Topic: Mitch McConnell

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Gas prices fact check: Six ideas in Congress, but can they work?

Soaring gas prices have also shown a consistent and significant ability to push members of Congress over the deep end. Here's the experts' take on 6 ideas floating through Congress.
What can Congress do to create jobs? Five Republican proposals.

Amid worries that the economy may be tipping toward a second recession, both Republicans and Democrats say creating jobs is their top priority. But the two parties are far apart on their approaches. Here are the Republicans' top five priorities.
In Pictures: Who's who in the US debt crisis
Obama open to short-term deal on debt ceiling. Here are five ideas.

The White House announced Wednesday it would support a short-term deal to raise the debt ceiling. Suddenly, Washington is awash in prospects for a deal. Check out these five.
Out of options in debt ceiling talks? Nope, here are five.

How many ways are there to resolve the debt ceiling crisis? Frustration is mounting in both political parties as an Aug. 2 deadline looms to avoid default on America's debt obligations and deficit-reduction negotiations are gridlocked. Still, at least five options for handling the matter have been discussed in recent days and months. Other possible solutions may emerge, but here’s the state of play on the options to date.

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Psst, students. Still hope for low-rate student loans, despite Senate balking

Without a fix, interest on some subsidized federal student loans would double to 6.8 percent starting July 1. But Thursday's Senate votes are still just theater. Expect parties to haggle over the cash until June 29.
To reward Myanmar for reforms, US eases economic sanctions, names ambassador

Hillary Clinton said the decision to suspend sanctions on export of American financial services and investment was the most significant action Washington has taken so far to reward Myanmar for its reforms.
Student loans: GOP filibuster blocks Senate move to freeze low rates

Student loans will cost more come July 1 unless Congress acts. While both parties say they support extending low rates on federally subsidized loans, election-year politics have intervened.
Focus
Sen. Dick Lugar trails GOP rival in poll. A surge of tea party power?

Ahead of Tuesday's GOP primary in Indiana, incumbent Sen. Dick Lugar lags challenger Richard Mourdock by 10 points, a new poll shows. A Lugar defeat would be a convincing demonstration of tea party power in 2012 election cycle.
Student loan bill? Not so fast.

Student loan bill, which would keep graduates' interest rate costs from doubling, gets caught up in election free-for-all. House passes student loan bill, despite Obama veto threat.
On renewal of Violence Against Women Act, Senate Democrats have upper hand

After passing the Senate unanimously in years past, the Violence Against Women Act, with revisions, faces strong partisan opposition. Still, Republicans don't want to be tagged as waging a 'war on women.'
'War on women' rhetoric turns nuclear power spat radioactive

The head of the US nuclear power watchdog on Friday refuted allegations that he bullies women colleagues in a controversy that involves several political subplots.
'Buffett rule' fails, but it will be back

The Buffet rule to raise taxes on millionaires couldn't get through the Senate, but both parties promise to make it a campaign issue as the nation heads toward Election 2012.
Why the GOP loves to hate the Democrats' Buffett rule

For Republicans, the danger in disavowing the so-called Buffett rule, a tax hike on millionaires, is that Democrats can paint them as the party that protects the rich. But they believe they can prevail with voters by fighting it. Here's why.
Americans spread blame for high gas prices, foresee $4.75 a gallon

Americans foresee, on average, gas prices at $4.75 a gallon within three months, shows a Christian Science Monitor/TIPP poll. They most blame the oil industry and Wall Street. But they expect politicians to act.
Holder answers judge, defending both judiciary and Obama health care remarks

Attorney General Eric Holder affirmed Thursday that the judiciary has power to review laws of the land, in reply to a US judge who had taken umbrage at an Obama comment questioning judicial review of his health care law. Obama's remark was consistent with that principle, Holder added.
Why Wisconsin primary could be start of something big for Romney

With a decisive win Tuesday in the Wisconsin primary, Mitt Romney could finally claim the mantle of the inevitable GOP nominee. Wisconsin is also important to the Republican Party as a potential battleground state in November.
Mitt Romney sings ‘On, Wisconsin’ toward next primary vote

Romney is whistling a happy tune going into Tuesday's major primary election in Wisconsin, and a string of upcoming primaries seems to favor him. Rick Santorum hopes to hang on until May, when voting swings back south.
Presidential race has become two-man: Romney versus Obama

Mitt Romney’s chances of winning his party’s nomination increase daily. He's reframing his campaign to take on Barack Obama, who's also approaching full-campaign mode with an eye on Romney.
Obama: Taxpayers shouldn't subsidize oil industry's record profits (+video)

Moments after Obama made his election-year appeal in the White House Rose Garden, the Senate failed to reach the threshold of votes needed to proceed to a measure that would have ended the subsidies.
Obama health reform law goes on trial amid deeply split public opinion

Public opinion polls on Obama's health reform law are murkier than Republican leaders claim. True, a majority of the public sees the individual mandate as unconstitutional, but Americans like many of its other provisions.
JOBS Act: Why are Democrats suddenly raising red flags?

No one wants to vote against jobs, but a wide swath of critics – ranging from the SEC, the AFL-CIO, and pension funds – worry that features in the proposed JOBS Act could hurt investors.
Obama help with Israeli preemptive strike on Iran would violate international, US law

For all the talk in Washington of solidarity with Israel on Iran, jumping to Israel’s aid in a preemptive strike would clearly violate international and US law. Obama must tell Israel that only self-defense against an armed attack would trigger American participation.
Gas prices fact check: Six ideas in Congress, but can they work?

Soaring gas prices have also shown a consistent and significant ability to push members of Congress over the deep end. Here's the experts' take on 6 ideas floating through Congress.
John McCain badgers Pentagon on Syria: 'We're not leading'

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta defended America's cautious stance on Syria in a Senate hearing Wednesday. A day earlier, President Obama said that unilateral action in Syria would be a mistake.
War games: Republicans could write Obama blank check on Iran

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that Congress should consider giving the president preemptive authority to attack Iran. Democratic leaders were wary of the plan.
Will Blunt amendment backfire on Republicans?

Republicans cast the Blunt amendment as a fight for religious freedoms, but it put at least one of their own, Sen. Scott Brown, in a tough spot – and he could be crucial to GOP efforts to retake the Senate.
Blunt amendment brings culture wars to Congress

The Blunt amendment would attach a provision to a key highway bill that would let employers opt out of a new federal health-care mandate for their employees if they have religious objections.
Rising gas prices give Republicans new tool to hammer Obama (+video)

An improving US economy undermined Republicans' election-year argument that Obama's policies are a drag on the recovery. But with gas prices 10 percent higher than a year ago, the GOP has a new weapon in its arsenal.
CPAC recap: As much talk about big-hatted Pilgrims as the economy

CPAC attendees Thursday heard from Rep. Michele Bachmann, Sen. Mitch McConnell, and Gov. Rick Perry. But the economy wasn't a major CPAC theme.