Topic: Mitch McConnell

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Obama's 'in your face' cabinet picks: why he chose Chuck Hagel, John Brennan

President Obama officially nominated Chuck Hagel for Defense secretary and John Brennan for CIA chief Monday. Each brings a unique view of the organization he would lead.
Decoder Wire Republicans talk up a 'government shutdown.' Do they mean it?

With a series of fiscal deadlines approaching, some Republicans in Congress say they're ready to shut down the government to get real spending cuts, a reprise of the famous shutdowns of 1995.
Who faces tougher nomination: John Brennan at CIA or Chuck Hagel at defense?

Early Monday afternoon, President Obama will nominate John Brennan to head the CIA and Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defense. But both Hagel and Brennan may face an uphill nomination process.
McConnell rules out raising taxes, points to spending 'addiction'

As the debt ceiling debate heats up, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said additional tax hikes are out of the question, and the most important issue the country faces is spending.
Decoder Wire Barney Frank wants to be a senator. Is that a good thing or bad? (+video)

In media interviews Friday, just-retired Rep. Barney Frank said he'd like the Massachusetts governor to appoint him as an interim senator. In his 16 terms in the House, he had both highs and lows.
Slimmed farm bill reveals waning influence of agriculture

The 'dairy cliff' may have been avoided, but what was once a half-trillion-dollar bill full of subsidies for farmers was slimmed down to a no-frills extension. The once all-powerful farm interest may have lost its pull.
Beyond the 'cliff': Why spending cuts are next on the agenda (+video)

The just-concluded fiscal cliff deal answered most questions about taxes, for now, but until Obama and Congress address spending cuts, the federal deficit problem has not been solved.
House speaker vote: John Boehner wins reelection after tough few weeks (+video)

John Boehner's reelection to a second term as House speaker followed failed negotiations with Obama, a divisive fiscal cliff vote, and a bashing over delays in relief aid for superstorm Sandy.
Congress will vote on Sandy aid this week, says Boehner (+video)

House Speaker John Boehner rescheduled a vote on Sandy relief funding for Friday at the urging of lawmakers from the storm's hardest hit regions. The funding is slated to go toward immediate relief for victims as well as rebuilding efforts.
'Fiscal cliff' deal: Will the Tea Party find renewed strength? (+video)

Some, including members of the Tea Party, are dissatisfied with the recently agreed upon deal relating to the fiscal cliff. Tea Party groups are looking toward the next election in hopes of replacing less conservative Republican members of Congress with Tea Party candidates.
Opinion Love it or loathe it, the 'fiscal cliff' deal brought compromise

As unsatisfying as the bargain is in substance, its achievement reaffirms an essential element of America’s democracy – the need for compromise. That aspect of the 'fiscal cliff' deal will be needed as the US approaches the debt ceiling and debate on spending cuts and tax reform.
How Obama won and lost in 'fiscal cliff' deal

President Obama would have looked incompetent if the nation had gone over the fiscal cliff. But now he faces three more cliffs early in 2013, and those could limit his scope.
Decoder Wire Donald Trump slams GOP: How would he have struck 'fiscal cliff' deal?

Donald Trump slams GOP in tweets, saying that Republicans got nothing in the fiscal cliff deal. Here's a look at some principles the real estate mogul might have followed had he been negotiating.
In 'fiscal cliff' deal, Joe Biden upstages President Obama (+ video)

With 'fiscal cliff' talks teetering, Vice President Joe Biden – a former longtime senator – stepped in to broker a deal with his old colleagues and and stave off big tax hikes for most Americans.
The Vote Dancing troupe of middle-class taxpayers: Obama's 'fiscal cliff' trump card?

President Obama took to the stage Monday to press Congress not to allow taxes to go up on middle-class taxpayers – and he had a rambunctious group of them on hand to support him.
'Fiscal cliff': How far apart are the sides now on tax cut deal?

Both sides have appeared to come closer together on Bush-era tax cuts, but many other issues remain, and Senate majority leader Harry Reid still isn't saying much publicly.
Fiscal cliff: 48 hours to go and Senate negotiations slow to a crawl

A late-breaking Republican demand to cut Social Security benefits through an alternative method of calculating inflation adjustments has put negotiations at an impasse.
Obama keeps up the pressure as Senators Reid and McConnell negotiate 'fiscal cliff'

President Obama appeared on 'Meet the Press' Sunday as Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell tried to work out a last-minute deal to avoid plunging over the 'fiscal cliff.'
Three (thin) reasons why Congress could yet avoid the fiscal cliff

A deadline, the promise of a House vote on whatever the Senate can produce, and a sharp reaction on Wall Street boost prospects that gridlocked lawmakers will act to avert at least some aspects of the fiscal cliff by Jan. 1.
Obama, Congress struggle toward fiscal cliff deal

On Friday President Barack Obama met with congressional leaders once again to try negotiating a budget deal. Obama said he walked away from the meeting 'optimistic.'
'Fiscal cliff' meeting at White House: Will it be 'Lincoln' moment for Obama?

Many Senate Republicans say that with Congress deadlocked on averting the fiscal cliff, it is up to Obama to force a deal. The lesson from the movie 'Lincoln,' they say, is 'the president has to lead.'
Robert Reich Will Republicans avert the fiscal cliff? Don't bet on it.

Despite public opinion running against the GOP, House Republicans are looking less interested in avoiding the fiscal cliff, Reich writes.
Decoder Wire Boehner 'Plan B' flop: Good or bad for President Obama? (+video)

It's natural to think that President Obama might have cheered the collapse of House Speaker John Boehner's Plan B for the 'fiscal cliff.' But the chaos it created might cause bigger problems.
Republicans 'Plan B' fails. What's next to avoid going over 'fiscal cliff'? (+video)

House Speaker John Boehner could not muster enough support Thursday night from his fellow Republicans, a majority in the US House of Representatives, to pass his bill called 'Plan B' that he had hoped to use to avoid the so called 'fiscal cliff.'
Will GOP's 'Plan B' push Obama closer to 'fiscal cliff' deal?

House Republican leaders hope to pass their own 'fiscal cliff' bill Thursday. But Obama and Senate Democrats are solidly against the plan, which could leave the sides no nearer a deal.