Politics

Politics & Government

With Shutdown Looming, Senate Takes Up Stopgap Spending Bill

10:09pm September 30, 2013

by Ron Elving

As the U.S. government braces for a shutdown, the Senate voted Monday to reject amendments to a stopgap spending bill passed by the House of Representatives that would have delayed the healthcare law for a year and repeal a tax on medical devices, and returned a "clean" continuing resolution that would keep the government open until Nov. 15 — and leave Obamacare intact — to the House.

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The audience concentrates on a presentation by Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger's office about the federal health care overhaul at the University of Kansas satellite campus in Overland Park, Kan., earlier this month.

Insurance Exchange 101: Here's What You Need To Know

9:36am September 30, 2013

by Julie Rovner

If all goes as planned, people who don't have insurance will be able to shop for it on online insurance marketplaces starting Tuesday. As long as people sign up by Dec. 15, they'll be covered starting Jan. 1.

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Enroll America outreach worker Rosy Mota (right) talks about the federal health care law with a CVS customer.

Houston Gears Up For Obamacare, Despite GOP Opposition

8:26am September 30, 2013

by Carrie Feibel

Leading Texas politicians have resisted the federal health care law. But in Houston, community groups and public health agencies are trying to educate the city's 800,000 uninsured residents about new coverage options.

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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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