16/05/2013 | Argentina

Gay community launches anti-bullying campaign

Homosexual Community of Argentina (CHA in Spanish) will launch an anti-“bullying” campaign tomorrow in Congress, covering issues on social inclussion, diversity, freedom and respect for differences, on the same day the world marks the International day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

23/04/2013 | Argentina

Justice reform: opposition sets up protest tent across from Congress

Opposition set up a protest tent as they called for "an independent justice” in front of the Congress and waited for the lawmakers' decision on three crucial bills of the justice reform.

26/04/2013 | Argentina

Agustín Rossi defends judicial reform, apologizes for outburst

The head of the Victory Front caucus in the Lower House, Agustín Rossi, came on stage today to defend the judicial reform fueled by the government asserting "it defends courteous values" adding some of the bills contained in the reform and debated in Congress "improve the transparency of the Judicial Branch."

08/05/2013 | Argentina

Complete text of the gov't's dollar-tax-whitewash bill (Spanish version)

Read the complete text of the government-fueled bill which seeks to boost greenback reserves and the domestic real estate market.

12/03/2013 | Argentina

Lawmakers debate child labor, household jobs bills

The Congress of Argentina is expected to address this afternoon two significant projects involving child labor legislation and the regulation of household jobs.

13/03/2013 | Argentina

Congress rejects Malvinas' referendum

In the first ordinary session of the year, the Congress passed a rejection statement against the referendum that the British administration of Malvinas Islands carried out on March 10-11.

16/04/2013 | Argentina

Congress with focus on justice reform

13/02/2013 | Argentina

AMIA, DAIA 'strongly reject' Argentina-Iran accord before Congress

The heads of the AMIA and DAIA Jewish umbrella organizations, Guillermo Borger and Julio Schlosser, strongly rejected the agreement signed between Argentina and Iran in order to create a truth commission looking to investigate the 1994 terrorist attack that left over 80 people dead.

01/03/2013 | Argentina

'We're willing to pay vulture funds but on equal conditions to other bondholders'

During the opening of the 131st legislative sessions, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner defended her debt reduction policies and blasted the so-called vulture funds and multilateral organizations.

01/03/2013 | Argentina

Scioli blasts Macri in inauguration of legislative year

Buenos Aires province Governor Daniel Scioli inaugurated the legislative year at the provincial Congress, where he criticized City Mayor Mauricio Macri by assuring that "by burrying garbage in the Province, anyone can have a 'Green City'."

19/12/2012 | Argentina

Lower House approves Human Trafficking bill

The Lower House of Congress approved today the Human trafficking bill almost unanimously - 224 in favour and one abstained from voting.

14/01/2013 | Argentina

'Congress Index': 2012 Inflation hits 25.6%

The inflation has climbed to 25.6 percent in 2012, two times the figures registered by the official data, according to the index presented by opposition lawmakers based in the analysis of nine private agencies.

07/02/2013 | Argentina

CFK sends Argentina-Iran agreement to Congress

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she would send to Congress the recent agreement reached between Argentina and Iran in order to investigate the AMIA bombing in 1994, and assured that “the Argentine Justice will not be obstructed.”

13/11/2012 | Argentina

Congress Index: Inflation hits 1.8% in October

Opposition lawmakers presented October’s inflation index based in the analysis of nine private agencies, which showed a 1.8 percent increase against the previous month.

29/11/2012 | Argentina

2013 to have 18 national holidays

The Upper House of Congress today approved a bill stating that February 18th, 2013 will be a holiday to commemorate the bicentennary of the battle of Salta. Thus, next year will have a total of 18 holidays.

13/12/2012 | Argentina

'Congress Index': Inflation hits 1.8%

Opposition lawmakers presented November's inflation rate based in the analysis of nine private agencies, which showed a 1.8 percent increase against the previous month.

18/10/2012 | Argentina

'Habitat law' bill preliminary approved by BA province congress

Buenos Aires province Lower House of Congress preliminary approved the "Habitat Law" bill, which forces gated neighbourhoods to cede lands for the construction of houses of social plans.

20/10/2012 | Argentina

Scioli to present teen suffrage vote to BA province Legislature

Buenos Aires Governor Daniel Scioli is to present a bill in the next few days to lower the voting age to 16 to the provincial Legislature, in line with the initiative the Kirchnerite administration is pushing through Congress.

01/11/2012 | Argentina

Lower House rapidly clears 'per saltum' bill for debate

Lower House lawmakers in the Constitutional Affairs and Justice committee rapidly approved the ‘per saltum’ bill in a morning session today and it has been cleared for debate, after it was passed yesterday 43 to 26 votes in the Senate.

05/09/2012 | Argentina

Congress passes bill declaring 9/24 a one-time national holiday

The Upper House voted in favour of passing a bill declaring next Monday September 24th a one-time national holiday in order to commemorate the bicentennial of the Battle of Tucumán.

03/10/2012 | Argentina

Congress calls on Coast Guards to 'adapt their actions to democratic guidelines'

Amidst the conflict triggered by the Coast Guard and Gendarmerie officials' claim, the pro-government bloc, along with other opposition blocs, summoned the heads of the Upper and Lower House of Congress to analyze the situation.

11/10/2012 | Argentina

'Congress Index': Inflation hits 1.9% in September

Opposition lawmakers presented September’s inflation index based in the analysis of nine private agencies, which showed a 1.93 percent increase against the previous month.

21/08/2012 | Argentina

Civil Code reform hearings begin

The Civil Code reform project triggered by the national government began today with a series of public hearings at the Congress’ Bicameral committee, and the presence of Justice Minister Julio Alak, who also gave an opening speech.

21/08/2012 | Argentina

Ex Ciccone take over bill cleared for debate

The bill to take over the currency printing South American Values Company, formerly known as Ciccone, was cleared for debate by the Constitutional Affairs, Budget and General Legislation Committes, and will debated at the Lower House of Congress tomorrow.

23/08/2012 | Argentina

Catholic Church ratifies 'concern' over Civil Code reform at Congress

Monsignor José María Arancedo, chairman of the national Episcopate. qualified the rent of womb as "an insult to women's dignity," during the public hearing led by the bicammeral committee for the reform of the Civil and Penal Codes held at Congress.

09/07/2012 | Argentina

Obama challenges GOP to keep tax cuts for middle class

US President Barack Obama called for a one-year extension of Bush-era tax cuts for families earning less than $250,000 a year, seeking to steer the election-year debate away from high unemployment and portray himself as a champion of ordinary US citizens.

10/07/2012 | Argentina

Opposing factions within CGT announce separate election date

The leaders of the factions within the CGT umbrella union that oppose Hugo Moyano, today announced that they will hold their own elections separately to the group that supports the union boss.

17/08/2012 | Argentina

Lower House's Kirchnerites call for special session over Ciccone

The Lower House of Congress called for a special session for next Wednesday to debate the bill to take over the currency printing South American Values Company, formerly known as Ciccone, preliminary approved by the Senate last night.

25/06/2012 | Argentina

Regional leaders seek to boost Mercosur - China relations

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Chinese premier Wen Jiabao held a videoconference at the Government House with their Uruguayan and Brazilian counterparts, José Mujíca and Dilma Rousseff, as they sought to boost relations between the Mercosur trading bloc and China.

25/06/2012 | Argentina

Congress condemns ousting of Paraguay's Lugo

During a special session in Congress on Monday in order to analyze the current situation affecting Paraguay, both houses passed a bill declaring that Argentina rejects “the interruption of the democratic order” in the neighbouring country.

27/06/2012 | Argentina

Income tax: Lower House fails to reach quorum

Opposition lawmakers did not manage to reach quorum today to begin a special session in which they were supposed to debate several bills related to the Income tax minimum floor, one of the issues that prompted today's national truck drivers' strike and march to Plaza de Mayo called by CGT's chief Hugo Moyano.

04/05/2012 | Argentina

'Spain needs to accept Argentina's sovereign decision,' Pichetto

The head of the Senate's Victory Front bloc Miguel Angel Pichetto today stated that “Spain needs to accept the sovereign decision made by Argentina,” in reference to the expropriation of oil and gas giant YPF, which last night was approved by a wide majority in the Congress.  

10/05/2012 | Argentina

Congress index: inflation hits 2.16% in April

Opposition lawmakers presented April’s inflation index based in the analysis carried out by private agencies, which showed 2.16 percent increase in comparison to the previous month.

30/05/2012 | Argentina

'Argentina needs to go through process of de-dollarization,' Abal Medina

While speaking before Congress, Cabinet Chief Juan Manuel Abal Medina said Argentina needs to go through a “de-dollarization” process and assured that “there is a segment of the Argentine population that has an obsessive-compulsive mania of thinking in dollars.”

20/04/2012 | Argentina

Menem: 'I will back YPF's expropriation'

Former president Carlos Menem said today he will attend the Upper House debate on YPF's expropriation and back the national government's bill.

03/05/2012 | Argentina

Kirchnerite organizations celebrate YPF expropriation

Kircherite organizations gathered outside Congress to celebrate the nationalization of YPF, which was approved by the Lower House shortly after 9.30 pm by a wide margin of votes. They are led by Vice-president Amado Boudou, Cabinet Chief Juan Abal Medina and the President's daughter, Florencia Kirchner.

03/05/2012 | Argentina

Domínguez highlights opposition support to approve YPF bill

The head of the Lower House of Congress, Julián Dominguez, highlighted the support of the opposition lawmakers to approve the law that allows the expropriation of 51 percent of the YPF shares currently owned by Spain's Repsol.

17/04/2012 | Argentina

PRO party lawmaker's bloc rejects YPF expropriation

The centre-right PRO party lawmaker’s bloc rejected last night the draft bill putting forth the expropriation of petrol company YPF, which was yesterday sent to the Congress by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

17/04/2012 | Argentina

Economy Deputy-Minister Kicillof: 'We will not pay Repsol what they say'

During today's debate held over the Repsol-YPF expropriation draft bill at the Upper House, Economy Deputy-Minister Axel Kicillof stated that "Argentina will not pay Repsol whatever amount they consider the company is worth", and remarked that the government's intervention on the oil and gas company will “review” the company's accounting documents as previous directors kept key data as “secret information” leaving a cloud of doubt over YPF’s real value.

17/04/2012 | Argentina

TEDxBA: Death as a constitutive part of life

By Ana Patiño.-

Doctor Hugo Dopaso made his way through the TEDx Buenos Aires and cast a positive light on death by urging people not to be afraid of it, but to accept it as part of our life. He also praised the Dignified Death draft bill being discussed in Congress, assuring that it is a “huge step for society.”

18/03/2012 | Argentina

Catholic Church says SC ruling on abortion 'bypasses Congress'

The head of the Catholic Campus Ministry in Buenos Aires, Guillermo Marcó, continued to criticize the Supreme Court over its recent ruling in favour of legalizing abortions in case of rape and assured that the measure “legalizes abortion by bypassing Congress.”

24/03/2012 | Argentina

Lawmakers lead military coup 36th anniversary commemoration

The Upper and Lower Houses of Congress held a joint special session to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the military coup. Lawmakers paid homage to the court members who led the trial against the military junta. The ceremony was led by Vice-President Amado Boudou. Thirty thousand people were kidnapped and murdered between 1976 and 1983.

24/03/2012 | Argentina

'Argentina has a strong democracy,' lawmakers

Before entering Congress to take part in the joint special session to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the military coup, lawmakers highlighted the fact that Argentina has a strong democracy.

07/03/2012 | Argentina

CFK to send bill ratifying subway transfer to Congress

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she will send a bill to Congress to ratify the agreement between the national and City governments regarding the transfer of the subway service

13/03/2012 | Argentina

After heated discussion, Senate clears subway draft bill for debate

The draft bill ordering City Hall to honour its agreement with the National Government and accept the transfer of the subway management, as well as 33 bus lines and the Puerto Madero tram, was approved by three committees after a very heated debate and will be voted on the Senate floor on March 21st.

14/03/2012 | Argentina

Lower House approves CB charter reform bill

In a general session, the Lower House passed a bill looking to amend the Central Bank's charter, which will be able to free up funds in order to pay off debt and cover the costs of the Treasury.

14/02/2012 | Argentina

Domínguez calls those who question lawmakers wage hike, 'hypocrites'

The head of the Victory Front’s bloc in the Lower House Deputy Julián Domínguez labelled those who lashed out the over 100 percent Deputies and Senator salary increase, “hypocrites” today.

01/03/2012 | Argentina

CFK defends subsidy scheme, praises Argentina's economic growth

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner gave the Congressional year opening speech for the 130th set of ordinary sessions in the Congress, in which she praised the Kirchnerite model and gave latest results and figures of her administration.

07/03/2012 | Argentina

Marcó del Pont: 'Central Bank's reform will help fight inflation'

Central Bank Governor Mercedes Marcó del Pont today visited the Congress to deliver before three committees a report on a reform to the Central Bank's charter.

21/12/2011 | Argentina

Upper House approves 2012 Budget Law, economic bills

The Upper House of Congress approved the 2012 Budget with 44 votes in favour and 26 against, and a package of economic bills sponsored by the government. Earlier, the controversial Farm Worker Statute that sparked Union protests was approved at the Senate with 68 votes in favor and one against from senator and former president Carlos Menem.

21/12/2011 | Argentina

Senate approves Farm Worker Statute, despite of protests

The controversial Farm Worker Statute that sparked Union protests in several locations throughout the country this morning was approved at the Senate this afternoon with 68 votes in favor and one against from senator and former president Carlos Menem.

22/12/2011 | Argentina

Senate approves Newsprint, Land Ownership Bill

The Upper House of Congress approved the Land Ownership bill with 62 votes in favour and 1 against. During the second day of the 48-hour marathon extraordinary session, the Senate also approved the controversial Newsprint bill which establishes that the printing and distribution of newsprint is of public interest.

14/12/2011 | Argentina

CGT lawmakers abstain from supporting CFK bill in Congress

Lawmakers Facundo Moyano, Héctor Recalde and Omar Plaini, all members of the Kirchnerite caucus in the Lower House, abstained from signing a bill that looks to reform the statutes of rural workers, sent to Congress by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

15/12/2011 | Argentina

Senate committee to debate 2012 Budget, Economic bills

The Senate's Treasury and Budget Committee will start discussing today a set of bills that include key proposals from the government such as the Budget for 2012, an extension on the Economic Emergency Law and the validity of check and cigarette taxes, which were psased yesterday by the Lower House after a seven-hour debate.

16/12/2011 | Argentina

Land ownership bill passed at the Lower House

The land ownership bill, a legislation aimed at restricting foreign ownership of rural land, was approved by the Lower House early on Friday with 153 in favour and 26 against the new law. The bill now moved to the Senate.

12/12/2011 | Argentina

Congress to discuss vital gov’t bills before the year is over

Before the year is over, the Congress is expected to bring into appreciation vital pending government bills.

12/12/2011 | Argentina

Budget, tax and Economic emergency bills cleared for debate

The Budget and Finance committee of the Lower House gave the green light for key government proposals to be debated at the parliament today.

14/12/2011 | Argentina

Bullrich accuses the gov’t of having a ‘military attitude’ towards the Congress

Opposition lawmaker Patricia Bullrich accused the current administration today of having a “military attitude” and to put into work a “machine to get bills passed without debate,” she told a local radio station in a morning interview.

06/12/2011 | Argentina

Domínguez assures plurality in Congress is 'guaranteed'

The newly appointed Lower House president, Julián Domínguez, assured that “plurality is guaranteed in Congress” and called for “everyone’s political commitment to guarantee everybody’s interests."

11/12/2011 | Argentina

Rossi plays down Moyano's absence during swearing-in ceremony

The head of the Victory Front’s caucus in the Lower House, Deputy Agustín Rossi played down yesterday's absence of CGT boss Hugo Moyano during yesterday's swearing-in ceremony of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

12/12/2011 | Argentina

Aníbal Fernández assures 2012 budget bill will be passed by next week

Kichnerite Senator Aníbal Fernández assured this morning that the Victory Front’s caucus at the Upper House will do anything possible in order to get the 2012 budget passed by next week.

02/11/2011 | Argentina

Deputies divided as abortion bill moves in Congress

Deputy Martín Sabatella came on stage to support yesterday’s Congressional Criminal Law Committee approval to a preliminary resolution to allow for a 12-week upper-limit abortion bill to move to the next stage, but the controversy is on as other lawmakers stand totally against it.

30/11/2011 | Argentina

Congress passes bill to make next February 27th. a national holiday

Next year Argentina will see a total of eighteen holidays after Congress passed a bill that will make next February 27 a one-time-only national holiday in order to celebrate the creation and first swearing-in of the Argentine flag.

01/12/2011 | Argentina

CGT to insist on revenue-sharing bill in Congress

The CGT umbrella union decided it will insist on having Congress debate a revenue-sharing bill, even though the initiative has already been rejected by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

15/09/2011 | Argentina

Hebe de Bonafini: ‘Rats, snakes got together at Congress’

The head of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Foundation, Hebe de Bonafini, considered that the visit of the organization’s former financial manager, Sergio Schoklender, to Congress brought together “the rats with the snakes.”

28/09/2011 | Argentina

Boudou: ‘Argentina’s has the second most important growth in the world'

Economy Minister Amado Boudou’s presence in Congress marked the official start to the debate over the Budget bill that the Executive sent to lawmakers on September 15.

23/10/2011 | Argentina

'The Left needs a voice in the Congress,' Altamira

The presidential candidate for the Workers Party, (Frente de Izquierda y los Trabajadores) Jorge Altamira, cast his vote this morning and remarked that more leftist members need to be instated in the Congress, “to be able to have a political voice in parliament.”   

03/09/2011 | Argentina

Gov't hopes 'opposition won't reject 2012's budget'

Economy Minister Amado Boudou stated that the Government expects "to deal with a more serious opposition this year that won’t leave the country without a budget again,” while meeting with Bariloche businessmen affected by volcanic ash spewed by Chile’s Puyehue volcano.

07/09/2011 | Argentina

Congress passes Argentina's bid to join other nations in creation of Bank of the South

Lawmakers in the Lower House passed the bill that supports the National Government’s bid to join other regional countries in the creation of the Bank of the South (Banco del Sur).

15/09/2011 | Argentina

Schoklender accuses SIDE of pressuring him to remain silent

Mothers of Plaza de Mayo former financial manager Sergio Schoklender was questioned for more than two hours by opposition lawmaker, where he presented documents over the denounce made during this week. By the end of the encounter, Radical Party lawmakers asked to summon the head of the Foundation, Hebe de Bonafini.

24/08/2011 | Argentina

The Progressive Front launches its joint Congress bloc

Progressive Front senators and lawmakers officially launched their caucus in both the Upper and Lower Houses, with the aim of expressing in Congress the ideas that “politically” represent them and gain power in light of the October elections.

30/08/2011 | Argentina

Human trafficking and rapist registry bills move forward in Upper House

Two bills to fight against human trafficking and to create a national bank of genetic data linked to crimes against sexual integrity move forward in the Upper House.

31/08/2011 | Argentina

Upper House preliminary approves human trafficking and rapists registry bills

The Upper House preliminary approved two bills regarding the fight against human trafficking and the implementation of a rapist registry. The bills seek to harden the penalties against those involved in human trafficking and to create a natiomal registry of genetic data that included information on those accused of rape. Now the bills be debated upon in the Lower House.

12/07/2011 | Argentina

According to the 'Congress index,' June inflation rate was 1.5%

Opposition lawmakers announced that the inflation index measured by eight consulting agencies increased 1.5 percent in June. Indec national statistics bureau will announce the official inflation rate on Wednesday.

03/08/2011 | Argentina

Lower House approves 'economic emergency' bill for areas affected by ashes

The Lower House of Congress resumed its sessions after the winter recess and approved the bill that declares the state of economic and social emergency in the area affected by the ashes of the Puyehue volcano.

23/08/2011 | Argentina

Church warns over 'consequences' of abortion's legalization

The Argentine Episcopal Conference (CEA) affirmed that if the Congress approves the law that legalizes abortion, it will generate “judicial, cultural and ethical consequences.”

28/03/2011 | Argentina

Congress summons Security Minister Nilda Garré

During a meeting, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Committees decided to summon Security Minister Nilda Garre in order to “ask her to explain the reasons why the government failed to comply with a court order that guaranteed the free distribution of newspapers.”

01/04/2011 | Argentina

Opposition considers increase of income tax floor 'a mockery'

Members of the opposition considered the decision of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to increase the income tax floor by decree as a “mockery to the Congress, it’s embarassing.”

13/04/2011 | Argentina

Senate opposition fails to pass bill on APE's investigation

The opposition in the Senate failed to pass a bill which intended to launch an investigation into alleged irregularities taking place between the Healthcare Services and the Special Programmes Administration (APE).

22/01/2011 | Argentina

‘We must debate the juvenile criminal law in March,’ Rossi

The head of the Lower House Kirchnerite bloc, Agustín Rossi, affirmed that “there is absolut coincidence in creating a new juvenile criminal law” and added that “we have to debate this issue at Congress in March.”

23/02/2011 | Argentina

CFK formally calls for Ordinary Sessions in Congress

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner formally announced the commencement of the schedule of sessions in Congress to begin on March 1, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette.

16/03/2011 | Argentina

Senate holds first ordinary session of the year

The first Upper House ordinary session of the year began with caring words for the people of Japan and continued with the debate of non-controversial issues. Senators preliminary approved the bill that eliminates the payment of non-remunerative allocations in the salaries of private sector workers, but excludes public employees.

26/02/2013 | World

Bernanke says Fed stimulus benefits clear, downplays risks

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke strongly defended the US central bank's monetary stimulus before Congress today, easing financial market worries over a possible early retreat from bond buys.

21/01/2013 | World

US House Republicans seek vote to extend debt limit to May 19

Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives have scheduled a vote on Wednesday on a nearly four-month extension of US borrowing capacity, but the bill does not specify a dollar amount.

30/01/2013 | World

Giffords seeks 'bold' action as US Congress takes up gun control

07/02/2013 | World

Obama open to 'big deal' on budget, but wants revenues

US President Barack Obama told congressional Democrats today he is willing to agree to a "big deal" with Congress on spending cuts and tax reforms to end uncertainty over the budget deficit, but insisted that new revenues be part of the package.

03/01/2013 | World

US House chooses Boehner as speaker again despite strains

Despite a rocky few weeks during the "fiscal cliff" fight, John Boehner won re-election as speaker of the House of Representatives today and will again lead Republicans as they take on the White House over federal spending.

11/01/2013 | World

Obama to deliver state of the union speech February 12

President Barack Obama will deliver his annual state of the union speech to Congress on February 12, just days before the Treasury could run out of funds to pay government bills.

14/01/2013 | World

Obama says refusal to lift debt ceiling would trigger economic chaos

Obama, at a news conference, said the US economy was poised for a good year as long as Washington politics did not interfere.

28/12/2012 | World

Obama: 'modestly optimistic' fiscal cliff deal can be reached

US President Barack Obama held out hope for a last-minute agreement to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of tax increases and spending cuts after a meeting with congressional leaders, scolding Congress for leaving the problem unresolved until the eleventh hour.

29/12/2012 | World

US Senate leaders work to avoid New Year's 'fiscal cliff'

Congressional negotiators burrowed into their Capitol offices to see if they can stop the US economy from falling off of a "fiscal cliff" in just three days when the biggest tax increases ever to hit Americans in one shot are scheduled to begi

02/01/2013 | World

US House passes 'fiscal cliff' deal

The United States averted economic calamity when lawmakers approved a deal to prevent huge tax hikes and spending cuts that would have pushed the world's largest economy off a "fiscal cliff" and into recession.

11/07/2012 | World

US House vote to repeal Obama healthcare law

The Republican-led US House of Representatives, on a near party-line vote of 2 44- 1 85, passed a bill to repeal President Barack Obama's overhaul of the US healthcare system.

12/11/2012 | World

US Congress comes back to confront 'fiscal cliff'

Amid a global fright over Washington's political brinkmanship, US lawmakers return to the capital tomorrow with a seven-week deadline to reach agreement on scheduled tax hikes and budget cuts that threaten to trigger another recession.

20/12/2012 | World

Boehner abandons fiscal cliff plan as Republicans defect

US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner faced an embarrassing setback today when he failed to unite his Republican lawmakers behind an effort designed to extract concessions from President Barack Obama in year-end "fiscal cliff" talks.

16/02/2012 | World

New Jersey assembly OKs gay marriage; veto awaits

The New Jersey Assembly passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, sending the bill to Republican Governor Chris Christie, a possible vice-presidential candidate who has promised to veto the measure.

17/02/2012 | World

US arrests suspect in Capitol suicide attack plot

An illegal immigrant from Morocco was arrested near the US Capitol after an undercover investigation into an alleged plot to carry out a suicide attack on the national landmark that houses Congress, US officials said.

05/04/2012 | World

Obama signs bill to boost business startups

US President Barack Obama signed into law a bipartisan bill to kickstart small business growth and he promised rigorous oversight to make sure the measure does not harm investors, as critics have warned.

17/01/2012 | World

Hundreds of Occupy protesters rally at US Capitol

Several hundred demonstrators with the Occupy movement rallied outside the US Capitol building to denounce what they called the influence of money in Congress.

13/02/2012 | World

Obama unveils US$3.8 trillion spending plan

President Barack Obama called today for aggressive spending to boost growth and for higher taxes on the rich, laying out an election-year vision for the US in a budget that was criticized sharply by Republicans for failing to curb the deficit.

14/02/2012 | World

Obama 'hopeful' on payroll tax cut extension

President Barack Obama said today he had seen "hopeful signs" that Congress would pass a payroll tax cut extension for the full year, as he kept pressure on lawmakers to take action he said was needed to keep the US recovery on track.

23/12/2011 | World

US Congress punts hard payroll tax work to 2012

US President Barack Obama signed into law a two-month payroll tax cut extension, capping a year of fierce partisan combat over taxes and spending that will resume in January and play heavily in the 2012 elections.

04/01/2012 | World

Obama defies Republicans with consumer agency pick

A defiant President Barack Obama said he will bypass Congress and install Richard Cordray as head of the country's new consumer financial watchdog, escalating an election-year fight with Republicans, who questioned the legality of the move.

12/01/2012 | World

Obama seeks $1.2 trillion debt limit hike

US President Barack Obama formally notified Congress that he plans a $1.2 trillion increase in the US debt limit, setting the stage for Republicans to level election-year charges that deficits are out of control.

13/09/2011 | World

US Congress budget agency lowers economic outlook

The US economy will grow slower than anticipated and joblessness will stay high as the fallout of the deepest recession since the Great Depression takes its toll, the Congressional Budget Office said today.

21/11/2011 | World

US deficit panel fails to reach deal

A US congressional "super committee" failed to reach a deal on reducing federal government deficits, the co-chairs of the panel said.

21/11/2011 | World

Obama blames Republicans for debt panel failure

US President Barack Obama blamed Republicans for a congressional committee's failure to reach a deficit-cutting deal and vowed to veto any attempt to water down automatic budget cuts that would kick in by early 2013.

31/08/2011 | World

After conflict, Obama to address Congress on September 8

President Barack Obama agreed to unveil new jobs proposals in an address to Congress on September 8, bowing to pressure from Republicans, who objected to the original date set for his high-profile speech.

02/09/2011 | World

NYT editorial recommends Obama to look to Argentina 'for inspiration'

An opinion editorial of the US newspaper The New York Times titled “Argentina’s turnaround tango” stated that President Barack Obama and the US Congress should look to Argentina “for inspiration” in economic policies issues. Nevertheless, the article also warned about the corruption and “government opacity“ of the Latin American country.

08/09/2011 | World

Boehner says Obama plan merits consideration

John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, said on Thursday President Barack Obama's jobs proposals "merit consideration" and expressed hope both parties could work together.

02/08/2011 | World

Obama says more needed to boost US economy

President Barack Obama said a just-passed bill to raise the US debt ceiling and cut spending was a first step toward ensuring the United States lives within its means but that more was needed to rebuild the world's largest economy.

02/08/2011 | World

Moody's confirms US rating at AAA, outlook negative

Moody's Investors Service confirmed its AAA rating of the United States, citing the decision to raise the debt limit, but assigned a negative outlook to the rating, pressuring lawmakers to create a long-term fiscal consolidation plan.

20/08/2011 | World

Obama accuses Congress of holding back US recovery

A vacationing US President Barack Obama accused Congress today of holding back the US economic recovery by blocking "common sense" measures he said would create jobs and help growth.

11/07/2011 | World

Obama wants largest possible deal in debt talks

President Barack Obama said that congressional leaders will meet every day until the debt ceiling issue is resolved, adding that there is "a lot of work to do" to tackle the problem.

14/07/2011 | World

Bernanke: deep spending cuts could derail recovery

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Congress that overzealous cuts to government spending could derail an already fragile recovery and said a US debt default could wreak financial havoc.

01/08/2011 | World

US House passes debt bill, wards off default risk

The House of Representatives approved a last-gasp deal to raise the US borrowing limit in a decisive step toward averting a catastrophic debt default by the world's largest economy.

14/05/2011 | World

Geithner warns of new recession without debt rise

With the government about to hit its $14.3 trillion debt limit, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has warned of "catastrophic" consequences and a new recession if Washington is not able to borrow more.

16/05/2011 | World

US Senator: 'Some in Congress concerned over US-Pakistan ties'

US Senator John Kerry said in Pakistan that some members of Congress were not confident that bilateral relations can be fixed after it was discovered that Osama bid Laden has spent years in the country.

23/06/2011 | World

Afghan drawdown creates risk, US military warns

The US military warned that President Barack Obama's faster-than-expected drawdown in Afghanistan created new risks, even as commanders said they backed the strategy to start winding down the unpopular, nearly decade-old war.

07/04/2011 | World

Obama, Congress struggle to find budget deal to avoid shutdown

President Barack Obama and congressional leaders failed to reach a deal but narrowed their differences in a bitter budget dispute that could lead to a government shutdown.

09/04/2011 | World

Late US budget deal avoids costly shutdown

President Barack Obama and congressional leaders struck a last-minute budget deal yesterday to narrowly avert a government shutdown that would have hit the economy and idled hundreds of thousands of workers.

14/04/2011 | World

Budget vote shows challenge for Boehner, Obama

US Congress approved a budget deal to avert a government shutdown, but mass defections in both parties highlighted the difficult fights ahead on spending and debt reduction.

18/12/2010 | World

US Congress votes to end ban on gays in military

The US Congress voted to repeal the ban against gays serving openly in the military and sent the measure to President Barack Obama for his signature.

05/01/2011 | World

Republicans take over House, dilute cuts

Republicans scaled back plans for deep cuts in government spending as they took power in the House of Representatives, diluting a key promise that helped them to victory in November's election.

01/03/2011 | World

Bernanke: oil prices could lead to weaker growth, higher inflation

Offering no hint that he was considering cutting short the Fed's $600 billion stimulus, Bernanke told the Senate Banking Committee he saw increasing evidence that the US economic recovery was becoming self-supporting. At the same time, he warned job growth remains far too anemic.

20/02/2013 | Latin America

Ecuador's Correa vows to make socialist revolution 'irreversible'

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said his party likely won three-quarters of the seats in Congress in last weekend's election and vowed today to "steamroll" through reforms that will make his socialist model irreversible.

12/12/2012 | Latin America

Uruguay Congress approves gay marriage law

The Chamber of Deputies approved the measure after eight hours of debate, with 81 votes in favor out of 87 legislators present. The result was greeted with thunderous applause from around 200 activists watching from the gallery.

15/01/2013 | Latin America

Maduro stands in for Venezuela's ailing Chávez in key speech

Venezuelan Vice President Nicolás Maduro gave a brief state of the nation address today in place of his ailing boss, Hugo Chávez, who has not been seen in public since going to Cuba for cancer surgery more than a month ago.

04/02/2013 | Latin America

Brazilian Congress elects leaders probed for corruption

The lower chamber of Congress voted overwhelmingly today for Henrique Alves to become its speaker, even though he is under investigation for graft. The selection of Alves came after the Senate chose a new leader who is also accused of corruption.

04/09/2012 | Latin America

Chile's Congress approves tax reform to overhaul schools

Chile's Congress approved major changes in tax laws aimed to provide funds for an overhaul of the nation's protest-hit schools, handing unpopular President Sebastian Piñera a welcome victory a month from municipal elections.

11/10/2012 | Latin America

Mexico passes law to combat cartel money laundering

Mexico's Congress approved a long-awaited law to crack down on money laundering in a bid to attack the finances of the country's powerful drug cartels.

22/11/2012 | Latin America

Mexican president wants to change his country's name...to Mexico

Mexican President Felipe Calderón has one non-urgent item pending on his agenda in the dying days of his presidency - he wants to change his country's name.

16/11/2011 | Latin America

Nicaragua's Ortega will have big majority in Congress

Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega will enjoy an overwhelming congressional majority in his third term in office, giving his party the power to change the constitution without needing opposition support.

23/07/2012 | Latin America

Peru's Humala shuffles cabinet to calm protests

President Ollanta Humala named human rights lawyer Juan Jimenez prime minister as the Peruvian leader shuffled his cabinet to calm a wave of violent anti-mining protests.

22/08/2012 | Latin America

Mexico's new rulers win one more Congress seat in final result

Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and its Green Party allies will have 241 of 500 seats in the lower house of Congress, one more than originally projected after the July 1 election, final results obtained showed

14/07/2011 | Latin America

Paraguayan Congress rejects reelection reform bid

Paraguay's opposition-controlled Congress rejected a constitutional reform that would have let leftist President Fernando Lugo run for re-election.

07/11/2011 | Latin America

Ruling party, opposition urge Peru VP to resign

Peruvian lawmakers said that Vice-President Omar Chehade should resign as soon as possible over corruption allegations to put an end to the first political scandal of Ollanta Humala's young presidency.

15/11/2011 | Latin America

Peru panel votes to suspend VP from Congress

The ethics committee in Peru's Congress voted to suspend Vice President Omar Chehade from the legislature over corruption allegations, racheting up pressure on him to resign from both posts.

17/02/2011 | Latin America

Clown Brazilian congressman messes up first vote

A clown turned politician, who won a seat in Brazil's Congress by a landslide has stayed true to his former profession by accidentally messing up his first vote.

17/04/2011 | Latin America

Cubans welcome Castro call to limit leaders' terms

Cuba will consider placing term limits on its leaders to assure new blood in the goverment, President Raúl Castro said in a speech kicking off a Communist Party congress on the island he and his brother led for more than five decades.

10/06/2011 | Latin America

Brazil's Rousseff replaces congressional liaison

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff made the second key change of the week in her cabinet, her office said, a move aimed at improving strained ties with allies in Congress.

16/01/2012 | Sports

FIFA urges Brazil to pass World Cup bill

Brazil had been demanding too much in negotiating the conditions for hosting the 2014 World Cup but a legal dispute should be settled within days, FIFA said.

28/09/2011 | Economy

Boudou goes to Lower House

Economy Minister Amado Boudou will formally present and defend the 2012 draft Budget at the Lower House of Congress today.

26/02/2013 | Argentina

Deal with Iran cleared for debate at Lower House

The bilateral accord between Argentina and Iran to investigate the 1994 AMIA bombing was cleared for debate by the Lower House committees and will be discussed tomorrow at the floor. Earlier, Timerman clashed with opposition lawmakers during his briefing over the case.