Topic: Max Baucus

Payroll tax deal: Congress moves toward agreement

Payroll tax cut, long-term unemployment benefits would be preserved under a bipartisan deal. But negotiators won't predict whether Congress will pass the payroll tax deal by Friday.

Keystone XL oil pipeline ensnared in political gamesmanship

Republicans tried to force Obama's hand on the permit to construct the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and now he's forced theirs. The fight may not be over, signaling that energy will be a 2012 campaign issue. 

Bankruptcy of MF Global hits farmers hard

Bankruptcy of the commodities trading firm may include some $1.2 million missing from customers accounts. Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses were cut off from the cash in their accounts when MF Global sought bankruptcy protection in October.

Burma sanctions should be model for Cuba embargo

The byzantine Cuba embargo in many ways ties the US's hands, says guest blogger Anya Landau French, so maybe it’s time to apply the Burma sanctions model – defend it or lose it – to Cuba.

Bush tax cuts debate helped to doom super committee effort

Bush tax cuts: A tussle between Republicans and Democrats over the future of the Bush tax cuts played a large role in scuttling the congressional super committee's attempt to reach an agreement on reducing the budget deficit.

Six days left: Slowly, for super committee, failure is becoming an option

Republicans and Democrats remain far apart on how much tax hikes should contribute to deficit reduction. The deadline for the super committee to reach a deal is next Wednesday.

Cracks in GOP promise of no new taxes for deficit cuts?

To help the deficit 'super committee' reach a deal, some Republicans appear to be open to the idea of ending some tax breaks, despite opposition from antitax crusaders.

Bipartisan plea for $4 trillion in deficit cuts: why it could work

A bipartisan group of 100 House members will call for the deficit 'super committee' to make massive deficit cuts – even if it means entitlement or tax reform. The strong backing could be key.

Deficit-cutting 'super committee': Can it come up with a plan in time?

Congress's super committee may have just days to act in order to meet its deadline and prevent $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts to defense and nondefense spending. So far, no plan has emerged.

Why stalemate suits GOP just fine in Round 2 of deficit fight

The GOP knows it will get $1.2 trillion in deficit cuts this year no matter what. That gives it less incentive to compromise with President Obama on a deal that raises taxes on the rich.

Deficit 'super committee' behind closed doors: Will it be too secretive?

The deficit super committee tasked with cutting $1.2 trillion from the budget over 10 years began its work Thursday. Critics say it needs to be more transparent and members need to stop fundraising.

Can 'super committee' play fair as it tries to control national debt?

The task of reining in the national debt lies in the hands of a super committee of 12, which gets down to business now that Congress is returning from its summer break.

How vulnerable will deficit 'super committee' be to pressure from lobbyists?

With the sweep of the deficit committee's mandate potentially covering every dollar taxed or spent in the federal government, Washington’s lobby community is going on full alert.

Who's who on Congress's debt 'super committee'

Congress has created a special super committee to find at least $1.2 trillion in US budget cuts. If the plan is voted down, automatic spending cuts are slated to occur. Here are the 12 lawmakers named to the super committee.

Repealing tax breaks for oil companies: common sense vs. congressional thuggery

The oil industry is no more to blame for the price of gas than Kay Jewelers is to blame for the high price of gold. Any tax changes should be done as part of broader corporate tax reform, which will apply universally, and not just reflect a wave of political antagonism.

Reform Social Security now? Demographics of electorate say yes.

Republicans and Democrats seem to be talking past each other on Social Security. Republicans are unwilling to consider tax increases, and Democrats don't want to cut benefits.

Oil CEOs warn senators of downside to axing industry tax breaks

Five oil CEOs testified Thursday that a Senate bill to shrink their companies' tax breaks would mean less domestic oil production and higher gasoline prices. Democrats cite firms' big profits.

Democrats' deficit-cutting plan: Big Oil subsidies the first target

Senate Democrats on Tuesday began enumerating ways to cut the US budget deficit. Tax breaks for oil and gas companies topped their list, as they challenged Republicans to whittle 'subsidies.'

Medicare vouchers plan shelved for now

Medicare reform passed the House. But GOP leaders say they won't push Medicare vouchers in the current round of spending talks.

Any place for budget caps?

Budget caps are supposed to be a last resort, but they actually allow lawmakers to mindlessly slash spending and raise taxes across the board

US debt crisis: Can a deeply divided 'Gang of Seven' make any progress?

The members of the House and Senate who were appointed to the latest presidential deficit panel represent the starkest partisan views on Capitol Hill. But that could be a good thing.

Global warming: Congress set to decide if EPA can regulate greenhouse gases

The House and Senate both vote Wednesday on whether to curtail or delay EPA power to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions. The agency plans to issue emissions standards in 2012.

Health care law's future: four scenarios

One year ago, President Barack Obama signed a sweeping health-care law to fulfill a long-standing Democratic pledge to ensure health-care coverage for all Americans.

Passage of the law was a major legislative victory for Obama and helped change the political landscape, but not always in the way Democrats had hoped. Republicans strongly opposed the law and successfully worked public skepticism about it into sweeping election victories in November.

Here's a look at the uncertain future of the health care law:

Conrad makes a case against tax subsidies

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad is an important player in tax reform.