Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Court buries tax-shelter deal on ‘sham’ cemeteries
A federal court on Thursday officially barred a Northern Virginia man from promoting tax shelters - the final chapter in a case federal investigators said involved selling fraudulent shares in "sham" cemeteries to help customers claim tax deductions from investment losses or charitable donations. Published April 12, 2012
Romney’s wooing of female vote hits early snag
With the general election campaign unofficially under way, Mitt Romney's effort to win back female voters got off to a rocky start Wednesday when his campaign was stumped temporarily over whether he supports the 3-year-old Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Published April 11, 2012
Santorum’s exit shifts GOP race
Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania put his presidential campaign on ice Tuesday, removing the final major hurdle for Mitt Romney to win the Republican nomination and turn his full attention to a general-election bid against President Obama. Published April 10, 2012
Santorum suspends campaign for GOP presidential nomination
Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania suspended his presidential campaign Tuesday, removing the final major hurdle for Mitt Romney to win the Republican nomination and marking the unofficial beginning of the general election battle with President Obama. Published April 10, 2012
Eagerness seen as a vice in presidential veepstakes
While Mitt Romney finally looks to have the Republican nomination within his grasp, the jockeying among the wannabes for the No. 2 spot on the GOP ticket is only now ramping up. Published April 8, 2012
Government records 40th straight deficit month in March
The federal government ran a $777 billion deficit for the first six months of fiscal year 2012, the Congressional Budget Office estimated on Friday, including a $196 billion hole in March, marking the 40th straight month of deficits. Published April 6, 2012
Romney tells press to uncover Obama’s secrets
Mitt Romney urged the country's news editors on Wednesday to delve more deeply into what he said were President Obama's secret second-term plans, telling them they have a duty to "do the seeking" to expose what the White House has in store. Published April 4, 2012
House subpoenas Obama administration on Gulf oil drilling
A House committee issued subpoenas Tuesday demanding the Obama administration turn over documents Republicans say will show the backroom negotiations that led to President Obama's Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium in 2010. Published April 3, 2012
Talk of pork revival tempts lawmakers on Capitol Hill
When Rep. Mike Rogers publicly suggested last week that Congress reconsider its ban on pork-barrel spending, the Alabama Republican probably didn't know what he was stepping into. Published April 2, 2012
Obama warns ‘unelected’ justices on health care
President Obama on Monday warned the Supreme Court against overturning his health care law and said he is "confident" the justices won't. Published April 2, 2012
Congress puts Obama recess power to the test
Congress is taking its first real recess in nearly a year after the House and Senate agreed on Friday to a two-week adjournment for Easter - and a test of whether President Obama will abide by an agreement not to make any recess appointments while lawmakers are gone. Published April 1, 2012
Massachusetts militia scores another victory over Virginia
Lawmakers from Massachusetts managed to outflank their Virginia counterparts on the House floor last week, powering through a bill that officially designates Salem as the birthplace of the U.S. National Guard — based on the town's claim to having the country's first militia starting in 1629. Published April 1, 2012
Congressional recess tests White House deal
Congress is taking its first real recess in nearly a year after the House and Senate agreed on Friday to a two-week adjournment for Easter — and a test of whether President Obama will abide by an agreement not to make any recess appointments while lawmakers are gone. Published March 30, 2012
Congress’ ability to pass a budget grows more doubtful each year
House Republicans powered their 2013 budget through their chamber Thursday, marking the high point for the $3.5 trillion spending plan, which would have created a deficit of nearly $800 billion next year. Published March 29, 2012
House rejects Bowles-Simpson, Obama budgets
The Bowles-Simpson deficit-reduction plan went down to a crushing defeat in the House late Wednesday night in a vote that damages the one bipartisan proposal that just a few months ago had seemed like a possible solution to the country's debt woes. Published March 28, 2012
Paul puts campaign before duty
Rep. Ron Paul has missed 93 percent of all floor votes in Congress this year as he's focused on his presidential bid, even as he's kept one of the lighter campaign schedules of any of the candidates. Published March 28, 2012
Republicans vote to subpoena oil moratorium documents
House Republicans voted Wednesday to authorize congressional subpoenas demanding the Obama administration turn over documents it has refused to turn over in two investigations, including one looking at the post-Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium. Published March 28, 2012
Obama’s tax plea gets rude reception
While the fate of President Obama's health care law remains an open question, the Supreme Court was far more clear on one issue Tuesday: The law's backers won't be able to justify the individual mandate to purchase health insurance by pointing to Congress' taxing powers. Published March 27, 2012
Senate GOP sets stage for energy debate
Eager for a debate they believe will highlight rising gas prices on President Obama's watch, Senate Republicans on Monday gave the green light to debating Democrats' plan to end tax subsidies for oil and gas companies. Published March 26, 2012
DHS: Illegal immigrant population is 11.5 million
About 11.5 million illegal immigrants were in the U.S. last year, a figure that was essentially unchanged from 2010, according to the latest estimate the Homeland Security Department released Friday. Published March 23, 2012
