Sean Lengell

Rangel hit with 13 ethics charges

The House ethics committee officially lodged charges against Rep. Charles B. Rangel, including that he used his office to raise $8 million for a college public policy center named after him and didn't file taxes while he was Congress' chief tax writer.

July 29, 2010

GOP to Sebelius: Don’t cover abortions

A group of Republican senators threatened to force changes to the new national health care law unless the Obama administration does more to ensure that federal dollars won't be used to pay for elective abortions.

July 28, 2010

House, Senate battle over Iraq, Afghanistan bill

A long-stalled bill to help pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is back at the feet of House Democrats, who must decide whether to accept the Senate's leaner proposal or keep pushing for billions of dollars in extra domestic spending — a politically risky move that could further delay resources to U.S. troops.

July 25, 2010

Democrats mull taxes for higher earners

A small but growing chorus of Capitol Hill Democrats say they support delaying a scheduled expiration of Bush-era tax cuts on wealthier Americans, bucking the Obama administration's desire to shield only middle-income earners from a tax increase.

July 22, 2010

Pressure builds for firing of Afghan IG

A call to fire the inspector general charged with sniffing out fraud and corruption in Afghanistan's reconstruction grew a little louder and became bipartisan Wednesday.

July 21, 2010

Boehner set to ‘listen’ to ‘tea party’ members

The top House Republican dismissed concerns that his party's cozy relationship with the conservative “tea party” will turn off voters in November, saying it would be wrong to ignore the growing movement.

July 21, 2010

Graham explains Kagan vote

It was no surprise that Supreme Court hopeful Elena Kagan took a big step closer to confirmation Tuesday when she easily won the approval of a Democratic-controlled Senate panel.

July 20, 2010

Senate panel OKs Kagan’s nomination

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan cleared a big hurdle on her way to confirmation Tuesday as a Senate panel easily approved her nomination, though she did so with the help of just one Republican.

July 20, 2010

Abortion returns to campaign forefront

An Obama administration effort to rein in states treading toward using new health care laws to fund abortions - and provide political cover for pro-life Democrats - reignited a politically explosive issue that Republicans and pro-life activists are eager to exploit in the lead-up to the fall midterm elections.

July 19, 2010

Poll: Reid has 7-point lead on rival

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, whose re-election bid has been bogged down by poor polling numbers the past year, has a seven-percentage-point lead in a new survey after a volley of aggressive TV ads aimed at his Republican challenger.

July 18, 2010

‘Comeback’ for GOP seen in House races

The top Senate Republican said Thursday the GOP is "on a comeback" politically as Democrats scrambled to bury the hatchet after several days of intraparty squabbling over their chances to hold the House in November's elections.

July 15, 2010

Boehner calls for repeal of Wall Street reform bill

Hours before the Senate was poised to pass the most expansive regulatory overhaul of Wall Street since the Great Depression, the top Republican in the House already was calling for its abolition.

July 15, 2010

Pelosi: Obama has House Democrats’ backs

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday denied there was friction between House Democrats and the White House, downplaying reports that she has accused the president of ignoring their interests.

July 15, 2010

Angle says Fox interviews help fill coffers

The Republican challenger to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said she prefers appearing on Fox instead of news programs like NBC's "Meet the Press" or ABC's "This Week."

July 14, 2010

U.S. airspace rules irk Canada

A Toronto family boarding an Air Canada nonstop flight to Cancun, Mexico, soon will need Uncle Sam's permission before starting their vacation, according to a new U.S. security measure that is causing a commotion north of the border.

July 11, 2010

GOP takes aim at record for gubernatorial wins

Republicans are poised to win more gubernatorial seats in 2010 than in any election during the past 90 years - a feat that would eclipse the 24 seats won during the "Republican Revolution" of 1994, a new study shows.

July 6, 2010

GOP newcomer hot on the heels of Feingold in Senate-race polls

It was supposed to be an easy re-election for Sen. Russ Feingold. And come November, it still may be. But for now, the Wisconsin Democrat is facing one of his toughest campaign challenges in a long and successful political career.

July 4, 2010

Boehner escalates White House spat, says president is ‘whining’

An ongoing tit for tat between the White House and a top Republican amped up Thursday, with House Minority Leader John A. Boehner accusing the president of "whining" instead of solving problems, such as the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

July 1, 2010

Byrd lies in repose in U.S. Senate

Sen. Robert C. Byrd made one final visit Thursday to the institution he served and loved for more than half a century, as his body lay in repose in the Senate chamber while lawmakers, friends and admirers paid their last respects.

July 1, 2010

Kagan dodges Democrats’ digs at high court

Treading carefully, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan on Wednesday declined an invitation from Senate Democrats to portray the current high court as partisan, rejecting concerns that a recent spate of 5-4 decisions has eroded important legal precedents.

June 30, 2010