Politics

Politics & Government

Obama's Nominations Blocked Again In Senate

6:46am November 01, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

Senate Republicans have once again blocked President Obama's nominees. Despite a deal in July to let several of the president's picks go through, the rancor has returned with a fresh batch of appointments. Two nominations failed within less than an hour on Thursday, and Democrats may once again threaten to change Senate rules so Republicans can't easily derail another nomination.

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A Clash Of Styles As GOP Factions Fight For Alabama District

6:01pm October 31, 2013

by Debbie Elliott

In a special election to replace retired GOP Congressman Jo Bonner, one candidate believes in "dying on the hill" to repeal Obamacare. His opponent wants to go to Washington to "get something done."

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Politics & Government

Lawmakers To Grill Sebelius On Affordable Care Act

5:24am October 31, 2013

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is testifying Wednesday on Capitol Hill. She can expect some heated questions about the rugged rollout of the Affordable Care Act. President Obama, meanwhile, heads to Boston to talk about health care in the afternoon.

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Politics & Government

Without Earmark 'Grease,' Some Say, Spending Bills Get Stuck

5:24am October 31, 2013

by David Welna

For all their notoriety as wasteful "pork barrel" projects, earmarks did have one obvious benefit: They helped congressional leaders pass spending bills. A multibillion-dollar appropriations package was much easier to sell to members if they could brag about something for their home states. In recent years, with earmarks banned, spending bills have largely been replaced with "continuing resolutions," which simply keep spending levels for existing programs going for a few more weeks or months.

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On Capitol Hill, A Statue And A Rock God Bring Politicians Together

6:00pm October 30, 2013

by Brian Naylor

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, an unlikely scene unfolded as a bust of Winston Churchill was unveiled in Statuary Hall Wednesday. The entertainment: Roger Daltrey. Who? Yes, Roger Daltrey of the 1960s rock band The Who.

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One person who got a letter canceling his health insurance was Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo. He holds up the letter during a congressional hearing Wednesday on insurance problems. He says his family chose to buy private insurance rather than use the congress

Notices Canceling Health Insurance Leave Many On Edge

6:00pm October 30, 2013

by John Ydstie

President Obama repeatedly said that anyone who likes their current health insurance policy would be able to keep it. But insurers have sent hundreds of thousands of cancellation notices to people who buy their own coverage — and some of them face significantly higher costs to get new policies under the Affordable Care Act.

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Winston Churchill opens the new headquarters of a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron at Croydon in 1948.

A Churchill 'Quote' That U.S. Politicians Will Never Surrender

8:28am October 30, 2013

by Scott Horsley

Winston Churchill's backhanded compliment to Americans — that they'll always do the right thing, after trying everything else — is often repeated by members of Congress. There's no evidence that Churchill ever said it, but don't expect that to stop politicians from quoting it.

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JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on June 19, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

JPMorgan To Front Customers If Federal Shutdown Drags On

10:12am October 28, 2013

by Ted Robbins

JPMorgan Chase says it will cover Social Security and Welfare payments for its customers if the government goes into default or the shutdown continues. The bank would almost certainly get its money back once Congress comes to an agreement.

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Supreme Court Returns To Affirmative Action In Michigan Case

10:12am October 28, 2013

by Nina Totenberg

The question this time is not whether race can be a factor in college admissions, but rather whether state voters can ban affirmative action altogether by referendum. In 2006, Michigan voters did just that with a ballot initiative amending the state's constitution.

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Politics & Government

Government Shutdown Delays Start Of Crab Season

10:12am October 28, 2013

Crabbing season in Alaska is supposed to start on Tuesday. But crabbers and their boats are stuck in port because they can't get the permits they need to begin work. Federal workers who issue those permits are off the job because of the partial government shutdown. David Greene talks to Tom Suryan, a crabbing boat captain, about how the federal shutdown is stalling the issuance of quota permits.

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