Jan 08 Watch Daschle Pledges Bipartisan Health Care Reform Effort During a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle pledged to lead a bipartisan health care reform effort, based on evidence and not ideology. Experts discuss the challenges he will face if confirmed. Continue watching
Jan 06 Watch New Congress Faces Economy, Foreign Policy Challenges On the opening day of the 111th Congress, a newly expanded Democratic majority was sworn in and President-elect Barack Obama sought support for a stimulus package. Former lawmakers discuss the challenges ahead. Continue watching
Jan 05 Minn. Election Board Certifies Franken Ahead in Senate Race By Admin, PBS News Hour After a two-month recount process, Democrat Al Franken has been certified with more votes than Republican Norm Coleman for one of Minnesota's seats in the U.S. Senate, but legal challenges from Coleman could keep the race unresolved for weeks. Continue reading
Jan 02 Watch Roland Burris Defends Appointment to Senate by Embattled Blagojevich Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick for Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, Roland Burris, plans to take office next week despite objections from Senate leaders. Burris discusses the controversy surrounding his appointment with Ray Suarez. Continue watching
Dec 31 Watch Senate Leadership Weighs Blocking Burris Appointment After embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's named Roland Burris to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, Democratic Senate leaders claim they will invoke their constitutional power to block the appointment. Analysts discuss the situation's legal and political implications. Continue watching
Dec 30 Watch Defiant Blagojevich Names Appointee for Senate Seat Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed former state Attorney General Roland Burris to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat Tuesday, prompting objections by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Reporters mull the move. Continue watching
Dec 23 Obama Report Says Aides Had No Improper Contact With Blagojevich By Admin, PBS News Hour President-elect Barack Obama and two top advisers met last week with federal investigators who are building a corruption case against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a report released Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading
Dec 19 Watch Shields and Brooks Examine Auto Plan, Blagojevich Case, Kennedy’s Senate Bid This week, the White House announced an aid package to keep the Big Three afloat, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich denied accusations of plotting to sell President-elect Obama's senate seat. Mark Shields and David Brooks offer their analysis. Continue watching
Dec 19 Franken Takes Lead in Minnesota Senate Recount By Admin, PBS News Hour Democratic contender for the Minnesota Senate seat Al Franken took a 250-vote lead over Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in the still undecided Senate race Friday, but thousands of ballot challenges remain unresolved. Continue reading
Dec 19 Blagojevich Proclaims Innocence, Plans to Fight Corruption Charges By Admin, PBS News Hour In his first public comments since his arrest last week on charge of corruption, embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Friday he will be vindicated and has no intention of letting what he called a "political lynch mob" force him… Continue reading