Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
‘Future of affirmative action’ at stake in Michigan case
Affirmative action proponents go to the Supreme Court on Tuesday to argue that a ban on discrimination can itself be discriminatory. Published October 14, 2013
Protesters chain themselves to stop deportations in Arizona
Immigrant-rights protesters have chained themselves in front of an detention facility in Eloy, Ariz., and planned to blockade the main federal immigration office in Phoenix later Monday, hoping to stop anyone from being deported. Published October 14, 2013
White House meeting postponed; ‘optimistic’ senators given more time to cut shutdown deal
The White House abruptly postponed a scheduled meeting Monday afternoon with congressional leaders and President Obama "to allow leaders in the Senate time to continue making important progress towards a solution that raises the debt limit and reopens the government." Published October 14, 2013
Bungling bureaucrats dole out billions in tax credits to illegal immigrants
The federal government's decision to pay out billions of dollars in tax credits to illegal immigrants likely was made by midlevel bureaucrats and has never received full congressional scrutiny, according to a study that the Center for Immigration Studies is releasing Monday. Published October 14, 2013
Report: Tax credits to illegals likely from midlevel bureaucrats
The federal government's decision to pay out billions of dollars in tax credits to illegal immigrants likely was made by midlevel bureaucrats and has never received full congressional scrutiny, according to a study that the Center for Immigration Studies is releasing Monday. Published October 13, 2013
National Park Service reopens some sites after pressure from governors, veterans
Seeking to blunt the worst of the government shutdown, the Obama administration agreed late last week to reopen national park sites in five states after governors said they would pony up millions of dollars to pay the workers needed to run them. Published October 13, 2013
Lots of talk, little action on debt deal in Congress
Congress spent the weekend insisting that it will reach a deal to raise the federal government's borrowing limit by Thursday but making scant progress even as all sides tried to reassure itchy financial markets ahead of the stock market opening Monday. Published October 13, 2013
N.J. Gov. Christie now wants in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
Immigrant-rights activists say New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reversed himself Saturday and endorsed giving illegal immigrants in-state college tuition rates, and said he will try to get the issue through his legislature in a lame-duck session. Published October 13, 2013
Reset: New round of talks begin after negotiations collapse
As the government shutdown entered its 12th day, the best lawmakers on Capitol Hill could say on Saturday is that they've started talking — again. Published October 12, 2013
Grand Canyon to reopen despite shutdown
Arizona and the federal Interior Department agreed Friday to reopen Grand Canyon National Park for at least a week, with the state ponying up $651,000 to fund the National Park Service's operations in the midst of the government shutdown. Published October 11, 2013
Utah, Colorado parks to reopen amid shutdown; Arizona still waiting
Utah has agreed to pay the federal government $1.7 million to open up eight national parks during the government shutdown, and the National Park Service officials said they would consider similar agreements with other states — but were apparently "dragging their feet" with Arizona. Published October 11, 2013
Activists block buses, shut down immigration court in Tucson
Immigrant-rights activists said Friday morning they are blocking buses in Tucson, Ariz., filled with illegal immigrants who are on their way to be being sentenced to jail and then processed for deportation. Published October 11, 2013
Reid says House debt offer won’t work
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday that the six-week debt limit holiday House Republicans proposed is bad policy that would mean the government would be right back in the same situation soon. Published October 11, 2013
Obama urged not to expand nondeportation policy for immigrants
A bipartisan group of immigration reform advocates urged President Obama on Thursday not to use executive action to expand his Dream Act nondeportation policy to all illegal immigrants, saying it would not only be potentially illegal but could ruin the chances for a big bill to pass Congress. Published October 10, 2013
Debt deals between president, Congress nearly as old as the nation
President Obama says it would be folly for the White House to negotiate with Congress over the government's debt — but the nation's founders thought differently. Published October 10, 2013
GOP relents, offers to raise debt limit; White House mulling proposal
House Republicans gave ground Thursday in the debt ceiling fight by offering to raise the nation’s borrowing limit for six weeks, and the White House said President Obama might sign such a measure to avoid default. Published October 10, 2013
Obama will consider signing GOP’s 6-week extension on debt ceiling
House Republicans gave ground Thursday in the debt ceiling fight by offering to raise the nation's borrowing limit for six weeks, and the White House said President Obama might sign such a measure to avoid default. Published October 10, 2013
Boehner to propose short-term debt increase: Report
House Speaker John A. Boehner will ask his fellow Republicans at a Thursday morning meeting to approve a short-term debt increase, the Associated Press reported — a move that would give them time to negotiate a broader deal. Published October 10, 2013
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew refuses to lay out priorities for post-debt spending
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew refused to tell Congress on Thursday how he would prioritize spending obligations in the event the Treasury Department hits the $16.7 trillion debt limit, saying that he doesn't know what the legal framework would be for making those decisions. Published October 10, 2013
First Amendment used to break Park Service barriers during shutdown
Taking their lead from the veterans who first pushed through the barricades to visit the World War II Memorial, Americans nationwide are defying the federal government shutdown, tossing aside traffic cones and toppling wooden fences to get to national parks and other federal lands that the administration has deemed out of bounds. Published October 9, 2013
