Stephen Dinan

Immigration bill is promoted for 2010

Declaring success in border security and immigration enforcement, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Friday that the federal government has done its work and now it's time for Congress to pass a broad bill to legalize illegal immigrants. Published November 14, 2009

ACORN sues government over funding

ACORN sued the federal government Thursday, charging that efforts by Congress and President Obama to stop federal money from going to the community activist organization are unconstitutional because they single the group out for punishment. Published November 13, 2009

ACORN sues feds over funding cuts

ACORN has sued the federal government, charging that Congress and President Obama's efforts to stop federal funding are unconstitutional because they single out the group as bad actors. Published November 12, 2009

Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained

After being detained for carrying $4,700 through airport security, an angry aide to Rep. Ron Paul caused the Transportation Security Administration quietly changing its rules. Published November 11, 2009

‘Fuzzy math’ could drive health bill cost higher

Despite the official $1.1 trillion price tag for the House Democrats' health care bill, dozens of unfunded programs could drive the actual cost even higher. Published November 10, 2009

U.S. trials OK’d for 9/11 suspects

The Senate on Thursday gave the green light to President Obama to transfer the accused plotters of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to the United States to be tried in civilian courts. Published November 6, 2009

60 Plus leader: Senior ‘tsunami’ coming

After years of Republicans taking shots for proposing changes to Medicare and Social Security, the tables have turned and now "it's payback time," said James L. Martin, president of the 60 Plus Association. Published November 6, 2009

Need for Republican unity seen as election lesson

"Tea party" activists say Tuesday's elections show that the Republican Party needs conservatives for victory, but the results suggest solidarity is more important: unified Republicans steamrolled in Virginia, while they fractured in New York and lost a House seat that they had held for more than a century. Published November 5, 2009

Independents fuel GOP victories in Va., N.J.

The independent voters who powered President Obama and Democrats to victory in 2008 fled to Republicans in Tuesday's elections. Published November 4, 2009

Economic downturn quiets labor unions

Labor peace has broken out across the country, and all it took was the nastiest recession since the end of World War II to spawn it. Published November 3, 2009

D.C. wildfire funds rebuked, then restored

Congressional lawmakers Wednesday rebuked the Forest Service for spending stimulus forest firefighting money on D.C. green-jobs programs, but gave the city the money anyway. Published October 29, 2009

Vitter takes on census, immigrant rights groups

In his push to have the Census Bureau count the number of U.S. citizens, Sen. David Vitter, Louisiana Republican, is taking a very parochial approach with his colleagues: Your state could be the one to lose an extra seat in Congress. Published October 27, 2009

Elections to test Obama’s public image

If elections are the ultimate beauty contest, President Obama next week will have his first major turn on the catwalk since his inauguration. Published October 27, 2009

In immigration war, environment is a neglected casualty

In the battle between Mexican immigrants, smugglers and drug cartels and the U.S. authorities charged with catching them, the innocent bystanders caught in the clash are the plants and animals of the borderlands. Published October 25, 2009

White House: Policy ‘czars’ won’t testify

The White House has told Congress it will reject calls for many of President Obama's policy czars to testify before Congress - a decision senators said goes against the president's promises of transparency and openness and treads on Congress' constitutional mandate to investigate the administration's actions. Published October 23, 2009

Senate OKs Gitmo transfers to U.S.

Congress on Tuesday passed the 2010 homeland security spending bill that gives President Obama the authority to transfer terrorism-suspect detainees to the United States for trial, though only after he submits a plan to Congress. Published October 21, 2009