Congress

We should find out in February who will get the $35 billion contract to make refueling tankers for the the U.S. Air Force, but first Congress is looking into the latest problem with the competition. The Senate Armed Services Committee heard testimony Thursday on a clerical error that mistakenly sent Boeing and EADS information about the other's bid. Two federal employees lost their jobs after the confidential information got out. This is the Pentagon's third attempt in ten years to award the contract to replace tankers that are now more than 50 years old. Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown said he's amazed how long it's taken to get a final deal.

Just days after the deadly shooting in Tucson Arizona that critically injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, lawmakers in Washington are taking a fresh look at their security. CBS News reports members are divided over the best way to protect themselves, while staying accessible to voters. California Democrat Barbara Boxer is pushing for tougher gun laws nationwide, but others like Republican Mike Rogers say screening is the key. "There were a lot of flags that went up that say this guy is trouble, this guy is going to hurt somebody," said Rep. Rogers of Michigan.

Factfinder 12 Scientific Survey: The 112th Congress has now taken office in Washington. Do you expect the new Congress will do an excellent job? a good job? A fair job? or a poor job? 6% - Excellent 23% - Good 43% - Fair 26% - Poor 1% - Not Sure Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5% Asked of 500 Adults Complete Interactive CrossTabs -------------------------------------------- John Boehner is the new Speaker of the House of Representatives and second in the line of succession after the Vice President.

Questions for the candidates for congress, that is. KWCH 12 is hosting two candidate forums next week. On monday October 4th, the candidates for house district one, and those running for district four the next day. Those forums will be on the air from 6:30 to 7-pm, followed by a hosted chat on our website. We welcome you to suggest questions you'd like to ask the candidates and you can do that right here on this same website...just go to the Campaign 2010 section.

The 2010 National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional field and bracket is set.  Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, in Wichita, KS, will host to the NBC Midwest Regional beginning on Friday, July 16th with a champion crowned on Thursday, July 22nd.  The 2010 Midwest Regional Champion will be presented with a check for $2,600 and a berth in the BaseballSavings.com 76th Annual National Baseball Congress World Series to be played in Wichita from July 30th through August 13th. In 2009 the El Dorado Broncos, from the Jayhawk Collegiate Baseball League, were the NBC Midwest Regional Champions, therefore receive the top seed in this years NBC qualifier, and went on to become the NBC World Series Champions.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Greasy pizzas and high-calorie desserts may be less frequent lunchtime treats for schoolchildren under a wide-ranging nutrition bill approved by a Senate panel. The legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Agriculture Committee would create uniform standards for all foods in schools, including vending machine items, to give students healthier meal options. The legislation allocates an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years for nutrition programs. It would also expand the number of low-income children eligible for free or reduced cost meals - a step Democrats say would help President Barack Obama's goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

By Kim Wilhelm (GODDARD, Kan.) State Senator Dick Kelsey, R-Goddard, has announced he's suspending his campaign for Congress.  His campaign manager says Kelsey's wife has been dealing with health issues and at this time, the family is focusing on those.  Kelsey will continue his work in Topeka as a state lawmaker. He'll decide later the status of his run for Congress.  

WASHINGTON (AP) - Toyota president Akio Toyoda says he'll testify at a congressional hearing next week about the Toyota's massive recalls. Toyota has faced a growing safety and publicity crisis over the past four months with the recall of roughly 8.5 million vehicles. -------------------- WASHINGTON (AP) - A congressional committee has asked Toyota president Akio Toyoda to testify at its hearing next week on the automaker's recalls. Toyoda is the grandson of the Japanese automaker's founder.

WASHINGTON (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama wants more transparency and strict guidelines for using the second $350 billion of the bailout fund Congress approved last fall to stabilize the nation's financial system. Obama's economic team has been talking with the Bush administration about having Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson ask Congress as early as this week for access to the $350 billion remaining in the bailout fund. If Congress rejected such a request, a presidential veto could still free up the money, unless Congress overrode the veto.

WASHINGTON (AP and Eyewitness News) - With the economy on the brink of meltdown and elections looming, a reluctant Congress abruptly reversed course and approved a historic $700 billion government bailout of the battered financial industry on Friday. President Bush swiftly signed it. The 263-171 vote capped two weeks of tumult in Congress and on Wall Street, punctuated by urgent warnings from Bush that the country confronted the gravest economic disaster since the Great Depression if lawmakers failed to act. "We have acted boldly to help prevent the crisis on Wall Street from becoming a crisis in communities across our country," Bush said shortly after the plan cleared Congress, although he conceded, "our economy continues to face serious challenges.