Congress

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Patrons walk through the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Friday, April 8, 2011, as Congress continues to debate in hopes of avoiding a government shutdown. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, California Republican, says the Obama administration is rushing to judgment and has bypassed Congress in pushing for the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." (Associated Press)

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The Infectious Diseases Society of America is calling on Congress to fight methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, shown here magnified 20,000 times. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

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Actor Kevin Spacey attends an event on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 5, 2011, held by Americans for the Arts in conjunction with the Congressional Arts Caucus , calling for Congress to preserve arts funding. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner warned of a financial crisis if Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling. He projects the U.S. will reach the current ceiling by no later than May 16. (Associated Press)

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TURNABOUT: Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. blamed hindrances by members of Congress. (Associated Press)

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Illustration: Shuttered Congress

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Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. has offered to work with Congress on a law that would let law enforcement delay constitutional Miranda warnings to terror suspects. (Associated Press)

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Members of the Decemberists wrote a letter to Congress asking that funding for noncommercial radio continue, arguing that NPR "airplay was and is essential to the growth of our band and business."

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Rep. Allen B. West, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington last month, has been in Congress only since January, but there already is talk of a Senate run in 2012 or possibly a spot on the presidential ticket. But first, he says, "I've got to prove myself as a capable legislator, political leader." (Associated Press)

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Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is seeking to fight the demographic forces hollowing out the Farm Belt and to protect Kansas' political clout in Congress. (Associated Press)

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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, center, is flanked by Speaker of the House John Boehner, left, and Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye, right, as she prepares to address a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard shakes hands with Speaker of the House John Boehner, second from left, as Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye, left, watches, after addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee Republican, left, talks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, right, before Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is flanked by Speaker of the House John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican (left) and Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii Democrat, during her address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. She is slated to visit the United Nations in New York on Thursday. (Associated Press)

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Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu speaks during a press conference held for the National People's Congress at the media center in Beijing, China, Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Top Chinese health officials have vowed to reduce the dependence of hospitals on drug sales for income _ a key problem that drives up health care costs. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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**FILE** A model of the Boeing 747-8 aircraft is on display at the Asian Aerospace Expo and Congress 2011 in Hong Kong on March 8, 2011. (Associated Press)

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Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi gives a press conference during the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, March 7, 2011. Mr. Yang said there is now a positive atmosphere in relations with the United States following a rocky year in which the two countries feuded over issues ranging from Taiwan to Internet freedom. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, as Congress resumes work on a spending plan to avoid a government shutdown. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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President Obama, speaking at a news conference Tuesday, said he will push again for corporate tax increases that Congress failed to enact because "I continue to believe I'm right." (Associated Press)