Topic: Don Stewart

USA Update Flight delays coming to an end? House votes next on FAA furloughs.

The Senate voted Thursday to let the FAA repurpose money so it can halt furloughs of 15,000 air traffic controllers and end flight delays, tweaking rules of the 'sequester.' The House votes on the bill Friday.

Decoder Wire Still playing offense, White House seeks to rewrite debt ceiling rules

The Obama administration, which appears to have the upper hand in its tax-the-rich fight, also seeks to make it harder for Congress to intervene when it comes to the national debt ceiling. That comes up again in early 2013.

John Boehner walks out of White House debt-ceiling talks. What now?

On an extraordinary night of political theater, President Obama railed on House Republicans for walking away from a debt-ceiling deal, only to see House Speaker John Boehner offer a rebuttal. Congress now seems eager to ignore the White House and do the job itself.

US debt talks: 'trust gap' between negotiators, rank and file in Congress

Details of the US debt and deficit talks have been mostly secret, fueling concerns on both sides of the aisle that their leaders will compromise party values or give away too much.

How Capitol Hill sniping could set off a national debt ceiling bomb

Even as both parties cite the need for progress on the budget, the partisan sniping is becoming unusually personal. Could markets get the jitters if the rancor lasts up to the debt ceiling deadline?

White House insists taxes must be part of the debt and deficit solution

As debt talks shift to Obama, GOP Speaker John Boehner, and Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid, taxes remain the logjam. No one wants to be seen as giving ground on that issue too quickly.

Next up for Senate: votes on two budget plans, more than $50 billion apart

The budget plans will give both Democrats and Republicans a sense of where the votes are and a road map for going forward.

In Congress, GOP backs Obama's Egypt stance, Dems not so much

Some Democrats, including Sen. John Kerry, are breaking with the White House, calling for Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to 'step down.' Republicans are deferring to President Obama's policy.

Health-care reform in GOP cross hairs

Republicans plan an all-out assault on the new health-care reform law, which they see as the biggest symbol of over-reach by Democrats. President Obama's veto pen is the first defense.

Bush tax cuts get all the attention as US lawmakers reconvene

Congress has a vast to-do list before midterm elections, including spending bills and a $30 billion package to help small businesses. But for now, the Bush tax cuts are the top issue.

Tax cuts: Republicans and Democrats clash over Obama's plan

Tax cuts passed under President Bush are about to expire, prompting a fierce partisan battle over whether they should be renewed.

Bush tax cuts 101: What changes could be in store for taxpayers?

If Congress does nothing, the Bush tax cuts expire at the end of this year. Here's a look at the options now being debated.

Obama: On bank reform, Sen. McConnell is 'cynical and deceptive'

Obama and the GOP are fighting over bank reform. Republicans accuse the administration of pushing a 'bail out.' The White House says opponents are 'trying to kill reform on behalf of big banks.'

Will House healthcare reform vote come next week?

Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the vote on the healthcare reform bill may come next week, but House Democrats are waiting for assurances about what the Senate will do afterward.

Obama's healthcare plan gets chilly GOP reception

GOP leaders on Capitol Hill criticize Obama's healthcare plan, lowering expectations for Thursday's bipartisan summit on the issue.

With Scott Brown sworn into Senate, parties shift strategies

Massachusetts' Scott Brown was sworn into his Senate seat Thursday, giving Republicans the 41 votes needed to filibuster legislation.

Why has Congress set a Christmas deadline for healthcare reform?

If the debacle of August's healthcare reform town halls told Democrats anything, it was this: Don't send your legislators back to their districts without a bill to defend.

Five top Republicans urge health reform? Well, 6 Dems don't.

Congress deadlocked over offshore drilling

The GOP blocked three energy bills last week to force Democrats to lift a drilling ban.

Congress deadlocked on ways to lower gas prices

The key stumblingblock: whether to lift a ban on offshore drilling.

Senate warms to a climate policy

Even though legislation fell to defeat, Friday’s debate marked the first time a majority backed a cap on carbon emissions.

In '08, a curtailed agenda for Congress

The economy and education are areas where lawmakers may break partisan gridlock.

Watchdog FEC sidelined as elections roll

The Federal Election Commission has vacancies in four of six seats and it hasn't acted on a new ethics law.

During winter recess, Democrats keep Congress in session to thwart Bush

The tactic is a result of a 'press for presidential power,' some analysts say. But it's too early to tell whether the use of pro forma sessions will mean no more recess appointments by the president.