Sean Lengell

Deficit reduction panel vows teamwork will cut $1.5 trillion

A powerful new congressional deficit reduction committee pledged during its first public meeting Thursday to put partisan bickering aside and reach its goal of finding more than a trillion dollars in savings — portraying a gloomy scenario should it fail.

September 8, 2011

Debt reduction ‘supercommittee’ to meet

On the eve of Thursday's first public meeting of a new congressional deficit reduction "supercommittee," party leaders say they are confident the panel will rise above partisan rancor - despite wide disagreement on how best to achieve its goal.

September 7, 2011

Debt panel urged to target creation of jobs

Democratic leaders want a new bipartisan congressional panel tasked with finding ways to slash the deficit to also include job-growth provisions in their plan.

September 6, 2011

FAA funding back before Congress; deadline Sept. 16

As Congress returns to Washington this week after a monthlong break, lawmakers are preparing for another heated partisan battle to fund the Federal Aviation Administration, with a temporary deal set to expire in less than two weeks and no compromise in sight.

September 5, 2011

Race for Weiner’s seat close but margin is up for debate

The race for the U.S. House seat vacated by disgraced New York Rep. Anthony D. Weiner - once thought to be a lock for Democrats - continues to be closer than expected. Just how close depends on who's counting.

September 5, 2011

Key deadlines loom for USPS

The U.S. Postal Service, on the brink of bankruptcy, is facing two key deadlines in the coming weeks that could define its solvency and future ability to deliver the nation's mail.

September 1, 2011

Hawk ‘n’ Dove closing its doors

When Stuart Long learned this week that a rival Capitol Hill bar owner had taken over his building's lease, forcing him to close the Hawk 'n' Dove bar and restaurant on Oct. 2, he was left with a mix of emotions - not the least was a deep sense of loss and disappointment.

August 31, 2011

Frosh senator ignores ‘Rubio for VP’ push

While the field for the Republican presidential nomination is crowded and up for grabs, many pundits and politicos are ready to proclaim a front-runner for the ticket's second spot — Florida's Sen. Marco Rubio.

August 28, 2011

GOP targets Weiner seat as ripe for pickup

Republicans, sensing they have a shot at winning the House seat from New York City vacated by disgraced former Rep. Anthony D. Weiner for the first time since the 1920s, are taking the unusual step of spending campaign money in the heavily Democratic district.

August 24, 2011

Chaffetz won’t challenge Utah’s Hatch for his Senate seat

Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who for months flirted with the possibility of challenging fellow Republican Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, said Monday that he will seek a third term in the House instead.

August 22, 2011

Warren explores Senate run in Massachusetts

Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth Warren filed paperwork Thursday to form an exploratory committee and website for a possible challenge to Massachusetts Sen. Scott P. Brown in 2012.

August 18, 2011

Canada-Colombia trade pact begins as U.S. deals stall

As several free-trade pacts negotiated under President George W. Bush continue to collect dust, other countries are moving ahead with their own trade deals, a scenario many say puts U.S. industries at a competitive disadvantage and risks American jobs.

August 17, 2011

New York contest for Weiner’s seat closer than expected

Smart money would suggest the House seat vacated by disgraced New York City Rep. Anthony D. Weiner will stay in Democratic hands after next month's special election. However, political handicappers this week said the contest appears closer than first expected, giving the GOP an outside shot at capturing the district for the first time in decades.

August 11, 2011

Tea partyers fault Democrats on downgrade

The blame game on Capitol Hill commenced immediately after Standard & Poor's unexpected downgrade of its U.S. credit rating late last week.

August 10, 2011

Senators seek help on aviation funding

A group of Senate Democrats has urged House Speaker John A. Boehner to begin negotiations on a long-term aviation funding package well ahead of a mid-September deadline in order to avoid another disruption of airport projects.

August 9, 2011

Reid hails temporary measure to fund FAA

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday said a “bipartisan compromise” has been reached to end for now a partial shutdown of U.S. aviation programs that has affected tens of thousands of workers and has cost the federal government millions of dollars in uncollected airline taxes.

August 4, 2011

FAA partial shutdown continues

A partial shutdown of U.S. aviation programs showed no signs of letting up Wednesday, as bitter partisan wrangling on Capitol Hill has led to the disruption of tens of thousands of jobs and the forfeiture of millions of dollars in uncollected federal taxes.

August 3, 2011

Congress departs, despite pending business

With the contentious debt-ceiling debate finally resolved, Congress has left town for its summer break with some key business unfinished.

August 2, 2011

House easily passes measure on debt ceiling; Giffords back at Capitol Hill

Punctuated by the surprise return of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, House Republicans and Democrats united Monday to avert a debt crisis, pushing through an increase of up to $2.4 trillion in new borrowing authority, imposing instant spending limits and setting up another five months of debate over making even deeper cuts or raising taxes.

August 1, 2011

Republicans vow to press for balanced-budget amendment

Regardless of the outcome of the race to raise the nation's borrowing limit by Tuesday's White House deadline, the GOP has vowed to continue its push for a constitutional balanced-budget amendment beyond the current debt-limit impasse.

July 31, 2011