David Sherfinski

U.S. lawmakers mock Moscow sanctions over Crimea

U.S. lawmakers slapped with sanctions by the Russian government Thursday in the bitter bilateral standoff over Crimea appear to be just fine with it. Published March 20, 2014

Employers shouldn’t be exempt from covering birth control: poll

More than half of Americans think that employer-based health plans should not be exempt from providing coverage for contraceptives as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to weigh the constitutionality of that portion of President Obama's health care law. Published March 20, 2014

Delaware basketball coach mistakenly ignored good luck call from Biden

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who had somewhat of an adventure trying to congratulate Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on his win last year, missed another connection recently — this time with Monte Ross, the head coach of Mr. Biden's beloved Delaware Blue Hens basketball team. Published March 20, 2014

Kobe Bryant: Obama could make current Lakers roster

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant says President Obama, an avid basketball player and fan himself, could make the current L.A. roster. Published March 20, 2014

Deer nearly mows down Gov. Brian Sandoval on ‘Nevada Moves Day’

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval narrowly missed being sideswiped by a deer on his walk to work Wednesday. Published March 20, 2014

Three key Senate races move from ‘Lean D’ to ‘Toss Up,’ Cook report shows

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has moved three competitive Senate races from "Lean Democratic" to "Toss Up" — an indication of the headwinds Democrats are facing at the moment in their hopes of maintaining an edge in the U.S. Senate after the fall elections. Published March 20, 2014

Poll: 57 percent of Colorado voters support marijuana legalization

Two months after marijuana sales became legal in Colorado, 57 percent of voters in the state think the drug should be legal, compared to 35 percent who think it should be illegal. Published March 19, 2014

Senators urge Europeans to deploy civilian monitors to Ukraine

A bipartisan group of senators has written a letter to the secretary general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) urging the security cooperative to deploy civilian monitors to potentially unstable areas of Ukraine "to report on security and human rights conditions on the ground and to help defuse tensions." Published March 19, 2014

McCain: ‘A little embarrassed’ by GOP attitude on Ukraine and IMF

Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, said Wednesday that he's "a little embarrassed" by some in his party who are insisting that reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) be stripped from legislation to aid Ukraine and sanction Russian and Ukrainian officials involved with the unrest in the region. Published March 19, 2014

Former Gov. Edwin Edwards: ‘I did not do what I was charged with and convicted of’

Former Gov. Edwin Edwards, who is running for Congress this year after serving nearly nine years in prison on racketeering, extortion, and fraud charges, defended his past Wednesday by saying that he was never charged with "taking anything from the people of Louisiana." Published March 19, 2014

Rand Paul on topping recent 2016 GOP polls: ‘It’s better than being last’

Ahead of a speech on privacy at University of California, Berkeley, Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday he's not sure whether it's good luck or bad luck that he's found himself atop recent polls on the 2016 GOP presidential primary. Published March 19, 2014

RGA ‘Madness’ challenge to crown ‘champion’ of the worst blue state failed policies

The Republican Governors Association is getting in on the March Madness bracket hubbub by launching its own "Blue State Madness" challenge, an online contest where participants "can learn about the destructive policies and failed leadership" of Democratic governors and crown an eventual "winner." Published March 19, 2014

Sen. Udall up 2 points in Colorado Senate race, Democratic poll shows

Sen. Mark Udall, Colorado Democrat, is clinging to a 2-point lead in his re-election bid against GOP Rep. Cory Gardner, said a new survey from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling (PPP). Published March 19, 2014

Sen. Durbin ‘just fine with’ being on Russian sanctions list

Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois is reportedly on a list of U.S. officials set to be sanctioned by the Russian government. Published March 19, 2014

New PAC offers private access to McAuliffe for as little as $50,000

Got $50,000? Then you, too, can attend a "private evening reception" with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who wasted little time after Virginia's General Assembly session gaveled to a close to launch a political action committee that offers such meetings with the governor in exchange for high-end donations. Published March 18, 2014

Debbie Wasserman Schultz: I’ll take ‘difference’ with GOP on health care

Democratic National Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz defended President Obama's health care overhaul Tuesday by saying she'd "take the difference" between the Democratic position on the subject over the Republican one heading into the midterm elections. Published March 18, 2014

McFaul: Annexation of Ukraine demands new sanctions on Russia

Michael McFaul, who recently stepped down as U.S. Ambassador to Russia, said that Vladimir Putin's annexation of Ukraine demands more action from the United States. Published March 18, 2014

Romney: Obama failed to act on Russia ‘when action was possible, and needed’

Mitt Romney penned a scathing critique of President Obama's foreign policy, saying the administration has failed to seize the moment took to intervene in crises around the globe, most recently in Russia and Ukraine. Published March 18, 2014

Senators working to overturn iPad, Kindle ban on chamber floor

Sen. Mike Enzi, Wyoming Republican, is leading the charge to overturn a ban on the use of iPads and Kindles on the Senate floor. Published March 18, 2014

Putin to sanction McCain, Durbin, White House officials: report

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to respond to the White House's imposing sanctions on Russian officials by releasing his own sanctions list of U.S. officials that will reportedly include U.S. Sens. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, and John McCain, Arizona Republican. Published March 18, 2014