James P Moran

Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) was forced out of his party leadership post after a furor over his remarks about the role of American Jews in a possible war with Iraq. Moran stepped down from his position as regional whip at the insistence of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). In a statement, Pelosi said she spoke to Moran and he agreed to give up his post. Moran's office said the decision was mutual.

Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) was forced out of his party leadership post after a furor over his remarks about the role of American Jews in a possible war with Iraq. Moran stepped down from his position as regional whip at the insistence of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco). In a statement, Pelosi said she spoke to Moran and he agreed to give up his post. Moran's office said the decision was mutual.

In an unusual repudiation of a colleague, six influential House Democrats on Wednesday asserted that Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) should not seek reelection in the aftermath of controversial remarks he made concerning the Jewish community and a possible war with Iraq. The six said Moran's statement at a March 3 antiwar forum demanded a response beyond statements of condemnation from his leaders and his peers.

In an unusual repudiation of a colleague, six influential House Democrats on Wednesday asserted that Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) should not seek reelection in the aftermath of controversial remarks he made concerning the Jewish community and a possible war with Iraq. The six said Moran's statement at a March 3 antiwar forum demanded a response beyond statements of condemnation from his leaders and his peers.

A Virginia congressman was engulfed in criticism Tuesday for recent comments suggesting that Jewish leaders were behind the drive toward war with Iraq and had the power to stop the war if they wished. Rep. James P. Moran, a seven-term House veteran and influential centrist Democrat, sparked the furor with his remarks at an antiwar forum March 3 in northern Virginia. "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this," Moran said.

I am presently in the process of doing research for a book (and a newsletter, if the demand is there) on older men who have been forced, by harassment or whatever, into early retirement. I would appreciate hearing from any of these gentlemen, or their lawyers or family members, regarding their experiences. JAMES P. MORAN Palm Springs

The Army fired 11 soldiers in January for violating the military's policy that gay service members must keep their sexuality hidden, said Rep. James P. Moran, a Democrat from Virginia. Moran said he had requested monthly updates from the Pentagon on the effects of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. "How many more good soldiers are we willing to lose due to a bad policy that makes us less safe and secure?" asked Moran, a member of the House panel that oversees military spending.

Mayor James P. Moran said Alexandria, Va., will begin evicting suspected drug dealers from public housing now that the city has become the first in the country to be exempted from the Department of Housing and Urban Development's grievance procedures. Moran said the city would pursue evictions in cases where they have evidence of criminal activity either being committed or condoned by the leaseholder.

House Democratic leaders have coalesced around legislation that would require troops to come home from Iraq within six months if that country's leaders failed to meet promises to help reduce violence there, party officials said Thursday. The plan would retain a Democratic proposal prohibiting the deployment to Iraq of troops with insufficient rest or training or who already have served there for more than a year.

The House voted Wednesday to back Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft's plan to shorten to one day the time the government keeps background-check records of gun buyers, delivering a setback to gun control advocates. In the year's first major vote on the volatile issue of guns, lawmakers voted, 268 to 161, to reject a measure by Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) that would have required the FBI to keep the records for at least the 90 days currently mandated.

A Virginia congressman was engulfed in criticism Tuesday for recent comments suggesting that Jewish leaders were behind the drive toward war with Iraq and had the power to stop the war if they wished. Rep. James P. Moran, a seven-term House veteran and influential centrist Democrat, sparked the furor with his remarks at an antiwar forum March 3 in northern Virginia. "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this," Moran said.

Both houses of Congress voted Wednesday to rename Washington's National Airport after Ronald Reagan, two days before the former president's 87th birthday. "This is a gesture of thanks from a grateful nation and a grateful Senate," Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-Ga.) said after the Senate's 76-22 vote to change the name to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The House followed suit a few hours later, approving the name change on a largely partisan 240-186 vote.

In a development expected to help pave the way for a beefed-up TV ratings system, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and three other lawmakers will announce today that they will support a three-year moratorium on legislation pertaining to ratings and TV content if the television industry and children's groups reach agreement on new guidelines.