Fall 2006
News Coverage by State
Connecticut | Maine | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | Archives
Photo Coverage by topic (by Jill Connor)
| The DCCC | Perry | NH Page | NH Fellow | Myths | Air Force Memorial | Islamic Center | Terri Shiavo Sculpture | Capitol Flag Orders | Tom Tomson | Congressional Mail | Relay for Life | Diabetes | Immigrants for Kennedy | President Bush | MIA-POW |
Connecticut
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 — With more than half of all video game sales made each year during the holiday shopping season, parents are likely to find video games right at the top of their childrens’ wish lists. But a recent study calls into question how effective and involved parents are in ensuring that their children have appropriate gaming habits – not simply the types of games played, but how often. (By Jamie Hammon)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 —This holiday season, as video games top kids’ wish lists, parents may want to spend a little more time understanding what their children are asking for, according to recent studies. (By Margaret Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 – Democrats hit the midterm election campaign trail this year promising to repeal a ban on the government’s negotiating with manufacturers for lower prescription drug prices. But as the January shift of power nears, the new majority must prepare to face some hurdles. (By Tia Albright)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 – Participants at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree Thursday praised the historically themed ornaments donated by the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford. (By Tia Albright)
Simmons’ Office Prepares to Pack Up After Losing Close Races
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 —Filled cardboard boxes, taped and ready to be shipped back to Connecticut, were stacked up in the congressional office of Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) on Thursday morning, proof that after six years in office and a tough fight in the midterm elections, he is going home. (By Margaret Stevenson)
Murphy and Courtney Vote for Murtha
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 – Connecticut’s incoming Democratic representatives voiced their support Thursday for newly elected House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), even though both said they voted for John Murtha (D-Pa.). (By Tia Albright)
Murphy Reflects on Election
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15– Connecticut’s competitive House and Senate races made headlines across the nation, and now that the voters have spoken the 33-year-old winner of the 5th District congressional race is reflecting on the results. (By Tia Albright)
Lieberman Urges Extension of Office for Iraq Watchdog
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 —The Senate Tuesday voted to extend the life of the watchdog for the billions of taxpayer dollars spent in Iraq. (By Jamie Hammon)
Dodd Discusses Future Chairmanship on Banking Committee
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 —Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) vowed Tuesday to work closely with his Republican counterpart as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and hinted about a possible presidential run in 2008. (By Margaret Stevenson)
Conn. Democrats Welcome Their Freshmen
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 —Democratic members of the Connecticut delegation gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning to welcome presumptive incoming colleagues Joe Courtney and Chris Murphy. (By Margaret Stevenson)
New Bill to Extent Special Inspector General
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – The Senate voted Tuesday to continue the work of the agency that acts as watchdog on the billions of dollars being spent for the reconstruction of Iraq. (By Tia Albright)
Dodd into High-Level Chairmanship
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – The incoming Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking, House and Urban Affairs Committee vowed Tuesday to work across party lines to make effective decisions. (By Tia Albright)
Dodd Welcomes Murphy to Congress
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – Sen. Christopher Dodd joined fellow Democratic members of the Connecticut delegation on Tuesday to introduce Reps.-elect Christopher Murphy (D-5th) and Joe Courtney (D-2nd) to Washington. (By Tia Albright)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 –Lance Corporal Jimmy Louis heard a shot ring out, saw a muzzle flash and sparks hit his jacket, and felt shrapnel hit his face.
When he looked down, he realized he’d been shot. (By Jamie Hammon)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 —Lyn May, a journalist from East Haddam who hosts a weekly television show on Long Island, interviews different people each week, but last year one guest’s message really hit home. The guest, Carrissa Dixon, was there to speak about the Sister Study, a long-term project to study the health of sisters of women who have had breast cancer. (By Margaret Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 —In the aftermath of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation, Connecticut legislators are open to the “fresh perspective” President Bush hopes nominee Robert Gates will bring to the table but hesitate to pass early judgment. (By Margaret Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 – Aviation, beginning with the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903, is considered one of the greatest technological advances in human history. Now, a Smithsonian photographer is taking it to a new level. (By Tia Albright)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7--Fifteen questions for Algebra. Three chapters for English. A worksheet for French. Oh yeah, and a History test. That list reads like a nightly homework load for a typical high school student. But is it too much? (By Jamie Hammon)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1—“Most people know about the Three Stooges instead of the three branches of government,” said Andrew Lee, creator of new interactive online game called Fantasy Congress. (By Margaret Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 – A non-partisan advocacy organization representing American veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan praised Connecticut’s senators last week for their continued support of the military, but said Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson has some work to do. (By Tia Albright)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24– New Britain will receive $1.4 million in federal funds to help promote child development and increase educational initiative for low-income children. (By Tia Albright)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 —Most people are aware that behind every prominent politician is a well-endowed campaign coffer. But do they know exactly who has provided the money to the candidates they will be choosing among this Election Day? Campaign finance records have been public record since the 1970s, but a pair of user-friendly Web sites has made that information accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. (By Jamie Hammon)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 – In Connecticut’s 5th District, 12-term Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson has raised three times as much money as her Democratic opponent, Christopher Murphy, but the race is considered one of the most competitive in the nation. (By Tia Albright)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12-- If a disaster caused everyone to evacuate New York City tomorrow, the evacuation itself might be a disaster, according to a new study released Thursday, which gave the city an “F” grade for its evacuation capabilities. (By Jamie Hammon)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 –The League of Conservation Voters praised Connecticut’s congressional delegation Wednesday for their understanding and concern for environmental issues. (By Tia Albright)
Congressmen Comment on North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons Claims
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 —Members of the Connecticut congressional delegation this week called for the U.S. to work with the United Nations and North Korea’s neighbors to deal with the rogue regime. (By Margaret Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 – Students at New Britain High School are attending the school with the highest student-to-teacher ratio in Connecticut and one of the lowest graduation rates. But help, in the way of federal funds, is on the way. (By Tia Albright)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 – Connecticut may be the richest state in the nation, but over the past decade its colleges have become less affordable, particularly for low-income families, according to a report by an independent higher education advocacy group. (By Tia Albright)
Internet Facilitates a Deluge of Mail to Congress
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5--By this time each election year, lawmakers have returned to their districts to engage in the face-to-face interaction with voters that is so crucial to their reelection campaigns. But when congressmen are not around to shake hands and talk in person, many voters interact with their representatives via mail – through more than 200 million pieces of mail each year, in fact, according to a recent study conducted by the Congressional Management Foundation. (By Jamie Hammon)
$500,000 Given to Connecticut to Aid Workers
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 – Connecticut will receive $500,000 in federal funds to help workers get back on their feet after losing their jobs for trade-related reasons. (By Tia Albright)
Connecticut Congressmen Denounce Foley’s Actions
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 —Republican and Democratic Congressmen from Connecticut denounced the actions of disgraced ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) who resigned Friday after it was disclosed he had been writing sexually explicit messages teenage former House pages. (By Margaret Stevenson)
'John Doe' Librarians Recognized During Banned Book Week
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 —Four Connecticut librarians were honored Thursday for defending the privacy of their patrons from government access. (By Jamie Hammon)
Artificial Pancreas Could Improve Diabetes Patients Lives
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 – At 6-foot-11, Chris Dudley appears strong as he towers over others in a Senate conference room, but the former Portland Trailblazers’ center has struggled with diabetes. (By Tia Albright)
Four 'John Doe' Librarians Break Silence
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28—Four Connecticut librarians previously known as “John Doe” were honored Thursday for taking a stand to protect the First Amendment. (By Margaret Stevenson)
Democratic Senators Denounce Vote ID Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 —Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) accused Republicans Wednesday of trying to hold down voter turnout by pressing for passage of a bill that would require people to present photo identification before they could vote. (By Margaret Stevenson)
Dodd Condemns Voter ID Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 —Legislation that would require voters to present photo identification before casting a ballot is “flat out wrong,” Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) said Wednesday. (By Jamie Hammon)
When Nations Have Nuclear Weapons, So May Terrorists
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26-- Terrorists may gain access to nuclear weapons if nations do not comply with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) said Tuesday. (By Jamie Hammon)
Medicare Donut Hole in Connecticut
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 – In Connecticut as many as 90 percent of residents enrolled in Medicare Part D drug plans are at risk of falling into the “doughnut hole,” a gap in their prescription drug coverage, according to a report last week by Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee. (By Tia Albright)
Sen. Lieberman Co-Hosts Meeting with Iraqi President
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26—Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and others offered Iraqi President Jalal Talabani their qualified support in a meeting Tuesday to discuss that country’s state of affairs. (By Margaret Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 -- Thousands of people from every state flooded the National Mall and Capitol Hill Wednesday to promote funding and research for cancer. (By Margaret Stevenson)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20– It was a sea of purple t-shirts on Washington’s National Mall and in the halls of Congress Wednesday as Connecticut cancer-survivors and volunteers joined nearly 4,000 from across the nation for the American Cancer Society’s annual lobbying push. (By Jamie Hammond)
Cancer Ambassadors Come to the Hill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 – Cancer survivors and other advocates from Connecticut and elsewhere around the country came to Capitol Hill Wednesday to lobby for cancer research funding. (By Tia Albright)
Shays Says U.S. Has Much to Learn from U.K. Terrorisom Response
WASHINGTON -- America has much to learn about the United Kingdom’s recent success in combating terrorism, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) said Tuesday, including the need to improve communication between the federal government and local communities. (By Jamie Hammon)
Johnson Votes for Earmark Reform
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly last Thursday to force members to reveal themselves when using the targeted spending practice known as earmarking. Connecticut Rep. Nancy Johnson, a Republican, joined House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other legislators in passing the new internal rule by voice vote. (By Tia Albright)
Rep. Simmons Speaks at National POW/MIA Recognition Day
WASHINGTON – U.S. Army Captain Arthur Holm’s helicopter was shot down over Vietnam June 11, 1972. After more than 30 years, his crash site has been located. “It’s just great to have him coming back home,” Holm’s widow, Margarete Holm, said Friday at the 2006 National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon. (By Margaret Stevenson)
Shays Defends Call for Timeline for Withdrawal of Troops
WASHINGTON – Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) Thursday defended his recent call for a timeline to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. “I want my credibility back,” Shays, who recently returned from his 14th trip to Iraq, told reporters. “I do think that I know more about what’s going on in Iraq than any member of Congress – House or Senate.” (By Jamie Hammon)
Dodd Supports Block of Secret Holds
WASHINGTON – Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd joined three other senators, including Rules and Administration Committee Chairman Trent Lott, R-Miss., Thursday in urging final approval of an amendment the Senate passed in March that would put an end to the practice of secret “holds” on legislation. (By Tia Albright)
$6 Million Given to Connecticut for Energy Costs
WASHINGTON – Connecticut received an early release of $6 million in federal funds to alleviate the rising cost of heating oil and to keep the state’s low-income residents warm through the upcoming winter. (By Tia Albright)
Commission on Art Unveils Connecticut Compromise
WASHINGTON – A new mural debuted Tuesday in the U.S. Capitol honoring the two constitutional convention delegates from Connecticut who came up with the compromise credited with saving the Constitution. (By Tia Albright)
New Mural Honors Connecticut Compromise
WASHINGTON -- A new masterpiece debuted in the Capitol Tuesday, honoring a pair of former senators from Connecticut who played a key role in creating the Congress. The new painting, by Westport native Bradley Stevens, is a mural of former Connecticut Senators Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, the authors of the 1787 “Connecticut Compromise,” also known as the “Great Compromise,” which helped establish the two houses of Congress. (By Jamie Hammon)
Connecticut’s leaders celebrate its history in the nation’s capital
WASHINGTON -- Connecticut’s history was celebrated twice Tuesday in the nation’s capital. The state’s leaders gathered at the capitol to plant a tree symbolic of Connecticut’s liberty and later to unveil a piece of art portraying the Connecticut Compromise that established representation in the Senate and House. (By Margaret Stevenson)
Maine
Maine Wreaths Put at Headstones in Arlington Cemetery
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14--“Doesn’t it make you proud just to be from Maine,” Diane Peva asked a total stranger as she wiped away tears from under her glasses. Realizing they were both wearing sweatshirts embroidered with the state name, the two embraced. (By Lauren Smith)
Command Sgt. Maj. John J. Leonard Receives Big “M” Award
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 —The list of Command Sgt. Maj. John J. Leonard’s decorations and awards reads like a run-on sentence, scrolling 13 lines on a piece of paper and totaling 33 distinctions in all. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 —Gov. John Baldacci Thursday was named chairman of Jobs for America’s Graduates Inc., a school-to-career program for students facing barriers, of which Maine consistently ranks highly. (By Lauren Smith)
Maine Delegation Responds to Iraq Study Group Findings
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 —After the Iraq Study Group issued its report to the President and members of Congress, Maine’s delegation said maintaining the status quo in Iraq is unacceptable. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 —Despite the ouster of many moderate Republicans in the midterm elections, politicians and political experts still expect moderates to play a pivotal role in the upcoming Congress. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 —Maine’s program that provides health insurance coverage for children in low-income families may face a shortfall of as much as $6.5 million in 2007, according to a new study. (By Lauren Smith)
Women Senators in 110th Congress Meet for the First Time
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 – Women senators of the upcoming 110th Congress met for the first time Tuesday to discuss agendas and welcome new members. (By Lauren Smith)
Bill Would Extend Term of Special Inspector General
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – The Senate Tuesday voted to extend by about a year the life of the agency that acts as a watchdog over the billions of dollars being spent on Iraq’s rebuilding. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 —A stained glass window in the Washington National Cathedral tells the story of a seasoned sea captain out on the water. A schooner sets sail in the background. On the opposite wall, the Maine state flag hangs amidst other state flags. On Sunday morning the Maine state flag was marched down the aisle as the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Maine, the Rev. Chilton Knudsen, joined other clergy in celebrating Maine State Day at the Cathedral. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 —Tuesday’s elections produced historic gains for women in Congress, in both the House and the Senate. (By Lauren Smith)
Maine House Members Look Forward to Majority Power
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8--With their party taking control of the House Tuesday night, Reps. Michael Michaud (D-Maine) and Thomas Allen (D-Maine) look forward to their first 100 hours in the majority, beginning in January. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Nov 1 – A ranking of the most powerful and effective members of Congress has placed Maine Democratic Reps. Michael Michaud and Thomas Allen in the bottom 10 percent of the House. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26--Justin Hunt likes to play rugby and go to toga parties. The 18-year-old Yarmouth resident listens to the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young and other bands famous before he was born. Like many college freshmen since 1951, one of his favorite books is “Catcher in the Rye.” Like most of his fellow college students, Hunt logs onto Facebook, a social networking Web site, each day. But instead of messaging friends, he’s scanning political candidates’ profiles. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24--New identification rules for crossing the United States-Canada border are causing confusion and distress among local and state officials and business owners. At issue is a 2004 law that required the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to develop a plan for all travelers -- U.S. citizens and foreigners alike -- to present a passport, or other citizenship document, when entering the United States. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18-- Three stainless steel spires soar hundreds of feet into the air and arc slightly backwards, mimicking the “bomb burst” maneuver the Air Force Thunderbirds perform. Embedded in granite beneath the spires is the Air Force star. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 – Two years ago, 98 percent of House incumbents seeking reelection and 96 percent of Senate incumbents seeking reelection won. Their victories were largely due to financial advantages that incumbents have, according to political finance experts. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11-- The congressional page program has been thrust into the public view since Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) resigned after sexually explicit e-mail and online messaging conversations with an underage male former page were made public almost two weeks ago. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5-- Excessive amounts of Western Canadian timber pouring into the United States have put Maine lumber mills at risk of shutting down. (By Lauren Smith)
Women-Owned Small Businesses Struggle
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 —Women-owned businesses generate more than $3 trillion in sales in the United States and are growing at two times the rate of any other U.S. business group, panelists said at a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (By Lauren Smith)
Funds to Help Returning Vets Go Unspent
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 – The Department of Veterans Affairs did not spend all of the money it has budgeted to help returning military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a new government report. (By Lauren Smith)
Artificial Pancreas Would Improve Lives of People with Diabetes
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Aidan Sweeney swiveled in a large leather chair at a conference table in a Senate committee hearing room. A small tube used to monitor the four-year-old’s blood sugar and inject him with insulin crept out from a belt that sat above his basketball boxer shorts. He colored while his mother gave gut-wrenching testimony that left tears in many eyes and the room silent. (By Lauren Smith)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 —Two centuries ago Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We might hope to see the finances of the Union as clear and intelligible as a merchant’s book, so that every member of Congress and every man of any kind--and any mind in the Union--should be able to comprehend them, to investigate abuses and to consequently control them.”(By Lauren Smith)
Mainers Rally in Washington in the Fight Against Cancer
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20—“If you were told when you leave here today you would get in a car accident and you may not survive, would you go? Would you get in that car?” Dan Bahr of Ellsworth asked. (By Lauren Smith)
Terrorists Recruit Inside U.S. Prisons
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. prison system has become a recruiting ground for Islamic extremists, a study by two academics released Tuesday shows. (By Lauren Smith)
Maine Senators Focus on Security
WASHINGTON -- In the week of 9/11’s five-year anniversary, both Maine senators focused their attention on security issues. Sen. Susan Collins’ cargo security legislation finally hit the Senate floor. She was also able to include provisions in the 2007 defense spending bill that favor Bath Iron Works and Maine defense. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, meanwhile, pressed the Senate to improve security of the passenger rail system. (By Lauren Smith)
Massachusetts
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 —Growing up in the Newton Square neighborhood of Worcester, Jane Kelleher Fernandes played piano, figure skated and went to Midland Street Elementary like all the other kids. But she always did things a little differently. Born deaf to a hearing father and a deaf mother in a time and place where she was not exposed to sign language, Mrs. Fernandes, now 50, communicated solely through spoken English until she was in her 20s. And since she had never met another deaf person outside her family when she was a child, she was never part of a group where she felt she belonged. (By Katherine Geyer)
Earmarked Funding: Time for Reform?
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14-- Bike paths on the Lower Cape got $7 million to make them longer. The Cape’s public bus line received $2.9 million. And the new park at the Bass River Marina in Dennis got $1.4 million. Congressman William Delahunt, D-Mass., helped secure these funds over the past two years through a legislative process called earmarking, a subject of much recent debate in Congress. Earmarks are funding secured by a member of Congress for a specific project outside of the ordinary appropriations process. (By Paul Crocetti)
Has the Over-fishing Debate Gone Hollywood?
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13—New England fishermen and Hollywood bigwigs have often found themselves at odds in the continuous fight over fishing regulations. Entertainment A-listers have long participated in environmental issues. From bio-diesel fuel to global warming, where there’s a cause, there’s a celebrity, and the oceans are no exception. But for many local fishermen, there is a dark side to the spotlight. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 – Eleven years ago, Malden Mills was engulfed in one of the worst fires in Massachusetts history, which devastated the Merrimack valley textile manufacturer and led the company into bankruptcy.
But in recent years, Malden Mills has been awash in a stream of federal funds and military contracts, making it a leading developer of combat gear and helping the Merrimack Valley economy. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 – Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday to press for lobbying and earmark reform – a key voter concern in last month’s mid-term elections. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Questions Loom for Romney’s Surging Campaign
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 — While Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani have better name recognition, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s fundraising skills could help push him towards the top of the list of Republican presidential contenders, according to some political observers. (By Paul Crocetti)
Creating History, One Page at a Time
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29-- With the help of time, dedication and a home scanner, a Durfee High School library cataloger has created an Internet link to Fall River’s past. (By Anika Clark)
Iraq War Surpasses Time Span of U.S. Involvement in World War II
WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 – The war in Iraq has lasted longer than U.S. involvement in World War II, leaving analysts to ponder the differences between the two wars. Last Saturday, the Iraq War reached 1,348 days – the same amount of time between the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the United States victory in 1945. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Remembering a Brother Who Died in World War II
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22--This fall, 63 years after Japanese forces shot him from the sky, a Massachusetts man boarded a final flight home. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 – House Democrats Thursday elected Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., to be the next majority leader – going against the wishes of Speaker-elect Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (By Bryan McGonigle)
McGovern, Anxious to Leave Iraq, Backed Murtha
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16- Rep. James McGovern (D-Worcester) voted for Rep. John Murtha (D- Pa.) for House majority leader in Thursday’s election, he said, because he agrees with Mr. Murtha’s opposition to the war in Iraq. (By Katherine Geyer)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15--Conservative activist Brian Darling sat in his Washington office just days before the midterm elections trying to fit in a quick lunch between a barrage of media appearances. Speaking as director of Senate relations for a heavyweight conservative think tank, he’d been interviewed that morning for the Dave Chadwick Show in North Carolina and then appeared on CNBC debating about voter issues. He had more interviews to get to before the day was done. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Delahunt Calls for More Oversight into Costly Cuba Program
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 —Millions of dollars intended for promoting democracy in Cuba were spent without adequate federal oversight, according to a new government report. (By Paul Crocetti)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 – Boxes and large bins covered the floor of Room 1218 in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill this week as Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., prepared to leave the nation’s capital. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Meehan Honored in Ireland for Peace Efforts
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 – Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., journeyed to Belfast last week and promised to act as Northern Ireland’s peace envoy on Capitol Hill. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15– Reps. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., and Charles Bass, R-N.H., will leave Washington having successfully helped pass a bill in the House that would protect nearly 35,000 acres of wilderness in the Granite State. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 —For the sixth straight Congress, Massachusetts voters have sent all Democrats to the House and Senate. As a result, the state continues its reign as the most heavily populated in the nation with an all-Democratic delegation. (By Paul Crocetti)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8-- Before the confetti fell at the Democratic election party Tuesday night, Patrick Rodenbush predicted that the Democrats would regain control of the House and that the 3,000 Democrats in the large hotel ballroom would “go nuts.” (By Katherine Geyer)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 —Joy and beer flowed in abundance Tuesday night as guests of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s election gala watched the GOP-run House of Representatives turn blue. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 – Hours after an election in which Democrats rode a wave of Iraq-related voter dissatisfaction to control of the House of Representatives, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld resigned Wednesday. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 – If things go the Democrats’ way tonight, Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) could get a boost in their committee standings. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 —Bloggers are having a direct effect on campaign contributions during the midterm elections, according to experts in the media field. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., donated $250,000 last week to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and another $250,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. But in the week before that, a number of liberal bloggers posted messages asking members of Congress with excess campaign cash to give more to the candidates who need it. (By Paul Crocetti)
DAR Takes on Myths of Early America
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- The tall wooden timepiece built in Oakham, Mass., and now on display at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum here can be called a tall clock or a case clock. But never call it a grandfather clock. (By Katherine Geyer)
Republicans May Have to Handle the ‘Angry Voter’
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 – The Republican Party has more money than the Democratic Party going into next week’s mid-term elections. But analysts say anger may trump cash this year, and there’s plenty of anger to go around. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26-- When New Bedford native Ruth Lipnik married Randal Johnson in 1999, she told him she wanted to retire near the water. But in 2002, her husband had a bigger idea: They would retire on the water instead. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 —Usually the words “Congress” and “game” do not go together. But a new Web site, FantasyCongress.org, has combined the two in the hope that people will pay more attention to government. (By Paul Crocetti)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26--Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., says he is on a fundraising frenzy for his party, despite a liberal activist group’s asserting that he needs to loosen his pockets. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 – More than a year after the decision to keep Bedford’s Hanscom Air Force Base open but strip it of its research facilities, efforts are still underway to replace jobs that will be lost. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Meehan Has Most Cash Available in House
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 — The campaign finance overhaul advocate representing the Merrimack Valley doesn’t take money from political action committees, but he has the biggest campaign nest egg in the House of Representatives, with most of the unspent funds left over from two years ago. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 —As election season enters its homestretch, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) hold financial advantages of millions of dollars over their Republican opponents, according to campaign finance filings with the Federal Election Commission. (By Paul Crocetti)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 —As the nation prepares for November’s elections, Massachusetts voters may find themselves wondering, “Where have all the races gone?” Although states like Connecticut and Pennsylvania have cut-throat elections that could determine control of the House of Representatives next year, five of Massachusetts’ 10 congressmen have no competition at all. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18-- While many Democratic congressional candidates around the country are finishing up fundraising efforts and pouring their funds into the final days of their own campaigns, Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, has used his funds to help other Democrats secure victories in November. (By Katherine Geyer)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 – Internet content providers may have to pay increasing amounts of money to get onto the web, depending upon the outcome of a complex, little-noticed, but growing, legislative fight. (By Paul Crocetti)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 – It’s the kind of event where Malden Mills of Lawrence shares the floor with Halliburton. The Association of the United States Army– a private, non-profit organization that supports America’s Army, National Guard and Reserves–held its annual convention this week at the Washington Convention Center. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11--A new Web site is making information on the salaries of the 24,000 staff members who work for Congress easily accessible to the public, but not without words of caution from the site’s founder. (By Paul Crocetti)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11-- The League of Conservation Voters gave Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) a perfect score in its annual environmental scorecard Wednesday. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 – Congressmen north of Boston are calling for action to deal with the potential nuclear showdown with North Korea. (By Bryan McGonigle)
They’ve Got Mail: A Look Inside Congressional In-Boxes
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Some are e-mails about Medicare or privatization of Social Security. Others are notes asking Congress to help free reality-TV stars from prison. But despite the weekly influx of thousands of letters to Reps. James McGovern (D-Worcester) and John Olver (D-Amherst), every letter writer from the 1st and 3rd congressional districts receives a response. (By Katherine Geyer)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 – Two fire stations on Massachusetts’ North Shore will receive grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 – Massachusetts families, including those who are coping with their children’s disabilities, will benefit from nearly $800,000 in federal support, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., announced Wednesday. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 – Schools in Lawrence will receive help getting parents more involved in their children’s education through a federal grant issued to a Massachusetts parent advocacy program. (By Bryan McGonigle)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4-- Congress last week acted to extend an exemption in the H-2b visa program, allowing foreign workers who have been employed in the United States in the last three years to work here next year. (By Paul Crocetti)
Medicare Releases Plans to Aid Controversial Coverage Gaps
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 —The coverage gap in Medicare has become a hot topic this year, as millions of seniors have found that they have to pay the full cost for prescription drugs once their total costs reach a certain point. But there is some help on the horizon, with Medicare announcing that insurance companies are now offering many new plans, including 15 in Massachusetts, that will cover some of the cost of drugs during the coverage gap. (By Paul Crocetti)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 – The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., will get $3 million for research as part of the 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill passed by Congress last week. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Local Congressmen React to Congressional Sex Chat
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 – Local congressmen called for better protection of Congressional pages in the wake of the scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla. (By Bryan McGonigle)
House Grants Green Light to Administration’s Wiretapping
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 – The House approved a bill Thursday that would allow the president to authorize domestic wiretapping for long periods of time without a warrant. (By Bryan McGonigle)
McGovern, Olver Push Darfur Resolutions
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28-- There is always a wave of urgency rippling through the Capitol to get bills passed, but two Massachusetts representatives are saying that delaying certain legislation until after the campaigns could cost thousands of lives. (By Katherine Geyer)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 – When tourists visit Washington in the post-9/11 era, they may find that the seat of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people” has become less accessible to the people. (By Anika Clark)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 – The National Federation of Independent Business – a small business lobbying organization – has honored Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., with its Guardian of Small Business Award. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Bill Would Require Monitoring of Drug Benefit Gaps
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 – Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., introduced legislation Wednesday aimed at monitoring benefit gaps in the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Vermont, New Hampshire Lawmakers Feud Over Wilderness Legisltation
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 – Two bills aimed at protecting New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest were voted down Monday, with opposition led by a congressman from Vermont. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Kennedy Joins Senators, Religious Leaders in Urging Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 — With just days to go before Congress breaks for the November elections, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) joined Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), other senators and religious leaders in urging comprehensive immigration reform. (By Paul Crocetti)
Putting Heart and Soul in the Cancer Crusade
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21–Nancy Kowal is concerned about a lot of things. She’s concerned about her cancer patients back in Worcester who are in the fight of their lives. She’s concerned that the members of Congress in the Capitol behind her aren’t taking her seriously. And she’s concerned about the results of her recent biopsy. Her cancer may be back. (By Katherine Geyer)
Frank: Funny, Brainy and Eloquent
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21—This year’s “Best and Worst of Congress” list in the current issue of Washingtonian magazine reads like pages in a high school yearbook: Blue-eyed Gene Taylor of Mississippi is the biggest House “hunk,” California’s Lois Capps is “just plain nice,” and once again, a Massachusetts Democrat scored as class clown. (By Anika Clark)
Cancer Activists Join Thousands in Yearly Trek to Washington
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21– Thousands of cancer activists filled the National Mall and corridors of Congress this week, and each had a different story to tell. Some have battled the disease themselves. Some know 10 or 20 people who have had cancer. They all came together to spread awareness of the disease and push for more research-funding. (By Paul Crocetti)
VA Halts Proposal to Close Hospital Emergency Room at Night
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will keep the VA Medical Center in Manchester, N.H., open 24 hours a day as Congress considers legislation to restrict the department’s ability to cut emergency room hours. Last fall, the department proposed curtailing Manchester’s emergency room hours, closing the facility from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and possibly on weekends. The proposal was not limited to Manchester and could have eventually affected VA hospitals nationwide. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Massachusetts Colleges Fail in Affordability
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 – Massachusetts colleges received a flunking grade in affordability earlier this month in an annual rating of institutions of higher learning. (By Anika Clark)
Delahunt Joins in Urging Federal Protection from Oil Spills
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20—Citing the Buzzards Bay oil spill of 2003, U.S. Rep. William Delahunt (D-Mass.) and other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation are urging the federal government to enforce more protective measures for the oil industry. (By Paul Crocetti)
Bush to U.N.: “People Are Making the Choice for Freedom”
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 – President Bush addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, highlighting progress and goals he says are crucial to gaining stability in the Middle East and winning the struggle against global terrorism. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Analogic Gets Grant Aid Screening of Airport Luggage
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 – The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that it will give $199,000 to Analogic Corp. in Peabody, Mass., to develop technology that would allow airport security personnel to look through luggage as if watching a three-dimensional movie. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Restriction on Off-Reservation Indian Gaming Fails to Pass House
WASHINGTON–A vote in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday failed to restrict Indian tribes from building off-reservation gambling facilities. As a result, in states where casinos are legal, Indian tribes with state approval can continue to acquire land outside their reservations for gaming purposes. (By Paul Crocetti)
Massachusetts Gets an F in College Affordability
WASHINGTON -- Massachusetts received a failing grade for “College Affordability” but earned an A in every other category in a recent report on higher education. The percentage of family income used to pay college expenses at Massachusetts’ public universities has increased to 34 percent, which forced undergraduates to borrow an average of $4,342 last year, according to the new report, released by the non-profit, non-partisan Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. (By Katherine Geyer)
Polls Favor Democrats Taking House; Meehan, Tierney Get Ready
WASHINGTON – The 110th Congress may be a shade of blue – politically, that is. Democrats, who lost control of the House after the1994 elections, have a strong chance of getting it back in November, according to many polls, pundits and political analysts. (By Bryan McGonigle)
Delahunt Leads Press Conference Announcing Challenges to Travel Industry
WASHINGTON—In an effort to strengthen the country’s image abroad, U.S. Rep. William Delahunt joined leaders of the travel industry Wednesday to propose steps to reduce barriers to travel to the United States. (By Paul Crocetti)
Nation, Bay State Don't Make the Grade on Affordability
WASHINGTON -- College costs have reached unacceptable levels both nationwide and in Massachusetts, according to a recent report from an education advocacy group. According to the report by the non-partisan, non-profit National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, Massachusetts aced categories such as preparation, participation and completion, but got an “F” in affordability. (By Bryan McGonigle)
$9.2 Million Released to Help Heat Low-Income Homes
WASHINGTON-- Low-income families in Massachusetts and New Hampshire can expect a little more help in keeping warm next winter from the Bush Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The department released almost $9.2 million in contingency funds to Massachusetts Tuesday for energy assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and almost $3 million to New Hampshire Monday from the program’s surplus funds. (By Bryan McGonigle)
New Hampshire
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 – New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg is looking to the British for some answers on how to catch terrorists. (By Kendra Gilbert)
Special Education Funding Increasing, but Districts Still Struggling
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 —Even though Congress has more than doubled federal funding for special education and has altered funding allocation formulas over the last six years, local school districts are still struggling to find adequate money. (By Lauren Katims)
Sen. Gregg Part of Bipartisan Trip to South America
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 – New Hampshire Republican Senator Judd Gregg will get a chance to bond with the incoming Democratic Senate leadership on a bipartisan trip to South America at the end of the year. (By Kendra Gilbert)
N.H. Country Home Ornaments Decorate Washington Tree
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 – As President Bush lit the National Christmas Tree Thursday night, a little piece of New Hampshire hung nearby on the state’s Christmas tree as part of the 2006 Pageant of Peace. (By Kendra Gilbert)
Hodes Gets More Confident His First Week in Washington
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 —Just like a freshman in high school, New Hampshire Rep.-elect Paul Hodes felt overwhelmed when he arrived in Washington last Sunday for freshmen orientation, but after a week of congressional lessons, he said, he feels more comfortable. (By Lauren Katims)
Wilderness Sidebar
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 – Outgoing New Hampshire Reps. Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley praised the collaborative effort behind the passage of the New England Wilderness Act of 2006. (By Kendra Gilbert)
New Hampshire Native Is Outstanding Fellow
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – There isn’t much New Hampshire native Jeffrey Eggers can’t accomplish once he sets his mind to it. Degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Naval Academy? Check. Masters degree in mathematics and philosophy from Oxford? Check. Lieutenant Commander in the Navy with a tour of duty in Iraq? Check. One of only 14 selected nationally to a prestigious White House Fellowship? Check. (By Kendra Gilbert)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 – A large trash bin overflowing with old papers, folders and discarded knickknacks sits outside Rep. Jeb Bradley’s Capitol Hill office door, awaiting removal. Inside, another bin occupies the office sitting area and is halfway to capacity. (By Kendra Gilbert)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 —In the real-life Congress, Republican Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu are New Hampshire political leaders. In Fantasy Congress, they are just average guys who are not at the top of their game. (By Lauren Katims)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 – Following the defeat Tuesday of New Hampshire Republican Reps. Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley, New Hampshire’s Republican senators said they will extend the olive branch across the Capitol to their new Democratic House colleagues and work together in the new Congress. (By Kendra Gilbert)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- In the final days before the election, Democratic challenger Paul Hodes may have raised more money than Republican Rep. Charles Bass, but he is competing against something bigger than a campaign treasury: He is challenging a political dynasty. (By Lauren Katims)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 – For one summer month between her junior and senior years at Trinity High School in Manchester, Kaitlyn Funk was a congressional page. Now a sophomore at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., studying philosophy, she has nothing but good things to say about the previously low-profile program, which has now become synonymous with sex and scandal. (By Kendra Gilbert)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26-- A new report by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group, labeled New Hampshire congressmen as not doing enough. The report, released last week, gave both New Hampshire senators a grade of “D” and Rep. Charles Bass a “C+.” (By Lauren Katims)
New Hampshire Delegation Fares Poorly with Veterans Group
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 –The New Hampshire congressional delegation fared poorly in a new rating of support for the military overseas and the veterans back home. New Hampshire Rep. Charlie Bass, R, received a C+ rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a two-year-old non-partisan advocacy group, as did Rep. Jeb Bradley, R, despite his being honored Wednesday as Person of the Year by the New Hampshire chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army. Republican Sens. Judd. Gregg and John Sununu each received a D grade. (By Kendra Gilbert)
Congressional Races: Where the Money Comes From
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 – When political action committees give money to House races, incumbents usually get the lion’s share, and New Hampshire Republican Reps. Charlie Bass and Jeb Bradley are no exception. (By Kendra Gilbert)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 – Democratic congressional candidate Paul Hodes has raised roughly $100,000 more than Rep. Charles Bass , according to their most recent federal filings, though the incumbent had more on hand to spend in the campaign’s final month. (By Lauren Katims)
Flying Flags That Flew Over the U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 – On Flag Day this year, Rita Cummings, 80, had a personal celebration at Langdon Place, the senior citizen facility where she lives in Keene. To honor Cummings’ long-time membership, the Keene Kiwanis Club contacted Rep. Charles Bass’s office and requested a U.S. flag to be flown over the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., and mailed to Cummings with a letter and a certificate signed by Bass. (By Lauren Katims)
A Room with a View -- and a Tax
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 – A view from the top – or any view, for that matter – no longer comes cheap. Not, at least, in New Hampshire. (By Kendra Gilbert)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 – The League of Conservation Voters’ 2006 environmental scorecards are out, and all four members of the New Hampshire delegation show improvement. (By Kendra Gilbert)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 – As New Hampshire schools prepare their 2007 budgets, money for special education will fall short of needs—again, school officials say. But when Congress returns in January, the state’s congressional representatives will try to do something about it--again. (By Lauren Katims)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 – Despite being a part of what critics have called a do-nothing Congress, New Hampshire Reps. Charlie Bass and Jeb Bradley said Thursday they’ve done plenty and disagree with the criticism. (By Kendra Gilbert)
N.H. Representatives Condemn Foley, Split on Leadership
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 –New Hampshire’s two Republican Representatives, Charlie Bass and Jeb Bradley, expressed their disgust Tuesday with the conduct of former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla. (By Kendra Gilbert)
House Votes Against New Hampshire Wilderness Act
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 – Thousands of acres in the White Mountain National Forest remain unprotected after the House of Representatives killed a pair of wilderness protection bills Tuesday. (By Kendra Gilbert)
Vermont, New Hampshire Lawmakers Feud Over Wilderness Legisltation
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 – Two bills aimed at protecting New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest were voted down Monday, with opposition led by a congressman from Vermont. (By Bryan McGonigle)
New Hampshire Higher Education Fails in Affordability
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 – At Keene High School, students are busy worrying about how they will pay for college and with some of the highest tuition costs in the country and low-state aid, their worries are completely justified. (By Lauren Katims)
Ms. Morse Goes to Washington
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 – Passersby walking through the Wall of Hope Wednesday at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Celebration on the Hill stopped to look at the New Hampshire banner. It told the story of Michelle Morse, the 22-year-old Plymouth State University student who died last November from colon cancer and for whom “Michelle’s Law” is named. (By Kendra Gilbert)
Women Entrepreneurs Backed by Sununu
WASHINGTON—Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., has thrown his support behind the Women’s Small Business Ownership Programs Act of 2006. (By Kendra Gilbert)
Sen. Gregg Applauds Progress in Border Security
WASHINGTON – Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H. had strong words for Senate Democrats Tuesday in a floor speech about the progress Congress has made in protecting U.S. borders. (By Kendra Gilbert)
High School Humanitarian Project Branches Out
WASHINGTON – The volunteers of “There’s No Place Like Home” believe what their name says. So much so, that this week four members of the group traveled 500 miles to Washington to work on taking the Rochester, N.H.-based organization ever farther – nationwide. (By Kendra Gilbert)
British Counterterrorism Tactics Looked at as a Model
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., called Thursday for a counter-terrorism system in this country that places greater focuses on prevention of attacks rather than prosecution after the fact. (By Kendra Gilbert)
Sununu Speaks to Arab-Americans
WASHINGTON -- One day after the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, New Hampshire Senator John Sununu spoke of the importance of having Arab-Americans involved in the federal government because of the “personal perspective they bring to congressional debate.” (By Kendra Gilbert)
Ken Burns Speaks About 9/11 at Kalb Report
WASHINGTON- On September 11, 2001, Ken Burns sat in his office in Walpole, N.H., and turned on the TV to see the second plane crashing into the World Trade Center. He didn’t believe it was happening – the idea of such an attack on America seemed inconceivable. Five years later, the acclaimed documentary filmmaker misses seeing those images. He doesn’t miss the tragedy, but what the tragedy gave us – a sense of community, he told a packed room at the National Press Club on Monday, Sept. 11. (By Lauren Katims)
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