Stephen Dinan

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

Obama administration grants protected status to Syrians

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday said she will grant special status to Syrians currently in the U.S., allowing them to stay here past their current visas while their home country remains in turmoil. Published March 23, 2012

Senate to hold hearings on NFL ‘bounties’

The Senate will hold hearings looking into "bounties" one NFL team paid its players to injure opponents, a top lawmaker announced Thursday, bringing the football scandal to the halls of Congress. Published March 22, 2012

Figures point to securer border, but risk of death for illegals still high

Amid all of the apparently good news about security along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, one dark spot stands out: The number of people dying in the desert as they attempt to make illegal crossings remains stubbornly high. Published March 22, 2012

‘Buffett rule’ fails its first test in Congress

House Republicans on the Budget Committee on Wednesday rejected an effort to impose the "Buffett rule" tax on Americans, arguing it would stifle investment without doing any work to lower the deficit. Published March 21, 2012

Ryan budget shoots for lower deficit, flatter tax

Rep. Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, presented his colleagues Tuesday a sweeping rewrite of the federal budget that would move toward a flatter income tax and dramatically cut spending, balancing the budget in the long run by holding down the growth of Medicare and shrinking Medicaid. Published March 20, 2012