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Articles by Seth McLaughlin

"What the United States needs now is a policy that finds that middle path. ... A foreign policy that is reluctant, restrained by constitutional checks and balances but does not appease," said Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Sen. Paul pleads for sanity, balance on foreign policy

Drawing a contrast between himself and Capitol Hill Republicans whom he tied to a longtime "war caucus," Sen. Rand Paul called Wednesday for a "saner, more balanced" approach to foreign policy that strikes a balance between neoconservative and isolationist thinking.

February 6, 2013
House Majority Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican (Associated Press)

Cantor shifts stance on immigration reform, backs pathway for ‘Dreamers’

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor called on Congress on Tuesday to carve out a pathway to citizenship for so-called Dreamers — illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. at a young age — making him the highest-ranking Republican leader to embrace the legalization of a broad category of people living in the U.S. illegally.

February 5, 2013
Scott P. Brown (Associated Press)

Romney son, wife eyed for Senate seat; Brown out, field open

Former Sen. Scott P. Brown's decision not to seek the Senate seat vacated by Democrat John F. Kerry has sent the Massachusetts GOP back to its wish list of candidates — a list that, for some, includes Ann Romney and Taggart "Tagg" Romney, the wife and oldest son of Mitt Romney, last year's GOP presidential nominee.

February 3, 2013
Sen. Ted Cruz (Associated Press)

Cruz 0-for-11 in Senate and proud of it

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been on the losing side of every vote the Senate has taken in his young career — the only senator who can claim that distinction, boosting his anti-establishment credentials and earning him rave reviews from grass-roots conservatives.

February 3, 2013
William "Mo" Cowan smiles Jan. 30, 2013, during a news conference at the Statehouse in Boston where he was selected to fill John F. Kerry's seat on an interim basis in the Senate. Kerry was confirmed by the Senate the previous day to be the nation's next secretary of state. (Associated Press

Governor’s former aide to fill Kerry’s Senate seat

Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts tapped a former top aide Wednesday to fill John F. Kerry's seat on an interim basis in the Senate and said voters will pick someone to serve out the remainder of the Democrat's term in a special election this summer.

January 30, 2013
Sen. Marco Rubio isn’t playing it safe by backing a move to pass comprehensive immigration reform. (Associated Press)

Rubio takes big risk with stance on immigration

Marking the boldest move of his brief congressional career, Sen. Marco Rubio walked out on a limb this week by joining a move to pass comprehensive immigration reform — thrusting him into the middle of a thorny political debate that carries risk and reward for the freshman lawmaker.

January 29, 2013
Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, was leaned on by Speaker John A. Boehner to persuade GOP lawmakers to temporarily back off the spending cuts they had asked for in any increase to the debt ceiling. (Associated Press)

Ryan key in debt ceiling increase

Looking to gin up support for a short-term increase in the nation's borrowing limit, House Speaker John A. Boehner turned to Rep. Paul Ryan earlier this month to persuade rank-and-file lawmakers to temporarily back off the dollar-for-dollar spending cuts they had demanded in any debt ceiling hike.

January 28, 2013
**FILE** Sen. Tom Harkin, Iowa Democrat (Associated Press)

Harkin will not seek another term in the Senate

Sen. Tom Harkin announced Saturday that he will not seek another term in office — putting another dent in Democrats' chances of hanging onto control of the Senate in the 2014 election.

January 26, 2013
** FILE ** Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, arrives at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Ryan: Obama achievements far less than advertised

The chairman of the House budget committee said Saturday that President Obama's second term will show that the benefits of his agenda "are far less than advertised" and will open the door for Republicans to show voters that "given the chance, we can govern."

January 26, 2013
Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas (Associated Press)

GOP lawmakers question debt deal

House GOP lawmakers seemed to have forged a greater sense of unity emerging from a three-day retreat in Virginia last week, after party leaders rolled out their plan to avoid a showdown with President Obama by temporarily raising the federal debt limit.

January 22, 2013
President Obama talks with Vice President Joseph R. Biden in the presidential box during the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue en route to the White House on Jan. 21, 2013. (Associated Press)

Biden seems revved up and ready for 2016

Even as President Obama on Monday grasped the reins of power for another four years, the man who would be his successor — Vice President Joseph R. Biden — was never far away.

January 21, 2013
** FILE ** House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, walks to his ceremonial office off the House floor to greet new members of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (Associated Press)

Boehner wants Senate budget before any final debt ceiling deal

Capping a three-day GOP retreat, House GOP leaders announced that next week they will pursue a three-month extension of the nation's borrowing limit to give Congress more time to pass a federal budget — warning that the proposal will also freeze members' pay if they fail to do their job.

January 18, 2013
Rep. Paul Ryan (AP Photo)

At retreat, GOP advances debt-limit strategies

The chairman of the House Budget Committee on Thursday said the House GOP is considering a short-term extension of the nation's debt limit to buy Democrats and Republicans some additional time to hash out a long-term deficit-reduction deal, and to force a national conversation over the size and scope of the federal budget.

January 17, 2013
** FILE ** House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, walks on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, to the chamber at the Capitol in Washington for the final vote as the House of Representatives passed a $50.7 billion emergency aid bill for states hit by Superstorm Sandy. (Associated Press)

Viewed as out of touch, GOP gathers forces to plot rebirth

As House Republicans head to Williamsburg, Va., to talk strategy at their annual retreat, a top Democratic pollster warned Wednesday that voters think the GOP has fallen outside the mainstream on everything from taxes to gay rights.

January 16, 2013

GOP recalls Obama, Biden opposed debt-limit hikes

President Obama's vow not to negotiate on the debt limit this year is a stark reversal for an administration whose two top officials both have a history of balking at debt hikes.

January 14, 2013
Bill Pahlck wears a "Restore The Shore" sweatshirt Wednesday morning as he and others in Belmar, N.J., listen to Gov. Chris Christie describe rebuilding plans. The governor helped Belmar officials kick off construction of a 1.3-mile boardwalk to replace the one destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in October. (Associated Press)

Watchdog sees pork in Sandy relief bill

As Congress takes up the second slice of relief money for Superstorm Sandy, the influential Club for Growth said Monday it will seek to punish the lawmakers who support the $51 billion package because it includes wasteful spending and pork that have nothing to do with reconstruction efforts in the Northeast.

January 14, 2013