Politics & Government

Politics & Government

House, Senate Disagree On How To Keep Government Open

7:44am September 30, 2013

A partial government shutdown is looming. To discuss the situation, David Greene and Steve Inskeep talk to contributor Cokie Roberts, NPR's Mara Liasson, All Things Considered host Audie Cornish and Robert Costa, who covers Congress for the National Review.

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Clock Keeps Ticking Toward Government Shutdown

7:44am September 30, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

The government is expected to partially shutdown at midnight Monday night if Congress cannot agree on a spending plan. The Senate is expected to reject a House bill passed over the weekend. That bill funds the government, but delays the president's health care law by one year, and repeals a tax that helps pay for it.

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With Government Shutdown Looming, All Eyes Turn To House GOP

3:21pm September 28, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

The Senate passed a bill Friday to keep the government open without stripping any funding from the president's health care law. Now the action returns to the House, where Republicans are tying the measure to defunding the Affordable Care Act.

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President Obama speaks about the Affordable Care Act on Thursday in Largo, Md. In the latest fiscal fight with Republicans, the president is lacking a partner to make a deal with â or even to vilify.

In Washington's Fiscal Tango, Obama's Lacking A Dance Partner

11:16am September 28, 2013

by Ari Shapiro

The division in the Republican Party means there's no one leader on the other side that President Obama can cut a deal with — or even high-profile adversary to vilify. That's a stark contrast from other recent fiscal standoffs.

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Is The Fed Chair Succession Too Politicized?

5:17pm September 27, 2013

by John Ydstie

Federal Reserve chairmen used to be named without much fanfare. Not this time. A very public competition between former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and the current vice chairman of the Fed Janet Yellen has made headlines and pitted the White House against liberal Democrats in Congress. It raises the question of whether the Fed succession has become too politicized — and whether it could ultimately hurt the economy.

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States Face Language Barriers To Health Exchange Sign Up

5:17pm September 27, 2013

by Cheryl Corley

Polling shows that many Americans aren't quite sure how the Affordable Care Act will affect them, and it may be even more confusing for immigrants and people who don't speak English as their first language. Illinois has a large immigrant population, and the state has been working to resolve language barriers as it gets ready to launch its insurance marketplace.

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If The Government Closes, 'Essential' Employees Would Work

5:35am September 26, 2013

by Brian Naylor

Unless Congress and the White House come together on a bill to fund federal agencies, a large part of the government will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 1. If a shutdown occurs, Social Security checks, food stamps and unemployment insurance would not be affected. But some vacation plans could be disrupted.

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Not All Republicans Embrace Big Business All The Time

5:12am September 26, 2013

by Don Gonyea

The Republican Party in the past has had a close relationship with Wall Street and big business. But lately there's growing tension and disagreement as some Republicans in Congress consider a possible government shutdown. The Tea Party seems to have the strongest criticism of big business.

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during the annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City on Wednesday.

Every Move She Makes, Pundits Are Watching Hillary Clinton

11:09pm September 25, 2013

by Mara Liasson

Everything former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says gets a tremendous amount of attention, even if she says virtually nothing, says strategist Geoff Garin. And that's not likely to change as the 2016 presidential race gets closer.

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Politics & Government

School Board Member Questions Safety of Voting in Some Schools

2:02pm September 25, 2013

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school officials are looking at the possibility of making changes to the way people vote in precincts located in loca