Skip to content
TRENDING:
Donald Trump
Advertisement

Articles by Stephen Dinan

**FILE** Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican (Associated Press)

Senators try to head off ‘nuclear’ filibuster fight

Seeking to head off a poisonous debate over filibuster rules at the beginning of the new Congress, a gang of eight senators on Friday said they've worked out new procedures that could grease the legislative wheels while still preserving minority rights.

December 28, 2012
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada leaves the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, after a closed-door meeting between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders to negotiate the framework for a deal on the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Senate leaders hopeful for last-minute ‘fiscal cliff’ deal

The top Democrat and Republican in the Senate emerged from a meeting at the White House Friday evening to say they are hopeful they can strike a last-minute deal to avert the tax increases and spending cuts looming in less than four days.

December 28, 2012
House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer said Thursday that the chamber should be in session working to avoid the looming “fiscal cliff.” (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

‘After you’ dance on ‘fiscal cliff’ deadline

House Republican leaders said Thursday that they will bring their chamber back to town this weekend to try to avert the "fiscal cliff" — the sole optimistic sign on a day when pessimism deepened within both parties on whether Congress can avoid the looming tax increases and automatic spending cuts.

December 27, 2012
Brian Emanuel Schatz (D-Hawaii), kisses his wife, Linda, after re-enacting his swearing-in ceremony with Vice President Joe Biden inside the old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. Schatz, who was the Lieutenant Governor for Hawaii was selected by Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the late Daniel K. Inouye. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

New Hawaii senator provides Democrats with reinforcements

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called for reinforcements and Hawaii's governor responded, dispatching Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to Washington to take over the state's empty Senate seat on Thursday, ahead of a series of potentially critical votes.

December 27, 2012
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada speaks to reporters following the Democratic policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Reid: Time has run out on ‘fiscal cliff’

The Senate returned to business Thursday with an increasing sense that the country will go over the "fiscal cliff," leading to higher taxes and deep spending cuts across the board.

December 27, 2012
ICE Director John T. Morton (right) (Associated Press)

Increase in deportations hits criminals

The Obama administration has dramatically changed the composition of those it's deporting now that President Obama's non-deportation policy is in effect, setting an overall record for the number of people kicked out of the U.S. last year.

December 23, 2012
** FILE ** President Obama speaks at a news conference in the briefing room of the White House on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Obama administration sets deportation record

The Obama administration deported a record 409,849 illegal immigrants in the last fiscal year, with the majority of them convicted criminals, according to statistics released Friday.

December 21, 2012
Rep. Lamar Smith (Associated Press)

Homeland Security postpones stricter driver’s license rules

The Obama administration on Thursday once again delayed the deadline for states to comply with stricter standards for driver's licenses, which were put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. and were designed to keep illegal immigrants from being able to get valid identification.

December 20, 2012
**FILE** Americans for Tax Reform chief Grover Norquist. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

For conservatives, tax increase is in eye of beholder

President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner are squabbling over the "fiscal cliff," but an even bigger fight is going on within conservative circles over Mr. Boehner’s latest offer to extend tax cuts for all but millionaires, who would see their taxes increase.

December 19, 2012
** FILE ** President Barack Obama speaks about negotiations regarding the fiscal cliff as he takes questions from reporters, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Boehner to hold vote on ‘Plan B’ to skirt ‘fiscal cliff’

House Speaker John A. Boehner on Wednesday dared President Obama to veto the Republican "Plan B" offer to avoid the "fiscal cliff" — higher tax rates on those making more than $1 million but tax cuts for everyone else — even as the president pleaded for cooperation rather than confrontation, saying he has already moved halfway.

December 19, 2012
Alejandro N. Mayorkas is director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. (Associated Press)

Review finds some aliens get benefits

The federal government's system of tracking immigration status is so broken that it gives a green light to one in eight aliens who have been ordered deported, according to an audit Tuesday that found the government has gone on to approve some of those who slip through for work in sensitive areas of airports and granted them benefits such as Medicaid or food stamps.

December 18, 2012
Press Secretary Jay Carney briefs reporters at the White House in Washington, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. Carney says the president will engage the American people and lawmakers on the issue of gun violence in the coming weeks. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Gun bills face tough sailing on Capitol Hill

The last time either chamber of Congress took on gun control was in 2004, when the Senate considered a pro-gun bill, ended up adding three major gun control measures — then killed it, saying the whole thing had become too messy.

December 17, 2012
** FILE ** In this Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 photo, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii Democrat, president pro temper of the Senate, and a recipient of the Medal of Honor, attends a ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, where he is presented a commemorative coin marking the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Medal of Honor by Congress. Inouye died of respiratory complications, Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. He was 88. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Sen. Inouye of Hawaii dies of respiratory failure

Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye, the chamber's senior member and a hero of World War II, died Monday of respiratory failure, leaving what his colleagues said was a giant hole in the fabric of the chamber.

December 17, 2012
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, right, accompanied by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington Republican, gestures as he speaks to reporters during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, following a GOP strategy session. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Porked-up Sandy relief bill storms into Senate

The Senate's emergency spending bill to cover costs from Hurricane Sandy includes millions of dollars that will never touch the affected Northeast — including money for salmon fisheries in Alaska, cash for an expansion of train service into New York, and funds to preserve and repair historic properties.

December 16, 2012