Sean Lengell

Democrats lament demise of a committee

A decision by House Republican leaders to kill a special committee set up by outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi not only will save taxpayers $2 million per year, Republicans say, but also will deny Democrats a key bully pulpit for advancing their environmental agenda.

December 5, 2010

Democrats staying with same leaders despite House losses

House Democrats are poised to keep their committee leadership hierarchy intact despite suffering historic losses in last month's midterm elections - a scenario viewed as curious by many in Washington and imprudent by some unhappy members of the new minority.

December 2, 2010

Murray to lead Senate Dems’ election efforts

Senate Democrats tabbed Sen. Patty Murray of Washington on Tuesday to head the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and lead the party's effort to win back lost seats heading into the 2012 elections.

November 30, 2010

Lobbyists launch campaign on centrists

Conservative lobbies are pressing House Republicans to keep centrists from controlling key congressional panels, as House GOP leaders gather this week to pick committee leaders for the 112th Congress.

November 29, 2010

Family Research Council labeled a ‘hate group’

The Family Research Council's opposition to gay rights has landed the outfit on the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of "hate groups" — a label strongly denied by the influential Christian conservative organization.

November 24, 2010

Dust-up over pat-downs not keeping travelers on ground

The airline security kerfuffle and the nation's slow economic recovery aren't undermining an uptick in Thanksgiving travelers taking to the skies, ensuring long security lines potentially exacerbated by a planned boycott of body-scan machines Wednesday.

November 23, 2010

TSA chief worries over body scan protest

Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole on Monday said he feared a proposed Wednesday protest of new airport screening policies will clog already long security lines and risk delays and missed flights for passengers on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

November 22, 2010

GOP targets mortgage bailouts

Republican leaders on Capitol Hill say ending the federal bailout of insolvent mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be a major goal for the next Congress and criticize Democrats for failing to fix the pair of institutions that had central roles in the recent financial and housing crises.

November 21, 2010

Partisan stances harden on extensions of tax cuts

Lawmakers ramped up the rhetoric Thursday regarding a series of Bush-era tax breaks set to expire at the end of the year, as leaders of both parties refused to budge on what to do with cuts for higher-wage earners.

November 18, 2010

Democrats irked at GOP canceling meeting with Obama

The No. 2 Democrat in the House has criticized Republican leaders for canceling a scheduled meeting Thursday with President Obama, saying the move was disrespectful and showed the party isn't serious about working in a bipartisan manner.

November 18, 2010

Boehner tapped as speaker

House Republicans tabbed Minority Leader John A. Boehner - who helped lead his party's historic takeover of the chamber in the midterm elections - as the new House speaker, while Nancy Pelosi, who has held the post for almost four years, was chosen minority leader by her Democratic peers.

November 17, 2010

Pelosi defeats Shuler in House Democratic race

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will remain as the Democratic leader when her party loses its majority in the new Congress, turning back a largely symbolic challenge from moderate North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler.

November 17, 2010

House colleagues find Rangel guilty of 11 ethics violations

In a stinging rebuke to one of Capitol Hill's most powerful lawmakers, a bipartisan House panel Tuesday found Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York Democrat, guilty of 11 of 13 ethics-violation charges, including using congressional staff and stationery to solicit donations.

November 16, 2010

6 GOP Hispanics loosen Democrats’ grip on Hill

As the newly elected Republican class of the 112th Congress gathers at the Capitol this week for freshmen orientation, the group boasts a record six Hispanics - loosening the Democratic Party's long held grip on the nation's fastest-growing minority group.

November 15, 2010

Rep.-elect Allen West dismisses controversial hire

Republican Rep.-elect Allen West of Florida, who caused an uproar this week by naming controversial conservative radio host Joyce Kaufman as his chief of staff, bowed to outside pressure Thursday and dropped her from his staff.

November 11, 2010

Boehner refuses to budge on Bush tax cuts

House Minority Leader John A. Boehner on Wednesday signaled he isn't willing to budge in negotiations with Democrats on his stance that Bush-era tax cuts on wealthy Americans must be made permanent, saying they are needed to boost investor confidence and create jobs.

November 10, 2010

Four vie for House energy-commerce gavel

The chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is emerging as one of the top prizes of the new Congress, and a collection of powerful House GOP members already are angling for the post.

November 9, 2010

GOP averts leadership battle as Sessions stays NRCC chief

Jockeying for the House Republican leadership hierarchy got a bit clearer Monday, as Rep. Pete Sessions said he will remain chairman of the caucus' fundraising arm and won't vie for GOP chief whip — avoiding a potentially contentious intraparty battle.

November 8, 2010

Democrats’ Hill leaders stepping it up, not down

Despite President Obama's portrayal of Tuesday's congressional elections as a "shellacking" for Democrats, the party's congressional leadership team is shaping up to be more of the same.

November 7, 2010

Pelosi will run for House minority leader

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, forced out of her leadership position as a result of Tuesday's midterm election, said Friday that she will run for House minority leader.

November 5, 2010