House joint caucus conference on security to be held Wednesday

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Calls for Civility After Ariz. Shooting
(The Wall Street Journal) - Saturday's shooting of a U.S. congresswoman while she was meeting constituents sparked outreach between Party Leaders and talk of stepped-up security, against the backdrop of a nascent debate over inflammatory Rhetoric in politics, the Wall Street Journal reported in its Monday edition. A day after a gunman in Arizona killed six people including a Federal Judge and gravely wounded the Democratic congresswoman, House members from both parties, led by Speaker John A. Bo...

Attack inspires an outbreak of civility
Deep impact ... Children gather for a candlelight vigil outside The Office of Shooting Victim Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson on Sunday night. Photo: AP WASHINGTON: This was supposed to be the week of another ''showdown'' in the US Congress. Now, the very word makes politicians squeamish. The shootings in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday that killed six and left the Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 13 others wounded resounded in Washington with a deep and immediate impact. As with other ...

Arizona tragedy gives Congress a moment to pause
(01-09) 18:12 PST WASHINGTON, CA (AP) -- The shooting rampage in Arizona seems to have created a reset moment for confrontational politics, as lawmakers reflect on the repercussions of the overheated Rhetoric traded on the airwaves and on the Campaign Trail. Members of Congress from both parties called Sunday for civility over belligerence as the House temporarily shelved the contentious debate over repealing the Health Care law and lawmakers paused to contemplate the tragedy. Critically wound...

Condolence books placed on Capitol Hill
House Speaker John Boehner (D-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have invited House members, staff and visitors to write their condolences and well-wishes for those harmed in the Tucson shootings and their families. Two books will be available at 3:30 p.m. and through the rest of the week in the Cannon House Office Building -- one for well wishes and the other for condolences. ...

Arizona Shooting Creates Unifying Pause In Confrontational Political Climate
WASHINGTON — The shooting rampage in Arizona seems to have created a reset moment for confrontational politics, as lawmakers reflect on the repercussions of the overheated Rhetoric traded on the airwaves and on the Campaign Trail. Members of Congress from both parties called Sunday for civility over belligerence as the House temporarily shelved the contentious debate over repealing the Health Care law and lawmakers paused to contemplate the tragedy. Critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giff...

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...

House Is Briefed on Giffords
The House of Representatives is out of session for the weekend, but after yesterday's tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, members were briefed on the shooting during a Conference Call Sunday. Over 800 representatives, staff, and family members joined the call, according to Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson. Members heard from Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Larson, Nancy Pelosi, House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood, Capitol Police Chief Bill Morse, Giffords's chief of ...

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...

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...

Arizona Tragedy Gives Congress a Moment to Pause
WASHINGTON — The shooting rampage in Arizona seems to have created a reset moment for confrontational politics, as lawmakers reflect on the repercussions of the overheated Rhetoric traded on the airwaves and on the Campaign Trail. Members of Congress from both parties called Sunday for civility over belligerence as the House temporarily shelved the contentious debate over repealing the Health Care law and lawmakers paused to contemplate the tragedy. Critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giff...

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...

112th Congress Starts with Flurry of Bills To Block EPA Regulations
The 112th Congress was sworn in on Wednesday, and Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) was elected Speaker of the House.  Nineteen Democrats voted against Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), which is extraordinary when you consider that Pelosi as Minority Leader still controls committee assignments for her party’s members.  The House began Thursday by reading the Constitution (my thoughts on that may be found here), which surprised me by causing a lot of foaming at the mouth on the left.  Lat

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...

Congressional leaders promise members security review after shooting
WASHINGTON (CNN) - House Democrats and Republicans participated in a rare Bipartisan Conference Call Sunday to discuss the condition of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as well as security concerns for members of Congress. Republican and Democratic leaders, the chief of the United States Capitol Police, a doctor from the Office of the Attending Physician of Congress, and the Chief of Staff to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords briefed about 800 lawmakers, their spouses and top aides. "I've been in Congress 22 year...