Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Secret report: Catch and release for low-priority illegals proposed
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency charged with guarding the U.S. borders, has written a secret draft policy that would let its agents catch and release low-priority illegal immigrants rather than bring them in for processing and prosecution. Published June 14, 2012
Feds use tax dollars to fund pet shampoo ad, reality show in India
Every year, the federal government spends hundreds of millions of dollars to market agricultural products abroad — sending taxpayers' money to subsidize the advertising campaigns of some of the country's largest brand names, according to a report by the Senate's chief waste-watcher. Published June 14, 2012
White House retreats on endangered species protection for lizard
The Obama administration backtracked Wednesday and announced it will not declare the dunes sagebrush lizard an endangered species, saying voluntary efforts by New Mexico and Texas have headed off the need for the federal government to step in. Published June 13, 2012
Democrats jubilant after holding Giffords’ seat
Democrats held onto former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Arizona House seat when voters picked one of her aides to succeed her, fending off a special-election challenge Tuesday that they said presages bigger wins in November. Published June 13, 2012
Feds backtrack on endangered-lizard listing
The Obama administration backtracked Wednesday and announced it will not declare the dunes sagebrush lizard an endangered species, saying voluntary efforts by New Mexico and Texas have headed off the need for the federal government to step in. Published June 13, 2012
Arizona prepares to enforce strict immigration law
Arizona is already gearing up to enforce its strict immigration law as it anticipates a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court sometime this month, with Gov. Jan Brewer issuing an executive order this week telling police to bone up on the details of the law. Published June 13, 2012
Democrats hold Giffords seat in Arizona
Democrats kept former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' seat in their fold Tuesday with Ron Barber, a one-time aide to Ms. Giffords, fending off a special-election challenge in Arizona's 8th District. Published June 13, 2012
GOP pushes for independent leak investigation
Trying to force the fight over intelligence leaks straight to the Senate floor, Republicans on Tuesday introduced a resolution that would put the chamber's members on record over whether they think an independent counsel is needed to look at the Obama administration. Published June 12, 2012
Border agency overextended on drone program
The Homeland Security Department ordered so many drones it can't keep them all flying and doesn't have a good plan for how to use them, according to a new audit the department's inspector general released Monday. Published June 11, 2012
House moving to hold Holder in contempt
House Republicans said Monday that they will move to hold Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. in contempt of Congress, escalating a separation-of-powers battle over Fast and Furious, the Obama administration's botched gun-walking operation. Published June 11, 2012
GAO targets catfish program
In unusually blunt language, Congress' top auditor told the federal government last week to scrap plans for a special catfish-inspection program, saying the new office lawmakers approved just a few years ago is turning out to be a waste of money. Published June 10, 2012
TWT polls: Rubio is conservatives’ top pick for Romney’s running mate
Sen. Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and a rapidly rising star in the Republican Party, emerged this weekend as the clear favorite potential vice presidential pick of conservative activists, according to two polls sponsored by The Washington Times. Published June 10, 2012
Congress, Holder put relationship to the test
Before Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. testified to the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, the ranking Democrat had a warning for his colleagues on the panel: Play nice. Published June 7, 2012
Democrats ‘got beat’ in May fundraising
Mitt Romney and the Republican National Committee trounced President Obama and national Democrats in fundraising last month, according to numbers both campaigns released Thursday, signaling that the Republicans can compete on equal footing with the White House in November. Published June 7, 2012
Romney, RNC top Obama, DNC in May fundraising
Mitt Romney and the Republican National Committee raised more in campaign donations than President Obama and the Democratic National Committee in May, according to the numbers both campaigns announced Thursday. Published June 7, 2012
GOP proposes one-year delay on new tax code
Congressional Republicans floated a deal Wednesday that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts through the end of 2013, which they said would give Congress and whoever occupies the White House next year a chance to work on a total overhaul of the tax code. Published June 6, 2012
GOP floats one-year extension of tax cuts
Congressional Republicans on Wednesday floated the idea of a one-year extension of all of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, saying it will give the economy certainty and give Capitol Hill breathing space to take up a broader reform of the tax code next year. Published June 6, 2012
Dems win control of Wisconsin Senate
Republican Gov. Scott Walker won his recall election, but he may have a tougher time getting things through the Wisconsin Legislature after Democrats appear to have successfully recalled a Republican state senator, which would flip the balance of power in the state. Published June 6, 2012
Walker, GOP win big in Wis. recall races
Wisconsin gave Gov. Scott Walker a renewed lease Tuesday, voting to keep the Republican in office in a recall election that amounted to an embrace of his union-busting, government-trimming agenda in this traditionally Democratic-leaning state. Published June 5, 2012
Women wooed with Hill vote on pay bias
The battle for women's votes will play out in stark terms on the floor of the Senate this week when Democrats push a bill to make it easier for women to sue for claims of sex discrimination in pay — and see the bill defeated by a GOP-led filibuster. Published June 4, 2012