Congress

Family Separation Is Trump's Immigration Policy. Here's Why He Won't Own It

6:43am June 20, 2018

by Domenico Montanaro

The policy is unpopular, and vulnerable Republicans in competitive districts stand to be punished by voters in the midterms if this continues much longer. So Trump is trying to flip the script.

A crew hangs a Huawei advertising banner on the side of the Las Vegas Convention Center in January. Some senators want to ban it the world's third-largest seller of smartphones from the U.S.

As Vote On ZTE Sanctions Looms, Some U.S. Lawmakers Focus On A Bigger Chinese Telecom

3:57pm June 15, 2018

by Dustin Dwyer

Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei is the world's third-largest seller of smartphones, and a few powerful senators say they want to ban it entirely from the U.S. amid national security concerns.

Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., represents a district where 70 percent of his constituents are Hispanic and nearly half are foreign born.

Politics & Government

Immigration Debate Shines Spotlight On Divided House GOP

12:23pm June 07, 2018

House Republicans are struggling to find consensus on an immigration bill that can unify the GOP's ideological divide over how to address the legal status of people brought to the U.S. as children.

A federal court hears arguments in a case brought by Democratic lawmakers about whether the Trump Organization's business dealings with foreign governments violates the Constitution's Emoluments Clause.

Politics & Government

Trump Organization Deals In Asia Fuel Debate On Emoluments Lawsuit

5:00am June 07, 2018

by Peter Overby

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the conflict between Trump's foreign-policy decisions and his business ventures "epitomizes why the founders put that emoluments clause into the Constitution."

Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., (left) speaks next to Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., and Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, during a May 9 news conference on a discharge petition to force votes on immigration legislation.

Politics & Government

Immigration Clash In Congress Coming In June

10:30am June 04, 2018

by Susan Davis

Lawmakers thought the immigration debate was over, but a group of House Republicans is agitating for a floor showdown later this month. The House GOP Conference will meet Thursday to strategize.

Illinois has ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, more than 40 years after an estimated 10,000 people marched on the Capitol building in Springfield, Ill., to urge approval of the ERA.

One More To Go: Illinois Ratifies Equal Rights Amendment

4:48pm May 31, 2018

by Bill Chappell

The passage comes 36 years after the ratification deadline set by Congress. Some say the votes are merely symbolic — but the ERA's backers disagree.

Rep. Thomas Garrett, R-Va., denies reports that he and his wife routinely demanded that aides working in his office perform menial tasks for the couple — a practice prohibited by House ethics rules.

Politics & Government

Virginia Rep. Thomas Garrett Acknowledges Alcoholism, Won't Seek Re-Election

10:35am May 29, 2018

by Scott Neuman

The announcement follows recent reports that Garrett and his wife routinely demanded that office aides perform menial tasks for the couple, including watching their dog.

Rick Colyer holds a sticker after placing his vote at the Durham County Library North Regional in Durham, N.C., Tuesday.

Will Democrats Win The House This November?

10:35am May 14, 2018

by Domenico Montanaro

Democrats are hoping that President Trump's unpopularity propels them back into power in Congress. There's lots of prognosticating, but here's what you should actually watch for.

Rick Colyer votes at the Durham County Library North Regional in Durham, N.C., Tuesday.

Politics & Government

4 Takeaways From The Big Primary Kickoff Night

9:13am May 09, 2018

Republicans dodged a big bullet with a convicted coal executive's loss of the GOP Senate primary. But they continue to be the party facing more division.

Ron Elving holds his "Office Hours," this time on Congress's unwritten rules.

Politics & Government

If A Rule Is Unwritten, Is It Really A Rule?

2:56pm May 07, 2018

by Ron Elving

Congress has many rules and precedents that are documented on paper. But what about those traditions and folkways that persist unwritten?