Stephen Dinan

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

‘Stimulus’ or not, Obama seeks new spending

Though he didn't call it a second stimulus, President Obama this weekend asked Congress to pass legislation that amounts to much the same thing: extending some of the first stimulus bill's programs and adding some of the White House's new priorities. Published June 13, 2010

Senate hands climate backers first win

Environmentalists scored their first major Senate victory Thursday as Democrats gave a green light to the EPA to impose strict new rules on greenhouse gas emissions. Published June 10, 2010

Administration seeks immigration-fees hike

The Obama administration on Wednesday proposed raising immigration fees by an average of 10 percent - a boost that surprised congressional offices and began anew the debate over how legal immigration is funded. Published June 9, 2010

Obama calls for cuts to spend on own policies

The White House said Tuesday it will continue to try to freeze non-security spending in next year's budget as President Obama seeks to counter the flood of red ink that has swept the federal budget over the last decade. Published June 8, 2010

Political parties lose control as Internet aids challengers

The Internet has become the great political equalizer, giving life this year to insurgent candidates who would never have been able to break through the near-complete control that political parties used to exercise over their nominations. Published June 8, 2010

Say when: Congress fills up on stimulus

Prodded by last week's disappointing job-creation numbers, Democrats and Republicans alike are calling for Congress to tackle yet another "jobs bill" — but after 2½ years of stimulus, and well more than $1 trillion committed, the appetite for stimulus spending has dropped. Published June 6, 2010

Arizona governor, Obama face off

Inside the Oval Office, the two went head-to-head as Jan Brewer demanded Obama take more steps to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, and they failed to make headway on the state's tough new immigration law. Published June 3, 2010

Obama promises cooperation on troops to Ariz.

After meeting Thursday with President Obama to hash out their differences over immigration and border security, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said she has won promises for better cooperation from the White House on National Guard troops but failed to make any headway on the state's new tough immigration law. Published June 3, 2010

Federal debt tops $13 trillion mark

The federal government is now $13 trillion in the red, the Treasury Department reported Wednesday, marking the first time the government has sunk that far into debt and putting a sharp point on the spending debate on Capitol Hill. Published June 2, 2010

Nation’s debt hits $13 trillion

The federal government is now $13 trillion in the red, the Treasury Department will announce Wednesday -- marking the first time the government has sunk that far into debt. Published June 2, 2010

Hill acts to keep Gitmo’s inmates out of U.S.

He has already missed his own self-imposed deadline, and President Obama's plans to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, suffered more setbacks last week when lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol took steps to block him. Published May 30, 2010