House to Honor Giffords, Other Victims on Wednesday

The Speaker, Since Saturday
For House Speaker John Boehner, the tragic news came fast. Shortly after 1 p.m. est on Saturday, while he was relaxing at home in West Chester, Ohio, Boehner was notified by his Chief of Staff, Barry Jackson, about the shooting involving Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D., Ariz.) in Tucson. Boehner quickly alerted his staff then reached out to the House Sergeant at Arms, Democratic leadership, and other Republican leaders. While the story continued to unfold on television, he spoke directly with Democr...

How Georgia congressmen view security in wake of Arizona shooting
WASHINGTON -- Law Enforcement officials have scheduled a security briefing for all members of Congress on Wednesday, and congressional leaders are considering changes to try to provide more protection to members in the wake of the Arizona shooting. Ga. Politics news, helpful links PolitiFact Georgia » Ray McBerry: "You’ll find blacks in almost every regiment throughout the South who fought right alongside white Southerners," during the Civil War. The moves come as some me...

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...

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. ...

Pelosi, Boehner create book signing and tribute event to remember Ariz. shooting (Daily Caller)
Read more stories from The Daily Caller Tom DeLay sentenced to three years in Prison Political cartoons exploit Arizona tragedy in effort to score crude political points Bryce Tierney, a friend of Loughner, opens up about the alleged shooter Justin Bieber: 7th most popular woman on the web Pollster Frank Luntz goes after 'violent' remarks on Huffington Post, MoveOn and Daily Kos Speaker of the House John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sent out an e-mail Monday regarding “...

Congress Stands in Solidarity for Rep. Giffords
Members of Congress are still in shock over the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., this weekend. For some, the emotions were hard to restrain. "You know, by every indication that -- I'm sorry," said a shaken Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Fla. "By every indication, the fighter that, that Gabby Giffords is, is showing full strength." Is political vitriol creating an unhealthy environment for the nation's lawmakers? Peter S. Sprigg, a senior fellow for policy studies at the Family R...

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...

Afternoon Fix: Gabrielle Giffords doctor: "We're not out of the woods yet"; Tom DeLay sentenced to three years in prison
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's (D-Ariz.) doctor says "we're not out of the woods yet"; a judge has sentenced former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) to three years in Prison for Money Laundering; and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) says he's not interested in being the GOP's 2012 vice presidential nominee. The Tea Party: movement or moment? * Doctors for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) said that there has been no change in the lawmaker's condition, but "at this point no change is good." Michael...

Pelosi & Dems Must Fear the Disgruntled Blue Dogs Ready to Break Ranks & Cut Deals with Republicans
It would appear that House Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has a difficult next two years in store for her. Disgruntled “Blue Dog” Democrats are ready to deal with the GOP and break ranks with Pelosi. So many “blue dogs” were voted out of office in the 2010 Midterm Elections as upset voters showed them the door for voting with Pelosi rather than the will of their constituents. Blue Dog Democrats remain deeply frustrated with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s leade...

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 ...

POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Monday, January 10, 2011
The CNN Washington Bureau’s morning speed read of the top stories making news from around the country and the world. Click on the headlines for more. 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, a...

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...

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...

Tributes mark Congress' week ahead
Legislative action in the House will come to a standstill this week following the shooting Saturday of 20 people, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), at a "Congress on Your Corner" event in Tucson. The lower chamber is not in session Monday, but House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood requested Sunday that all members of Congress, Staffers and visitors present on the House side of the Capitol join President Obama and the country at 11 a.m. in observing a moment of silence for the Victims...

The Substance Of Symbolism
Given all the crimes that have been committed on the floor of the House of Representatives — from the Attempted Murder of five congressmen by Puerto Rican nationalists in 1954, to various cases of Bribery and Extortion, to gay members of both parties soliciting Underage congressional pages — you would think that a simple reading of the U.S. Constitution wouldn’t have provoked so much liberal outrage. The recitation of the Constitution, the first order of business for the new H...

Obama leads moment of silence at White House for victims of Arizona shooting
 WASHINGTON -- President Obama led a moment of silence Monday morning from the South Lawn of the White House to mark the tragic shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and 14 people injured in Arizona. Shortly before suspected gunman Jared Loughner, 22, was expected to appear in court to face charges in the massacre, a bell chimed three times at 11 a.m. on the White House grounds. The President and First Lady Michelle Obama led the nation in pausing to remember those killed and injured, ...

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...

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

Boehner: No Debt-Limit Hike Without Spending Cuts and Budget Reform
House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) issued the following statement on the Debt Limit: I’ve been notified that the Obama Administration intends to formally request an increase in the Debt limit. The American People will not stand for such an increase unless it is accompanied by meaningful action by the President and Congress to cut spending and end the job-killing spending binge in Washington. While America cannot default on its debt, we also cannot continue to borrow recklessly, dig ou...

Obama Avoiding Fingerpointing
President Obama is, so far, keeping his distance from the debate over whether vitriolic political discourse contributed to the attack in Arizona that killed six people and wounded 14 people, including Representative Gabrielle Giffords. During remarks at the White House on Monday with President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Mr. Obama said he is mourning the Victims and trying to offer solace. “Right now, the main thing we’re doing is to offer our thoughts and prayers to those who’ve been impa

AZ Gov: Tucson Shootings an Assault on Democracy
"Tragedy and terror sometimes come from the shadows - and steal our joy and take away our peace," Brewer said during her remarks. "That happened on Saturday when a gunman took away people we love, innocent people, and outstanding public servants - like U.S. District Judge John M. Roll." Six people were killed and 14 injured on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona, when 22-year-old Jason Lee Loughner allegedly opened fire at a political meeting being held outside of a Supermarket. Democratic congresswoman...

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...

Clyburn: Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine...
COLUMBIA — U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in Congress, said Sunday the deadly shooting in Arizona should get the country thinking about what's acceptable to say publicly and when people should keep their mouths shut. Clyburn said he thinks vitriol in public discourse led to a 22-year-old suspect opening fire Saturday at an event Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords held for her constituents in Tucson, Ariz. Six people were killed and 14 others were injured, including ...

ARIZONA District Attorney PUTS ON THE BRAKES when it comes to accusations of prejudice and bigotry
"The tragic shootings in Tucson this past weekend have prompted understandable outrage and strong emotions. Nonetheless, it is a gross disservice to the citizens of Arizona for public officials to characterize our citizens as prejudiced, bigoted or in any way intolerant based on the violent actions of one individual whose motivations and state of mind are still under investigation. For my part, as an elected Law Enforcement official for the largest county in Arizona, I believe the heroic actions...

Appropriator: Too early to talk increase for Capitol Police in wake of shooting
Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), the incoming head of the House Appropriations subcommittee on the legislative branch and a member of Congress with influence on the Budget of the Capitol Police, said Monday it is too early to say whether he would support any Budget increases for security in light of the weekend shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). Each Appropriations subcommittee has been tasked by GOP leaders to find places to make deep cuts to spending, and Crenshaw is looking for red...