INSIDE POLITICS
The Washington Times' political blog.
Latest Blog Entries
U.S. Chamber wades in Idaho GOP primary, backs Rep. Michael Simpson
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is taking sides in another GOP primary fights, rolling out television ads in support of Rep. Michael Simpson in Idaho, where the veteran lawmaker has been attacked for not being conservative enough and described as a Republican In Name Only.
Support for stricter gun laws dips: poll
Support for stricter gun laws appears to be fading as the first anniversary of the Connecticut school shootings in Newtown approaches, according to a new poll unveiled on the same day some of the 911 tapes from the Sandy Hook shootings were released.
Congress now allowed to say Merry Christmas to constituents
Members of Congress will now be allowed to include holiday wishes in their official communications to their constituents, after the panel that rules on such matters decided it would be OK.
Tensions hit boiling point over Obamacare enrollment figures, error rates
Republican lawmakers are throwing cold water on a reports that 29,000 Americans enrolled in health coverage through the federal Obamacare website in the first two days of December, or right after officials announced widespread fixes to HealthCare.gov.
Young, uninsured adults vital to Obamacare are not keen on enrolling: New Harvard poll
A new survey says less than a third of uninsured adults younger than 30 — a demographic vital to making Obamcare work — say they are likely to enroll in private health insurance through a marketplace tied to President Obama's law.
Rep. James E. Clyburn: Budget negotiators likely to miss another informal deadline
The third-ranking Democrat in the House said Wednesday that he won't be surpassed if congressional budget negotiators miss another self-imposed mid-December deadline for carving out a spending plan — a possibility that could edge the federal government closer to a government shutdown.
Harry Reid gives some staffers a pass on Obamacare
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is breaking with fellow congressional leaders on Capitol Hill by giving some members of his staff an exemption from having to purchase health coverage through Obamacare's new insurance exchanges.
Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat, not surprised that Obamacare vulnerable to fraud
Rep. Jim McDermott on Wednesday downplayed a report from a Treasury Department watchdog that warned the government subsides that are supposed to help Americans purchase health care under the Affordable Care Act are vulnerable to fraud.
Rep. Tom Cole: Democrats oppose GOP's free-market health care fixes
Rep. Tom Cole said Wednesday that he welcomes President Obama's request that Republicans step forward with alternative health care proposals, pointing out there are more than 200 pieces of health care-related legislation that GOP lawmakers have put forward.
Top environmental adviser to Obama stepping down
A key adviser to President Obama and an architect of many of the administration's environmental and climate policy initiatives will step down in February, the White House announced Tuesday.
Biden to Japanese businesswomen: 'Do your husbands like you working full-time?'
While touring a Japanese Internet company Tuesday, Vice President Joseph R. Biden asked a group of women, "Do your husbands like you working full-time?"
Obama lauds free-trade pact with Colombia
The recently enacted free-trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia has led to immediate economic benefits for both nations, President Obama said Tuesday after a meeting with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
Dem Rep. Hoyer: I wish I'd never called it Obamacare
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, said Tuesday that the administration is working hard to fix issues associated with the HealthCare.gov website and that the "brand" of President Obama's health care overhaul is intact.
GOP Rep. Lankford: Good Obamacare news outweighed by bad
Rep. James Lankford said Tuesday he is not excited by the news that more people enrolled in the Obamacare health exchanges because so many more have been kicked off their current insurance plans.
GOP's Rep. Tim Huelskamp urges Congress to target enhanced Medicaid funding
Rep. Tim Huelskamp said Tuesday that he doesn't expect the GOP to try to push for another government shutdown to gut funding for Obamacare in the next round of spending battles.
