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Kicking off rural tour, Biden announces broadband cash
On the first stop of the Obama administration's summer tour of rural America, Vice President Biden announced today that $4 billion in economic stimulus cash will be available in loans and grants to help bring broadband Internet service to unserved and underserved communities.
Of that amount, the Agriculture Department will invest $2.5 billion for broadband -- needed for quick downloading of videos and other web material -- in rural communities.
“Today’s announcement is a first step toward realizing President Obama’s vision of a nationwide 21st-century communications infrastructure – one that encourages economic growth, enhances America’s global competitiveness and helps address many of America’s most pressing challenges,” Biden said in Wattsburg, Pa.
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About Political Intelligence
Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.
News from the Washington Bureau
Health care headache for House Democrats
WASHINGTON - Democratic House leaders scrambled to round up enough support yesterday for their sweeping health care overhaul, getting last-minute help from White House advisers on the eve of a historic vote scheduled for today. (Globe Staff, 11/7/09)
Health care opponents intensify late attack
WASHINGTON - The sweeping health care overhaul package before Congress is under an 11th-hour attack over a pair of emotional issues, abortion and immigration, that are complicating Democrats’ efforts to piece together the coalition they need to pass the bill. (Globe Staff, 11/6/09)
Patrick wraps up two-day visit to Washington
WASHINGTON - Governor Deval Patrick swept through Washington yesterday, wrapping up a two-day tour to advance the state’s interests in health care, economic development, and transportation - a trip that also let him showcase his access to the city’s most powerful Democrats, including President Obama. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)
Public’s opinions of health care overhaul efforts have familiar ring
Americans’ opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)
Frank reconsiders legislation after worry raised on loopholes
House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank, under fire from some fellow Democrats and consumer groups for carving out what they call loopholes in legislation designed to prevent another economic meltdown, said in a letter released last night that “there may be a problem here’’ and that he wants to reconsider. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)
Moderate Democrats fear shift to GOP
Democratic moderates who will determine the fate of much of President Obama’s domestic agenda heard an early warning from this week’s off-year elections: Congress had better do something about the economy, or sitting lawmakers will lose their jobs in 2010. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)
BU professor turned Pakistan envoy draws flak
Professor Husain Haqqani, who took a leave of absence from Boston University to become Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States last year, is one of the most influential figures in his nation’s government. But in recent weeks, Haqqani has been fighting for his political survival, accused of something that can tank a government career in Pakistan: being too “pro-American.’’ (Globe Staff, 11/4/09)
In battle over credit abuses, Warren wields a plan
CAMBRIDGE - Her critics portray her as an ivory tower elitist intent on disrupting the American Dream. But to her legions of fans in the Democratic Party, Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren is the nation’s leading economic David, fighting to protect middle-class families from corporate Goliaths. (Globe Staff, 11/3/09)
New England’s GOP moderates aiming to reverse ’08 setbacks
WASHINGTON - New England’s moderate Republicans, shoved out of power by two Democratic waves of anti-George W. Bush fervor, are scrambling to make a 2010 comeback, making early bids for congressional seats that GOP leaders say are critical to taking back majorities in the House and Senate. (Globe Staff, 11/2/09)
In Kennedy’s towering shadow, Senator Kirk discreetly toils
Paul G. Kirk Jr. kept to himself on a recent day in the Senate chamber, sitting quietly with a manila folder of policy papers while his colleagues milled around on the floor, back-slapping and schmoozing. (Globe Staff, 10/31/09)
