All Politics
- The faith factor: Liberal pastor sees secular line around politics
A liberal pastor thinks public politics should be secular, even if faith is a quiet factor personally.
- How Occupy Wall Street plans to spring back to action
Occupy Wall Street isn't dead, leaders of the movement say. It's ready to emerge from a winter of hibernation with a spring of renewed activism.
- Ryan budget, passed in House, becomes political weapon for both sides
Ryan budget is dead on arrival in the Senate, but is expected to play strong in 2012 races. Democrats say it wrecks Medicare, Republicans say they are willing to make tough decisions.
- If Supreme Court scraps health-care law, who wins politically?
Harsh questioning from the Supreme Court majority has touched off new political calibrations over President Obama's health-care law. In some ways, Democrats could be the winners.
- Why the Simpson-Bowles budget defeat isn't the end of the line
Simpson-Bowles is still the top bipartisan budget deal out there – and Congress may need it when it faces a showdown in December over the expiring Bush tax cuts and mandated spending cuts.
- Why couldn't Rep. Bobby Rush wear hoodie on House floor?
A hoodie won't fly on the House floor, where dress code mandates no hats – and a hoodie counts as a hat, even when its used to bring attention to Trayvon Martin.
- Republicans back a Republican budget: why that's news
House Republicans are setting aside differences to give the Ryan budget the votes to proceed, despite tea party concerns. In the Senate, however, it will be dead on arrival.
- EPA issues new rule on greenhouse gas emissions: Where does that leave coal?
The EPA proposed the first-ever US curbs on power plants' greenhouse gas emissions, saying next-generation coal plants should meet the restrictions. But the coal industry slammed the new rule.
- Obama's open mic moment: How big a flub?
Obama's open mic incident happened on Monday when he told the Russian president that he would have 'more flexibility' in missile defense negotiations after the 2012 elections.
- Did Trayvon Martin attack George Zimmerman first?
Neighborhood watch leader George Zimmerman says Trayvon Martin punched him, jumped on top of him and began banging his head on a sidewalk. Zimmerman said he cried for help, then shot Martin.
- Rick Santorum puts 'Romneycare' on trial on steps of Supreme Court
With the Republican primary calendar in a bit of a lull, Rick Santorum is taking his campaign against Mitt Romney to where the action is, the 'Obamacare' hearings at the Supreme Court.
- How much do you know about health-care reform? Take our quiz!
After surviving a shaky legislative birth, significant public opposition, and legal challenges that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, President Obama’s signature achievement, comprehensive health-care reform, went into effect in 2014.
How well do you know the reform law and the underlying issues? Take our quiz to find out. (Updated March, 2015.)
- Monitor BreakfastCompanies yearn for US debt-reduction plan, says Business Roundtable leader
With no plan to get US debt under control, Congress and President Obama are lagging in the business community's view, says Business Roundtable President John Engler.
- Obama health reform law goes on trial amid deeply split public opinion
Public opinion polls on Obama's health reform law are murkier than Republican leaders claim. True, a majority of the public sees the individual mandate as unconstitutional, but Americans like many of its other provisions.
- If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Obama embraces ‘Obamacare’
Ever since he launched it, President Obama’s health care reform program has been slammed by its critics as 'Obamacare'. Now Obama's reelection campaign has adopted the term.
- Health-care reform: Main issue after 2 years is, will it survive?
Health-care reform law is extolled by the White House for improving lives and is the object of scorn from the GOP. But the looming Supreme Court battle overshadows the partisan debate.
- Insider trading bill: A model to end gridlock on Congress?
The Senate passed jobs and insider-trading bills Thursday, hailing a moment of bipartisanship. But times when members of Congress get along are rare – and that isn't expected to change.
- Monitor BreakfastCEOs willing to give up tax breaks - if the rate is right
A group of CEOs is launching a two-week lobbying and media blitz on corporate taxes, keyed to the fact that on April 1, Japan will officially lower its corporate tax rate.
- Obama fast-tracks part of Keystone XL pipeline
After rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline proposal in January, President Obama gives a green light to its southern leg – a bid to ease a key bottleneck to new oil supplies and defuse critics on gas prices.
- Romney Etch A Sketch: Is aide's comment a present for his foes?
A Romney aide said that for the fall campaign, the candidate could hit the reset button, making the comparison to how the toy works. But the Romney Etch A Sketch comment may not be remembered for long.