Even in this new age of austerity, sequestration and budget cutting rhetoric, powerful members of Congress are having their way, defending favorite programs and finding money for pet projects…
Congress
In Rare Dose of Comity, Congress Takes Early Steps to Avoid Government Shutdown
The House Republican stopgap bill locks in the sequester cuts while cushioning their impact on party priorities.
A Real Live Filibuster!
At about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday morning, Kentucky Republican Rand Paul took the floor of the Senate to launch one of the chamber’s rarest spectacles: a genuine filibuster.
Brennan’s Ordeal: The Beginning of the End
John Brennan’s confirmation for CIA chief has prompted some interesting debate about counter-terrorism and the use of drones. While that debate has only skimmed the surface, Congress is nearly finished with it, at least for now.
The Sequester Fight Was the Pregame. Here Comes the Main Event
As budget officials wrestle with the sequester, the next cliff is already looming, just weeks away.
Turn and Face the Strain
By allowing the Democrats to get their way on the Violence Against Women Act, Speaker Boehner is allowing the White House to enjoy a coalition that could lead to passage on immigration, gun control, and energy reform.
Double Trouble: John McCain and Lindsey Graham
In this week’s issue of TIME: After punching Obama hard, can John McCain and Lindsey Graham shake their rival’s hand?
Robin Kelly: Who Is the Bloomberg-Backed ‘Gun Control Candidate’ of Chicago?
Here’s a two-minute bio on the woman who will likely win Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s congressional seat.
All You Need to Know About Sequestration But Were Afraid to Ask
You changed the channel, you clicked away from the headlines, and you tried to ignore it. But the sequester can no longer be avoided. On March 1, the latest dysfunctional deadlock in Washington will trigger $85 billion in …
Rubio Supports Giving Ammunition, But Not Arms, to Syria
Sen. Marco Rubio lays out his foreign policy identity: provide ammo and intel to Syria rebels, prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and bone up on foreign aid and humanitarian efforts.
Congress Looks Past the Sequester Deadline and Braces for Long Fight
With just days before sequestration kicks in, Republicans have learned to love a policy they once claimed to loathe.
Pentagon Sequestysteria
It’s a strange thing, this sequester – especially the Pentagon’s over-reaction. Sure, entitlement spending is driving the budget crisis. But that doesn’t mean military spending should be bullet-proof.
A Sequester No One Wants
The bickering over the provenance of the sequester belies the fact that very few people in Washington truly know how it will unfold.
