Sean Lengell

House panel advances bill to supplement disaster aid

A House panel on Tuesday proposed $1 billion in emergency disaster relief money to ensure that aid to tornado and flood victims in the South and Midwest doesn't run dry.

May 24, 2011

Biden panel facing pressure in debt-limit deadline, Hill recesses

Congressional leaders involved in ongoing deficit-reduction talks with the White House say negotiations have been going slow but well. But they'll need to hurry in order to beat an early August deadline and avoid a government default on the national debt.

May 23, 2011

Republican filibuster blocks Liu for appeals court

Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked the nomination of Goodwin Liu for an appeals court judgeship, accusing him of being a liberal activist and handing President Obama his first judicial defeat of the year.

May 19, 2011

Judicial fight is back on; Republicans target ‘liberal’ nominee

The Obama administration's most contentious judicial nomination yet faces a key test vote in the Senate on Thursday, with Republicans poised to block the nomination of Goodwin Liu on grounds he is a liberal activist who would play fast and loose with the Constitution from the bench.

May 18, 2011

Republicans block repeal of oil tax breaks

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a Democratic bill that would have repealed about $2 billion in annual tax breaks for the five biggest oil companies, though Democrats say they'll push for the measure during negotiations to increase the nation's debt limit.

May 17, 2011

House Republicans urge Obama to withdraw disclosure order

More than 40 members of the conservative House Republican Study Committee have urged President Obama to withdraw a proposed executive order that would require applicants for federal contracts to disclose their political contributions.

May 17, 2011

Boehner ready for debt-limit deal

House Speaker John A. Boehner said Sunday he is ready to strike a deal with the White House on raising the nation's debt limit but questioned whether President Obama was serious about tackling the issue.

May 15, 2011

Listing contractor donations brews bipartisan opposition

A growing number of lawmakers from both parties is pushing back against a White House bid to force prospective federal contractors to disclose their political donations, arguing that it could stifle free speech.

May 12, 2011

GOP revives ‘YouCut’ program

House Republicans are ramping up their push to slash government spending by reviving a program that lets Americans vote online for which federal programs to cut.

May 11, 2011

Second budget talks end in inertia

A second round of deficit reduction talks between the Obama administration and a bipartisan group from Congress ended Tuesday much like last week's initial meeting, with participants expressing optimism but offering little evidence a compromise is forthcoming.

May 10, 2011

Senate Republicans block Justice Department nominee

Senate Republicans blocked a nomination by President Obama for the first time this year on Monday, when they successfully filibustered the confirmation of the White House's pick for the No. 2 official at the Justice Department.

May 9, 2011

Democrats cite U.S. security in pushing Justice job nominee

With a key test vote in the Senate on Monday, Democrats are playing the national security card in their push to get the No. 2 man at the Justice Department confirmed.

May 8, 2011

Biden: Debt talks ‘productive’

Bipartisan talks between the White House and Congress on how best to lower he nation's ballooning debt kicked off Thursday, with participants saying they are optimistic about a compromise, but offering few details.

May 5, 2011

Up-down vote gives Obama 20th 2011 judicial OK

The Senate confirmed President Obama's 20th straight judicial nominee this year after nearly a dozen Republicans bucked their party leader and sided with Democrats Wednesday to allow an up-or-down vote on a controversial district court candidate.

May 4, 2011

Judicial nominee could snap Obama confirmation streak

President Obama's perfect run of judicial nominees sailing through the Senate for confirmation in 2011 is facing its first challenge this week.

May 3, 2011

Emotions vary for families of 9/11 victims

While Osama bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. forces has stoked wild celebrations throughout the nation, the response from many family members of victims killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks has been more muted.

May 2, 2011

Senators’ deal helps clear logjam for judiciary

Three months after Senate leaders reached a gentlemen's agreement aimed in part at clearing a backlog of judicial nominations, the chamber is on pace to confirm more nominees in 2011 than in several years.

May 1, 2011

Governor names Rep. Heller to fill out Ensign’s term

Rep. Dean Heller, Nevada Republican, is jumping to the Senate, as Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday named him to replace the retiring Sen. John Ensign, a move that had been widely anticipated.

April 27, 2011

Obama cites Boehner on oil tax breaks

Seizing on comments from Republican House Speaker John A. Boehner a day earlier, President Obama urged Congress Tuesday to end "unwarranted" tax breaks to big oil and gas companies and to invest the savings in alternative-energy sources.

April 26, 2011

Ensign’s quitting spurs political jockeying for seats

Nevada Republican Sen. John Ensign's resignation last week, along with the expected gubernatorial appointment of Rep. Dean Heller to fill the remaining 18 months of his term, has set off a game of political musical chairs in the Silver State.

April 24, 2011