All Politics
Reasons the House delayed approval of Sandy disaster reliefThe House passed, 354 to 67, a $9.7 billion bill to top off the National Flood Insurance Program and help victims of superstorm Sandy. The timing has been delicate for the GOP-controlled House.
Senate freshmen: What the 14 new members bring to Capitol Hill A freshman Senate class was sworn in Jan. 3, bringing diverse skills and experience – not to mention agendas – to the legislative body. Whether the 14 newest senators help break partisan gridlock, or refuse to work across the aisle, will be the test for the 113th Congress.Twelve were elected on Nov. 6, including three Republicans, eight Democrats, and an independent. In addition, a Republican and a Democrat were appointed to vacant seats after the election. Here is a look at the 14 and what they bring to the Senate:
Jobs report finds little overall progress. Why is recovery so slow?Jobs report says the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in December – the same as for November. Employment growth is notably slower than in past recoveries from recession.
Barney Frank wants to be a senator. Is that a good thing or bad?In media interviews Friday, just-retired Rep. Barney Frank said he'd like the Massachusetts governor to appoint him as an interim senator. In his 16 terms in the House, he had both highs and lows.
Beyond the 'cliff': Why spending cuts are next on the agendaThe just-concluded fiscal cliff deal answered most questions about taxes, for now, but until Obama and Congress address spending cuts, the federal deficit problem has not been solved.
Chris Christie: Did primal scream help or hurt his presidential prospects?Gov. Chris Christie tore into Speaker Boehner and the House GOP over the delay in a vote on Sandy relief. That could help him get reelected but hurt him in a Republican primary campaign.
House speaker vote: John Boehner wins reelection after tough few weeksJohn Boehner's reelection to a second term as House speaker followed failed negotiations with Obama, a divisive fiscal cliff vote, and a bashing over delays in relief aid for superstorm Sandy.
One million workers get pay boost as 10 states adjust minimum wageNine states adjust minimum wage yearly to account for inflation and a tenth passed a new law raising minimum wage. Experts still debate minimum wage's impact on the economy.
'Fiscal cliff' deal: What will it mean for you?Some aspects of the fiscal cliff deal are well-known – such as rising tax rates on the rich. But, actually, everyone will be paying more taxes. Here's a look at the deal's details.
'Fiscal cliff' deal: After rush of relief, debt ceiling clash already loomsThe 'fiscal cliff' deal passed the House after Republicans broke ranks over taxes. But spending cuts loom large in the next clash, over raising the debt ceiling, which Obama says is nonnegotiable.
How Obama won and lost in 'fiscal cliff' dealPresident Obama would have looked incompetent if the nation had gone over the fiscal cliff. But now he faces three more cliffs early in 2013, and those could limit his scope.
Donald Trump slams GOP: How would he have struck 'fiscal cliff' deal?Donald Trump slams GOP in tweets, saying that Republicans got nothing in the fiscal cliff deal. Here's a look at some principles the real estate mogul might have followed had he been negotiating.
House Republicans' 'fiscal cliff' gripe: When will we ever get spending cuts?What riles House Republicans isn't the taxes on the rich in the Senate's 'fiscal cliff' bill, it's the absence of significant spending cuts. But changes at this late date could scuttle the bill.
New laws on New Year's Day, from gay marriage to ‘Caylee’s Law’While much attention has been paid to the ‘fiscal cliff’ and the federal legislation behind it, thousands of new state laws took effect more quietly at the start of 2013.
In 'fiscal cliff' deal, Joe Biden upstages President ObamaWith 'fiscal cliff' talks teetering, Vice President Joe Biden – a former longtime senator – stepped in to broker a deal with his old colleagues and and stave off big tax hikes for most Americans.
Dancing troupe of middle-class taxpayers: Obama's 'fiscal cliff' trump card?President Obama took to the stage Monday to press Congress not to allow taxes to go up on middle-class taxpayers – and he had a rambunctious group of them on hand to support him.
'Dairy cliff'? Milk prices poised to spike unless Congress acts.Prices could surge in January, but probably not double, if inaction by Congress results in the revival of a 1949 price system. And it probably won't come to that, as lawmakers work to avert dairy-case price shock.
- Obama, Hillary Clinton top Gallup's most admired: Who else is on the list?
President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both extended their winning streaks as the man and woman most admired by Americans. The women's list is more diverse than the men's.
- How much do you know about US entitlement programs? Take our quiz.
The push to reform entitlement programs is at the heart of debates about the future of the US budget. Many Republicans want big changes as Medicare and Medicaid, in particular, consume a larger share of federal spending. Most Democrats merely want to ensure the programs' survival.
Entitlement programs include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare). How much do you know about them?
'Fiscal cliff': How far apart are the sides now on tax cut deal?Both sides have appeared to come closer together on Bush-era tax cuts, but many other issues remain, and Senate majority leader Harry Reid still isn't saying much publicly.
