Jennifer Harper

Inside the Beltway: Hillary Clinton’s tradition: Increase spending by $226 billion

Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign tends to be long on marketing but often short on substance in such matters -- prompting the National Taxpayers Union Foundation to seek insight through Mrs. Clinton's actual legislative record during her eight years as a U.S. senator from New York. The watchdog group found that her average legislative agenda would have increased federal spending by $226 billion per year.

May 27, 2015

Rick Santorum grants first interview as presidential hopeful to George Stephanopoulos

Rick Santorum has chosen to give his first interview as presidential hopeful to George Stephanopoulos. The ABC News anchor revealed the news himself in a tweet, noting Wednesday, "Rick Santorum tells me he's officially in WH race. I'm in Pittsburgh for 1st interview today."

May 27, 2015

George Pataki next up to announce presidential intent, vows to ‘defeat Islamic terror’

Another 24 hours, and another Republican hopeful comes to call on American voters. George Pataki will announce his plans to run for president on Thursday morning; with a touch of drama, the former New York governor will journey to Exeter, New Hampshire for his big reveal. The historic town of 9,242 was more or less the birthplace of the Republican Party, founded in 1853 right there in the local Squamscott Hotel.

May 27, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Rick Santorum: Room for one more in the GOP presidential field

The ever-expanding Republican presidential field continues to percolate. With a precision metalworks company as his backdrop, former Sen. Rick Santorum stepped out to announce his intentions late Wednesday afternoon, in a town 33 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

May 26, 2015

Bernie Sanders on his campaign: ‘A political revolution is coming’

"Paid for by Bernie Sanders. Not the billionaires," states the campaign motto of Sen. Bernie Sanders; the Vermont Independent who kicks off his campaign for president on Tuesday in Burlington - to be followed by a 10-event tour through New Hampshire and Iowa in the 48 hours that follow.

May 26, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Obama + Clinton + Florida = fundraisers

The phrase gets old after a while, but it's time to rev up Air Force One once again: President Obama has a pair of fundraisers to attend in Florida.

May 25, 2015

Ben Carson tells RNC to keep debates inclusive despite his own popularity surge

Ben Carson has penned his second open letter to the Republican National Committee concerning the upcoming GOP presidential debates, which will only include the 10 best-polling candidates.

May 25, 2015

Kira Kazantev is the first Miss America in 40 years to join a USO tour of a combat zone

Kira Kazantev is the first Miss America since the 1970s who has stepped up for the USO and visited U.S. troops overseas -- logging 25,400 miles last month with stops that included Afghanistan, Bahrain, the Korean DMZ and USS Carl Vinson.

May 25, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Step aside, Bernie Sanders has a big week

He is the busiest of all the presidential hopefuls this week. Sen. Bernard Sanders has the wall-to-wall schedule punctuated by the rallying cry, "A political revolution is coming." So step aside, folks.

May 24, 2015

California composer releases ‘Arlington’ — a tribute song for Memorial Day

The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but the tune goes to the very heart of Memorial Day. "Arlington" is a new tribute song released just as the nation honors its fallen heroes.

May 24, 2015

Rolling Thunder brings perfect Harleys, good will, dedication to nation’s capital

Perfect, spotless Harley Davidsons were lined up by the hundreds around several northern Virginia hotels on Saturday night - chrome polished to mirror finish, American flags in abundance, good will in the air. In 10 hours the nearby Pentagon parking lot would fill up - the only area large enough to use as a staging area for Rolling Thunder's 28th annual "Ride for Freedom," the inimitable event that draws attention to veterans and military issues, plus POWs and those missing in action. The organization took some time together before hand however - to focus on a little business, say some prayers, recognize a few of their own and share a meal.

May 23, 2015

The ‘Right SIde Forum’ with Armstrong WIlliams to address the rebuilding of Baltimore

The "Right Side Forum," an hour-long conservative live news and talk show hosted by columnist Armstrong Williams, will look at "Rebuilding and Business: The challenges business leaders face in 'blighted' communities" along with lingering local outrage over a number of distressing events. Mr. William's guests are Edwin Avent, Baltimore-based entrepreneur and co-founder of Black Professional Men, Inc.; J. Wyndal Gordon, Baltimore's "Warrior Lawyer" and K. Marques Mullings, executive vice-president, Howard Stirk Holdings.

May 22, 2015

Historic flying aces awarded Congressional Gold Medal, OSS vets now on track for the same honor

A grand group of heroic flyers gets recognition: the Congressional Gold Medal was presented to American fighter aces collectively at the U.S. Capitol this week. Legislation is also being introduced to honor the Office of Strategic Services - the precursor of the CIA and U.S. special forces.

May 22, 2015

Travel gridlock on Memorial Day weekend offers a bonus: $12.3 billion boost to the economy

Yes, now that a record 37.2 million Americans are all trying to reach the beach at once this weekend, the holiday traffic is bad. But there is at least a little reward here: The U.S. Travel Association reports that all this movement translates to a $12.3 billion direct boost to the U.S. economy. That's about $330 per person.

May 22, 2015

For soldiers, man’s best friend is a great healer

There was a noble tribute this week for hero humans and hero dogs just a block from the U.S. Capitol. The famous, powerful and political gathered to celebrate K9s for Warriors, a nonprofit that pairs rescue dogs with military veterans who must deal with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. Among the many who attended was retired USMC Captain Jason Haag and Axel, a splendid German Shepherd who was there for him in some very dark moments.

May 21, 2015

Inside the Beltway: Rolling Thunder founder never forgets his mission for POWs, MIAS, vets

Rolling Thunder is revved and ready. Indeed, the capital of the free world will soon reverberate with the thud of several hundred thousand motorcycles, assembled for the annual Ride for Freedom on Sunday, piloted by patriots who have a mission on their minds. Despite the spectacle of noise, power and prowess, none of these riders forgets that the Washington visit is to draw attention to the visceral question of POWs and those still missing in action, along with the ongoing needs of military veterans.

May 21, 2015

Howard Baker’s ‘mid-century modern’ mansion goes up for auction, furniture included

Up for auction next month: the Tennessee estate of the late Sen. Howard H. Baker Jr., consisting of a 6,175-square-foot main home, plus cottage, guesthouse, pool and more, all on 11 acres in Huntsville. The home is unmistakably "mid-century modern" in style, with grand river and mountain vistas beyond the huge windows, some streamlined expanses of brick and some sumptuous, old school-style drapes of the era. Baker called this splendid property his "center of the universe," and for good reason.

May 21, 2015

Inside the Beltway: GOP presidential hopefuls, Oklahoma-style

Oklahoma Republicans have their own brand of bodacious glitz, billing the Sooner State itself as a "united state built by an unwillingness to fail" -- and a global crossroads in the middle of the heartland. Now there's a showcase for such thinking: The Southern Republican Leadership Conference gets underway in Oklahoma City on Thursday, and has proven to be a powerful draw.

May 20, 2015

Fox News announces its plans for the first Republican presidential debate in August

The countdown is on for the very first Republican presidential debate, set for August 6 in Cleveland - to be moderated by anchors Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace. There will be much fancy interplay with Facebook revealing "how the issues of the day are resonating," plus input on questions for the candidates. Michael Clemente, executive vice president of News Editorial, has also revealed the entry criteria for candidates.

May 20, 2015

MSNBC sinks to a 10-year low of 50,000 viewers a night

The network has hit a ten-year-low with an average audience in the demo of just 50,000. From 4 p.m. to midnight, none of MSNBC's shows was able to break 100,000 viewers in the demo, which has long been considered a cut-off for viability in cable news,

May 20, 2015