Topic: Lamar Smith

SOPA fight over 'Internet censorship' attracts Yahoo, Google

SOPA "jeopardizes" Internet business, claim Twitter, Google, Yahoo and others. The SOPA bill amounts to "Internet censorship," some argue.

Anti-illegal immigration bill stokes backlash in Alabama fields

Farmers in states like Alabama that have passed strong anti-illegal immigration laws are fighting back, saying they are losing labor and that US workers are unwilling to take up farm work.

Deficit 'super committee' flooded with ideas. Will any of them work?

Friday is the deadline for congressional committees to submit ideas to the deficit 'super committee.' But there's little indication that any of the ideas signal an openness to compromise.

Congressman raises stakes in 'Fast and Furious' probe, targeting Eric Holder

Rep. Lamar Smith (R) of Texas wants a special counsel to investigate whether Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress the truth about Operation Fast and Furious, a now-discredited gun-tracking program aimed at Mexico's drug lords.

More illegal immigrants deported for traffic offenses. Problem for Obama?

US deported a record number of illegal immigrants for drunken driving and other traffic violations in 2010. The trend makes immigrant advocates furious and the get-tough crowd suspicious.

'Dramatic change' to marijuana laws? What bill before Congress would do.

A new bipartisan bill would remove marijuana from the company of heroin and cocaine in federal regulations, leaving it to the states to legalize pot – or not. Inter-state trafficking would remain a federal crime.

Obama to lay out new immigration reform blueprint in El Paso

As states take unilateral actions on immigration, Obama lays out his administration's accomplishments with border security and makes the economic case for comprehensive immigration reform.

DOMA: Was the Obama administration only pretending to defend it?

A conservative legal scholar, testifying to a House subcommittee, says the Justice Department sowed the seeds for the demise of the Defense of Marriage Act even as it publicly defended it.

Opinion: Republicans want to create second-class citizens. You're not DREAMing.

Republicans haven't abandoned extreme positions on immigration. They've just transferred controversial proposals to the state level.

Guantánamo detainee's sentence renews debate about civilian trials

The first civilian trial of a Guantánamo detainee prompted questions about whether civilian court is the best place for alleged terrorists.

Four hot-button issues Republicans will target next

After fulfilling a campaign pledge to vote to repeal last year's health-care reform law, House Republicans are setting a blistering pace to move new legislation to cut the size and scope of government, including bills that have stoked partisan fires in the past. Here are four key measures to watch.

Debate over health care repeal: five gauges of House civility

In the wake of the Tucson shootings, Congress was, briefly, awash in talk of the need for a more civil, less caustic tone in politics. This week’s vote to repeal health-care reform, President Obama’s signature domestic achievement, provided a formidable test – and produced mixed results. Here are five ways to break it down.

With new oversight powers, House GOP aims to put Obama on defensive

Obama has faced little congressional oversight so far, but with House GOP probing into policies ranging from illegal immigration to health care, the president's oversight holiday may be over.

Stephen Colbert on Capitol Hill: Did he endorse Pledge for America?

Stephen Colbert testified on Capitol Hill Friday about ... stuff. The mock-conservative pundit even made some Democratic aides wince.

14th Amendment: Is birthright citizenship really in the Constitution?

Congress could deny birthright citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants, say some experts. But others believe that changing citizenship policy requires changing the 14th Amendment.

WikiLeaks controversy hovers, but House passes war funding bill

WikiLeaks documents barely made a dent in Congress’s decision to continue funding a surge of US forces into Afghanistan. The House passed the measure 308 to 114.

Big screen battle: Hollywood vs. box office speculators

The film industry is fighting proposals to create a 'futures exchange' for investors speculating on Hollywood box office profits and losses. No word yet on who has the screen rights.

'Torture memos' authors: Rebuked but won't be disbarred

Bush administration lawyers who wrote the so-called "torture memos" exercised "poor judgment" in writing legal opinions that “contained significant flaws," according to the Justice Department. But they weren't guilty of professional misconduct that might have meant disbarment.

As deadline approaches, Obama speeds up Guantánamo Bay closure

The Obama administration's announcement Sunday that 12 Guantánamo detainees would be sent to other countries followed news that some detainees would be transferred to an Illinois facility. The president set a Jan. 22, 2010 deadline for closing the Guantánamo Bay prison, but seems unlikely to meet it.

Opinion: If Uncle Sam becomes your doctor

The consequences would be severe. We can improve healthcare without busting the budget or rationing care.

Transcript of Rahm Emanuel Monitor Breakfast

Homeland security to repeal national ID law

The Obama administration wants to replace the controversial Bush initiative with a cheaper, less rigorous ID program.

Why Democrats buckled to GOP fears on Guantánamo

The Senate denied Obama the money to shut down the prison, in part because Democrats didn't want to be seen as soft on terrorism.

The Internet Safety Act launches a new battle on privacy

Column: Children need to be protected online, but these new bills go too far.

Capitol Hill watchdogs are baring their teeth

President Obama would rather look to the future, but Democrats persist in probing the Bush administration’s alleged misdeeds.