Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
Mitt Romney warns against government shutdown to defund Obamacare
Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee, doesn't support the breakaway group of conservatives who are open to forcing a government shutdown to cut off funding for Obamacare. Published August 7, 2013
Angry bluegrass roots and strong rivals spell trouble for Mitch McConnell in Kentucky
In Washington, Mitch McConnell is the Senate Republicans' floor general and a major power broker. Back home in Kentucky, however, he is possibly the most endangered member of the GOP Senate caucus ahead of next year's midterm elections, as he tries to balance pleasing vociferous right-wing constituents with his role as chief congressional dealmaker. Published August 6, 2013
Cotton running for Senate in Arkansas with Pryor in GOP’s crosshairs
Rep. Tom Cotton officially announced Tuesday that he will challenge Arkansas Sen. Mark L. Pryor for his seat, giving the GOP a prized recruit in the race and raising the party's hopes that his candidacy puts it a step closer to taking over the Senate in the 2014 election. Published August 6, 2013
‘Defund Obamacare’ push to challenge GOP candidates; battle cry of primary opponents
The push to defund President Obama's health care law is becoming a litmus test for GOP midterm primaries, where insurgent candidates are using the issue to bash incumbent Republicans balking at being forced to choose between funding the law or shutting down the government. Published August 5, 2013
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus protests Hillary Clinton documentary
The head of the Republican National Committee is demanding that NBC and CNN pull the plug on airing an upcoming documentary and a miniseries on former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton — or risk losing out on the chance to sponsor presidential debates in the 2016 GOP primary election. Published August 5, 2013
Citadel graduate to challenge Graham for S.C. Senate seat
Add South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham to the list of veteran GOP lawmakers who have drawn a challenge from the right for the 2014 midterm cycle. Published August 4, 2013
Mace raises money to topple Graham in 2014 GOP primary
The first female graduate of the Citadel is raising money in preparation for a 2014 primary challenge against GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Published August 2, 2013
Senate OKs Obama pick for U.N. ambassador
The Senate on Thursday approved Samantha Power to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, clearing the decks of all of President Obama's nominees who had stacked up in the face of Republican delays. Published August 1, 2013
With Benghazi in mind, panel approves embassy security bill
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a proposal Thursday that aims to bolster security at U.S. embassies and diplomatic posts around the world in the aftermath of the attacks on a diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, last year. Published August 1, 2013
Senate rejects Paul push to cut Egypt aid
Senate lawmakers sent a clear message Wednesday that they have no plans to cut taxpayer assistance for Egypt in the wake of the military coup against the elected government of President Mohammed Morsi. Published July 31, 2013
Justice Dept. to press Texas on voting rights, despite ruling by Supreme Court
The Obama administration is planning to mount an aggressive campaign intended to counter the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Voting Rights Act, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. is announcing Thursday. Published July 25, 2013
House Republicans may widen IRS inquiry; lawmakers to focus on audits of conservative nonprofits
House Republicans are weighing a major expansion of their investigation into the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservatives by looking into the audits of nonprofit groups, potentially opening another front in the scandal. Published July 24, 2013
White House won’t confirm visit by IRS counsel at suspicious time
The Obama administration is refusing to say whether a top Internal Revenue Service official visited the White House just before he weighed in on the guidelines used to determine whether a group qualifies for tax-exempt status — raising questions about the role his office played in the agency's targeting of conservatives. Published July 24, 2013
Nunn’s daughter enters Senate race in Georgia
Michelle Nunn formally entered the Georgia Senate race Tuesday, giving Democrats new hope they can compete in the reliably red state and put a dent in Republicans chances of taking over the upper chamber. Published July 23, 2013
Records of Christine O’Donnell tax snooping disappear
Delaware state officials have told Congress that they likely destroyed the computer records that would show when and how often they accessed Christine O'Donnell's personal tax records and acknowledged that a newspaper article was used as the sole justification for snooping into the former GOP Senate candidate's tax history. Published July 23, 2013
Tea party branches likely to clash in Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s re-election bid
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's re-election push is exposing some fissures in the tea party movement, with national groups supporting his re-election and local groups calling for him to be replaced with a "true conservative." Published July 22, 2013
Wyoming GOP primary race for Senate pits neocons vs. libertarians
The Republican primary for the U.S. Senate race in Wyoming could erupt into a proxy war in the battle between the libertarian and conservative wings of the party over national security, with Sen. Rand Paul supporting Sen. Michael B. Enzi in his re-election bid against the eldest daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Published July 21, 2013
Wyoming GOP primary pits neocons vs. libertarians
The Republican primary for the U.S. Senate race in Wyoming could erupt into a proxy war in the battle between the libertarian and conservative wings of the party over national security, with Sen. Rand Paul supporting Sen. Michael B. Enzi in his re-election bid against the eldest daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Published July 21, 2013
Burned by immigration reform, Rubio shifts focus
Fresh off a bruising immigration bill fight that cost him support among some on the Republican right, Sen. Marco Rubio is refocusing on bread-and-butter issues that play better with the GOP base: defunding President Obama's health law, promoting pro-life policies and attacking the United Nations. Published July 17, 2013
Senate Democrats win votes on four nominees in ‘nuclear option’ showdown
Bowing to an ultimatum, Senate Republicans agreed Tuesday to drop objections to key Obama administration nominees, delivering a victory to Senate Democrats who said they will shelve — for now — their own plans to change the rules and curtail filibusters. Published July 16, 2013
