Sean Lengell
Articles by Sean Lengell
Supporters face long lines, tight security
The Democrats' rendezvous with destiny came only after long waits in long lines and a slow slog through an obstacle course of narrow sidewalks, muddy potholes, steel fences, security barriers, the occasional cackling protesters, overworked security guards and overflowing checkpoints. Published August 29, 2008
Giuliani warns of union vote
Republicans are aggressively courting blue-collar votes by adding a plank to their policy platform that demands workers retain the right to unionize through secret-ballot elections. One of the party's iconic law-and-order figures warned on Wednesday that Democratic efforts to change the labor voting system would leave workers vulnerable to corruption and intimidation. Published August 28, 2008
Ailing Kennedy ignites DNC with emotion
Leave it to a Kennedy to steal his own show. Published August 26, 2008
Clinton urges supporters to back Obama
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday morning tried to dismiss any lingering doubt she doesn't fully support Barack Obama's Democratic presidential nomination, urging the delegates she won during her tough and occasionally contentious primary to back the Illinois senator. Published August 25, 2008
GOP senator chides peers
In a rare public display of intraparty frustration, the leader of Senate Republicans' election efforts accused party colleagues Friday of failing to contribute enough money to fight races nationwide. Published August 23, 2008
Anti-GOP wave endangers N.H. senator’s re-election
Sen. John E. Sununu is in serious political trouble, and it's largely no fault of his own. Published August 21, 2008
GOP builds strength for drilling clash
The Senate Republicans who are trying to force Congress to lift restrictions on offshore drilling say they have 38 senators backing their efforts to force a showdown — one that could shut down the government. Published August 18, 2008
Detroit mayor barred from leaving state
A judge Thursday dashed embattled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's brief hope of attending the Democratic National Convention by barring him from leaving Michigan, just hours after another judge had lifted his travel restrictions. Published August 15, 2008
Utah goes to shorter workweek
The weekend comes a day early for most Utah state employees, thanks to a new, cost-saving four-day workweek that is garnering attention from other locales and younger employees eager to improve their quality of life. Published August 12, 2008
House GOP raps energy impasse
House Republicans say they will continue to interrupt their summer break this week to hold daily protests at the Capitol in their ongoing push to expand domestic oil drilling, insisting the "American people are with us." Published August 11, 2008
Senator critical of AIDS conferees
A leading critic in Congress of government waste says a U.S. delegation attending an international AIDS conference in Mexico City is “wasteful and extravagant spending,” and that the trip's cost should have been spent on health programs here at home. Published August 7, 2008
Senate Democrats seek to block Bush
In the Senate, where lawmakers routinely drone for hours and all-night filibusters are the stuff of legends, Tuesday's session could've been timed with a stopwatch. Published August 6, 2008
GOP: Lift drilling ban or risk shutdown
The showdown on Capitol Hill over expanding offshore drilling could lead to a threatened government shutdown when Congress returns from its five-week summer break in early September. Published August 4, 2008
Lieberman skeptical of Obama drilling stance
Sen. Joe Lieberman said Sunday that Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's decision to embrace limited offshore drilling was halfhearted and loaded with caveats and he predicted the senator from Illinois would find a reason to change his position again if he had to vote on the issue. Published August 4, 2008
Obama accepts offshore drilling
Sen. Barack Obama on Friday withdrew his opposition to additional offshore oil drilling, essentially embracing his rival's energy stance, which is credited in part with pumping up Sen. John McCain's poll numbers. Published August 2, 2008
Energy compromise elusive as recess looms
Lawmakers failed again Wednesday to reach a compromise on how to address the rising cost of gasoline, with no deal in sight before Congress adjourns for its five-week summer break on Friday. Published July 31, 2008
Stevens indicted in probe of gifts
Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, the longest serving Republican in the Senate, was indicted Tuesday on seven felony counts of concealing more than $250,000 in gifts from an oil services company that lobbied him. Published July 30, 2008
Coburn’s spending block rallies Senate GOP
Senate Republicans rallied around Sen. Tom Coburn's crusade against excessive government spending by blocking a package of bills aimed at a variety of social programs, saying Democratic leaders first must address the country's energy problems before Congress leaves for its summer break. Published July 29, 2008
Congress sends mortgage bailout to Bush
Congress on Saturday passed a landmark mortgage rescue plan that is expected to help hundreds of thousands of struggling homeowners, but lawmakers remain stalled on how to temper skyrocketing energy prices. Published July 27, 2008
Mortgage bailout nears final passage
A landmark housing bill crafted to aid hundreds of thousands homeowners facing foreclosure and to buttress the mortgage market cleared a final procedural hurdle Friday and is expected to get final congressional approval Saturday. Published July 26, 2008
