Sean Lengell

Compromise not on horizon with debt limit a month off

Political leaders on Capitol Hill continue to talk past one another about how to solve the nation's debt problems as the issue of taxes remains a critical sticking point in negotiations.

June 28, 2011

Poll: Voters not happy with Obama in debt talks

As President Obama takes on a more active role in dealing with the federal budget deficit, a majority of voters disapprove of the way he is handling the issue, according to a new poll released Tuesday.

June 28, 2011

Obama gets into debt-reduction debate

The high-stakes negotiations over the country's long-term debt problems kicked into another gear Monday as President Obama met separately with the Senate's two top leaders in hopes of jump-starting a deal.

June 27, 2011

Obama will try to break deadlock over taxes

One day ahead of a meeting with President Obama, the Senate's top Republican insisted again Sunday that tax increases would not be a part of any deal with Democrats and the White House to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling.

June 26, 2011

Taxes take top Republicans out of deficit-paring talks

Republican negotiators walked away from bipartisan deficit reduction talks between Congress and the White House on Thursday, saying the bargaining sessions had reached an impasse over tax increases Democrats are insisting must be part of any eventual deal.

June 23, 2011

Fire damages popular Hill hangout

The Tune Inn, a venerable Capitol Hill watering hole where congressmen, their staffers, journalists and local residents have rubbed shoulders for more than six decades, was forced to close its doors for one of the only times in its history Wednesday after a small but potent morning fire ripped through its kitchen.

June 22, 2011

GOP balks at an interim deficit-ceiling deal

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor pushed back Tuesday against the suggestion that Republicans would accept a temporary deal to raise the country's $14.3 trillion deficit ceiling.

June 21, 2011

Dems expected to keep Weiner’s seat

Despite Rep. Anthony Weiner's embarrassing resignation Thursday from Congress, Democrats should easily retain control of his New York City seat, figures in both parties say.

June 17, 2011

Weiner resigns amid sexting scandal

Embattled Rep. Anthony D. Weiner announced Thursday he was resigning, saying that a scandal involving his sexually charged online relationships with several women had made it impossible for him to serve.

June 16, 2011

Pelosi mum on Weiner resignation reports

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi refused on Thursday to talk about the political future of embattled Rep. Anthony D. Weiner, who multiple media outlets were reporting will resign Thursday after a two-week scandal involving his sexually charged online relationships with several women.

June 16, 2011

Final Senate freshman set for ‘maiden speech’

When Sen. Marco Rubio delivers his first formal address in the Senate on Tuesday, the Florida Republican will be the last of the 13 freshman senators swept into office in January to give his so-called "maiden speech."

June 13, 2011

Obama: I’d quit if I were Weiner; Hill probe begins

President Obama waded into the Rep. Anthony D. Weiner saga for the first time Monday, saying he would resign if he were the embattled New York Democrat.

June 13, 2011

Weiner reiterates his stance: He will not resign

Embattled Rep. Anthony D. Weiner defiantly reiterated his stance Thursday that he won't resign after admitting days earlier to sending a lewd photo online, joining the ranks of other lawmakers who have sought to keep their jobs amid sex-related scandals.

June 9, 2011

Democrats push Weiner to resign immediately

The political career of embattled Rep. Anthony D. Weiner appeared more tenuous Wednesday, as several fellow Democrats called on the New Yorker to resign after he admitted sending a lewd photo to a college student.

June 8, 2011

GOP calls on Democrats to shun Weiner

Republicans have called on several House Democrats to return "tainted" campaign money they've received from embattled Rep. Anthony D. Weiner in an attempt to link the New Yorker's damaged reputation to others in his party.

June 7, 2011

U.S. debt rating faces downgrade

Moody's ratings agency warned Thursday that it probably would have to downgrade the U.S. government's debt rating unless the White House and Congress work out a "credible agreement on substantial deficit reduction" by the middle of next month.

June 2, 2011

FEMA says it’s ready for busy hurricane season

As if the Federal Emergency Management Agency didn't have enough to worry about dealing with this spring's deadly natural disasters, Wednesday marked the official beginning of an Atlantic hurricane season forecasters say will be busier than normal.

June 1, 2011

McConnell puts Medicare changes ‘on the table’

The GOP Senate leader says the Ryan Medicare plan is "on the table," but Democrats will have to agree to at least some cuts if there is going to be an agreement on controlling the country's staggering debt.

May 29, 2011

GOP proposes to lift ‘burden’ from employers

House Republicans unveiled a blueprint Thursday to create jobs that calls for easing government regulations on business that they say prevent the hiring of workers and handcuff the economy.

May 26, 2011

Liu calls it quits in quest for judgeship

Goodwin Liu, a polarizing Obama administration judicial candidate, has asked the president to withdraw his nomination from consideration for an appeals court judgeship after his bid was blocked last week in the Senate by a Republican filibuster.

May 25, 2011