Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
Rubio pushes ahead with school choice bill
Following through on his promise to promote school choice, Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a measure Wednesday that would create tax incentives aimed at helping students cover the costs of private school. Published February 13, 2013
GOP’s Rubio tells Obama to end obsession with taxes, while tea partier Paul attacks spending
Sen. Marco Rubio on Tuesday said President Obama's "obsession with raising taxes" and excessive spending is strangling the economy, and called for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution while delivering the Republican response to the State of the Union. Published February 12, 2013
State of Union response carries risk for Marco Rubio
After the State of the Union address Tuesday night, Sen. Marco Rubio steps before the cameras to deliver one of the Republican responses — and the stakes couldn't be higher for the high-profile young senator. Published February 10, 2013
Sen. Paul pleads for sanity, balance on foreign policy
Drawing a contrast between himself and Capitol Hill Republicans whom he tied to a longtime "war caucus," Sen. Rand Paul called Wednesday for a "saner, more balanced" approach to foreign policy that strikes a balance between neoconservative and isolationist thinking. Published February 6, 2013
Cantor shifts stance on immigration reform, backs pathway for ‘Dreamers’
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor called on Congress on Tuesday to carve out a pathway to citizenship for so-called Dreamers — illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. at a young age — making him the highest-ranking Republican leader to embrace the legalization of a broad category of people living in the U.S. illegally. Published February 5, 2013
Romney son, wife eyed for Senate seat; Brown out, field open
Former Sen. Scott P. Brown's decision not to seek the Senate seat vacated by Democrat John F. Kerry has sent the Massachusetts GOP back to its wish list of candidates — a list that, for some, includes Ann Romney and Taggart "Tagg" Romney, the wife and oldest son of Mitt Romney, last year's GOP presidential nominee. Published February 3, 2013
Cruz 0-for-11 in Senate and proud of it
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been on the losing side of every vote the Senate has taken in his young career — the only senator who can claim that distinction, boosting his anti-establishment credentials and earning him rave reviews from grass-roots conservatives. Published February 3, 2013
Scott Brown won’t run for Massachusetts Senate seat
Former Sen. Scott Brown announced Friday that he is passing on the chance to run for in the special election to fill Democrat John Kerry's seat. Published February 1, 2013
Governor’s former aide to fill Kerry’s Senate seat
Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts tapped a former top aide Wednesday to fill John F. Kerry's seat on an interim basis in the Senate and said voters will pick someone to serve out the remainder of the Democrat's term in a special election this summer. Published January 30, 2013
McCain: Obama-Clinton ‘60 Minutes’ interview not Biden’s ‘happiest day’
A top Senate Republican joked Wednesday that Vice President Joseph R. Biden probably had some additional heartburn after President Obama showered his outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with praise during a joint interview that aired on national television last week. Published January 30, 2013
Rubio takes big risk with stance on immigration
Marking the boldest move of his brief congressional career, Sen. Marco Rubio walked out on a limb this week by joining a move to pass comprehensive immigration reform — thrusting him into the middle of a thorny political debate that carries risk and reward for the freshman lawmaker. Published January 29, 2013
Ryan key in debt ceiling increase
Looking to gin up support for a short-term increase in the nation's borrowing limit, House Speaker John A. Boehner turned to Rep. Paul Ryan earlier this month to persuade rank-and-file lawmakers to temporarily back off the dollar-for-dollar spending cuts they had demanded in any debt ceiling hike. Published January 28, 2013
Sen. Cruz to House GOP: Stop reading The New York Times
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has some advice for fellow Republicans in the House: Stop reading The New York Times. Published January 26, 2013
Harkin will not seek another term in the Senate
Sen. Tom Harkin announced Saturday that he will not seek another term in office — putting another dent in Democrats' chances of hanging onto control of the Senate in the 2014 election. Published January 26, 2013
Ryan: Obama achievements far less than advertised
The chairman of the House budget committee said Saturday that President Obama's second term will show that the benefits of his agenda "are far less than advertised" and will open the door for Republicans to show voters that "given the chance, we can govern." Published January 26, 2013
GOP lawmakers question debt deal
House GOP lawmakers seemed to have forged a greater sense of unity emerging from a three-day retreat in Virginia last week, after party leaders rolled out their plan to avoid a showdown with President Obama by temporarily raising the federal debt limit. Published January 22, 2013
Biden seems revved up and ready for 2016
Even as President Obama on Monday grasped the reins of power for another four years, the man who would be his successor — Vice President Joseph R. Biden — was never far away. Published January 21, 2013
Boehner wants Senate budget before any final debt ceiling deal
Capping a three-day GOP retreat, House GOP leaders announced that next week they will pursue a three-month extension of the nation's borrowing limit to give Congress more time to pass a federal budget — warning that the proposal will also freeze members' pay if they fail to do their job. Published January 18, 2013
At retreat, GOP advances debt-limit strategies
The chairman of the House Budget Committee on Thursday said the House GOP is considering a short-term extension of the nation's debt limit to buy Democrats and Republicans some additional time to hash out a long-term deficit-reduction deal, and to force a national conversation over the size and scope of the federal budget. Published January 17, 2013
Viewed as out of touch, GOP gathers forces to plot rebirth
As House Republicans head to Williamsburg, Va., to talk strategy at their annual retreat, a top Democratic pollster warned Wednesday that voters think the GOP has fallen outside the mainstream on everything from taxes to gay rights. Published January 16, 2013
