Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
Senate ‘nuclear option’ on filibusters defused — for now
The "nuclear option" has been defused — for now — after Republican senators said Tuesday they would drop their blockade of Richard Cordray to be the new head of a consumer protection bureau, ending for now what had appeared to be a major crisis over the filibuster and minority rights in the Senate. Published July 16, 2013
Race to take control of Senate in 2014 ‘pretty close right now’
Republican hopes for retaking the Senate in 2014 improved substantially this weekend when Democrats' best option declined to run for Montana's open seat. Published July 15, 2013
Democrats want to probe IG who started IRS scandal; question GOP bias
As Republicans press their investigation into the Internal Revenue Service, Democrats are trying to turn the focus to the Republican ties of the agency's chief investigator, Inspector General J. Russell George, whose May audit ignited the firestorm. Published July 14, 2013
Marco Rubio: No debt limit increase until Congress adopts plan to balance budget in 10 years
Warning that the nation is on the "road to decline," Sen. Marco Rubio called on Congress Thursday to defund "Obamacare" and not raise the nation's debt limit until the White House agrees to a plan to bring the budget into balance within 10 years. Published July 11, 2013
Harry Reid prepares Senate to go ‘nuclear,’ end nomination filibusters
Senate Democrats laid the groundwork Thursday to trigger the "nuclear option" against minority filibusters, setting up a dramatic Tuesday showdown in which Republicans either will have to accept seven of President Obama's controversial appointments or watch as Democrats change the rules and end filibusters of executive branch nominees. Published July 11, 2013
Marco Rubio in hot water with tea party over immigration bill
Sen. Marco Rubio's popularity has plummeted among tea party activists who say the Florida Republican, who helped ignite their movement with his 2010 Senate bid, has failed to live up to the hype — and made a major wrong turn by joining Sen. John McCain's push to legalize illegal immigrants. Published July 10, 2013
GOP still struggling on gay marriage messaging
Virginia Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II used to be on record supporting a federal constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, but now that he is running for governor, he refuses to take a stand. Published July 9, 2013
Rick Perry not running for Texas governor, coy on 2016
Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced Monday that he will not seek a fourth term, fueling speculation of another White House run for the nation's longest-serving chief executive and opening the door for a new leader of the biggest GOP-leaning state. Published July 8, 2013
Will 2016 GOP nominee be a fresh upstart or a 2012 redux candidate?
They may have been "beat like baby seals" in the 2012 Republican primaries, but a little more than a year later, some of those losers are already sounding out their chances to try again in 2016. Published July 7, 2013
Rubio weighs sponsorship of bill to end abortions after 20 weeks
Sen. Marco Rubio is expected to sign on as the chief sponsor of a bill that calls for the end of most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy — a move that would put him in the thick of another politically charged national debate and perhaps shield him from the barrage of criticism he is facing on immigration. Published July 3, 2013
Grimes says McConnell has lost touch with voters
Minutes after Alison Lundergan Grimes launched her Senate bid in Kentucky the battle lines were drawn, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tying the Democrat to President Obama and the agenda of "Washington liberals." Published July 2, 2013
George W. Bush: History will be the judge; as for opinion polls, ‘I could care less’
President George W. Bush said that history will be the judge of his record in office — not the public opinion polls that show more Americans are starting to look at his presidency in a more positive light. Published July 2, 2013
Under fire from conservatives, Republican groups defend Marco Rubio on immigration
Sen. Marco Rubio is getting some support for going out on a political limb in support of the comprehensive immigration reform bill, making its way through Congress, that has angered some grassroots conservatives. Published July 2, 2013
Obama appeals for restraint in Egyptian protests
Responding to the escalating anti-government protests in Egypt, President Obama warned Monday that there could be more violence and urged people on both sides of the uprising to "show restraint." Published July 1, 2013
Obama steps up aid to save Africa’s animals
President Obama issued an executive order Monday targeting the illegal trafficking of elephant tusks, rhinoceros horns and other products from protected animals in Africa, saying the poaching and trafficking is threatening the continent's iconic wildlife and must be stopped. Published July 1, 2013
GOP lawmakers in Texas take another swing at stricter abortion limits
Days after a Democrat-led filibuster helped kill new abortion restrictions, Republican Gov. Rick Perry and GOP lawmakers plan to take another swing at the politically charged issue when they return to Austin on Monday for a second special legislative session. Published July 1, 2013
Same-sex marriages still divisive in GOP
The Supreme Court's rulings on gay marriage this week exposed growing fissures among Republicans, with some social conservatives issuing a call to arms in defense of traditional marriage and others warning it is time for the party to soften its rhetoric on the politically charged issue. Published June 27, 2013
Obama administration has lost two-thirds of Supreme Court cases
President Obama celebrated the Supreme Court's decisions Wednesday on gay marriage, but overall it has been a rocky term before the court for his administration, winning just more than a third of the cases in which it was involved. Published June 26, 2013
Obama will start climate change fight with reductions in carbon emissions
Seeking to jump-start the stalled national debate over climate change, President Obama said Tuesday that because Congress has failed to act, he has a moral obligation to take matters into his own hands in an effort to curb production of greenhouse gases. Published June 25, 2013
Obama to push unilateral action against climate change
President Obama says he will renew his push to combat climate change, beginning with a speech Tuesday — but he will find his options more limited than during his first term when temperatures appeared to be on the rise, along with momentum for curbing greenhouse gas emissions at home and abroad. Published June 24, 2013
