Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Congress to punt political football again rather than tackle problem
Washington on Monday was poised to do what it does best: invent a half-solution to a full problem while punting the toughest questions for later and setting up more deadline drama. Published December 31, 2012
Obama: ‘Fiscal cliff’ deal is close but ‘not done’
With just hours to meet a midnight deadline to avert the "fiscal cliff," President Obama said Monday afternoon that a deal is "within sight but is not done." Published December 31, 2012
Senate votes to avoid ‘fiscal cliff’
Congress careened over the edge of the fiscal cliff at midnight, but a solution was in the offing after the Senate voted early Tuesday to approve a deal that combined tax-rate hikes and new stimulus spending, along with a two-month delay of automatic spending cuts. Published December 31, 2012
GOP backs off Social Security income change
Republicans on Sunday conceded on their demand that any "fiscal cliff" deal trim Social Security cost-of-living increases, signaling the end — for now — of their push to reform entitlements in exchange for higher tax rates. Published December 30, 2012
Sandy-hit agencies get no free ride for new cars
The Senate passed a massive Superstorm Sandy relief bill late last week but not before lawmakers took a stab at some accountability — including insisting that the FBI, Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies first try to replace flood-damaged vehicles from within their existing fleets. Published December 30, 2012
Offers fly, but still no ‘fiscal cliff’ agreement
With hours to go, President Obama and Congress barreled toward the New Year's Day "fiscal cliff," trading last-minute offers and narrowing the range of options Sunday, but reaching no deal. Published December 30, 2012
Obama says immigration reform will be priority
President Obama says immigration is his major second-term priority, on par with his push for health care in his first term, according to an interview aired Sunday that continues to boost the issue to the top of the political conversation. Published December 30, 2012
Sides trade blame on ‘fiscal cliff’ as talks proceed
The two Senate leaders were trying Saturday to hash out a tax-and-spending deal to avert this "fiscal cliff," even as both sides took to the airwaves to try to assure voters they want to get something done. Published December 29, 2012
Senators try to head off ‘nuclear’ filibuster fight
Seeking to head off a poisonous debate over filibuster rules at the beginning of the new Congress, a gang of eight senators on Friday said they've worked out new procedures that could grease the legislative wheels while still preserving minority rights. Published December 28, 2012
Senate leaders hopeful for last-minute ‘fiscal cliff’ deal
The top Democrat and Republican in the Senate emerged from a meeting at the White House Friday evening to say they are hopeful they can strike a last-minute deal to avert the tax increases and spending cuts looming in less than four days. Published December 28, 2012
‘After you’ dance on ‘fiscal cliff’ deadline
House Republican leaders said Thursday that they will bring their chamber back to town this weekend to try to avert the "fiscal cliff" — the sole optimistic sign on a day when pessimism deepened within both parties on whether Congress can avoid the looming tax increases and automatic spending cuts. Published December 27, 2012
New Hawaii senator provides Democrats with reinforcements
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called for reinforcements and Hawaii's governor responded, dispatching Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz to Washington to take over the state's empty Senate seat on Thursday, ahead of a series of potentially critical votes. Published December 27, 2012
Reid: Time has run out on ‘fiscal cliff’
The Senate returned to business Thursday with an increasing sense that the country will go over the "fiscal cliff," leading to higher taxes and deep spending cuts across the board. Published December 27, 2012
Liberals press own red lines in ‘fiscal cliff’ talks
Republicans said Wednesday it's now Democrats' turn to feel the heat of trying to work out a budget deal. Published December 26, 2012
Obama cuts Hawaii vacation short because of ‘fiscal cliff’
President Obama is cutting his Christmas vacation in Hawaii short to return overnight Wednesday to Washington, where the tax-and-spending debate awaits him. Published December 26, 2012
Increase in deportations hits criminals
The Obama administration has dramatically changed the composition of those it's deporting now that President Obama's non-deportation policy is in effect, setting an overall record for the number of people kicked out of the U.S. last year. Published December 23, 2012
Obama administration sets deportation record
The Obama administration deported a record 409,849 illegal immigrants in the last fiscal year, with the majority of them convicted criminals, according to statistics released Friday. Published December 21, 2012
Boehner says he’s staying as speaker after ‘fiscal cliff’ failure
Hours after his fellow Republicans delivered a crushing blow to him, House Speaker John A. Boehner said Friday morning the rebellion wasn't aimed at him, but rather at federal spending. Published December 21, 2012
Homeland Security postpones stricter driver’s license rules
The Obama administration on Thursday once again delayed the deadline for states to comply with stricter standards for driver's licenses, which were put in place after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. and were designed to keep illegal immigrants from being able to get valid identification. Published December 20, 2012
Boehner’s ‘Plan B’ to avoid ‘fiscal cliff’ fails to win over GOP
House Republicans' "Plan B" to avert the "fiscal cliff" came crashing down Thursday night after party leaders realized they didn't have the votes to pass it, and pulled it from the floor — leaving the country poised on the edge of massive tax increases and spending cuts. Published December 20, 2012
