Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Obama to sign VA reform bill Thursday at Fort Belvoir
President Obama on Thursday will sign into a law a bill overhauling the troubled U.S. Veterans Affairs reform bill, the White House said Monday. Published August 4, 2014
Joe Biden urges African nations to tackle corruption
Vice President Joseph R. Biden on Monday challenged African leaders to weed out corruption plaguing court systems, law enforcement agencies and other institutions on the continent. Published August 4, 2014
Obama only the most recent president to face impeachment calls
The real six-year itch in American politics appears to be talk of removing the commander in chief, with President Obama becoming the latest in a long line of leaders to face calls for impeachment during his later years in office. Published August 3, 2014
Obama fantasizes about more executive power, signs new order on federal contractors
President Obama on Thursday signed a new order tightening restrictions on federal contractors, but not before he openly dreamt of how much easier life would be if he had even greater executive power. Published July 31, 2014
House votes to sue President Obama over claims of presidential power
President Obama mocked Republicans for "just hatin' all the time" as the House voted to authorize an unprecedented lawsuit against the commander in chief, escalating a battle between Congress and the White House that is heavily tinged with election-year politics. Published July 30, 2014
Obama to Republicans: ‘Stop just hatin’ all the time’
President Obama on Wednesday told Republicans to "stop just hatin' all the time" and work with Democrats to help raise the nation's minimum wage, pass an infrastructure investment bill and take other steps to help the middle class. Published July 30, 2014
EPA hears testimony on proposed carbon emissions rules
The atmosphere outside was festive, with music, free T-shirts and ice cream giveaways, but the mood inside the Environmental Protection Agency's first hearings on its proposed power plant regulations was anything but. Published July 29, 2014
White House: No choice but to act now on climate change
The Obama administration released a comprehensive new report Tuesday in an attempt to justify its controversial actions on climate change, and also will roll out new executive moves to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Published July 29, 2014
In politics, all states are ‘border’ states
Iowa is more than 1,200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico line, but for political purposes this year, it has become something of a border state. Published July 28, 2014
Russia in violation of 1987 missile treaty, White House says
In what could lead to further deterioration of the U.S.-Russia relationship, the White House said Monday that Moscow stands in violation of a 1987 treaty prohibiting the possession, production or use of intermediate-range cruise missiles. Published July 28, 2014
Libya now nation at risk with weak U.S. influence; embassy closes as chaos grows
With violence spreading across Libya and the U.S. Embassy closing in Tripoli, Republican lawmakers over the weekend blasted the Obama administration for failing to stop yet another troubled Middle Eastern nation from descending into complete chaos, and even some Democrats conceded that America's influence in the world has waned considerably. Published July 27, 2014
White House adviser on 2016: Rand Paul more viable than Ted Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz "is deeply out of step" with the American people and would face an uphill battle for president in 2016, while Sen. Rand Paul and his libertarian message may present a challenge for Democrats, White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer told reporters Friday. Published July 25, 2014
White House readies for House GOP impeachment push: ‘Foolish’ to ignore
A top White House adviser said Friday that "it would be foolish" to ignore the possibility House Republicans may pursue impeachment of President Obama. Published July 25, 2014
Michelle Obama says money in politics is bad, asks donors for ‘big, fat check’
First lady Michelle Obama on Thursday night urged Democrats to "dig deep" into their pockets and "write a big fat check" before the midterm elections, but minutes later complained of too much money in politics. Published July 24, 2014
Obama urges Congress to close corporate tax loopholes
With other pieces of his economic agenda such as a minimum wage increase stalled, President Obama turned his attention to corporate taxes Thursday and said U.S. businesses should be concerned not just with profits but also with being "good corporate citizens." Published July 24, 2014
Obama takes aim at ‘corporate deserters’
With other pieces of his economic agenda such as a minimum wage increase stalled, President Obama turned his attention to corporate taxes Thursday and said U.S. businesses should be concerned not just with profits but also with being "good corporate citizens." Published July 24, 2014
Obama says public not familiar enough with issues
President Obama told Democratic donors Wednesday night that most Americans don't have time to think about the details of the Benghazi terrorist attack or the problems with Obamacare. Published July 23, 2014
Boehner presses Obama on 2008 law contributing to border crisis
House Speaker John A. Boehner sent a letter to President Obama on Wednesday asking for clarity on whether the administration believes a 2008 dealing with unaccompanied minors at the border should be changed. Published July 23, 2014
White House: More changes to contraception mandate coming
The White House is eyeing further changes to the controversial provision in the hopes of reaching something of a compromise with nonprofit charities and universities. Published July 23, 2014
Obama, Biden overhaul job training programs
House Republicans may be suing President Obama for executive overreach, but for one day at least, members of the GOP joined the president at the White House Tuesday as the administration announced a sweeping overhaul of the federal government's job-training programs. Published July 22, 2014
