's electoral map, he is growing almonds at his ranch or running his independent book store. Full Story1

Little-known Republican McCotter opens White House bid Sun,3 Jul 2011 04:12 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thaddeus McCotter, a guitar-playing Michigan congressman with an independent streak, formally launched a longshot bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Saturday. Full Story1

Vote to replace former Congressman Weiner on September 13 Sat,2 Jul 2011 01:52 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - A special election to replace disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, who resigned after lying about sending lewd photos of himself to women over the Internet, has been set for September 13. Full Story1

Massachusetts lawmakers OK $31 billion budget Fri,1 Jul 2011 03:06 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Massachusetts legislature enacted a nearly $31 billion budget on Friday, which shuts a $1.9 billion budget gap without raising taxes by cutting spending and relying on one-time revenues. Full Story1

Analysis: Geithner may want to go; will Obama let him? Fri,1 Jul 2011 02:58 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Timothy Geithner may be musing about stepping down as Treasury secretary but President Barack Obama has ample reason to try to talk him out of it, not least that doing so would avoid a bruising succession battle. Full Story1

Warnings sounded over precipitous defense cuts Fri,1 Jul 2011 02:02 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cuts in defense spending as part of President Barack Obama's bid to trim the $1.4 trillion U.S. budget deficit could hurt the economy or imperil security unless undertaken as part of a careful review of military needs, an industry representative and a key lawmaker said. Full Story1

U.S. sees South Sudan independence set despite violence Fri,1 Jul 2011 01:57 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States believes South Sudan will split smoothly from the North when it declares independence on July 9 but the two sides face tough economic and security challenges that could threaten further violence, a senior U.S. official said on Friday. Full Story1

Treasury says Congress has month to reach debt deal Fri,1 Jul 2011 01:53 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Friday stuck with an August 2 deadline for Congress to approve new borrowing and avoid a default, applying more pressure on lawmakers to break partisan gridlock and reach a budget deal. Full Story1

New defense chief Panetta sees tough budget choices Fri,1 Jul 2011 01:48 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leon Panetta was sworn in as U.S. defense secretary on Friday promising to keep the military strong while making tough choices on defense spending cuts. Full Story1

New defense chief sees tough budget choices Fri,1 Jul 2011 12:31 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leon Panetta was sworn in as defense secretary on Friday promising to keep the military strong while making tough choices on defense spending cuts. Full Story1

Republican McCotter launches longshot 2012 presidential bid Fri,1 Jul 2011 12:10 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thaddeus McCotter, an independent-minded congressman from Michigan, launched a longshot bid on Friday for the 2012 Republican nomination to run for U.S. president. Full Story1

Obama nominates Olsen for counterterrorism post Fri,1 Jul 2011 11:08 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama nominated Matthew Olsen on Friday as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center to replace Michael Leiter, who resigned. Full Story1

Analysis: Some revenue hikes likely in budget deal Fri,1 Jul 2011 11:07 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans reject revenue increases in deficit-reduction talks, but the betting in Washington is that if and when a budget deal is brokered, at least a few of those Democratic ideas will be included. Full Story1

Senate approves Treasury security, TARP nominees Fri,1 Jul 2011 09:19 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate has confirmed the Treasury Department's top national security officials, the head of its bailout programs and its top spokesperson, easing a backlog of Obama administration nominees delayed by political wrangling. Full Story1

Treasury warns of crisis absent debt limit deal Fri,1 Jul 2011 08:25 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Treasury on Friday kept up the pressure on Congress to strike a deal to raise the debt ceiling and prevent a default, repeating that it would run out of legal room to borrow on August 2. Full Story1

Illinois governor signs budget but state's problems mount Fri,1 Jul 2011 07:43 AM PDT Reuters - CHICAGO (Reuters) - Just hours before a new fiscal year was to begin, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Thursday signed a new state budget after vetoing $376 million in spending approved by the General Assembly. Full Story1

Analyst view: Geithner mulls departing Treasury: sources Fri,1 Jul 2011 03:06 AM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is considering stepping down later this year, but will not make any decision until after until after debt limit negotiations conclude, people familiar with his thinking said on Thursday. Full Story1

Clinton decries Belarus crackdown at democracy talks Fri,1 Jul 2011 02:34 AM PDT Reuters - VILNIUS (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized the repression of peaceful protests in Belarus on Friday as she urged nations to support fledgling democratic movements in the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere. Full Story1

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