Tentative Deal Reached on ‘Fiscal Cliff,’ But No House Vote Before Deadline
Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The so-called “fiscal cliff” came Monday night — but now there is a specific deal on the table to try to soften it after the fact, according to congressional sources.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., s…
Obama Suggests Any ‘Cliff’ Deal Would Be Small
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — With less than two days remaining for Congress to reach a budget agreement that would avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff,” President Obama on Sunday suggested that a small deal remains the best hope to…
Sen. Charles Schumer: More than 50-50 Chance of Reaching Fiscal Cliff Deal
Win McNamee/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Sen. Charles Schumer, (D-N.Y.), called Congress’ failure to reach an agreement on a fiscal cliff deal “embarrassing,” but said he believed there was a better than 50-50 chance of a compromise befo…
Texas Congressman Ralph Hall Oldest to Ever Serve in House
Chris Powers/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Congressman Ralph Hall didn’t have to be in Washington, D.C., on Christmas Day to break a record.The 89-year-old Texas Republican earned the distinction Tuesday of being the oldest lawmaker t…
Texas Rep. Hall to Be the Oldest US House Member
http://www.house.gov/ralphhall/images/RMHcolorheadshot.jpg(DALLAS) — Texas Representative Ralph Hall is set to become the oldest U.S. House member to serve Congress on Christmas Day, according to the Dallas Morning News.Hall, 89, will beat the 80 year…
Fiscal Cliff Talks Gridlocked, President and Congress Walk Away
Edward Linsmier/Getty Image(WASHINGTON) — The first family arrived in the president’s idyllic home state of Hawaii this weekend to celebrate the holidays, but President Obama, who along with Michelle will pay tribute Sunday to the late Sen. Daniel Ino…
Boehner Pulls Plan B Option as Fiscal Cliff Talks Fall into Disarray
TOBY JORRIN/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — In a surprise development late Thursday night, House Speaker John Boehner pulled his so-called “Plan B option” — an extension of current tax rates for Americans making up to $1 million a year — from the Hou…
State Department Deputies Grilled by GOP at Benghazi Hearing
iStockPhoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Surrogates for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faced sharp questions from the House Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday about the Obama administration’s initial statements about the Sept. 11 attack on the co…
House Democrats Urge Congress To Toughen Gun Laws
Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) — As the country mourns victims of last week’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., and the debate over gun control takes on new urgency in Washington, House Democrats Wednesday cal…
Rep. Huelskamp: If I Voted for Boehner’s Plan, I’d Deserve a Primary
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) — Republicans who vote for House Speaker John Boehner’s “Plan B” fiscal-cliff proposal could and should be challenged in primaries, conservative GOP Rep. Tim Huelskamp suggested at a news confere…
White House Makes New Offer in Talks To Avoid Fiscal Cliff
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — They are getting closer.The White House presented a new offer to Speaker of the House John Boehner Monday that makes some important concessions in the talks to work out a deal to avoid the so-called fisc…
2012 Elections Are Finally Over: Boustany Defeats Landry in Louisiana Runoff
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The 2012 elections are finally over.GOP Rep. Charles Boustany defeated his GOP rival, freshman tea-partier Rep. Jeff Landry, in a runoff in Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District Saturday night. Fittingly, the …
What Is Paul Ryan’s Role During the Fiscal Cliff Negotiations?
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — After 88 days in the spotlight as Mitt Romney’s VP pick, Paul Ryan has stepped into the shadows (specifically, hometown Janesville, Wisc.) for the five-day House break – but that doesn’t mean he’s not …
Which Congressman Is Blocking Bill That Would Protect Kids with Autism?
Architect of the Capitol(WASHINGTON) — Legislation aimed at protecting children with autism and other disabilities from being injured in school has stalled in the House of Representatives at the hands of a single member who objects to federal interven…
Could Outgoing Republicans Hold Keys to ‘Fiscal Cliff’?
Mary Bono Mack. U.S. Congress(WASHINGTON) — The outlook for reaching some sort of bipartisan agreement on the so-called “fiscal cliff” before the Dec. 31 deadline is looking increasingly grim. Shortly after noon Friday, House Speaker John…
Pelosi Urges Vote on Middle Class Tax Relief
Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urged Republicans to allow a vote on legislation to extend tax cuts on the first $250,000 of personal income and delay the debate over tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers …
Fiscal Talks Turn as Tax Pledge Questioned
Jupiterimages/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The two-party tango that is negotiations over the “fiscal cliff” took a turn Monday as two more Republican lawmakers expressed willingness to break with a long-standing anti-tax pledge and the White House reveale…
House Could Vote on Tech Visas Next Week
Architect of the Capitol(WASHINGTON) — The House could vote on a Republican bill next week that seeks to create 55,000 additional visas per year for workers with master’s and doctoral degrees in science, tech, engineering and math. The STEM Jobs Act, …
Fiscal Cliff Tweets to Watch
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — With the dirty dishes cleared and leftovers safely in the fridge, Americans across the country start looking ahead to the winter holidays the day after Thanksgiving.But for Congress, there’s a pretty b…
Lawmakers Give Back on Thanksgiving and Share Recipes
Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — For countless members of Congress, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to give back to the communities they represent at the Capitol. Lawmakers volunteer at food banks, shelters and other charitable events to distribu…