Feb 21 Obama’s 2015 budget trades compromise for partisan flavor By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe President Barack Obama’s forthcoming 2015 budget will not include a proposal to trim Social Security benefits, offered last year in an attempt to draw Republican support for a potential “grand bargain” on deficit reduction. Continue reading
Feb 19 Both parties seize on CBO minimum wage report By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report released Tuesday became instant fodder for Democrats and Republicans looking for the political high ground in the debate over whether to raise the federal minimum wage. Continue reading
Feb 14 Obama to give Democrats a fundraising boost By Terence Burlij, Ruth Tam While some vulnerable Democrats may be hesitant to welcome President Barack Obama to their Republican-leaning states ahead of November’s midterm elections, it’s a safe bet they wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to take advantage of his fundraising assistance. Continue reading
Feb 12 Boehner throws in the towel on debt ceiling fight By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe House Speaker John Boehner listened to his inner Kenny Rogers Tuesday, abandoning his search for a debt ceiling compromise that could win favor with his members and forcing Democrats to come up with most of the votes needed to pass… Continue reading
Feb 10 House GOP leaders race to beat debt ceiling deadline By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe Lawmakers on Capitol Hill find themselves in a familiar position this week as they face yet another deadline to raise the country’s borrowing limit, with the pressure on House GOP leaders to figure out a strategy that can win… Continue reading
Feb 07 Boehner hits the brakes on immigration reform By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe What a difference a week makes. Seven days ago House Speaker John Boehner announced it was “time to deal” with immigration reform as he and other GOP leaders unveiled their long-awaited list of immigration reform principles, a move that… Continue reading
Feb 05 CBO report pours fuel on fight over health care law By Terence Burlij, Ruth Tam The finding in the economic report released Tuesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that the Affordable Care Act will shrink the workforce by more than 2 million full-time positions touched off a fresh round of political warfare over the… Continue reading
Feb 03 War of words reignites bridge scandal for Christie By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe The controversy over lane closures last September at the George Washington Bridge have turned into a game of he said, he said, involving New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Port Authority appointee David Wildstein. The war of words has… Continue reading
Jan 31 House GOP leaders face stiff challenge in selling immigration principles By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe House Republican leaders Thursday unveiled their long-awaited list of immigration reform principles, outlining a step-by-step approach that includes several border security provisions, but also provides the opportunity for undocumented immigrants currently living in the country to obtain legal status. Continue reading
Jan 30 House GOP leaders to test support for immigration principles By Terence Burlij, Simone Pathe Thursday is the day that House Republican leaders plan to gauge the appetite of their rank-and-file members for addressing immigration reform this year by presenting broad principles for potential legislation during the GOP caucus' annual retreat on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Continue reading