Politics

Court Ruling Upsets Conventional Wisdom On Recess Appointments

6:51pm January 25, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

In a bombshell decision, a federal appeals court panel has invalidated President Obama's recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. Legal experts say the ruling deals a big victory to Senate Republicans in an era of congressional gridlock, and could push the issue to the Supreme Court.

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The Cathedral of Alcala de Henares is one of many buildings owned by the Catholic Church in Alcala de Henares, Spain. The town, which is outside Madrid, is broke and is pursuing a plan to have the church pay additional taxes.

Spain's Strapped Towns Look To Churches For Cash

5:12pm January 25, 2013

by Lauren Frayer

Alcalá de Henares is re-evaluating the status of hundreds of church holdings that have been exempt from paying property tax for hundreds of years.

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference Thursday announcing her plan to introduce a bill to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Politics & Government

Sponsors Of Assault Weapons Ban Hope Newtown Shooting Changes Minds

9:14am January 25, 2013

by Carrie Johnson

Gun control advocates acknowledged they'll face big obstacles in Congress to a new ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. But they say the shooting last month of 20 schoolchildren in Connecticut could make a difference.

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Politics & Government

Senate Changes Filibuster Rules

9:14am January 25, 2013

by David Welna

The new rules would make it easier to bring bills and nominations to the floor for debate. There was a time when a senator would have to sustain a filibuster by holding the floor and talking non-stop for hours on end, just as Jimmy Stewart did in the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

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Politics & Government

Ex-Prosecutor Mary Jo White Nominated To Head SEC

9:14am January 25, 2013

by Scott Horsley

President Obama has tapped a former U.S. attorney to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission. The president says he wants a tough new cop on the financial beat. Mary Jo White would be the first former prosecutor to chair the SEC.

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Reince Priebus, shown at the Republican National Convention in August, says Republicans need to "grow our party without compromising our principles."

Politics & Government

At Winter Gathering, GOP Asks: Where Do We Go From Here?

5:22pm January 24, 2013

by Don Gonyea

But Republican leaders say there won't be a sudden about-face in policy, despite recent disappointments at the polls. The party is focusing on message, technology and grass-roots organizing at its meetings in Charlotte, N.C.

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'We Have No Choice': A Story Of The Texas Sonogram Law

9:19am January 23, 2013

Journalist Carolyn Jones wrote about her experience with the law for The Texas Observer after having an abortion last year. The state requires that a woman seeking an abortion receive a sonogram at least 24 hours before the procedure.

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Obama's Promise To Close Guantanamo Prison Falls Short

8:13am January 23, 2013

by Jackie Northam

In January 2009, the president signed an executive order to close the U.S. prison camp. But four years later, the prison remains open, and critics say the president miscalculated how difficult it would be to close the facility that houses terrorism suspects.

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At a news conference last month, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg stands with people who have been affected by gun violence.

Politics & Government

Bloomberg Puts Millions Behind Gun Control Push

8:48pm January 22, 2013

by Peter Overby

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has emerged as a new leader in the gun debate in recent years. He's utilizing a group of mayors and a superPAC in a campaign against gun violence.

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"We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations," President Obama said Monday during his second inaugural address.

In Second Inaugural, Obama Makes Climate A Priority

8:48pm January 22, 2013

by Elizabeth Shogren

President Obama pulled out a surprise in his inaugural address. After barely mentioning climate change in his campaign, he put it on his short list of priorities for his second term. Experts believe he'll use the EPA to ramp up efforts to reduce greenhouse gases from power plants.

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