Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
No conflict of interest in positive Keystone review: IG
The company hired by the State Department that conducted a favorable review of the Keystone XL oil pipeline did not have a conflict of interest, according to a review by the State Department inspector general, countering charges from environmental groups that are trying to kill the project. Published February 26, 2014
Obama pushes infrastructure projects
President Obama on Wednesday challenged Congress to tackle tax reform in order to fund desperately needed infrastructure repair across the country, but even some fellow Democrats admit the new proposal stands little chance of becoming reality. Published February 26, 2014
Obama plans complete troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by year’s end
Tuesday brought a fresh reminder that the more-than-decade-long conflict in Afghanistan will not conclude on U.S. terms, with the Obama administration revealing it’s planning for a complete withdrawal from the troubled country at the end of the year. Published February 25, 2014
Obama: Late Harold Ramis taught us to question authority
President Obama on Tuesday paid tribute to the late Harold Ramis, the Chicago-born actor, writer and director who was famous for films such as "Caddyshack," "Ghostbusters," "Animal House" and others. Published February 25, 2014
Obama to establish new manufacturing hubs
President Obama on Tuesday will unveil two new “manufacturing innovation institutes,” public-private partnerships established through executive authority. Published February 25, 2014
White House: Obama, Boehner to meet Tuesday
President Obama will meet with House Speaker John A. Boehner on Tuesday morning in the Oval Office, according to the White House. Published February 24, 2014
Oklahoma governor announces Obama’s Keystone timetable; White House won’t confirm
A leading Republican governor claimed Monday that President Obama will make a decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline within “a couple of months,” but the White House refused to confirm the story and added even more uncertainty to the already murky future of the $7 billion project. Published February 24, 2014
Partisan bickering torpedoes bipartisan governors’ meeting
A bipartisan group of governors appeared outside the White House on Monday to present a united front on economic growth and other issues, but the press conference deteriorated into bickering between Republicans and Democrats. Published February 24, 2014
Obama: Unlike Congress, governors get things done
President Obama on Monday told the nation's governors they could teach Congress a thing or two about working together to tackle tough issues. Published February 24, 2014
Ruling by Nebraska judge lets Obama drag feet on Keystone XL pipeline
President Obama appears willing to put off a decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline at least until the midterm elections have passed, and a Nebraska judge now has given him the ability to do that. Published February 23, 2014
Obama doubles down on minimum wage; GOP still zeroed in on Obamacare
For the second week in a row, President Obama used his weekly address to push for a hike in the nation's minimum wage while Republicans tried to keep Obamacare — and the negative effects of it — front and center. Published February 22, 2014
Obama, Putin discuss Ukraine violence
President Obama spoke with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Friday afternoon to discuss the violence in Ukraine and the recent deal to begin de-escalating the situation there. Published February 21, 2014
Feeling pressure from the left, Obama backs off of Social Security cuts in budget
Bowing to pressure from its left flank, the White House revealed Thursday that it won't again propose Social Security cuts when President Obama releases his budget early next month, saying Republicans squandered chances for a deal last year. Published February 20, 2014
Nebraska law that allowed Keystone XL struck down
A Nebraska judge threw a major hurdle in front of the Keystone XL oil pipeline Wednesday, setting into motion yet another review of the $7 billion project and pushing President Obama’s eventual final decision even further down the road. Published February 19, 2014
White House hosts Clooney, Murray and Damon for “Monuments Men” screening
Published February 18, 2014
Obama orders up new mileage standards for big rigs
President Obama's visit to suburban Maryland on Tuesday to announce new fuel-efficiency standards for trucks was anything but efficient, as the commander-in-chief took a 15-vehicle caravan on an hour-long round trip just to deliver a 17-minute speech at a local Safeway distribution center. Published February 18, 2014
Catching up to Clinton no easy feat for 2016 rivals
In a 2016 presidential contest that can be summed up as Hillary Rodham Clinton versus everybody else, early signs show the race isn't even close. Published February 16, 2014
Obama eyes $10.10 minimum wage; GOP focuses on those with zero insurance after Obamacare
Saturday brought more evidence of how differently President Obama and congressional Republicans will approach this crucial election year, with the White House turning attention to its economic and income-equality agenda while the GOP remains focused on the health-care reform law and its fallout across the country. Published February 15, 2014
Obama offers $1B loan to Jordan for refugees: It’s important to be ‘supportive of the kingdom’
President Obama announced late Friday night that the U.S. will provide a $1 billion loan guarantee to Jordan, money meant to help the nation deal with the flood of refugees that have crossed over from Syria to escape a bloody civil war. Published February 15, 2014
In drought-ravaged California, Obama sounds alarm on climate change
Mr. Obama and many Democrats, along with their supporters in the environmental community, have held up extreme weather events such as California's drought, Hurricane Sandy and others as proof that global warming is wreaking havoc all across the planet. Published February 14, 2014
