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Stephen Dinan

Stephen Dinan

Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Stephen Dinan

A major trade deal could be a capstone legacy for President Obama's second term in office — if he can deliver the votes. (Associated Press)

Obama undermined by Democrats on fast-track trade authority, Asia deal

Democrats are "overwhelmingly" opposed to both fast-track trade authority and to the Asian trade deal the administration is negotiating, exposing doubts about President Obama from within his own ranks — and an ever-shrinking number of lawmakers even willing to be persuaded by him. Published April 19, 2015

The Asia free trade agreement could be a major part of President Obama's legacy, but first he'll need to deliver dozens of Democratic votes in the face of vociferous objections by labor unions and liberal pressure groups, who already have declared it a make-or-break vote. (Associated Press)

Trade deal breakthrough sets up new test for Obama

Top lawmakers struck a bipartisan deal Thursday to grant President Obama fast-track trade negotiating authority, potentially paving the way for a massive free trade agreement with Asia and igniting what is likely to be the top fight of the 114th Congress. Published April 16, 2015

The Internal Revenue Service Headquarters (IRS) building is seen in Washington on April 13, 2014. (Associated Press) **FILE**

IRS customer service twice as bad in first year of Obamacare tax

IRS customer service representatives managed to answer only about a tenth of taxpayers' phone calls this season, and even the lucky ones waited an average of nearly 25 minutes before getting through, the agency's auditor reported Thursday. Published April 16, 2015

The Medicare bill that patched a 1997 law that was about to foist a 21 percent pay cut on doctors was the product of negotiations between the unlikely duo of House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat. (Associated Press)

Republicans, Democrats find common ground on Iran, Medicare, education

A rash of bipartisanship has broken out in recent weeks on Capitol Hill, where Republicans and Democrats have teamed up to make progress on issues such as entitlement spending and education reforms, leaving lawmakers and Congress watchers alike wondering whether it's the dawn of a promising era. Published April 15, 2015

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Virginia Republican, on Tuesday confronted ICE Director Sarah Saldana over her agency's record. (Associated Press)

Sarah Saldana, ICE chief, takes heat over agency’s record

The administration released dozens of convicted illegal immigrant murderers and rapists back onto the streets last year, even as it began to hold more women and children, according to the latest statistics that have President Obama and his immigration team taking fire from all sides in the debate. Published April 14, 2015

In this March 3, 2015 photo, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers make an arrest in New York, during a series of early-morning raids. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement say an increasing number of cities and counties across the United States are limiting cooperation with the agency.  (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Feds releasing hundreds of illegal immigrant rapists, murderers: report

The administration is deporting fewer criminal aliens than it did last year, according to new statistics released Tuesday that undercut President Obama's justification for his new amnesty, which he said was intended to free agents to focus on the most dangerous of criminals by focusing on "felons not families." Published April 14, 2015

President Obama raises his glass to toast during a luncheon hosted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sept. 24, 2014, at the United Nations headquarters. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Feds sitting on billions of dollars of unused assets

The federal government is sitting on billions of dollars in money and valuable resources it no longer needs and could capitalize on to help reduce the deficit or pay for other priorities, Congress's chief investigative arm reported Tuesday. Published April 14, 2015

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during his news conference at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama, Saturday, April 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

OPT program may cause Americans lose jobs to foreign workers

Businesses are increasingly making use of a little-known program that lets them hire high-skilled foreign workers for internships, without having to pay their payroll taxes — creating what critics say is yet another perverse incentive to pick would-be immigrants over American workers. Published April 13, 2015

Rubio

Marco Rubio unlikely to earn GOP new Hispanic fans: poll

As Sen. Marco Rubio prepares his presidential campaign, a pollster who specializes in surveying Latinos cast doubt on whether the Florida Republican will help the GOP make inroads with Hispanics. Published April 12, 2015

In this March 9, 2015, file photo, Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill. speaks in Washington. Durbin is accusing Republican of putting Loretta Lynch, President Barack Obama's attorney general nominee "in the back of the bus." (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Senators demand probe into guest-worker program, American layoffs

They agree on little else in the immigration debate but Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions and Democratic Sen. Richard J. Durbin teamed together Thursday to ask the Obama administration to investigate the guest-worker program for high-skilled foreigners, fearing it's being abused by companies desperate for cheaper labor. Published April 9, 2015