Behind retreat on immigration, a complicated political interplay
WASHINGTON — House Speaker John A. Boehner would sorely like to help engineer an overhaul of immigration policy to bolster his legacy, help his party politically and address a difficult social and economic problem. He just cannot seem to persuade other Republicans, who see the immigration debate as a major threat to their drive to win the Senate and increase their House majority in November.
For both parties, a twisted path to financing a campaign
WASHINGTON — It is one of the most convoluted arrangements in Washington for complying with campaign finance laws — and that is saying something.
House leader Boehner outlines demands on debt limit fight
WASHINGTON — House Speaker John A. Boehner said Monday that Republicans would insist on trillions of dollars in federal spending cuts in exchange for their support of an increase in the federal debt limit sought by the Obama administration to prevent a government default later this year.
Government shutdown might damage economic recovery
It’s not just an estimated 800,000 federal employees who would feel the financial pinch of a government shutdown.
Republican leaders promise push for more cuts
WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders said Thursday that they would accede to demands from conservatives and dig deeper into the federal budget for billions of dollars in additional savings this year, exhibiting the power of the Tea Party movement and increasing chances of a major fiscal clash with Democrats.
Three Republicans in race to lead appropriations committee
WASHINGTON — The thick binder is dominated by a drawing of a chubby Uncle Sam, with shirt buttons straining against his girth, and a fleshy hand open and outstretched.
Republicans have a change of heart about earmarks
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans opened the lame-duck session of Congress on Monday by signaling their commitment to the antispending posture that fueled their big gains Election Day, underscoring the Tea Party movement’s influence on the Republican leadership.
Bracing for tepid job numbers, House grants tax breaks for hirers
WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday approved a $15 billion measure intended to spur job creation by granting tax breaks to businesses that hire workers, as Democrats, bracing for new jobless figures, tried to show that Congress was doing something about stubborn unemployment.
Five Republicans break ranks to help advance jobs bill
WASHINGTON — Five Republican senators broke ranks with their party on Monday to advance a $15 billion job-creation measure put forward by Democrats, a rare bipartisan breakthrough after months in which Republicans had held together to a remarkable degree in an effort to thwart President Barack Obama’s agenda.
Mass. Republican Senator is sworn in, Democrats regroup
<i>WASHINGTON </i>— President Barack Obama and congressional Democratic leaders sought to reset their agenda as they lost their 60th vote in the Senate on Thursday, trying to push ahead with measures to spur job creation even as they grasped for ideas to keep alive their health care legislation.
Democrats Say House Bill Cuts Premiums for Many
As the House moved toward climactic votes on legislation to remake the health care system, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday that middle-income families might be required to pay 15 percent to 18 percent of their income on insurance premiums and co-payments under the proposal.
House Votes to Cover Sex Orientation Hate Crimes
The House voted Thursday to expand the definition of violent federal hate crimes to cover those committed because of a victim’s sexual orientation, a step that would extend new protection to lesbian, gay and transgender people.
Wilson’s District Mostly Backs His Outburst Against Obama
In Washington, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina was sharply criticized by both Democrats and his fellow Republicans for shouting “You lie!” during President Barack Obama’s health care address on Wednesday. But here in his strongly Republican congressional district on Thursday, he was celebrated by many of his constituents for his outburst.
Obama Is Sworn in as the Forty-Fourth President
Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday before a massive crowd reveling in a moment of profound racial significance, and called on Americans to confront together an economic crisis that he said was caused by “our collective failure to make hard choices.”
Daschle Apologizes Over Taxes as Allies Give Support
Tom Daschle offered a public apology on Monday evening for his failure to pay income taxes on use of a luxury car and driver, and Senate Democrats rallied behind him, saying they intended to win his confirmation as secretary of health and human services.
House Passes Extension of Unemployment Benefits
The House took another step Thursday in a running political fight over unemployment insurance by ignoring a veto threat from President Bush and easily approving an extension of benefits for idled workers whose aid is running out.
Success Allows Limited Troop Cuts, Bush Says in Nat’l Address
President Bush contended on Thursday night that his plan to begin withdrawing some troops from Iraq gradually was based on a principle he called “return on success,” saying that progress made so far could be squandered by the deeper and speedier reductions that the war’s opponents have demanded.
Democrats Tie Iraq Spending Measure to Troop Reductions
Congressional Democrats renewed their challenge to President Bush’s Iraq war policy on Thursday, offering $50 billion in interim spending for combat operations coupled to a goal of pulling out most troops within a year.
Bush and Pelosi Clash With Intensity Over Colombian Trade Pact
President Bush and the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, intensified an increasingly personal fight over a stalled trade deal with Colombia on Monday, trading accusations over who was best protecting the interests of American workers.
Shorts (left)
When Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was ready to deliver his endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama, Kennedy did not call Obama headquarters. He got in touch with Tom Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader who had quietly been serving as the liaison between Obama and fellow senators.
GOP Senators Thwart Debates Over US Troop Buildup in Iraq
Republicans on Monday blocked Senate debate on a bipartisan resolution opposing President Bush’s troop buildup in Iraq, leaving in doubt whether the Senate would render a judgment on what lawmakers of both parties described as the paramount issue of the day.
House Votes to Ensure Equal Leave Time; Bill Unlikely to Pass Congress
House Democrats, in their latest challenge to Bush administration war policy, voted on Thursday to limit how quickly American troops can be sent back to Iraq after serving a rotation there.
Senate Approves New Lobbying Constraints, Bans Private Gifts
The Senate gave final approval Thursday to a far-reaching package of new ethics and lobbying rules, with an overwhelming majority of Republicans and Democrats agreeing to better police the relationship between lawmakers and lobbyists.
Domenici Breaks With President, Republican Support For War Fades
Support among Republicans for President Bush's Iraq policy eroded further Thursday as another senior lawmaker, Sen. Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, broke with the White House just as congressional Democrats prepared to renew their challenge to the war.
Shorts (left)
As the House approved a plan on Thursday to finance the Iraq war only through midsummer, President Bush offered his first public concession to try to resolve the impasse on war spending, acknowledging rising pressure from his own party and the public.
Senate Moves to Prohibit Unconfirmed Appointment of Federal Prosecutors
The Senate moved Monday to revoke new authority it granted the Bush administration last year to name federal prosecutors, with Democrats accusing the administration of abusing the appointment power at the center of an escalating clash over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.