Politics

GOP Still Looking At Pieces Of Debt Limit 'Puzzle'

3:40pm February 07, 2014

by David Welna

Friday is the statutory deadline for the Treasury's borrowing authority, but Congress has no agreement on how to raise the limit. House Republicans appear unwilling to force another showdown over the debt ceiling, but they have not yet found a way to save face, and there are few legislative days left before Treasury exhausts its means to pay the bills.

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President Obama tours a Costco location in Lanham, Md., on Jan. 29, before speaking about raising the federal minimum wage.

As Deficit Anxiety Fades, Debt Rears Its Ugly Head

7:55pm February 06, 2014

by Mara Liasson

Cutting the national debt and deficit used to be the most divisive political debate in Washington. These days, not so much. Both parties have agreed to move on and focus on issues they largely agree on: income inequality and social mobility. But there's not much they can do without a sustainable budget.

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Politics & Government

Senate Expected To Pass Long-Delayed Farm Bill

8:12am February 06, 2014

by Ailsa Chang

The Senate is heading toward final passage of a five-year, half-trillion dollar farm bill Tuesday afternoon. Proponents are pointing to its elimination of direct subsidies and replacement with crop insurance. But critics say crop insurance continues to provide overly generous subsidies to even wealthy corporate farms.

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Politics & Government

Singer Clay Aiken Announces Run for Congress

1:25pm February 05, 2014

Singer-songwriter Clay Aiken announced Wednesday morning that he is putting his entertainment career on hold in order to run for Congress.

Politics & Government

A Candidate For Congress In Georgia — And Michigan And Hawaii And...

7:33pm February 03, 2014

Melissa Block speaks with Allan Levene, a candidate for Congress who is based in Georgia. Levene is running in four different states to increase his odds of winning.

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Politics & Government

Voters In New Orleans Give Mayor Mitch Landrieu 2nd Term

7:43am February 03, 2014

by Eve Troeh

Over the weekend, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu won a triumphant re-election victory. Even with the major progress New Orleans has made since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, there are plenty of challenges for Landrieu to tackle in a second term, including high rates of unemployment and crime.

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More Republicans Push For Fixing, Not Repealing, Obamacare

7:51pm January 31, 2014

by Eric Whitney

Some conservatives say the health care law is here to stay. They're urging Republicans to shift their focus from repealing it to changing parts they don't like. The Tea Party wing calls that capitulation. And it's pushing primary challengers against Republicans they say are soft on repeal.

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The farm bill proposes a $1 billion cut to food stamps, which would affect nearly 850,000 struggling families who already depend on food banks like the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, Calif.

Small Cuts To Food Stamps Add Up To Big Pains For Many Recipients

8:00pm January 30, 2014

by Richard Gonzales

The proposed farm bill would cut nearly $1 billion a year from the food stamp program, known as SNAP. While it's far less than what Republicans had originally wanted, the proposal will affect roughly 850,000 households, many of which are still struggling from cuts made only three months ago.

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Politics & Government

Democratic Rep. Fudge Weighs In On Obama's Key Points

2:08pm January 29, 2014

Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, joins Steve Inskeep with reaction to President Obama's State of the Union address.

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Politics & Government

Republican Rep. Schweikert: Obama Didn't Hit A Crescendo

1:58pm January 29, 2014

The Arizona Congressman sat in the House chamber Tuesday night and listened to President Obama address the nation. He tells Steve Inskeep this year's address sounded a lot like last year's speech.

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