Immigration reform: From House Republicans, some sympathy for DREAMers
Can House Republicans support a path to citizenship as part of immigration reform? At a committee hearing, sympathy is expressed for young DREAMers, but not their parents.
David Grant
Senate averts ‘nuclear option,’ but leaves deeper questions unanswered
By David Grant
After a rare, closed meeting senators agreed to confirm several controversial Obama nominees. The deal avoided a ‘nuclear option’ that would have changed Senate rules on filibusters.
Will GOP plan to cut food stamps save the farm bill … or kill it?
By David Grant
After the farm bill’s stunning defeat last month, House GOP leaders are feeling out whether they can strip out a massive food stamp program and win back enough conservative votes to pass the aid to farmers.
Immigration reform bill clears Senate, but faces roadblock in House
By David Grant
The Senate approved the bill by a 68-to-32 vote Thursday. But House leaders, including those supportive of the immigration reform effort, have said the Senate legislation won’t get a hearing in their chamber.
Immigration reform takes giant leap forward with Senate vote
By David Grant
Senators think they have to pass immigration reform overwhelmingly to persuade the House to play ball. They paved the way for that to happen by passing an important amendment Monday.
Stunning farm bill defeat lays bare House dysfunction
By David Grant
The farm bill failed to pass the House Thursday after Republicans began tinkering with the measure, driving off Democrats who otherwise would have voted for it.
Want proof that NSA snooping thwarts terror plots? Stand by, senator says
By David Grant
Efforts are afoot to declassify some examples of terrorist plots thwarted by controversial NSA surveillance programs, perhaps by next week, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Thursday after senators met with US intelligence officials.
Senate Republicans help immigration bill advance, but will they vote for it?
By David Grant
The vote Tuesday was proof, say supporters of immigration reform, that the majority of Senate Republicans believe it would be politically toxic to be labeled obstructionists.
Obama turns tables on GOP: no compromise on judicial nominations
By David Grant
Obama slams Republicans for ‘unprecedented’ obstruction of his judicial nominees, and Sen. Harry Reid vows no compromise on a student loan deal, as Democrats take a page from the Republican playbook.
Who’s to blame for murky regulation in IRS scandal: Agency or lawmakers?
By David Grant
In a Senate hearing, the two most recent IRS chiefs were grilled over why the agency failed for years to fix the law at the root of the political targeting scandal. The same could be asked of Congress, one said.
Apple ‘tax gimmicks’: rotten to the core or sensible business?
By David Grant
Two senators on Tuesday plan to grill Apple CEO Tim Cook about the company’s tax practices, which they say cheat the US out of billions of dollars. Apple says it’s playing within the rules.
IRS report shows why tea party scandal was almost inevitable
By David Grant
When all the shouting about the IRS targeting of tea party groups dies down, Congress or the IRS will realize that the relevant tax law is devilishly hard to enforce fairly.
Girding for a federal budget battle royale, parties wrangle over rules
By David Grant
With Capitol Hill bracing for a battle over financial policy this summer, the focus now is on rules for the committee that will seek to reconcile House and Senate versions of the federal budget.
Marco Rubio crafts conservative argument for immigration reform. Will it sell?
By David Grant
GOP Sen. Marco Rubio is out front as the ‘gang of 8’ releases its immigration reform plan. The move puts him toe to toe with conservative talk-show hosts and could make or break a presidential run in 2016.
Senate ends gun control filibuster, but GOP still skeptical of bill
By David Grant
In a bipartisan vote Thursday, the Senate voted to override a filibuster and proceed with debate on a package of gun control bills. But support for debate doesn’t mean support for the bill.
GOP’s Rep. Dave Camp envisions inclusive path to a fiscal ‘bargain’
By David Grant
Dave Camp, House Ways and Means Committee chairman, said Thursday that involving more members of Congress in budgeting and deficit-cutting could yield, if not a ‘grand bargain,’ at least a modest deal.
Bipartisan deal on background checks: Biggest gun control win yet?
By David Grant
Two senators announced a bipartisan deal on a gun control bill that would expand background checks. Its passage is hardly assured, but just the compromise is significant.
Immigration reform dilemma: Cut family visas to woo computer engineers?
By David Grant
Congress is closing in on immigration reforms that favor more immigrants with math and science backgrounds, but lawmakers are divided over whether to favor job skills over family ties.
Why Republicans think Obama’s back is against the wall on ‘sequester’
By David Grant
President Obama has spent the past week trying to put Republicans on the defensive over the sequester. But many Republicans believe the pressure is on him.
Why March 1 isn’t Congress’s last chance to amend ‘sequester’ cuts
By David Grant
True, $85 billion in spending cuts kick in on March 1, but they won’t be widely felt for several weeks. Meanwhile, funding for government operations expires March 27. The two fiscal issues could be rolled into one, but a top GOP appropriator sees that as a recipe for disaster.
