Stephen Dinan

Palestinians gain U.N. status as ‘observer state’

Palestinians won a victory on the world stage Thursday when the U.N. General Assembly voted to grant them enhanced status in the world body, but they could face a backlash in Washington, where lawmakers introduced legislation to kick them out of their diplomatic offices and to strip U.S. aid. Published November 29, 2012

Obama opposes GOP option for amnesty

The Obama administration said Wednesday it opposes House Republicans' first postelection immigration effort to entice more high-tech university graduates to stay in the U.S., signaling that this month's election has yet to foster a breakthrough on Capitol Hill on an issue all sides expect to dominate. Published November 28, 2012

Are parties hurtling toward ‘fiscal cliff’?

With little tangible headway being made in Washington on averting the looming federal taxes-and-spending crisis, a key observer said Wednesday that he puts the chances of Congress reaching a deal before the Jan. 1 "fiscal cliff" deadline at less than 1 in 3. Published November 28, 2012

Senate calls for more Marines at U.S. diplomatic posts

The Senate voted Wednesday to authorize adding Marine security forces to more U.S. diplomatic posts around the globe in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist assault in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead. Published November 28, 2012

Senators in GOP propose immigration reform

Moving to try to steal the immigration spotlight from Democrats, top Senate Republicans on Tuesday introduced their own version of the Dream Act to grant young illegal immigrants legal rights — though it wouldn’t give them a special path to citizenship. Published November 27, 2012

Data show Hispanics more likely to relate to Democrats

Stung by their election defeat, Republicans are eager to try to woo Hispanic voters, arguing that once their party puts immigration reform behind them, the ethnic group will be open to the GOP's conservative message. Published November 26, 2012

Reid threatens filibuster change

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid confirmed Monday he will push to change Senate rules and curtail some Republican filibusters next year, setting up a major test of collegiality and power politics in the usually chummy chamber that bills itself as "the world's most exclusive club." Published November 26, 2012

GOP immigration bill keeps the well-educated

Trying to beat Democrats to the punch on the first post-election immigration bill, House Republicans have scheduled a vote later this week on a business-friendly proposal to grant green cards to foreigners who earn high-tech doctoral degrees from U.S. universities. Published November 26, 2012

Roosevelt’s movable feast sparked outrage in year of ‘Franksgiving’

The year was 1939, and American businesses, still reeling from the previous year's recession, decided they wanted an extra week of Christmas shopping. The solution? They asked President Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving up a week. Roosevelt complied — and confusion and outrage ensued. Published November 21, 2012

EPA says Jackson has an internal use email, compliance with FOIA raised

The Environmental Protection Agency this week acknowledged that Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has a second official email that she uses for important communications, but said it's a standard practice and doesn't shield her from open-records requests. Published November 20, 2012

Illegals may get driver’s licenses in Illinois

Top Illinois state officials said Tuesday they'll push to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants — a move backed also by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who for years stood as Democrats' key impediment to pushing immigration in Congress. Published November 20, 2012

Allen West concedes in Fla. House race, leaves one black GOP lawmaker

Rep. Allen B. West's concession Tuesday that he lost his bid for re-election means the 113th Congress will open in January with only one black Republican in either chamber — a rough end to a year when the GOP had high hopes for expanding the diversity of its caucus. Published November 20, 2012

Marines fight for recognition of fallen comrade’s courage

U.S. combat troops are gone from Iraq, but for some of the Marines who lived through it, there's one more fight to win: making sure one of the fallen, Sgt. Rafael Peralta, is awarded the Medal of Honor. Published November 19, 2012

Democrat leads,  West still fights  at deadline for  Florida recount

Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy declared victory Sunday over Rep. Allen B. West after a partial recount this weekend showed him still leading by more than half a percentage point — though Mr. West is refusing to concede, and questions linger over how ballots were treated in one Florida county. Published November 18, 2012

Congress demands EPA’s secret email accounts

A House committee has launched an investigation into whether EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson used an email alias to try to hide correspondence from open-government requests and her agency's own internal watchdog — something that Republican lawmakers said could run afoul of the law. Published November 17, 2012

West wins request for recount of some ballots

Rep. Allen West won a full recount of early voting in St. Lucie County when the county's canvassing board voted late Friday to grant his request. Published November 17, 2012

Judge denies West’s recount bid in bitter Florida race

A Florida judge on Friday denied Republican Rep. Allen West's plea for a full recount of early voting ballots in St. Lucie County, saying he didn't have authority to grant the request, according to the Palm Beach Post. Published November 16, 2012

Leaders on Hill ready to bargain on taxes

Top congressional leaders of both parties, eager to avoid the "fiscal cliff," are beginning to show signs of willingness to compromise on the thorny issue of raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans as they prepare to meet President Obama on Friday at the White House. Published November 15, 2012

GOP leaders back West’s call for recount

State and national Republican Party officials are getting behind Rep. Allen B. West's call for a recount of all early votes in St. Lucie County, Fla., saying it would be "unconscionable" not to answer lingering questions about the results, which show the outspoken GOP lawmaker trailing Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy. Published November 15, 2012

Early votes in West’s Florida race being recounted

Florida's secretary of state dispatched auditors Wednesday to try to get to the bottom of voting irregularities in St. Lucie County, where Rep. Allen B. West trails in vote-counting after last week's election but says there are too many questions for him to concede. Published November 14, 2012