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Seen, Heard & Whispered: Birthright citizenship; Pulte and FISA; Ja Rule and Don Jr.'s club

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Articles by Stephen Dinan

"This bill is a step forward but it doesn't go as far as it should," said Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent, noting that benefits cuts have been erased for current veterans. He's also written a bill to boost spending for future veterans. (associated press)

Congress reverses military pension cuts

Congress congratulated itself this week after voting to restore full cost-of-living increases for military retirement benefits — but the bipartisan unity showed just how difficult it will be to tackle the major spending challenges that lie ahead.

February 12, 2014
**FILE** Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., center, accompanied by GOP leaders, talk to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, prior to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. From left are, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the Republican Policy Committee chairman; Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.; and and Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn of Texas. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Mitch McConnell helps Senate pass hike in debt limit

Congress approved a massive increase in the federal debt Wednesday, with Republican leaders linking arms and jumping together to help Democrats OK a play that will let President Obama borrow as much money as is needed to cover federal obligations for the next 13 months.

February 12, 2014
** FILE ** Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama look at an app on an iPhone in the Outer Oval Office, Saturday, July 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

NSA snooping violates separation of powers, congressmen say

Deputy Attorney General James Cole may have misled Congress earlier this month when he said the National Security Agency doesn't look at phone data it collects from members of Congress, three lawmakers wrote in a letter on Wednesday.

February 12, 2014

Pressure on police sought for federal background check help

Administration officials said Tuesday that they would welcome steps to force local police departments to cooperate with federal background investigations, saying it could help spot red flags that should prevent some people from getting approved for "secret" or "top secret" access.

February 11, 2014
** FILE ** In this Feb. 6, 2014, photo, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio gestures while speaking during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Boehner: GOP’s reversal on debt is ‘disappointing moment’

House Speaker John A. Boehner called it a "disappointing moment" Tuesday after he reversed course again and said he will ask his colleagues to pass a "clean" debt ceiling increase — admitting defeat and turning to Democrats to supply the votes needed to get it done.

February 11, 2014
Aaron Alexis had a security clearance that gave him access to Building 197 at the Washington Navy Yard, where he killed 12 people last year. (FBI via Associated Press)

Local police block feds from doing full security clearances, Navy Yard review finds

Many of the country's biggest cities — including Washington, New York and Los Angeles — refuse to cooperate with federal security clearance investigators, often leaving them in the dark about potential red flags, according to a report Tuesday that says the lack of cooperation contributed to last year's Navy Yard shooting.

February 11, 2014
** FILE ** President Barack Obama speaks at General Electric's gas engine facility in Waukesha, Wis., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Mike De Sisti, Pool)

Obama changes rules for refugees, further breaches trust in Congress

The same week the White House was assuring Republicans they could trust him to enforce immigration laws, the Obama administration quietly announced that it was reinterpreting the rules for refugees and asylum seekers so applicants could be approved even if they had given "limited" material support for terrorism.

February 9, 2014
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. Boehner said Thursday it will be difficult to pass immigration legislation this year, dimming prospects for one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Boehner says no immigration deal until Obama enforces laws

House Speaker John A. Boehner said Thursday that until President Obama proves he's serious about enforcing immigration laws, it will be difficult to get a bill through the House this year — dealing a potentially fatal blow to the chances for action in 2014.

February 6, 2014
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, right, accompanied by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., speak to reporters about the Keystone XL Pipeline and other issues, following a Republican Conference meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Boehner, McConnell: Obama turning IRS into ‘partisan tool’

House Speaker John A. Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a joint letter Thursday demanding the IRS withdraw its controversial new rules governing political activities of outside interest groups, arguing they are the next step in the administration’s “intimidation and harassment” of tea party groups.

February 6, 2014
** FILE ** Midland University President and Republican Senate candidate Ben Sasse is pictured on campus in this photo from June 5, 2013, in Fremont, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Anti-Obamacare proves winning strategy in Nebraska GOP race

Want to know the power of opposing Obamacare? Look at the Nebraska Senate race, where Ben Sasse, a political newcomer, has come from out of nowhere to land in a virtual tie in the polls with former state Treasurer Shane Osborne.

February 6, 2014
In this May 22, 2013, photo, Lois Lerner listens on Capitol Hill in Washington. A day after she refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing, Lerner has been replaced as director the Internal Revenue Service division that oversaw agents who targeted tea party groups. Danny Werfel, the agency's new acting commissioner, told IRS employees in an email Thursday, May 23, 2013, that he has selected a new acting head of the division, staying within the IRS to find new leadership. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

IRS email reveals Lerner’s role in tax rule to restrain nonprofits

House Republicans for the first time Wednesday linked new IRS rules designed to clamp down on nonprofits with embattled former IRS employee Lois G. Lerner, saying her involvement taints the entire process and should force the tax agency to cancel its crackdown.

February 5, 2014

House GOP creates Benghazi-probe website

House Republican leaders still balk at creating an independent investigative committee to look into the Benghazi terrorist attack, but on Wednesday they announced a new website that compiles all of the documents that have been released already.

February 5, 2014
**FILE** Rep. Raul R. Labrador, Idaho Republican (Associated Press)

Republicans increasingly pessimistic on immigration bill in 2014

Conservative Republicans said Wednesday that they don't believe their chamber will tackle an immigration bill this year, saying that while they welcomed the House GOP leaders' principles as a start to a conversation, it's premature to try to pass a bill.

February 5, 2014