Mary Orndorff -- Washington Bureau
About Me:
I have been the Birmingham News' Washington DC correspondent since 2000. I can be reached at morndorff@bhamnews.com.Zip Code: 20005
All Activity by Mary Orndorff -- Washington Bureau RSS
U.S. Representative Spencer Bachus legal defense fund shows no activity
Posted on Breaking News from The Birmingham News on May 23, 2012, 4:05AM
Congressman cleared of insider trading allegations. Full story »
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Report: Unnamed sources say former Rep. Artur Davis pondering run for office in Virginia
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 22, 2012, 3:40PM
Speculation about whether the former Democratic congressman from Birmingham will run as a Republican. Full story »
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From Saturday's paper: Shelby County loses challenge to Voting Rights Act
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 21, 2012, 6:59AM
WASHINGTON -- The ability of the federal government to scrutinize elections in parts of the country with a history of discrimination was upheld Friday when a federal court rejected Shelby County's claim that the strict oversight was no longer necessary. Shelby County is now expected to take its case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ultimately will decide whether the... Full story »
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Shelby County loses appeal; Voting Rights Act is upheld by federal court
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 18, 2012, 9:40AM
Shelby County had challenged Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act as an outdated burden on local governments that are no longer a threat to rights of minority voters. Full story »
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Sen. Richard Shelby to be recognized by National Wildlife Federation
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 17, 2012, 3:14PM
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, normally not a favorite of environmental organizations, will accept an award tonight from the National Wildlife Federation for his work on the RESTORE Act, which would direct the fines from the 2010 oil spill to coastal restoration and economic development projects along the Gulf of Mexico. "I am truly honored to have been... Full story »
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Birmingham members of Congress teach colleagues about tornado response
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 17, 2012, 12:27PM
Congressional staff get advice from U.S. Reps. Sewell and Bachus, American Red Cross, The Weather Channel, NOAA, FEMA and National Baptist Convention USA Inc. Full story »
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Budget cut pain: Alabama lawmakers confront Air Force on plans to remove C-130 transports
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 17, 2012, 7:00AM
Members of state's delegation say they doubt Air Force leaders can prove the move will save money. Full story »
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Alabama's Sessions supports ending tax loophole that illegal immigrants can use
Posted on Breaking News from The Birmingham News on May 15, 2012, 11:22PM
People who work but don't have a valid Social Security number can claim a child tax credit on their federal income tax. Full story »
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Alabama corruption trials show federal prosecutors need restraints, Don Siegelman's lawyers argue
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 14, 2012, 5:44PM
The former Alabama governor was convicted by a Montgomery jury in 2006 of selling a state appointment in exchange for a $500,000 contribution to his lottery campaign. Full story »
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U.S. House votes to block Justice Department lawsuits against state immigration laws
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 10, 2012, 10:18AM
"There are over 10 million unauthorized aliens in this country, and states must be able to enforce the law if the federal government refuses to," U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., said. Full story »
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RESTORE Act for Gulf Coast draws opposition
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 09, 2012, 10:37AM
The comments reflect opposition to directing the money away from the general U.S. Treasury - which benefits the entire nation - and focusing it on five states. Full story »
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US Department of Justice defends Don Siegelman verdict
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 08, 2012, 7:00AM
Prosecutors want high court to deny appeal. Full story »
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Two Alabama GOP super delegates jump to Romney's side
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 04, 2012, 5:30AM
Two Alabama GOP super delegates shift loyalty to Romney. Full story »
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Alabama native named new executive director of Secular Coalition for America
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 03, 2012, 4:04PM
WASHINGTON -- Alabama native Edwina Rogers started a new job today as executive director of the Secular Coalition for America. Here is the press announcement. Rogers has worked for Republican presidents and senators, including as a health care policy staffer to Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. She was also a lobbyist and a lawyer, and earned her undergraduate degree from the... Full story »
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From today's paper: Ethics board drops Bachus allegations
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on May 01, 2012, 10:30AM
WASHINGTON -- The Office of Congressional Ethics has dismissed allegations that U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus engaged in insider trading, Bachus' office announced Monday night. The board that oversees the independent agency on Friday voted 6-0 to recommend to the House Ethics Committee that the case against Bachus be closed. Bachus received written confirmation of the decision Monday. The OCE letter... Full story »
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U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus cleared in ethics investigation
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 30, 2012, 5:00PM
He and others had been accused of making personal investment decisions based on information received as members of Congress. Full story »
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Enrollment surges in Alabama health plan for pre-existing illnesses
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 30, 2012, 7:15AM
People with pre-existing health conditions pour into insurance plan. Full story »
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Cullman plant to close; loses U.S. Army business to Canada
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 25, 2012, 7:00AM
WASHINGTON -- An Illinois-based aerospace and defense contractor announced this morning that it will close its plant in Cullman after the U.S. Army switched to a product made in Canada. AAR Corp. will close the Cullman plant at the end of June, eliminating 213 jobs. The AAR Mobility Systems' facility made the MK 1077 Flat Rack, used by the U.S.... Full story »
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Rep. Spencer Bachus paid more for lawyers than TV ads during campaign
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 24, 2012, 5:30AM
Bachus is cooperating with an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics on whether he engaged in insider trading. Full story »
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Pinson first in Alabama free from Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 23, 2012, 2:37PM
WASHINGTON - The city of Pinson is now the first in Alabama to be free of the Voting Rights Act requirement that election related changes get prior approval from the federal government. In a Friday court order, a three-judge panel in Washington D.C. signed off on the deal reached last month between the city and the U.S. Department of... Full story »
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Alabama watches as high court debates Arizona immigration law
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 23, 2012, 5:30AM
Alabamians interested in court review of Arizona immigration law. Full story »
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White House Press Secretary responds to Sen. Jeff Sessions
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 20, 2012, 9:17AM
WASHINGTON -- In yesterday's briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked to respond to Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who has said the Secret Service scandal is a result of President Barack Obama's poor leadership. Here is the transcript of the question and Carney's answer: Q. Can I ask you to respond to Senator Sessions, who up on the Hill today suggested... Full story »
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Alabama football championship performance honored at White House, with reflection on Tuscaloosa storm (slideshow, video)
Posted on Sports Impact on April 20, 2012, 7:00AM
'They played as a team because of what they had endured as a team,' President Obama said. Full story »
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A football playbook for turning Alabama from red to blue?
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 19, 2012, 4:38PM
WASHINGTON -- Alabama Democrat Doug Jones was at the White House today for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide event with President Barack Obama, but he apparently spent some of his time on the South Lawn pondering political strategy. His plan to convince Alabamians to support Obama in the fall elections? "Think about it," said Jones, a former federal prosecutor.... Full story »
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Crimson Tide praised by President Barack Obama in White House visit (slideshow)
Posted on Sports Impact on April 19, 2012, 1:48PM
"I told Coach he's making this a habit," the president said of coach Nick Saban. Full story »
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U.S. House Democrats target Northern Beltline as wasteful boondoggle
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 18, 2012, 6:20PM
Colorado Democrat calls project 'Alabama porkway.'. Full story »
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Senate panel on racial profiling discusses Alabama immigration law
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 18, 2012, 6:00AM
WASHINGTON -- Congressional critics of Alabama's immigration law said Tuesday it is a recipe for racial profiling because it encourages law enforcement to help the federal government locate and deport illegal immigrants. Full story »
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Senate hearing targets racial profiling; Alabama's immigration law is mentioned
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 17, 2012, 10:10AM
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said Alabama's immigration law is promoting racial profiling by law enforcement because it allows them to target anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. "Profiling Hispanics and immigrants is the most efficient way to get someone deported," Gutierrez said. Gutierrez was on the first panel of witnesses of a Senate hearing... Full story »
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Navy unveils unmanned undersea mine hunter for the littoral combat ship
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 16, 2012, 12:25PM
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Navy today introduced the new Knifefish, an unmanned mine hunter that will be deployed by the Littoral Combat Ship to detect and identify mine fields at sea. A model of the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle, also known as Knifefish, was on display for the first time at the Sea-Air-Space exposition just outside Washington... Full story »
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Witness list for tomorrow's Senate hearing on racial profiling
Posted on Sweet Home Potomac on April 16, 2012, 11:19AM
WASHINGTON -- Issues of racial profiling by law enforcement, including those trying to enforce sate immigration laws, will be discussed Tuesday by a Senate subcommittee. The witness list released today includes Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., a lead sponsor of legislation to combat racial profiling; the chief of police of East Palo Alto, Calif.; a law professor from Pittsburgh; the executive... Full story »
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