Stephen Dinan

Byrd left legacy in Senate - and all across his home state

A master of Senate procedure and federal spending, Sen. Robert C. Byrd died Monday at 92 after the longest congressional career in American history - and it's easy to see the mark he left on his beloved home state of West Virginia. Published June 28, 2010

Sen. Robert Byrd, longest-serving member of Congress, dies at 92

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, the longest-serving member of Congress in history, known for his rhetorical flourish, his devotion to his home state of West Virginia and his fierce defense of the legislative branch's constitutional primacy in American government, died Monday morning at the age of 92. Published June 28, 2010

G-20 leaders strike delicate balance

Leaders of the world's 20 most powerful economies said this weekend that they must control deficits in the long run but not stifle a nascent economic recovery in the short term, in what President Obama described as "violent agreement" on principles. Published June 27, 2010

Lawmakers: Obama faces last chance on Afghanistan

Now that President Obama has replaced the top general in Afghanistan, some key senators said Sunday he needs to consider reshuffling his diplomatic leadership there as well. Published June 27, 2010

Democrats try to dip into sacred stimulus

After repeatedly turning back the GOP's efforts to redirect stimulus money to other purposes, Senate Democrats did an about-face this week as they dipped into the Recovery Act funds to try to pay for their own tax breaks and job-spending priorities. Published June 24, 2010

Napolitano highlights steps to secure border

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday the federal government will create a program to let state and local police in non-border states rotate down to the border to help local authorities go after smugglers along the U.S.-Mexico line. Published June 23, 2010

Napolitano: State and local police may deploy to border

The homeland security secretary said the federal government will move to let state and local police in non-border states rotate down to the border to help local authorities go after smugglers along the U.S.-Mexico line. Published June 23, 2010

Judge lifts deep-water oil-drilling moratorium

A federal judge halted President Obama's deep-water oil drilling moratorium on Tuesday, telling the government its justification for the ban was "rather overbearing" and misled the public in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Published June 22, 2010

House to take pass on passing budget this year, Hoyer says

Congressional Democrats have decided it's impossible to pass a budget this year, and instead will impose one-year spending limits while trying to lay the groundwork for long-term budget restraint. Published June 22, 2010

Judge halts Obama’s oil-drilling ban

A federal judge in New Orleans halted President Obama's deepwater drilling moratorium on Tuesday, saying the government never justified the ban and appeared to mislead the public in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Published June 22, 2010

Top Dem says Congress shouldn’t pass budget

Congress will not produce a budget this year, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Tuesday, though he said Congress should take steps to impose one-year spending limits on itself and begin to lay the groundwork for long-term restraint. Published June 22, 2010

Germany urges U.S. to focus on debt cuts

The congressional battle over adding more government stimulus spending versus deficit reduction spilled overseas Monday as the German government rebuked the Obama administration over its red ink and said countries now must focus on controlling debt. Published June 21, 2010

Rich got richer, paid more taxes under Bush

The rich did indeed get richer under President George W. Bush, but they also paid an ever-larger share of the federal tax burden, according to new numbers from Congress' chief scorekeeper. Published June 20, 2010

White House, Congress clash over stimulus

The White House has begun a summerlong effort to rehabilitate the damaged image of the $862 billion Recovery Act, arguing that Americans are finally beginning to see the effects - even as the administration is struggling to get Congress to agree to another round of stimulus spending. Published June 17, 2010

Senate rejects more stimulus funding

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a $140 billion taxes and spending package in a resounding defeat for President Obama and Democratic leaders that signaled the era of freewheeling stimulus spending is giving way to greater concern for deficits. Published June 16, 2010

Science on drill ban questioned

The White House says the six-month moratorium it placed on deep-water drilling is a policy decision, not a science decision -- drawing criticism from Republicans who say Obama is violating a campaign vow. Published June 16, 2010

Democrats lose key test on spending

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a $140 billion tax cuts and spending package in a resounding defeat for President Obama and Democratic leaders, sending a signal deficits are starting to take priority over new stimulus spending on Capitol Hill. Published June 16, 2010

GOP bid to trim health law fails

A first attempt by congressional Republicans to repeal part of President Obama's new health care law failed Tuesday as the House overwhelmingly rejected an effort to cut out the individual mandate that requires all Americans to have coverage. Published June 15, 2010

Obama, Hill poised for clash on cuts

Neither the Bush nor Obama administration has wanted to build a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and it's one of the biggest spending cuts on the list President Obama submitted to Congress this year -- a list Republicans have been begging Democrats to allow votes. Published June 14, 2010

Congressman wants Obama’s aunt to testify on asylum

A Republican lawmaker wants to call President Obama's aunt to testify to Congress about whether she was given preferential treatment when she was granted asylum — but her lawyers say she won't appear. Published June 14, 2010