"The days of smoke-filled rooms in the United States Capitol are over," Pelosi said. "Medical science has unquestionably established the dangerous effects of secondhand smoke, including an increased risk of cancer and respiratory diseases. I am a firm believer that Congress should lead by example."
The lawmaker will still be able to light up in there own office but the days of migling and smoking in the Speaker's Lobby is over.

George Washington Ancestral Nephew Arrested on International Warrant in NY Wanted By French for striking man with a bottle of vodka.

Stem cell research bill resurfaces in Congress

Now that the Democrats took over the House today they begin a political science experiment and prepare to vote on whether to override Bush's restriction on federal funding of stem cell research.The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 hits the house today,which is identical to the bill that was approved by the senate with a vote of 235-193 but vetoed by Bush in 2006.
"We want to basically move research forward," said Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., a co-sponsor of the House bill, at a Tuesday briefing. "We want to help people in medical situations."

On Aug.9,2001 Bush limited funding of stem cells research to those collected before that date in what he deemed a compromise between moral concern and scientific advances.He echoed the same sentiment last year in a law that would enable stem cell research using those collected by fertility clinics with their patients consent.
Now the question is will the Democrats get more than 2/3rd of the votes to override another veto.
Rep.Diana DeGette,D-Colo.,a bill co-sponsor added
"It is just a matter of time before the bill passes," . "Even if it will be the next president of the United States who signs it."

No More Free Candy for Senators

No more candy for Senators,at least on Capitol Hill. According to the Wall Street Journal the senator will have to do with no more free candy. Ever since 1968 when Sen.George Murphy,a former actor and film exec,began sharing sweet treats with the "old boys" in the back row.The tradition has been kept alive over the years but took a corporate spin 10 yrs ago when Sen.Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania used his home state Hershey connection to score about a 100 pound of free candy a year.Now that Mr. Santorum Hershey is prohibited from supplying the senators sweet tooth by ethics rules.