Day: February 13, 2010

Congressional Republicans sent mixed signals after President Barack Obama challenged them to participate in a one-of-a-kind televised summit with Democrats to come up with legislation on overhauling the nation’s health care.

House Republicans derided the Feb. 25 event, casting doubt on whether it would yield any bipartisan agreement to extend coverage to millions of Americans and rein in medical costs. “Are they willing to start over with a blank sheet of paper?” said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio. “We need answers before we know if the White House is more interested in partisan theater than in facilitating a productive dialogue about solutions.”

The Obama administration appears increasingly unsure what to do with professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed after officials indicated they are reconsidering not just where he should go on trial, but whether he should face civilian or military justice.

Both Attorney General Eric Holder and White House spokesman Robert Gibbs did not rule out a military trial when asked Friday about the Obama administration’s options.

Republican groups are raising money under the guise of the U.S. Census Bureau, leaving the government’s people-counters worried that a flurry of misleading letters could make some Americans less likely to respond to the real thing.

After the Republican National Committee raised money with such mailings, congressional Republicans are now conducting a fundraising “census” of their own.