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Daily Dispatch 2004

This email newsletter brings you summaries of morning's top headlines from the country's major newspapers, complete with links to Cato Institute research related to each topic.

• December 30, 2004: Social Security: Doing Nothing Costs Trillions More; Crime Federalization Costs Offender 84 Years; and Pentagon Proposes $60 Billion in Budget Cuts.



• December 29, 2004: Greater Use of DDT Could Control Malaria; CBO: Raising Payroll Taxes for Social Security Would Curb Economic Growth; and Bill Holds Promise for Guest Worker Program



• December 28, 2004: Courts Improvise in Wake of Sentencing Guidelines Ruling; China Vows to Stop Taiwan Independence; and Bill Would Require Restaurants to Post Calorie Counts.



• December 27, 2004: Chilean Pension System Demonstrates Benefits of Private Accounts; Airlines Poised for More Financial Problems; Yushchenko Declares Victory in Ukraine



• December 23, 2004: National Forest Guidelines Streamlined; Judge Upholds Measure Requiring Citizenship to Receive Benefits; and Departure of Fannie Mae Executives Could Lead to Privatization



• December 22, 2004: Report Questions Benefits of Drug Reimportation ; Microsoft Loses European Court Appeal ; and Top Executives Leave Fannie Mae



• December 21, 2004: Bush Acknowledges Obstacles in Iraq; Medical Associations Criticize DEA over Prescription Guidelines; China's President Criticizes Hong Kong Chief Executive



• December 20, 2004: D.C. Residents Split on Stadium Funding; Pension Guarantor Concerned About United Contract with Pilots; and Card: Social Security Benefits for Younger Workers in Doubt



• December 17, 2004: President Opens Health Savings Account; Bush: Social Security Plan Would Reassure Markets; and Sarbanes-Oxley Costs Provoke Wave of Complaints



• December 16, 2004: Missile Defense Test Fails; FCC Won't Regulate Stern's Satellite Show; and SEC Orders Fannie Mae to Correct Accounting.



• December 15, 2004: Bush Making Progress toward Social Security Reform; Tort Reform Will Be Part of Economic Forum; and Worry over Iranian Influence in Iraqi Elections.



• December 14, 2004: Pentagon Seeks $80 Billion More for Iraq and Afghanistan; Another Record Trade Deficit; and D.C. Council Likely to Approve Stadium Plan.



• December 13, 2004: Judicial Nominee Filibusters Targeted by Republicans; Economic Summit to Focus on Tax Reform and Entitlement Programs; Delegates Gather in Argentina for Climate Conference



• December 10, 2004: Intelligence Bill Provokes Concerns over Civil Liberties; Private Accounts Needed to Reshape Social Security; Karzai Calls for War on Opium Trade



• December 9, 2004: Bush Won't Raise Taxes to Fix Social Security; New York Drug Law Changes Raise Questions, Fears; and Snow Stays On to Tackle Social Security, Tax Reform



• December 8, 2004: House Approves Intelligence Bill; Bipartisan Social Security Reform Legislation Proposed ; and Supreme Court Hears Arguments over Interstate Wine Sales



• December 7, 2004: Senator Inserts Education Policy in Spending Bill; Super Coca 'Tree' Growing in Colombia; and Two High Court Cases Challenge Sentencing Guidelines.



• December 6, 2004: OPEC Poised for Record Revenues This Year; NASA to Get $16 Billion Budget; and North Korea Converted Nuclear Material into Bombs



• December 3, 2004: Medicare Drug Benefit to Be Bigger Drain than National Debt; France's Socialist Party Backs EU Constitution; and Fighting Terrorism with Free Trade.



• December 2, 2004: Pentagon Will Send More Troops to Iraq; Local Governments Consider Providing Internet Access; and Iraq Seeks Debt Relief from Arab Lenders.



• December 1, 2004: Cato Scholar Outlines Chile's Individual Account Success; Report: NYC Schools Need $5.6 Billion; and Bush Defends Iraq Policy in Canada.



• November 30, 2004: Bush in Canada to Repair Relations and Talk Trade; D.C. Ballpark Vote Expected Today; and Fannie Mae Ordered to Forfeit $6.5 Million.



• November 29, 2004: Cato Scholar Argues Medical Marijuana Case; Election Dispute Widens Gap between Iraq Sects; and Intellilgence Reform Up to Bush.



• November 24, 2004: Corporate Welfare Alive and Well; CDC Admits Mistake in Obesity Report; and U.S. Ends Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia.



• November 23, 2004: Saving Social Security; 156 Political Parties to Participate in Iraqi Elections; and Bush Promises More Aid to Colombia



• November 22, 2004: Nations Agree to Cancel 80 Percent of Iraq's Debt; Amtrak Infrastructure Deteriorating; and Bush Will Keep Pushing Guest Worker Plan.



• November 19, 2004: Illinois Supreme Court Stops Suits against Gun Manufacturers; Greenspan: Trade Deficits Pose Risk to U.S. Economy; and Social Security on the Agenda for the 109th Congress



• November 18, 2004: Senate Approves New Debt Limit; Airports Consider Return to Private Screeners; and Clinton Library Opens in Little Rock



• November 17, 2004: Key Senator Expresses Doubts over Tax Reform; Judge in Marijuana Case Questions Sentencing Guidelines; and Asbestos Torts May Get a Closer Look



• November 16, 2004: Pension Guarantor's Deficit Doubles; McCain 'Disappointed' by Bush Stance on Global Warming; and Violence Persists in Sudan.



• November 15, 2004: Iraqi Deputy PM Indicates Possible Election Delay;Iran Pledges to Suspend Uranium Enrichment; and More Aggressive Counternarcotics Plan Devised for Afghanistan



• November 12, 2004: AARP Opposes Social Security Individual Accounts ;Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Costs Companies Millions; and Frist: Republicans Won't Allow Judicial Nominee Filibusters



• November 11, 2004: New PLO Leader Favors U.S. 'Road Map' to Peace; Broadcaster Seeks to Sic FCC on Satellite Radio; and Big Dig Has Big Leak.



• November 10, 2004: Ashcroft Resigning as Attorney General;Armitage: Combating Afghanistan Opium Is a Top U.S. Priority; and Another Plan Proposed for Funding D.C. Stadium



• November 9, 2004: Arctic Council: 'Day after Tomorrow' Is Today; Fifteen Years since Berlin Wall Fell; and Postal Service Bill Unlikely.



• November 8, 2004: U.S., Iraqi Troops Launch Offensive on Fallujah; United States Unprepared to Protect against Bioterrorism; and Migration a Top Issue at U.S.-Mexico Meetings



• November 5, 2004: Karzai Promises Stability in Afghanistan; Spending Restraint Key to Reducing Deficit; and Pressure from Britain Concerning Climate Change



• November 4, 2004: President Vows to Begin Work Now on Social Security; Administration Looks to Simplify Tax Code; and Republican Victories Could Lead to Judicial Nominee Success.



• November 3, 2004: Kerry Concedes to Bush; Health Savings Accounts Likely to Become More Common; and Stem Cell Initiative Approved in California



• November 2, 2004: Record Voter Turnout Anticipated; Campaign Costs $4 Billion; and Electoral College Still Serves Its Purpose.



• November 1, 2004: North Korean Nuclear Issue Faces Election Winner;Oil Prices Might Start Impacting Consumers; and Pakistan's Parliament Allows Musharraf to Remain Army Chief



• October 29, 2004: EU Leaders Sign Constitution; Iran's Nuclear Plan Awaits Election Winner; and States Will Decide on Marijuana Measures



• October 28, 2004: Russian Parliament OKs Kyoto Protocol; D.C. Stadium Costlier than First Thought; and U.N. Condemns U.S. Embargo against Cuba.



• October 27, 2004: D.C. Mayor Reacts to Cato Baseball Stadium Study; Some Military Experts Believe Draft Is Possible; and Bush Considers Civil Unions a State Issue



• October 26, 2004: Bush to Request $70 Billion in Emergency War Funding;Bush, Kerry Differ Sharply on Social Security; and Tax Issues Weigh on Presidential Vote



• October 25, 2004: Failed Presidential Candidates Still Collect Taxpayer Dollars;Bush and Kerry Desire Energy Independence; and Fannie Mae Investigation Likely to Last Months



• October 22, 2004: Boston Mayor Considers Alcohol Sales Ban during World Series; Sinclair Will Not Air Controversial Documentary; and Bush, Kerry Squabble over Health Care.



• October 21, 2004: Campaign Spending Passes $1 Billion; Poll: 40 Percent of Iraqis Say Religion Will Influence Voting; and After Affirmative Action Backing, Fewer Black Students at Michigan.



• October 20, 2004: Some Growth in Health Care Costs Due to Obesity ; FCC Wants Broad Authority over Internet Telephone; and Study: Health Care in Canada Requires a Lot of Patience.



• October 19, 2004: Social Security Scare Tactics at Work; Kerry Says Bush Is Indifferent on Health Care; and Ignorant Electorate Threatens Democracy.



• October 18, 2004: Kerry Attacks Bush on Social Security; Canadian Pharmacies Refuse Bulk Orders from U.S.; and Push for Intelligence Reform Possibly Waning.



• October 11, 2004: Funding for Social Security Described as Problematic; Kerry, Bush Spar over Drug Reimportation; and Controversy Surrounds Afghanistan Election Results.



• October 8, 2004: 96,000 New Jobs in September; Economy May Play Role in Friday's Debate; and Pension Agency Head Calls for Change.



• October 7, 2004: Chief Weapons Inspector: No WMD in Iraq; House, Senate Agree on Corporate Tax Bill; and Fannie Mae CEO Defends Finances.



• October 6, 2004: Health Care Costs to Rise; Cheney, Edwards Spar on Taxes; New D.C. School Superintendent Considers Drastic Changes.



• October 5, 2004: Social Security, Medicare on a Collision Course with Reality; Bremer: We Made Two Major Mistakes in Iraq; and SpaceShipOne Wins X Prize.



• October 4, 2004: Social Security Benefits Threatened for 'Greatest Generation'; Supreme Court Hears Federal Sentencing Guidelines Case Today; and Chicago Mayor: Small-Time Marijuana Cases a 'Colossal Waste of Time'.



• October 1, 2004: Supreme Court Term Starts Monday; Schwarzenegger Vetoes Prescription Drugs from Canada; and Report Supports Inclusion of Turkey in EU.



• September 30, 2004: House to Vote on Federal Marriage Amendment; Judge Overrules Portion of USA Patriot Act; and Russia Adopts Kyoto Protocol.



• September 29, 2004: Taxpayers to Pay for D.C. to 'Play Ball'; Gun Ban Vote Scheduled for Today; and SpaceShipOne Takes Flight.



• September 28, 2004: Bush Administration Warned of Division in Iraq; McMyths behind 'McJobs'; and Iraq's Foreign Debt Write-Off to Be Discussed by G7.



• September 27, 2004: Fannie Mae Strikes a Deal; Draft Rumors Make Some Nervous; and Ownership Society Would Create More Responsible Citizens.



• September 24, 2004: Will a New Constitution Deepen European Unity?; American Troops Stretched Too Thin; and Intelligence Indicates North Korean Missile Launch Possible



• September 23, 2004: United States Agrees to Hamdi Release; Individual Accounts Yield More than Social Security; and Corporate Taxes Still Too High.



• September 22, 2004: Kerry Attacks Social Security Reform; Bush Defends Iraq Policies at U.N.; Teachers' Kids Avoid Public Schools.



• September 21, 2004: $280 Billion Federal Tobacco Case Begins; Judge Strikes Down FEC Rules; and Bush Lifts Libya Sanctions.



• September 20, 2004: Allawi Insists Iraq Elections on Schedule; 'Ownership Society' Contingent on Social Security Reform; United States, Europe Expect to Work Out Deal over Iraqi Loans.



• September 17, 2004: Prescription Drug Shipments from Canada Halted; Hate Crime Legislation Dying; Union Campaigns to Stop Outsourcing.



• September 16, 2004: Intelligence Report Paints Grim Picture for Iraq; Judge Rejects Bush Camp Push for FEC Injunction; and Martha Stewart Requests to Go Directly to Jail.



• September 15, 2004: Kerry Defends Health Care Proposals; U.S. Proposing U.N. Sanctions Against Iran; Putin Announces Sweeping Constitutional Changes.



• September 14, 2004: Social Security Transition Costs Misunderstood by Critics; D.C. Gun Ban to Be Debated in Congress; and US Airways Defaults on Pension Payment.



• September 13, 2004: Powell: No Connection between Saddam and 9/11; Bush Promoting Tax Reform; North Korea Refuses to Commit to New Talks.



• September 10, 2004: A Call to Exit Iraq; Gunmaker Settles with Families of Sniper Victims; and Heinz Kerry Pushes Husband's Health Care Plan.



• September 9, 2004: Gun Ban Expected to Sunset; Greenspan Expresses Worry over Deficit; and HSAs Gain Momentum.



• September 8, 2004: Insurgents Control Key Parts of Iraq; Study: Nation's Traffic Problems Getting Worse; Group Says Humans Contributing to Global Warming.



• September 7, 2004: Medicare Premiums Jump; OPEC President: World is Oversupplied with Oil; and APEC Meeting Focuses on Yuan.



• September 3, 2004: * Bush Speech Features Laundry List of Programs * Pentagon Considers Shift in Funding * U.S. Fines European Companies over Cuba



• September 2, 2004: Bush Campaign Focuses on Terrorism; Lawsuit: Kerry Camp Breaking Election Laws; and Philadelphia Considers Offering Internet Service to Everyone.



• September 1, 2004: Consumers Could Pay for U.S. Anti-Dumping Policy; Bush Guest Worker Program Pushed to Backburner; and IMF Chief Calls on Argentina to Increase Government Saving.



• August 31, 2004: States Seek to Limit Outsourcing; Insurers Rolling Out HSAs; and Bush: Diplomacy to Continue in Iran.



• August 30, 2004: Greenspan Warns on Social Security; Pension Insurer Offers Warning of 'Profound Challenges'; Filing Cases in Secret Court Proves Elusive.



• August 27, 2004: China's Private Sector Provides Economic Growth; HOT Lanes Planned in Virginia; and Bush Administration Shifts on Global Warming.



• August 26, 2004: Bush Expected to Focus on 'Ownership Society' at Convention; Recording Industry to Sue More File-Sharers; and Kerry Wants to Repeal Tax Cut to Cover Health Care.



• August 26, 2004: Bush Expected to Focus on 'Ownership Society' at Convention; Recording Industry to Sue More File-Sharers; and Kerry Wants to Repeal Tax Cut to Cover Health Care.



• August 25, 2004: Pension Crisis Going from Bad to Worse; Cheney Says States Should Decide Gay Marriage; North Korea Hurls Criticism at Bush.



• August 24, 2004: Bush Backs More Campaign Finance Regulation; Politics Behind Cuba Policy; and Telecom Companies Seek to Block Open Access Rules.



• August 23, 2004: Taiwan: China Prepares for Confrontation with United States; Military Tribunals Set for Guantanamo Prisoners; and Employers, Employees Mull HSAs.



• August 20, 2004: Bush Avoids Specifics on Social Security Reform; New Flood of Refugees Spills over from Sudan Violence; and New Team Joins Race for Space Prize



• August 19, 2004: Agency Claims Global Warming Woes Loom for Europe; Police, Firefighters Step Up Pressure on Bloomberg for Raise; and Feds Changing Food Pyramid.



• August 18, 2004: Kerry Attacks Bush Troop Withdrawal Plan; Michigan School Tries to Avoid Clutches of 'No Child Left Behind'; and Bush Backs Missile Defense System



• August 17, 2004: NYC's GOP Mayor Bloomberg Is a Tax-and-Spend Liberal?; Florida Court of Appeals Rules Vouchers Are Unconstitutional; and Dominican Republic Inaugurates Fernandez



• August 16, 2004: Iraqi Conference on Elections Falls Apart; Chavez Escapes Recall Effort; and FBI Questions Political Demonstrators.



• August 13, 2004: CBO Finds Tax Cuts Benefit Wealthy; Krugman: 'Ownership Society' a Sham; Senators Defend Bush Position on Stem Cell Research.



• August 12, 2004: National Sales Tax: Bush Says It's an Interesting Idea; Coalition of Organizations Calling for More Education Funding; and WTO Upholds Tariffs on Canadian Softwood



• August 11, 2004: Border Patrol Given New Powers; Bush Faces Dilemma over Tax Cuts; and Taxpayer Bailout for Pension Insurer in the Future?



• August 10, 2004: Kerry Says He Wouldn't Change His Iraq Vote; Bush Touts 'Ownership Society'; and Major Parties Raising More Money Despite Campaign Finance Laws.



• August 9, 2004: Government Using Private Sector for Surveillance Work; Kerry Would Lift Restriction on Stem Cell Research; and Bush, Kerry Quibble over Energy Plans



• August 6, 2004: Kerry Unveils Energy Plan; U.N., Sudan Settle on Plan to End Violence; and Newspaper Urges Candidates to Present Social Security Plans.



• August 5, 2004: Government Refuses to Override Drug Patents; FCC Proposes Surveillance Power for Internet Phone Calls; and Saudi Arabia's First Democratic Elections Scheduled for 2005



• August 4, 2004: Islamic Groups Training Fighters in Pakistan; Shuttle Return Could Cost $900 Million More than Expected; and California Panel Aims to Save $32 Billion over Five Years



• August 3, 2004: Supreme Court To Decide on Sentencing Guidelines; Old Information Raises Terror Threat Levels; and University of Colorado Restricts Class to Minorities



• August 2, 2004: Terror Threat to Financial Institutions in Three Cities; IMF Says Tax Increases Key to Reducing U.S. Deficit; and Beijing Tells Senators No Independence for Taiwan



• July 30, 2004: Kerry's Deficit Cutting May Not Add Up; IMF Faults Itself for Handling of Argentina Crisis; and Homeland Security Given Data on Locations of Arab-Americans



• July 29, 2004: Affirmative Action Program in San Francisco Ruled Unconstitutional; 9/11 Commission Calls for Civil Liberties Watchdog; and Europeans Love of Leisure Compromising Economic Future



• July 28, 2004: Plan Would Turn Over Some Chicago Public Schools to Private Managers; Budget Agreement Reached in California; and Commercial Spacecraft to Attempt More Flights



• July 27, 2004: Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits Detailed; No Need to Resume Draft; and Al Gore: Make Every Vote Count



• July 26, 2004: Military Officers Question Visibility of Troops in Iraq; Democratic National Convention Begins Today; and WTO Set for Talks This Week



• July 23, 2004: AT&T to Stop Seeking Residential Customers; Bush Administration Calls for Action against Sudan; and Missile Defense System Starts in Alaska



• July 22, 2004: Bush Scuttles Deal to Extend Tax Cuts; CBO: War Costs Underestimated by $12 Billion; and Social Security Reform Legislation Introduced



• July 21, 2004: Hastert: Intelligence Revisions Unlikely This Year; Another Judicial Nominee Faces Filibuster; and North Korean Official Makes Rare Visit to Capitol Hill



• July 20, 2004: China to Conduct Mock Invasion of Taiwan; Advocates Defend Open-Carry Laws; and 35th Anniversary of Moon Landing Sparks New Space Debate



• July 19, 2004: Despite Handover, U.S. Casualty Rate Remains High in Iraq; Dispute over Link between Iran and al Qaeda; and Bill Would Give FDA Tobacco Oversight



• July 16, 2004: Martha Stewart Sentenced; House Votes against Aid for Saudi Arabia; and Medicare Fattens Up.



• July 15, 2004: Marriage Amendment Fails in Senate; Air Passenger Screening System Dismantled; and State Governments Outsourcing Work.



• July 14, 2004: Justice Dept. Issues Report on Patriot Act Use; Concern Growing over Prospect of Draft; and FCC Head Wants Indecency Rules Updated



• July 13, 2004: GAO Questions Terror Alert System; Group Calls for Government War on Obesity; and Court: France, Germany Broke EU Deficit Law.



• July 12, 2004: Trade Agreement Could Thwart Drug Reimportation; Bush Defends Iraq Invasion; and Number of Malaria Cases Rising Worldwide



• July 9, 2004: Efforts to Scale Back Patriot Act Blocked; Tort Reform Bill Dies in Senate; and Former Enron Chairman Pleads Innocent to 11 Charges.



• July 8, 2004: Despite New Threat, Terror Alert Level Remains the Same; Poll: Iraqis Want Troops Out; and Regulators Drafting Global Anti-Spam Rules.



• July 7, 2004: Medicare Official Threatened Actuary over Costs; Blair: WMD May Never Be Found in Iraq; and Europeans Increasingly Working Longer Weeks



• July 6, 2004: Senate to Vote on Tort Reform Bill; Congested Roads Call for More Tolls; and New Legislation Could Kill iPod.



• July 2, 2004: Happy 4th! Groups Seek to Outlaw Fireworks; Land Use Law Will Restrict Property Rights; and NEA Conference Begins in Washington, DC



• July 1, 2004: Fewer State Fiscal Woes This Year; Appeals Court Accepts Microsoft's Antitrust Settlement; and EPA Rethinks 'New Source Review' Rules.



• June 30, 2004: Hillary Clinton: Eliminate Tax Cuts for 'Common Good'; Tough Restrictions on Travel to Cuba Take Effect; and Colorado Court Rules Vouchers Unconstitutional



• June 29, 2004: Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Medical Marijuana Case; New Yorkers Now Must Smoke 'Safe' Cigarettes; and Fed Meets to Consider Raising Interest Rates



• June 28, 2004: Supreme Court Rules on Terror Detainees; Iraq Occupation Undermines Bush's Foreign Policy; and EU Temporarily Lifts Order on Microsoft.



• June 25, 2004: FCC's Media Ownership Rules Sidelined; Supreme Court Challenges Federal Sentencing Guidelines; and Bush Off to Ireland for Summit with EU.



• June 24, 2004: Bush Further Restricts Travel to Cuba; FEC May Use McCain-Feingold to Limit Moore Movie Ads; and Lawyers Say Justice System Needs Reform.



• June 23, 2004: Wolfowitz: Forces Could Be in Iraq for Years; D.C. Voucher Recipients Shop for Schools; and Senate Votes to Increase Broadcast Indecency Fines.



• June 23, 2004: Wolfowitz: Forces Could Be in Iraq for Years; D.C. Voucher Recipients Shop for Schools; and Senate Votes to Increase Broadcast Indecency Fines



• June 22, 2004: House Votes to Extend National Flood Insurance Program; Supreme Court: HMOs Cannot Be Sued for Refusing to Pay; and Clinton Book Hits Shelves



• June 21, 2004: First Commercial Space Flight Takes Off; California Bill Would Ban Smoking on All Beaches; and EU Constitution a Hard Sell for Some Europeans.



• June 18, 2004: House Passes Major Tax Cut; Administration's Justification for Iraq War Found to Be Flawed; U.S. GDP per Capita Vastly Bigger than Europe's.



• June 17, 2004: New Tariffs on Chinese Furniture Imports; Documentary Shines Light on Plea Bargaining; and E-Rate Program Abused.



• June 16, 2004: AARP Backs Drug Reimportation Bill; FTC Rejects Do-Not-Spam List; and Climatologists Say Global Warming Will Impact Poor.



• June 15, 2004: Bush Acknowledges Problems With Medicare Discount Cards; Report: NASA Should Turn over Some Tasks to Private Industry; and Authorities Applying Patriot Act Provisions to Non-Terror Probes.



• June 14, 2004: CBO Report Challenges Prospects for Social Security; Bush Administration Softens on Corporate Tax Bill; and EU Elections Prompt Dismal Turnout.



• June 11, 2004: Students Slow to Apply for D.C. School Vouchers; Jury Pokes Hole in USA Patriot Act; and Report: Few Jobs Lost to Outsourcing.



• June 10, 2004: Telecom Decision Could Mean Break for Consumers; Lawmakers Scramble to Postpone WTO Quota Expiration; and California Proposes New Auto Exhaust Regulation.



• June 9, 2004: Bush Sees Wider Role for NATO in Iraq; Clear Channel and FCC Reach Agreement on Indecency; and Microsoft Appeals EU Antitrust Ruling



• June 8, 2004: Pentagon Proposes Partial Troop Removal from South Korea; Terrorists Take Advantage of High Cigarette Taxes; and High Court Gives Green Light to Mexican Trucks.



• June 7, 2004: Reagan: An Advocate for Limited Government; Reaganomics Fueled 1980s Economics Prosperity; and Reagan's Policies Lead to Longest Economic Expansion.



• June 4, 2004: Unexpected Surge in Job Growth in May; House Panel Votes to Cut White House Spending; and Buying Property Requires Background Checks



• June 3, 2004: Army May Extend Active-Duty Tours; Private Rocket Set for Liftoff; and House Rejects Replacement Plan.



• June 2, 2004: Stalled Budget Debate Needs a Jumpstart; Government Outlines Case against Padilla; Federal Court Gets Involved with Snowmobile Emission Standards



• June 1, 2004: Congressional Republicans Ponder Tax Cuts, Deficit; More and More Experts Look for Iraq Exit Strategy; Senators Have Enough Votes to Pass Drug Reimportation Bill.



• May 28, 2004: GAO: Government Agencies Sifting through Personal Data; Americans Worried about U.S. Role in Iraq; and Kerry Calls for Stronger Ties to Allies.



• May 27, 2004: President Warns of Spending Cuts in 2006; New Warning: Terrorists Plan to Hit U.S. Hard; and EU Takes On Obesity.



• May 26, 2004: Federal Workers Are More Efficient?; Poll: Immigrants Take Jobs Citizens Do Not Want; and Trial Lawyers Attack Tort Reform.



• May 25, 2004: Bush Attempts to Reassure Americans, Congress on Iraq; Disaster Flick Full of Fiction; and Judge OKs $280 Billion Federal Tobacco Suit.



• May 24, 2004: U.S. Demands Greater Oil Output, Lower Prices; Russia Embraces Free Markets, but Not Democracy; and Inflation Could Pick Up This Year.



• May 21, 2004: Committee Chair Calls Campaign Finance Reform a 'Failure'; Officials Recommend Private HOT Lanes for Capital Beltway; and Vermont to Legalize Medical Marijuana Use.



• May 20, 2004: House Passes 2005 Budget; GAO: Medicare Promotion Illegal; and Smallpox Symptoms Spur False Alarm at Kentucky Hospital.



• May 19, 2004: Gas Prices Spark Debate over Strategic Reserves; Bush, Democrats Reach Agreement on Judicial Nominees; and Transferring Students Out of Failing Schools Difficult.



• May 18, 2004: NATO Help in Iraq Doubtful; GOP-Controlled States Raise Taxes to Balance Budgets; and WHO Joins Obesity War.



• May 17, 2004: Bush Preemption Doctrine Casualty of Iraq War; School Choice Needed to Achieve Goals of Brown v. Board of Education; and China Again Warns Taiwan's Leader on Independence.



• May 14, 2004: Bremer: If Asked, U.S. Will Leave Iraq; DDT Outlawed May 17; and Lawyers Attack Alcohol in Tobacco-Style Suits.



• May 13, 2004: U.S. Considers Softer Approach to Iran; Top British Scientist Weighs in on Climate Film; and FEC Considers Further Limits on Soft Money.



• May 12, 2004: Bush Imposes Sanctions on Syria; Trade Deficit Reaches All-Time High; and Senate Breaks Deadlock on Corporate Tax Bill.



• May 11, 2004: McCain to Push for Free Political Ads; Brown v. Board: What Has It Accomplished? and House Committee to Hear Testimony on 'Consumers' Rights.'



• May 10, 2004: * Bush Facing Complaints from Conservatives * EU Offers to Eliminate Farm Export Subsidies * Concealed-Carry Law Challenged in Utah



• May 7, 2004: Greenspan Warns of Budget Deficit Consequences; Kerry Would Spend $30 Billion on Teachers; and California Bill Would Ban Smoking in Autos with Children.



• May 6, 2004: Bush Asks for Additional $25 Billion for Iraq and Afghanistan; Senators Struggle to Overhaul Corporate Taxes; and Kerry Health Plan Price Tag in Hundreds of Billions.



• May 5, 2004: Thompson Says Drug Reimportation Is Inevitable; Democrats Look to Broader Immigration Reform; and Wildfires Burning in Southern California.



• May 4, 2004: FCC Commissioner Blasts Agency over Consolidation; Report: Bush Withheld Cost Estimates on Medicare; and Maryland Considering Express Toll Lanes.



• May 3, 2004: New Medicare Drug Cards Available for Seniors; Cost of Fighting Crime Rises to New Record; and Some See Obesity Obsession as Based on Morality



• April 30, 2004: European Union to Expand by 10 Members Tomorrow; Some Iraq Rebuilding Money Shifted to Other Expenses; and Senate Approves Ban on Internet Access Taxes.



• April 29, 2004: * Kerry Unveils Ideas for Job Growth * EU Set to Retaliate Against U.S. Over Anti-Dumping Law * Patriot Act Suppresses Patriot Act Lawsuit



• April 28, 2004: WTO Rules against U.S. Cotton Subsidies; Germany Criticizes Low Corporate Tax Rates; and Specter Ekes Out Win over Toomey.



• April 27, 2004: * Beijing Bars Expanding Voting in Hong Kong * Is It Outsourcing, Offshoring or Nearshoring? * Va. Senate Committee Agrees to Freeze Car Tax Relief



• April 26, 2004: * U.S. Military Considers More Troops for Iraq * Government Pot War Makes Little Sense * New Climate Change Movie Alarms Scientists



• April 23, 2004: Globalphobes Invade Washington; Victims' Rights Bill, Not Amendment, Passes Senate; and More Illegal Immigrants Found in Squalor.



• April 22, 2004: On This Earth Day, Credit Capitalism; House Considers Emergency Replacement Plans; and Senators Agree on Drug Reimportation Bill.



• April 21, 2004: Senator Considers Reintroducing the Draft; WHO Advises Using Taxes to Reduce Obesity; and Kerry, Bush Build Large War Chests.



• April 20, 2004: Bush Touts Patriot Act; Cable, Satellite Television Next on Indecency Crusade; and Does Kerry Endorse Means-testing Social Security?



• April 19, 2004: Supreme Court to Hear 'Enemy Combatant' Cases; New Book Alleges Iraq Planning Began Shortly After Sept. 11; and UK Does U-turn on EU Constitution.



• April 16, 2004: EPA: Illegal Smog Levels in Hundreds of Counties; EU Budges on Genetically Modified Foods; and Government Considers Buying New Smallpox Vaccine.



• April 15, 2004: Taxing 28 Hours Needed to Complete Returns; Income Tax Refunds Not as Large as Expected; and Poll: Balancing Budget Beats Tax Cuts.



• April 14, 2004: Bush 'Does Not Waver' in His Defense of Iraq War; Putin in Position to Make Liberal Reforms; and Republicans Now Support Campaign Finance Laws.



• April 13, 2004: DDT Curbs Malaria in Africa; Skyrocketing Medical Bills Surprise Patients; and Pakistani Scientist Says North Korea Has Nukes.



• April 12, 2004: * Iraqi Soldiers Refused to Fight in Fallujah * Higher House Prices Spur Property Tax Revolt * Defense Task Force Argues for Mini-Nukes



• April 9, 2004: Government Auditors Take a Look at Medicare Costs; Company Charged in California Energy Crisis; and More Complaints about No Child Left Behind.



• April 8, 2004: Get to Work Faster...Pay a Toll; Opening Space Flight to Individuals Takes First Step; and Kerry Outlines Fiscal Plans.



• April 7, 2004: China Challenges Hong Kong on Political Reform; Wal-Mart Bid to Open Store Fails; and ACLU Files Lawsuit against TSA.



• April 6, 2004: CAFTA Vote Looms in Congress; Study: Many Companies Don't Pay Corporate Taxes; and Play Ball! For a Price.



• April 5, 2004: Bush Committed to June 30 Iraq Deadline; Chicago Cigarette Tax Raises Prices to $6 per Pack; and Patriot Act Splits Republicans.



• April 2, 2004: Stewart's Lawyers, in Appeal, Question Juror's Truthfulness; Senate Deadlocks over Welfare Bill; and Powell Presses NATO to Assume Iraq Peacekeeping Role.



• April 1, 2004: De Soto Wins Friedman Prize; Eminent Domain Uses Questioned; China Denounces American Radar Sale to Taiwan.



• March 31, 2004: Poll: Many Seniors Reject Medicare Drug Law; U.S. Envoy Says 20-Year Commitment Needed in Haiti; and House Republicans Narrowly Avoid Setback on Tax Cuts.



• March 30, 2004: Debate Kicks Off on Extending Landmark Welfare Law; Critics Underwhelmed by Education Law Changes; and Round-Trip Ticket to Space Station: $20 Million.



• March 29, 2004: U.S. Still Unprepared for Bioterror Attack; Bush Welcomes New NATO Members; and Shiite Opposition Bulding against Iraqi Constitution.



• March 26, 2004: House Approves $2.4 Trillion Budget; Maryland to Sports Fans: Watch Your Mouth; and Missile Defense for Airliners Could Arrive This Summer.



• March 25, 2004: States Ask to Tweak No Child Left Behind; Caribbean State Wins Case on Internet Gambling; and Bush, Kerry Quarrel over Fiscal Policy.



• March 24, 2004: Ailing Medicare and Social Security: What's the Cure; Senators Decry Lack of White House Action on Immigration; and Bremer's Map Shows Iraq on the Way to Democracy



• March 23, 2004: It's Nearly Tin Cup Time at the Postal Service; High Court Ponders Identification Case; and Maryland Legislature Proposes $1 Billion in New Taxes.



• March 22, 2004: Chinese Army Alerted Following Taiwan Election Dispute;bHamas Founder Killed in Israeli Missile Attack; and House Republicans Want Energy Bill Passed.



• March 22, 2004: Chinese Army Alerted Following Taiwan Election Dispute;bHamas Founder Killed in Israeli Missile Attack; and House Republicans Want Energy Bill Passed.



• March 19, 2004: Taiwan's President Wounded in Assassination Attempt; More Bad News about Medicare, Social Security; North Carolina Wants EPA Crackdown on Other States' Pollution.



• March 18, 2004: EU Rejects Microsoft Settlement; U.S. Formally Names Pakistan Major Ally; Federal Insurance Regulation: Coming Soon?



• March 17, 2004: Poll Finds Hostility towards U.S. Foreign Policy; Powell Brings Up Outsourcing in Indian Talks; and Air Passenger Screening Program Scrutinized.



• March 16, 2004: Senators Want Explanation for Medicare Cost Discrepancy; New Spanish Government Could End EU Constitution Stalemate; and Preparations Underway to Re-establish Draft.



• March 15, 2004: Well, Well: Insourcing to America Tops U.S. Outsourcing; Feds Get Tough on Internet Gambling; and U.S. to Stockpile Anthrax Vaccine.



• March 12, 2004: Senate Approves $2.36 Trillion Budget; N.Y., Wisc. Pull Out of Controversial Database Program; and Bush Set to Impose Sanctions on Syria.



• March 11, 2004: U.S. Trade Deficit Reaches Record Monthly High; Congressman Calls for Corporate Tax Reform; and ISPs Unite Against Spammers.



• March 10, 2004: Senate Rules Could Make Tax Cuts Temporary; House Aims a Fast One at Trial Lawyers; U.S. Agrees To Tone Down Criticism of Iran.



• March 9, 2004: U.S. Military Verges upon Domestic Law Enforcement; D.C. Restauranteurs Sue to Keep Smoking Ban off Ballot; and Amtrak Fails to Reach Goal.



• March 8, 2004: The Bush Budget's Bunker-Buster, In Oklahoma, No Child Left Behind Flunks, and U.N. Suspects Pakistan Leaders Knew of Nuclear Leaks.



• March 5, 2004: Iraqi Constitution Signing Delayed; More States Collecting Internet Sales Tax; and FEC Proposes Fund-Raising Restrictions.



• March 4, 2004: Fox: Optimism Low for Adoption of Undocumented Worker Reform; Senate Committee Plan Hopes To Cut Budget Deficit; and China Warns U.S. to Stay Out of Hong Kong Affairs.



• March 3, 2004: Budget Committee Chairman Looking for Cuts (He Says); Supreme Court Weighs Challenge to Internet Porn Law; and California Bond Measure Approved.



• March 2, 2004: Huge Struggles Facing Medicare and Social Security; Do We Really Have a 'Right to Remain Silent'? and U.S. Condemns Suicide Attacks in Iraq.



• March 1, 2004: Marines on the Ground in Haiti; Pakistan Denies Opening Territory for U.S. Troops on the Hunt; and Permanent Growing Pains for Homeland Security Department?.



• February 27, 2004: Iraqi Cleric OKs Delayed Elections; Bush Plan Would Tighten Cuba Travel Embargo; and Appeals Court Upholds Medical Marijuana.



• February 26, 2004: Greenspan Urges Social Security Cuts to Trim Deficit; High Court Rules Against State Aid for Religious Education; and China Calls Hong Kong Opposition Unpatriotic.



• February 24, 2004: Additional Wait Likely for Iraqis to Regain Power; CIA Failed to Pursue Lead on Sept. 11 Hijacker; and Senate Nears Vote on Gun Maker Immunity.



• February 23, 2004: Government Surveillance Database Research Continues; Bush To Reconsider Medicaid Rules; and Religious Hard-Liners Reclaim Control of Iran's Parliament.



• February 20, 2004: 9/11 Investigation Panel: More Time Needed; Feds Relax School Testing Standards; CIA Stumbling in Iraq, Afghanistan.



• February 19, 2004: New Record: National Debt Tops $7 Trillion; Bremer: Iraq Timetable Will Not Change; and Beijing Works to Squelch Democratization in Hong Kong.



• February 18, 2004: Federal Prosecutor Sues Ashcroft; Administration Divided Over U.N. Role in Iraq; and Court Upholds Do Not Call Registry.



• February 17, 2004: For the Debate To Come: Cato's New Social Security Plan; Afghanistan Elections Could Be Delayed; and India and Pakistan Closer to Peace Talks.



• February 13, 2004: Bush Threatens Veto of Senate Highway Bill; House Leadership Pressured to Cut Military Budget; and Rallying Around Bush Immigration Plan.



• February 12, 2004: At Last, a Lawyer for Padilla; U.N. Backs Iraq Elections; and U.S. May Soon Lift Libya Sanctions.



• February 11, 2004: Bush Calls for International Effort to Combat WMDs; Utah's Verdict on 'No Child Left Behind'; and Could a President Rein In Spending?



• February 10, 2004: White House Economists Assess Private Social Security Accounts; Funding for Terror Preparedness Delayed; Powell Talks Tough about Pakistan's Nukes.



• February 9, 2004: In Interview, Bush Defends War in Iraq; NATO Chief: Afghanistan Stability Vital to World Security; and Bush Launches Plan To Promote Democracy in Middle East.



• February 6, 2004: Pentagon Changing Terror Tribunal Rules; Another Federal Judicial Nominee in Senate Hot Seat; and



• February 5, 2004: Economist Calls Bush Budget a 'Charade'; Tenet Goes on the Defensive; and Pakistani Admits to Selling Nuke Secrets.



• February 4, 2004: Oregon Voters Reject Income Tax Increase; Bush Asks U.N. for Help with Iraq Self-Rule; and Cigarette Tax Hike Could Hit Chicago.



• February 3, 2004: North Korea Agrees to New Talks; 'Unnecessary Weapons Systems' Inflate Defense Budget; and Cowboys Owner Wants $1 Billion in Public Funds.



• February 2, 2004: Another Bulging Budget; One Year After Columbia, NASA Still Struggling; and Pakistani Scientist Sold Nuclear Secrets.



• January 30, 2004: Surprise! More Money Needed for Medicare; Justice Urges Civil Libertarians to Stand Their Ground; and



• January 29, 2004: Rumsfeld OKs Emergency Army Expansion; Despite Bloated Budget, Bush Will Increase Arts Funding; and Postal Service Bailout on the Way?



• January 28, 2004: Cheney Retreats from Iraq WMD Claims; New Challenge to D.C. Voucher Program; and



• January 27, 2004: E.U. May Challenge America's Anti-dumping Rules; Part of PATRIOT Act Fails Legal Test; Democratic Candidates Pitch Health-care Plans.



• January 26, 2004: Budget Deficits Heading for $2 Trillion-plus; Kay: No WMDs in Iraq; Building an "Ownership Society"



• January 23, 2004: Bush Turning Tightwad?; Woman Has Beef with Name of Philly Cheesesteak Shop; and Afghanistan Aid Workers Say Country is in Trouble.



• January 22, 2004: Conservatives Press Bush, Congress to Cut Spending; Missile Defense Glitches Questioned; and New York Governor Turns to Gambling to Balance Budget.



• January 21, 2004: Bush Proposals Would Cause Spike in Expenditures; Questions About Iran Nuclear Ledge; and A Restart on EU's Constitution Deliberations.



• January 20, 2004: Bush Expected to Recommit to Social Security Reform; Lack of WMDs Hurting U.S. Reputation; and Martha Stewart Pleads Not Guilty.



• January 16, 2004: Omnibus Spending Bill under Fire in Congress; Iraq Transition Plan Stalled; Illinois Education Dept. Is... 'Soviet-style Bureaucracy'?



• January 15, 2004: Color-Coded Alert System Fading Away? Bush Seeks Momentum for Faith-Based Charities; and EU Pursues Trade Sanctions Against U.S.



• January 14, 2004: Bush Plans $1.5 Billion' Healthy Marriages' Promotion; Stellar Space Program Proposed; and Court Overturns Energy-Efficiency Standards.



• January 13, 2004: Endangered Species Act Endangered?; Zoellick Seeks Revival of Doha Trade Talks; A Hard Reversal on Soft Money.



• January 12, 2004: Supreme Court Upholds Secrecy of Sept. 11 Detainees; raqi Cleric Presses for Direct Elections; Expectations Low for Americas Summit.



• January 9, 2004: Powell: Kurdish Region Must Remain Part of Iraq; No Birthday Bash for No Child Left Behind Act; Bush Eyes a Base on the Moon, Humans on Mars.



• January 8, 2004: Bush Unveils Immigration Revisions; Those Weapons Inspectors? They're Gone; and Spam Isn't Slowing in Wake of New Law.



• January 7, 2004: India and Pakistan Agree to Peace Talks; Still No Evidence of Iraqi WMDs, Old or New; and Schwarzenegger Aims to Terminate Budget Woes.



• January 6, 2004: Bush To Propose Major Immigration Law Revisions; North Korea Offers to Freeze Nuclear Program; and Medicare Fight Resumes.



• January 5, 2004: Afghan Assembly Approves Political Charter; Supreme Court Could Hear More Terror Cases; and NAFTA Turns 10.



• January 2, 2004: Rehnquist's Harsh Judgment on Sentence Monitoring, "No Child Left Behind" Faces Resistance, and Afghan Constitutional Convention on the Skids