Senator Carl Levin speaks at a Monitor-hosted breakfast for reporters on Tuesday, July 16, in Washington, DC. (Michael Bonfigli/TCSM)
Sen. Carl Levin imagines NSA phone-tracking in hands of J. Edgar Hoover
The Michigan Democrat frames in vivid terms the potential for abuse of the NSA phone-surveillance program, invoking the memory of J. Edgar Hoover and his secret FBI files on public officials. But the program has pluses, too, says Sen. Carl Levin.
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Its approval rating at new low, Congress plows ahead on immigration, taxes
The approval rating for Congress has never been lower, a poll shows. Might that change as the 'the broken branch' of government makes bipartisan headway on vexing issues of immigration and tax reform?
IRS shakeup needed after scandal, chairmen of Congress' tax-writing panels say
The chairmen of congressional tax writing committees say the Internal Revenue Service may need to be restructured after the agency was found improperly targeting conservative groups seeking non-profit status.
Immigration reform: Two Senate bill authors see pathway to ... passage
Sens. Michael Bennet (D) and Jeff Flake (R), two of the Gang of Eight immigration reformers, said Wednesday there's room to amend the immigration reform bill to include some things conservatives want without sacrificing Democratic votes. Other 'gang' members are more worried.
IRS controversies boost chances for tax reform, key Republican says
Rep. Tom Price, a major conservative voice in the House, sees 'a greater opportunity' for tax reform in the wake of IRS controversies. He made the comments at a Monitor breakfast Wednesday.
Are budget negotiations helpful or a sellout? No surprise, GOP is split
GOP leader Rep. Tom Price explains why he wants to start negotiations with Senate Democrats over how to strike a budget deal. Tea partyers in the Senate are blocking talks.
Immigration reformers McCain, Schumer agree on need to halt 'future wave'
Sens. John McCain (R) and Charles Schumer (D) help craft the immigration reform bill the Senate is now weighing. Americans will support it if they trust that enforcement is robust enough to prevent a 'future wave' of illegal entries, the senators say.
Why America's top general is wary of US military intervention in Syria
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Monitor-sponsored breakfast he has doubts about whether US military action in Syria would achieve three key aims.
Top general: 5 bad habits for the Pentagon to fix (+video)
The Pentagon has not had to do any serious belt-tightening for years, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the nation's top military officer, says some budget discipline could be beneficial.
A no-fly zone over Syria? Harder to do than in Libya, warns top US general (+video)
Some US lawmakers want the US to establish a no-fly zone over Syria. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, questioned Tuesday whether that would do much to reduce Syrian attacks on civilians, never mind that it won't be easy.
Rand Paul: Obama politicizes tragedy, uses Newtown families as 'props'
Sen. Rand Paul says gun control is a legitimate issue for political debate. But he says President Obama has used the parents of children killed in Newtown, Conn., as ‘props.’
Sen. Rand Paul wants the big microphone of a 2016 presidential run
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a favorite of the Republican Party’s libertarian and tea party wings, is considering a run for president in 2016 to be part of the debate on national issues.
Mark Kelly on gun control bill: 'We do have a problem' with many senators
The husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, an advocate of stricter gun laws, warned a fellow Arizonan of repercussions at the ballot box if he votes against a gun control measure to expand background checks. A lot of senators, said Mark Kelly, want a reason 'to get to no.'
Tax reform: Why Rep. Dave Camp won't rest until it's done
GOP Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, says he's willing to 'walk down every street' to build consensus in Congress on tax reform.
GOP's Rep. Dave Camp envisions inclusive path to a fiscal 'bargain'
Dave Camp, House Ways and Means Committee chairman, said Thursday that involving more members of Congress in budgeting and deficit-cutting could yield, if not a 'grand bargain,' at least a modest deal.
What keeps Janet Napolitano up at night? People with keyboards up to no good
In a post-9/11 world, the two top concerns facing the Department of Homeland Security are cyber and aviation threats, said Secretary Janet Napolitano during a Monitor-sponsored breakfast.
House Democrat lauds GOP's 'new openness' on immigration reform
It's true that some Republicans, such as Sen. Rand Paul, are showing a new attitude toward immigration reform, said Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez during a Monitor-sponsored breakfast.
Homeland Security seeks student hackers to help counter cyberthreats
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is out to find some 600 'hackers for good,' but sequester cuts are derailing recruiting drives to build a skilled cyber workforce in government.
Is border security a 10, or just a 2? Why lawmakers want a rating system.
Immigration reform legislation may hinge on finding a way to assess how secure the border is. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Tuesday explained why that metric is complicated.
Say what! Janet Napolitano doesn't use e-mail? It 'just sucks up time.'
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano runs a department with 22 agencies and 240,000 employees, and she says not using e-mail helps keep her focused.
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