Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Man living as an ‘adult baby’ is cleared of Social Security fraud
The California man who lives part of his life as an "adult baby" and collects Social Security disability payments says the federal agency has cleared him of wrongdoing and will continue sending checks. Published October 18, 2011
Deficit hit $1.3 trillion in fiscal 2011
The federal deficit reached $1.3 trillion for fiscal 2011, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Published October 7, 2011
Reid uses ‘nuclear option’ to block GOP amendments
In a move that threatened to calcify an already dysfunctional Senate, Democrats on Thursday voted to change chamber precedent, in effect rewriting the rules to ban a work-around Republicans had used to force votes even when the Democrats in the majority didn't want to hold them. Published October 6, 2011
Obama to senators: Explain opposition to jobs bill
President Obama challenged congressional Republicans to "think long and hard" before opposing his jobs-stimulus bill. Published October 6, 2011
In Hill testimony, justices lift high court’s veil
Partially lifting the veil that usually guards their actions, two Supreme Court justices on Wednesday painted the court as a bulwark for the Constitution and said some of today's cynicism about government stems from the public's scanty understanding of the founding document. Published October 5, 2011
Napolitano: U.S. will set record for deportations
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that the government is poised to set another record for deportations in just-ended fiscal 2011, citing the numbers as proof that the administration is not pursuing a backdoor amnesty for illegal immigrants that critics charge. Published October 5, 2011
Democrat Tomblin hangs on to win West Virginia governor’s election
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin staved off a challenge by a newcomer Republican candidate. Published October 4, 2011
Obama ends long delay on free-trade agreements
President Obama on Monday finally sent Congress long-delayed free-trade agreements with Panama, South Korea and Colombia, breaking a deadlock that extends back to the George W. Bush administration and setting up a showdown on Capitol Hill. Published October 3, 2011
Senators see GAO budget cuts as payback
Pushed by budget hawks, the Senate Appropriations Committee has been searching in every nook and cranny for spending cuts, but it may have gone too far in calling for slashing nearly 8 percent from the budget of the government's chief watchdog next year. Published October 2, 2011
House acts to avert government shutdown
It took just five minutes for the House to pass a bill that will keep the federal government's basic operations running. Published September 29, 2011
Obama defends handling of illegal immigration
President Obama told a largely Latino audience Wednesday that his administration has not become more aggressive in deporting illegal immigrants, despite statistics to the contrary that he calls misleading. Published September 28, 2011
Watchdog: EPA cut corners on global-warming decision
The EPA's internal watchdog said this week that the Obama administration cut corners in evaluating the science it used to back up its 2009 finding that carbon is a dangerous pollutant and can be regulated under existing federal law. Published September 28, 2011
Key parts of Alabama immigration law upheld
Alabama law enforcement officers were OK'd to check the immigration status of suspected illegals. Published September 28, 2011
House GOP asks for data on abortion spending
House Republicans have begun an investigation into Planned Parenthood's use of federal funds, questioning whether the national network of abortion providers has proper checks in place to prevent violations of federal law. Published September 27, 2011
U.S. spent $10,612 per person in 2010
The federal government spent $10,612 per person domestically last year. Published September 27, 2011
Senate delays jobs bill to take on China
President Obama is still pressing Congress to pass his jobs-stimulus bill immediately, but Democratic Party leaders in the Senate once again have delayed taking a vote on the legislation and instead will take up a bill to punish China over its currency valuation. Published September 27, 2011
Senate OKs stopgap bill to prevent shutdown
The Senate passed a stopgap spending bill Monday night to avert a potential government shutdown after the Obama administration discovered it had enough money in its disaster accounts to last through the end of this month, leaving lawmakers with "nothing to fight about." Published September 26, 2011
Cost offsets that Bunning once pitched catch on
Jim Bunning may be out of the Senate, but the fire he lit still smolders. Published September 25, 2011
Obama stumps for jobs stimulus plan
Declaring himself "a warrior for the middle class," President Obama traveled Thursday to a bridge that connects Ohio to Kentucky — the homes of the two top Republicans in Congress — and said they have the power to kill or pass his jobs-stimulus plan. Published September 22, 2011
E-Verify bill stirs broader immigration debate
House Republicans on Wednesday jump-started the immigration debate, pushing through the Judiciary Committee a key immigration-enforcement measure to require businesses to check new employees' work status against a government database — but the fight highlighted deep divides that make it unlikely any bill clears Congress in the near future. Published September 21, 2011
