Sean Lengell

Bailout watchdog to step down after 2 years

The government's independent watchdog for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout program is stepping down after more than two years on the job.

February 14, 2011

House GOP calls for ‘historic’ spending cuts

House Republicans unveiled a spending bill Friday night that calls for deep cuts to many federal programs, a move they say will shed significant government waste, lower the deficit and spur the economy.

February 11, 2011

Senate Democrats and House GOP clash over shutdown threat

Senate Democratic leaders have accused House Republicans of playing a dangerous game of political chicken by threatening a government shutdown unless Democrats meet their demands for deep spending cuts.

February 11, 2011

Appropriations chief sharpens spending knife to mollify base

The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday announced deeper budget cuts than earlier proposed — a move intended to stem criticisms that House Republicans would renege on a top campaign promise.

February 10, 2011

House GOP calls for more spending cuts

The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday announced deeper budget cuts than earlier proposed — a move intended to stem criticisms that House Republicans would renege on a top campaign promise.

February 10, 2011

Longtime programs on table for budget ax

The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday announced deep federal spending cuts — including the elimination of some established programs — in a preliminary budget plan, while top Republican House leaders met with President Obama to discuss ways to rein in spending and shrink the national debt.

February 9, 2011

National Airport limits debate pits East vs. West

The Senate debate to ease decades-old restrictions on long-haul flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has divided lawmakers along geographical lines instead of the usual party ones.

February 7, 2011

GOP takes aim at ‘Obama agenda’ backers for 2012

When Sen. Joe Manchin III, West Virginia Democrat, voted last week to block a Republican attempt to repeal the 2010 health care law, his action on some levels was routine. The vote was straight along party lines, and the GOP effort was viewed largely as a symbolic gesture with little chance of success.

February 6, 2011

‘Bipartisan spirit’ part of Reagan’s legacy

Ronald Reagan, despite his status as the "Great Communicator," was a polarizing figure during his eight years in the White House. But the Reagan legend has proven malleable and open to shifting interpretations over time.

February 3, 2011

Senate rejects repeal of health care law

The Obama administration's health care initiative survived a major test Wednesday when Senate Democrats blocked a Republican attempt to repeal the reforms, though GOP leaders vowed to continue their fight to kill what they called a massive "jobs killing" measure.

February 2, 2011

Pentagon still pays contractors after fraud, Sanders says

Sen. Bernard Sanders says the Defense Department paid $285 billion over a three-year span to hundreds of military contractors who defrauded the Pentagon during the same period.

February 2, 2011

GOP senators force vote on health law repeal

Senate Republicans have forced a vote on repealing the health care reform law, an action Democrats say is a waste of time that will end in defeat.

February 1, 2011

Senate Republicans move to repeal health care law

Senate Republicans leaders said Tuesday they will force a vote in the coming days on repealing the health care reform law, an action Democrats promised would end in defeat.

February 1, 2011

Senate OKs small reforms to filibuster, ‘hold’ rules

Falling far short of what some restive Democrats had hoped, the Senate agreed Thursday to modest updates in the way it does business including a change in the use of the filibuster and an end to secret "holds" on measures.

January 27, 2011

Ryan warns of ‘tipping point’

Acknowledging the public has a right to be angry at both parties, Republican leaders responding to President Obama's State of the Union speech implored Americans to trust them to lead the country out of its economic malaise.

January 25, 2011

Court orders Emanuel off ballot for Chicago mayor

An Illinois court on Monday ordered Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel — President Obama's former chief of staff — off the ballot over a residency dispute, a decision he says he will appeal to the state Supreme Court.

January 24, 2011

Court boots Rahm Emanuel off Chicago mayoral ballot

An Illinois Appeals Court on Monday ordered Chicago mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel — President Obama's former chief of staff — off the ballot, saying he didn't live in the city long enough before the election to qualify as a resident.

January 24, 2011

Social issues top GOP state agendas

Newly minted Republican lawmakers who stormed state legislatures with vows of fixing the economy and controlling spending also are tackling social issues, such as gun laws and immigration, with minimal Democratic resistance.

January 23, 2011

Lawmaker backpedals on Nazi remark on health care foes

Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen apologized for remarks that linked Republican attacks on President Obama's health care law to Nazi propaganda, saying he didn't intend to offend anyone.

January 20, 2011

GOP panel maps plan for huge budget cuts

An influential group of conservative House Republicans issued a blueprint Thursday for slashing the budgets of PBS, Amtrak and the National Endowment for the Arts — and dozens of other government programs and agencies — in a bid to roll back spending and shrink the national debt.

January 20, 2011