To the Point
Midnight at the Bush White House
Barack Obama may have a harder time re-directing the ship of state than other incoming presidents have. George Bush is perfecting the art of "midnight regulations." We hear what that could mean for the Endangered Species Act, development on federal lands and other environmental issues. Also, unemployment benefits expanded, and senior moments on Capitol Hill.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenBarack Obama may have a harder time re-directing the ship of state than other incoming presidents have. George Bush is perfecting the art of "midnight regulations." We hear what that could mean for the Endangered Species Act, development on federal lands and other environmental issues. Also, Congress expands unemployment benefits, and 85-year old, seven-time felony convict Ted Stevens gets a standing ovation on the floor of the US Senate. We hear about generational change on Capitol Hill.
President George W. Bush (R), Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (C) and National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley before boarding the Marine One helicopter at the White House. Bush will be attending the Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Peru, his last scheduled trip abroad as president of the United States. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesUnemployment Benefits Expanded
More than 10 million Americans are looking for work and benefits for 1.2 million were about to run out. So Congress yesterday extended unemployment insurance for an additional seven weeks. President Bush signed the bill before leaving for an international conference in Lima, Peru.
Read the story6 minBush, the Midnight Regulator
In the last hours of his presidency, John Adams appointed what came to be known as "midnight judges." Jimmy Carter invented "midnight regulations." Every subsequent outgoing president has tried to perpetuate his policies by last-minute rules the next president has a hard time getting rid of.
Read the story36 minA Senior Moment as Senator Ted Stevens Steps Down
Ted Stevens got a standing ovation yesterday in the US Senate, as most members do when they're defeated after long tenure. But the 85-year old Stevens had a special distinction: seven convictions for violating federal law. The Alaska Republican served for 40 years in the US Senate, longer than any other Republican.
Read the story7 min
