House Is Briefed on Giffords

Congress To Hold Special Conference To Discuss Security For Members
The Hill: The chairman of the House Democratic Caucus said Sunday that lawmakers will meet for a special joint conference on Wednesday to discuss security measures and concerns in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) in her home district Saturday. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) spoke to reporters after about 800 lawmakers, Staffers and family members took part in an hour-and-a-half Conference Call Sunday afternoon. Giffords’ Chief of Staff, Pia Carusone, was among th...

House Members Gather by Phone in Giffords' Honor
WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress, their staff and spouses held an 800-person Conference Call Sunday, to discuss Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' medical condition after she was shot in the head in Arizona Saturday, and to talk about their own security. Many of the lawmakers called in from their districts where they had returned after the first short week of the 112th Congress. 'Congress at its Best' Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson, D-Conn., described the Bipartisan call as "Congress at its be...

Two lawmakers say they'll carry guns
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Two U.S. House members say they will carry guns while visiting their districts after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Heath Shuler, D-N.C., who both hold conceal and carry permits, told Politico they would not carry the weapons in the District of Columbia. GALLERY: The aftermath of the Rep. Giffords shooting Members of Congress get some protection from the U.S. Capitol Police, but many travel only with unarmed Staffers and ...

House To Hold Bipartisan Caucus Meeting For Post-Shooting Safety Info
In the aftermath of the Arizona Shooting Spree, House Republican leaders have cleared the legislative calendar for next week, which means that for the most part U.S. politics will slow to a crawl. Instead, members -- Democrats and Republicans -- will participate in a joint Caucus meeting Wednesday, to be briefed on security precautions in the wake of the shooting. Because of the preponderance of freshman and other junior members, who were not on the Hill during the 9/11 and Anthrax attacks, ma...

Tucson shooting alters congressional agenda
WASHINGTON - This weekend's shooting in Tucson that killed six and wounded 14, including Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, hasn't just shaken Washington emotionally -- it's also shaken up the congressional agenda. The new Republican leadership in the House had planned an ambitious agenda for the first days of the 112th Congress, following up its adoption of new Budget rules last week with a vote to Repeal the Health Care bill this week. But on Sunday, Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor sent o...

This Week in Congress
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader: Leader Cantor Statement on the Legislative Schedule for the Week of January 10th WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) issued the following statement regarding the legislative schedule for the House of Representatives during the upcoming week: "In consultation with the Speaker and the Democratic Leadership, I have postponed all previously-scheduled Legislation for the coming week to accommodate any ac...

This Week in Congress
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader: Leader Cantor Statement on the Legislative Schedule for the Week of January 10th WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) issued the following statement regarding the legislative schedule for the House of Representatives during the upcoming week: "In consultation with the Speaker and the Democratic Leadership, I have postponed all previously-scheduled Legislation for the coming week to accommodate any ac...

Is President Obama Really Recovering?
Almost nothing in politics goes in a straight line up or down. President Obama’s recent political fortunes have tended, over a year, to be heading gradually down in a fairly straight line, culminating with the November mid-term Elections which his party decisively lost, much of the reason for this being Mr. Obama’s performance in office during the first two years of his term. The election resulted in a dramatic loss of the Democratic Party’s control of the U.S. House of Representatives,

House to Honor Giffords on Wednesday
The Wall Street Journal reports: Instead of debating the Repeal of the Controversial health care law, Republicans and Democrats will gather in the House on Wednesday to honor Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and mourn the Victims of the shooting Saturday outside a Tucson, Ariz., Safeway. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) made the announcement during a rare Conference Call Sunday afternoon with members and staff of both parties and their family members, according to readouts from his and other...

House to Honor Giffords, Other Victims on Wednesday
Yahoo! Buzz Instead of debating the Repeal of the Controversial Health Care law, Republicans and Democrats will gather in the House on Wednesday to honor Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and mourn the Victims of the shooting Saturday outside a Tucson, Ariz., Safeway. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) made the announcement during a rare Conference Call Sunday afternoon with members and staff of both parties and their family members, according to readouts from his and other offices. House leaders...

House GOP postpones votes for this week
In light of the tragedy that took place in Tucson on Saturday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) has postponed votes on Legislation for the week, including an planned vote to Repeal the Health Care reform Legislation passed last March: “In consultation with the Speaker and the Democratic Leadership, I have postponed all previously-scheduled Legislation for the coming week to accommodate any action needed in light of yesterday’s tragic events in Arizona. “The House will meet...

House on Hold
In the wake of the shooting Saturday in Tuscon, Arizona, the Republican House leadership has decided to postpone all major legislative activity for the week. That means the bill to Repeal the Health Care law, which was originally scheduled for debate on Tuesday and a vote on Wednesday, will be pushed back until next week. Here’s the text of Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor’s [R, VA-7] letter to members of the House announcing his decision to postpone legislative work for the week: &#...

House joint caucus conference on security to be held Wednesday
House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (Conn.) told reporters at a Capitol briefing after Sunday's Conference Call that leaders of both parties have scheduled a joint Caucus conference for Wednesday at House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) request. At Wednesday's meeting, members are expected to be given additional recommendations on security measures, Larson said. "The primary thing here is to make sure that all members are coordinating their efforts with local police officials, which a l...

Joint conference Wednesday to discuss security concerns
The chairman of the House Democratic Caucus said Sunday that lawmakers will meet for a special joint conference on Wednesday to discuss security measures and concerns in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) in her home district Saturday. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) spoke to reporters after about 800 lawmakers, Staffers and family members took part in an hour-and-a-half Conference Call Sunday afternoon. Giffords' Chief of Staff, Pia Carusone, was among those speaking on...

Members Of Congress To Get Security Suggestions In Wake Of Arizona Shooting
WASHINGTON — A House Democratic leader says he thinks lawmakers will be taking precautions when meeting with the public in the wake of a congresswoman's shooting in Arizona. Connecticut Rep. John Larson, who heads the House Democratic Caucus, says lawmakers will continue to have open sessions with their constituents. Leaders from both parties held a Conference Call Sunday with the House sergeant at arms to discuss security in the aftermath of the attack that wounded Arizona Democratic Re...

Lawmakers divided on need for more security after shooting
WASHINGTON — Security tightened Sunday on Capitol Hill as grief-stricken lawmakers, their spouses and Staffers were briefed about their own personal safety in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. About 800 members of Congress, staff and spouses discussed security in a Conference Call with Capitol Police Chief Philip Morse, FBI officials and other top congressional security staff. During the call, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he's asked security officials t...

Boehner: Public Service Comes with Risk
Source: Wall Street Journal Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) said Sunday morning that the “inhuman” shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others outside a Tucson, Ariz., Supermarket this weekend “should not and will not deter us from our calling to represent our constituents and fulfill our oaths of office.” “No act . . . must be allowed to stop us from our duty,” Mr. Boehner said during brief remarks at the West Chester, Ohio, Township Hall and Administration Offices. He echo

Members Seek to Curtail Their Own Paychecks
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Is Shot in Arizona 1:53 p.m. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Is Shot in Arizona 1:53 p.m. Speaker John Boehner (right) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor arrive on Jan. 6 for their first joint news conference in the Capitol since Republicans took control of the House. They addressed issues such as the National Debt and their plan to Repeal the Health Care overhaul law that was passed last year. Whether you're looking for a new job or looking to hire the perfect Candidate, tur...

Obama Leads Moment of Silence
Wall Street Journal reports: President Barack Obama led the nation in a moment of silence Monday morning, gathering with White House staff on the South Lawn to honor the Victims of the Saturday shooting rampage in Arizona. The president and First Lady Michelle Obama emerged from the White House at 11 a.m., walked a few feet forward and stopped, bowed their heads and stood silently for about a minute. A bell chimed three times, a standard Military protocol. The only other sounds were of cameras...

In Wake of Giffords Shooting, Congress on High Alert but Intent to Carry On
Shaken by this weekend's shooting rampage in Arizona that critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, killed six people and wounded 13 others, Congress was on high alert Monday morning. Some representatives canceled events and others, including Reps. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), said that they would carry Firearms for protection. Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.) told Politics Daily that he would introduce Legislation Wednesday making it a federal crime for a person to use language...

Obama calls victims' families in Arizona
President Obama is calling the families of Victims from Saturday's Mass Shooting in Arizona, and will continue to do so throughout the week, the White House said. "The President is assuring them that all is being done to try and get to the bottom of this," said a White House statement. "He is offering his full support and thoughts and prayers on behalf of himself, Michelle and the entire nation." Obama is also speaking with lawmakers, and receiving updates on the shooting that left six people d...

GOP Leaders Respond to Arizona Crime
Over the weekend many of the leaders in the Republican Party responded to this criminal action perpetrated against a fellow member of Congress on Saturday. It is important that their words be heard because of the din of the Old Media and the Democrats is so loud as to have drowned out the sorrow that the GOP leaders exhibited over this incident. “We are all still shaken by the shooting that took place in Tucson on Saturday, and we are thinking especially today about the six people whose li...

Engel 'Shocked' By Attack on Friend, Says Heated Rhetoric and Crosshairs 'Doesn't Help Anything'
After the swearing-in ceremony for state Comptroller Tom Dinapoli yesterday afternoon, Congressman Eliot Engel took a moment to reflect on the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. "I'm shocked, I'm very sad," he said. "Gabby Giffords is a very close personal friend of mine, one of my best friends in Congress. I've known her since before she ran for Congress. She is about as caring and as nice a person as you can find. It just breaks my heart." Giffords served on the Western H...

Members focus on comity, safety of staff and family (Exclusive to Yahoo! News)
By Fawn Johnson National Journal Republicans and Democrats are abandoning Partisanship -- for now. Saturday's massacre by a gunman in Tucson, Ariz., that left six dead and wounded 14 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , D-Ariz., means that House members will spend the coming week making floor tributes to Giffords and discussing, in the most respectful way, how to better ensure that they and their families and staffs are safe inside the Capitol and also in their home districts. The Senat...

House suspends work on Obamacare after shooting
House Republicans suspended their work this week, including a much-anticipated vote on ObamaCare, in response to the shooting rampage in front of a Tucson, Ariz., Supermarket that left six people dead and Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords clinging to life. In a Conference Call with House Democrats and Republicans, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said he was canceling the regular schedule, including the Wednesday ballot on a bill to Repeal the Health Care reform law. Instead, Cantor said, t...