Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Obama’s prosecutorial discretion raises questions about executive authority
President Obama turned to prosecutorial discretion yet again Thursday as he tried an end run around Congress, claiming unilateral authority to let companies continue to offer health care plans under Obamacare even if those plans violate his namesake law. Published November 14, 2013
Visitors who overstay visas a growing security concern
The federal government is approving ever-more business and tourism visitors to enter the U.S., raising questions about whether agencies are equipped to approve them, monitor them and make sure they leave when they are supposed to. Published November 13, 2013
TSA wasting money by profiling passengers’ behavior: Report
Government investigators said Wednesday that there is little evidence to show TSA employees are able to pick out potential terrorists by profiling behavior and that the agency may be wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the 3,000 officers hired to do so. Published November 13, 2013
DHS nominee faces backlash over transparency
Senators said Wednesday they are impressed with Jeh C. Johnson, whom President Obama has nominated to head the Homeland Security Department, but said his nomination will suffer delays and opposition unless he is more forthcoming in answering key questions. Published November 13, 2013
Boehner: House won’t negotiate with Senate on immigration bill
House Speaker John A. Boehner on Wednesday flatly ruled out even entering into negotiations with the Senate on that chamber's immigration bill, signaling that the issue is dead for this year — and setting up major hurdles for any action before the midterm elections. Published November 13, 2013
GOP filibusters another Obama nominee for federal court
Republican senators on Tuesday filibustered another of President Obama's nominees to the federal appeals court in Washington, escalating the battle over judges and leaving Democrats enraged and vowing to push again to change the chamber's rules. Published November 12, 2013
Hispanic’s arrest reignites debate over Arizona ‘show your papers’ immigration law
The Arizona ACLU said Tuesday that police in that state have used racial profiling to target Hispanics under that state's strict immigration laws, filing a legal complaint against the city of South Tucson and opening up another legal battle against the state's "show your papers" law. Published November 12, 2013
Feds stiff Arizona border town for ambulance costs for immigrants
Many communities across the U.S. have problems getting reimbursed for sending ambulances to pick up patients, but for one community along the U.S.-Mexico border, the delinquent party is the federal government, which the city of Nogales says owes it hundreds of thousands of dollars for picking up immigrants. Published November 10, 2013
Obamacare an effective GOP weapon in Ken Cuccinelli’s campaign
Democrats spent heavily to win Virginia's governorship, but Republicans said Wednesday that the closer-than-expected loss by state Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II provided a clear demonstration of how they can exploit the unpopularity of Obamacare next year to win the congressional midterm elections. Published November 6, 2013
Virginia election shows Obamacare can be used as political weapon
Democrats spent heavily to win the Virginia governorship Tuesday, but Republicans said by making the race far closer than polls had projected just a few weeks ago, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli's campaign showed how much of a weapon Obamacare can be in the hands of the GOP. Published November 6, 2013
Feds feel shirked for shutdown work, sue for double pay
Some federal workers who were required to remain on the job during the government shutdown said Monday that they have filed a lawsuit demanding double pay, arguing that the government's failure to pay them on time is a violation of labor laws. Published November 4, 2013
Lindsey Graham will lead charge in Senate for abortion ban after 20 weeks
After months of waiting and speculation about who would take the lead, Sen. Lindsey Graham — not Sen. Marco Rubio — will be the chief sponsor of a bill designed to ban abortions nationwide after 20 weeks, or the point at which some scientific evidence says fetuses may feel pain. Published November 3, 2013
Senate intel committee approves NSA snooping, with restrictions
The Senate intelligence committee voted Thursday to officially affirm the NSA's ability to collect records of Americans' telephone calls, but imposes new restrictions on federal authorities who want to sift through the data. Published October 31, 2013
Senate GOP blocks key Obama judge, signals renewed fight over court nominees
Senate Republicans on Thursday filibustered one of President Obama's nominees to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, arguing that although the woman is well-qualified, confirmation would allow Democrats to shift the political balance to the left on the country's second most important court. Published October 31, 2013
Medicare paid millions to dead patients, illegal immigrants, probe finds
Medicare paid $23 million for dead patients in 2011 and $29 million for drug benefits for illegal immigrants from 2009 to 2011, according to a report Thursday from the Health and Human Services inspector general. Published October 31, 2013
Top GOP leader rejects immigration conference with Senate
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee said Wednesday that the chamber's Republicans will not go to a conference committee to work out a broad immigration bill with the Senate. Published October 30, 2013
Third Republican joins Democrats’ immigration bill
Three Republicans have signed up for House Democrats' immigration bill as of Wednesday afternoon, marking a steady increase in support and adding to pressure on GOP leaders to take some action before the end of the year. Published October 30, 2013
Federal deficit dips below $1 trillion for first time in Obama’s tenure
Powered by tax increases and deep budget cuts that held spending in check, the federal deficit dropped to $680 billion in fiscal year 2013, according to a Treasury Department report Wednesday that marks the first subtrillion-dollar deficit since President Obama took office. Published October 30, 2013
No more Obama nominees until White House relents on Benghazi: Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham said Wednesday he will "hold" every future Obama nominee, creating a hurdle for them to reach the Senate floor, until President Obama and the State Department allow Congress to hear from those who were on the ground during last year's Benghazi terrorist attack. Published October 30, 2013
Deportations plummet in 2013, lowest since 2007: Report
U.S. authorities deported fewer immigrants in fiscal year 2013 than at any time since President Obama took office, according to secret numbers obtained by the Center for Immigration Studies which suggest Mr. Obama's non-deportation policies have hindered removals of illegal immigrants. Published October 30, 2013
