INSIDE POLITICS
The Washington Times' political blog.
Latest Blog Entries
Sen. McCain jokes about 'Jeopardy!' defeat: 'Loser again'
Sen. John McCain — a war hero, longtime U.S. senator and presidential candidate on multiple occasions — has certainly accumulated his share of knowledge on an array of subjects over the years.
House Dems now reject GOP 'fiscal cliff' offer they proposed
Back in May, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi proposed in a letter to Speaker John A. Boehner that the House should vote to raise taxes on household incomes of more than $1 million.
Va. Gov. McDonnell open to armed security guards at schools
Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia, in which the deadly 2007 Virginia Tech shootings took place, issued an executive order Monday creating a school safety task force and directing Cabinet secretaries and all the school divisions in the state to examine previous safety audits.
With 'fiscal cliff' looming, Boehner talks to troops of 'Plan B'
Concerned that the "fiscal cliff" negotiations with President Obama will not bear fruit, House Speaker John A. Boehner said Tuesday that House Republicans are prepared with a "Plan B" option that calls for higher taxes on millionaires and locks in current tax rates for everyone else.
Reid signals opening for gun-control debate in Senate
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has been a major blockade for gun-control legislation in the past, said Monday that it's time the country renews the debate in the wake of the Connecticut elementary school shootings.
States move forward on health insurance exchanges
Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have moved forward with plans to set up their own statewide health-insurance-buying exchanges ahead of a key deadline.
Pro-gun Sen. Manchin: 'We need action'
Sen. Joe Manchin III, a pro-gun West Virginia Democrat and member of the National Rifle Association, said Monday that "we need action" in the wake of the shootings in Newtown, Conn., and offered praise for Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, who has pledged to introduce a bill to reinstate a ban on assault weapons.
Media reports: Kerry is Obama's pick as secretary of state
ABC News, citing unnamed sources, reports Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, will be nominated to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of the State Department.
Feinstein: I will introduce bill to ban assault weapons
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat, said Sunday she is going to introduce a bill on the first day of the 113th Congress to ban assault weapons, in the wake of the Friday shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., that left 26 dead, including 20 children.
Bloomberg: Obama should make tighter gun regulations his priority
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sunday that in the wake of Friday's school massacre in Connecticut, President Obama should take immediate steps to better enforce the nation's gun laws and lead the effort for new regulations.
Conn.'s Blumenthal, Murphy: We'll be on Senate floor soon talking gun policy
Connecticut Sen.-elect Chris Murphy said Sunday the time for delaying talk of gun policy implications of tragedies such as Friday's deadly shootings is over, and he and Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said they will be on the floor of the U.S. Senate soon to do just that.
Rep. Gohmert: I wish Sandy Hook principal had had access to rifle
Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican, said Sunday he wished Dawn Hochsprung, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, who was shot as she lunged at gunman Adam Lanza, had had access to a rifle on Friday as the deadly shootings were occurring in Newtown, Conn.
Lieberman, Durbin: Restore assault weapons ban
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, Connecticut independent, said Sunday the United States should restore a federal ban on assault weapons and also create a national commission on mass violence to examine gun laws, mental health laws, and the link between entertainment and violence in the wake of the deadly shootings in Newtown, Conn., that left 26 victims dead, including 20 children.
Obama to travel to Newtown on Sunday
President Obama will travel Sunday to Newtown, Conn., the site of the deadly elementary school shooting that took the lives of 20 children, the White House announced Saturday evening.
Obama: Going after marijuana smokers is not a 'top priority'
President Obama, who smoked marijuana often in high school, said recreational pot smoking in states that have legalized the drug isn't a big concern for his administration.
