Nancy Pelosi News Blog @newzblogz.com

WASHINGTON (AP) - At first, legislation to raise the minimum wage loomed as a clean, quick triumph for Democrats eager to celebrate their new majority in Congress. Two months later, it stands as an early lesson in the limits of their power.

A cohesive Republican minority backed by the White House, the Senate's complex rules and internal divisions among Democrats have combined to slow the measure's progress since it cleared its first hurdle in mid-January.

While final passage is highly probable, Democrats and their allies in organized labor long ago capitulated to GOP demands, agreeing to accept business-friendly tax cuts as the price for the first minimum wage increase in a decade.

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Bush sent House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, a letter revising a $100 billion request for funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This revised request would better align resources based on the assessment of military commanders to achieve the goal of establishing Iraq and Afghanistan as democratic and secure nations that are free of terrorism," Bush said in his letter.

He signed it on Friday night and released it on Saturday while on a Latin America tour.

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WASHINGTON ? House Democrats, emboldened to act on global warming, intend to push automakers at a hearing this week to accept higher fuel-economy standards.

The new leadership sees control of Congress as a chance to break through years of industry opposition to improved gasoline mileage. Auto executives are expected to argue that any major increases would cost the industry billions of dollars.

?They have resisted any increase in fuel economy standards for the last 20 years,? said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass. ?I want to determine whether or not they?ve changed their tune, whether or not they are now willing to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions into the atmosphere.?

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Fashion continuity is returning this spring, as matching dressy bags with shoes makes a comeback.

Leaf through any fashion magazine, and you'll notice a bevy of glossy ads from high-end favorites such as Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Chanel and even Jimmy Choo carefully pairing pumps with similar-style purses.

"This spring ... in the immediate fashion future, it's all about a clutch, a handheld satchel and a shoe that has the same essence," said Lincoln Moore, vice president and divisional merchandise manager for handbags at Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Most Americans have one central question about the war in Iraq: When will

it end? President Bush insists that it won't end until there's a modicum of

security in the country and the democratically elected government can defend

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