Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
House’s Levin ‘not confident’ Congress gets to tax code reform
Adding to the growing sense on Capitol Hill that tax reform is dead for now, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means committee said Tuesday that he is "not confident" that Congress will reshape the federal tax code this year. Published January 15, 2013
GOP recalls Obama, Biden opposed debt-limit hikes
President Obama's vow not to negotiate on the debt limit this year is a stark reversal for an administration whose two top officials both have a history of balking at debt hikes. Published January 14, 2013
Watchdog sees pork in Sandy relief bill
As Congress takes up the second slice of relief money for Superstorm Sandy, the influential Club for Growth said Monday it will seek to punish the lawmakers who support the $51 billion package because it includes wasteful spending and pork that have nothing to do with reconstruction efforts in the Northeast. Published January 14, 2013
W.Va. Sen. Rockefeller’s exit shakes up ’14
The decision by Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, West Virginia Democrat, not to seek another term in the Senate is the first dent in Democrats' chances of hanging onto power in the upper chamber in 2014 — and emblematic of the challenges the party faces in protecting seats they hold in red states. Published January 13, 2013
W.Va. Sen. Rockefeller won’t seek re-election
Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia announced Friday that he will not seek a sixth term — ending a three-decade run in the upper chamber and giving Republicans some more hope that they can capture the seat in the 2014 election. Published January 11, 2013
Executive gun ‘order’ easier said than done
The administration is eyeing unilateral steps on gun control, but analysts said there are few things President Obama can do on his own because gun control is one area where Congress has jealously guarded its power to make the laws. Published January 10, 2013
‘Fiscal cliff’ deal boosts GDP share of taxes, spending
The tax deal President Obama and congressional Republicans struck last week will send government revenue soaring above its historic average, but did nothing to control spending, which remains stubbornly high. Published January 8, 2013
‘Cliff’ talks center on targets of tax hikes
The crux of the negotiations between President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner is no longer about whether to raise tax rates, but about who would get hit. Published December 20, 2012
For conservatives, tax increase is in eye of beholder
President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner are squabbling over the "fiscal cliff," but an even bigger fight is going on within conservative circles over Mr. Boehner’s latest offer to extend tax cuts for all but millionaires, who would see their taxes increase. Published December 19, 2012
Obama, Boehner grapple near ‘fiscal cliff’
Racing to find common ground in the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner are backing off what were once ironclad positions on taxes and spending — though not enough to reach an agreement just yet, as both men continue to demand additional concessions before signing off on a year-end deal. Published December 18, 2012
As Boehner prepares ‘Plan B’ on ‘fiscal cliff,’ Democrats already reject it
Concerned that the "fiscal cliff" negotiations with President Obama will not bear any fruit, House Speaker John A. Boehner said Tuesday the House GOP is prepared with a "Plan B" option that calls for higher taxes on millionaires and locks in current tax rates for everyone else. Published December 18, 2012
Boehner’s ‘fiscal cliff’ bargaining stirs some uneasiness
House Speaker John A. Boehner's latest "fiscal cliff" offer to the White House has budget hawks fearing he is preparing to break his promise to deliver a dollar in spending cuts for every dollar increase in the nation's borrowing limit. Published December 17, 2012
Edging closer to the ‘fiscal cliff’: Obama, Boehner mum after talks
As the city, the markets and the world weigh in on a possible "fiscal cliff" deal, it's increasingly clear that only two opinions will count in the end. Published December 13, 2012
House members told to plan for Christmas on Hill
President Obama has advised Democrats not to buy any nonrefundable plane tickets before the end of the year, and House leaders have told their members that they may not be home for Christmas. Published December 12, 2012
Boehner seen holding top post despite purge
Despite rumblings from some Republican backbenchers, Speaker John A. Boehner's hold on the House's top post appears secure after key conservative lawmakers said they don't expect anyone to challenge him. Published December 12, 2012
Americans desire a ‘fiscal cliff’ deal without pain
With the clock ticking on Congress to strike a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff," Americans increasingly want to see their leaders compromise to get a deal done — as long as the pain of any compromise leaves them untouched. Published December 11, 2012
Storm relief sets up new spending without cuts
President Obama's call for $60 billion in additional spending to cover damage from Superstorm Sandy tops a congressional wish list of more stimulus spending, expanded unemployment benefits and extending the payroll tax cut — all without finding cuts elsewhere in the federal budget. Published December 10, 2012
Little interest in renewing payroll-tax holiday
Democrats want to see tax rates go up on the wealthy; Republicans want to see cuts in entitlement programs. But neither side is trumpeting an extension of the payroll-tax cut, which is also expected to expire at the end of the year — opening the door for the federal government to dig deeper into the pockets of 160 million workers. Published December 9, 2012
Democrats block quick vote on Obama ‘fiscal cliff’ plan
Senate Republicans forced their Democratic counterparts to block a vote on President Obama's own "fiscal cliff" budget proposal Wednesday — a move that GOP lawmakers said exposed the weakness of the White House's proposal. Published December 5, 2012
Democrats shrug off Republicans’ ‘fiscal cliff’ counter
House Republican leaders delivered a $2.2 trillion "fiscal cliff" counteroffer to President Obama on Monday that included $800 billion in tax increases, but the White House and congressional Democrats said that still isn't enough revenue to begin negotiating. Published December 3, 2012
