Stephen Dinan

Bank bill could help feds snoop, GOP warns

Fights over derivatives and bailouts are getting more attention, but Senate Republicans are planning a battle over two federal agencies created by Senate Democrats' financial-regulation bill, warning that the proposed agencies give the government new ways to tap into consumers' personal information. Published May 5, 2010

Napolitano: Border could be ‘more safe’

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday the U.S.-Mexico border is not as secure as it could be, though she contended that the Obama administration has shown an "absolute laserlike focus on that border." Published May 5, 2010

Dems put forth immigration bill framework

Seeking one last effort to jump-start the immigration debate and having lost the backing of the one Republican who had been talking with them, Senate Democrats on Thursday announced they will try to pass their own immigration bill this year. Published April 30, 2010

Jobless likely to feel pain long-term

Losing a job is always tough, but losing it in the middle of what's been dubbed the "Great Recession" could hurt for years, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office that hints at just how deep the damage could be to those laid off. Published April 30, 2010

Nonbinding vote on Puerto Rico approved

The House voted Thursday to give Puerto Rico a nonbinding vote on its status, marking the beginning of a process that could eventually lead to a 51st state. Published April 30, 2010

Cornyn: Crist shows D.C. can’t pick winners

Sen. John Cornyn, the Senate Republicans' campaign chairman who recruited Florida Gov. Charlie Crist into that state's Senate race, said Thursday Mr. Crist's fall shows the danger of Washington politicians trying to pick winners and losers in the midst of anti-Washington sentiment. Published April 29, 2010

If Crist leaves party, GOP donors vow to take cash back

One Republican senator has asked Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to return a $1,000 contribution to his Senate campaign, and other senators are expected to follow suit if Mr. Crist announces he's dropping out of the Republican primary in Florida. Published April 29, 2010

Republican quits immigration reform

The sole Senate Republican working with Democrats on a bipartisan immigration bill said Tuesday that the issue will have to wait until 2012, undercutting the drive to pass a law this year and setting up a partisan floor showdown that all sides acknowledge won't produce a bill that can reach the president's desk. Published April 28, 2010

Ga. governor hopeful says he’ll copy new Ariz. law

A Republican running for Georgia governor said Tuesday if he's elected he'll enact the same sort of law as Arizona to crack down on illegal immigrants. Published April 27, 2010

GOP’s Graham: No immigration bill until 2012

Sen. Lindsey Graham, the sole Republican working on a bill to legalize illegal immigrants, in effect put the bill on the shelf on Tuesday, saying that a debate now would destroy any prospects for passage and that the issue needs to wait until 2012. Published April 27, 2010

McCain, Kyl mount stiff defense of Ariz. law

Even as President Obama and others blast Arizona's new law cracking down on illegal immigration, Sen. John McCain defended the law Monday and blamed the federal government for foisting the problem onto the states. Published April 26, 2010

Pressure mounting to legalize immigrants

Immigrant rights groups find they've forced immigration and legalization to the top of the crowded congressional agenda. Published April 26, 2010

Ariz. governor signs tough immigration law

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a law making it a state crime to be an illegal immigrant, just hours after President Obama criticized the bill and said the federal government would review it to see if it violates civil rights laws. Published April 23, 2010

Obama tells feds to check Arizona immigration bill

President Obama on Friday said Arizona's proposed law making it a state offense to be an illegal immigrant represents "irresponsibility," and said he's directed his administration to examine the law and see if it violates civil rights. Published April 23, 2010

Hoyer retracts ‘un-American’ epithet

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Thursday he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a mistake when they called anti-health care reform protests "un-American" last year. Published April 23, 2010

House, Senate to shape Iran sanctions

The House voted Thursday to go to conference with the Senate on a bill to impose new sanctions on Iran - marking the first time in months that Congress has embraced a conference committee, the normal procedure that has been anything but normal recently. Published April 23, 2010

Hoyer regrets calling protests ‘un-American’

UPDATED: House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said Thursday he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a mistake when they called anti-health care protests "un-American" last year. Published April 22, 2010

Durbin, Lugar urge halt to student deportations

Two leading senators on Wednesday told the Obama administration to stop deporting illegal-immigrant students, saying they might soon be legalized by Congress so deporting them now is unfair. Published April 22, 2010

Bill would widen Clean Water Act

House Democrats pushed forward Wednesday with an effort to delete the word "navigable" from the act - a change that would give the government greater ability to enforce rules but that opponents said amounts to a federal power grab. Published April 22, 2010

Senators ask Obama: stop deporting students

UPDATED: Two top senators on Wednesday told the Obama administration to stop deporting illegal immigrant students, saying they might soon be legalized by Congress so deporting them now is unfair. Published April 21, 2010