INSIDE POLITICS
The Washington Times' political blog.
Latest Blog Entries
Oddsmaker says Iowa is Gingrich's to lose
Paddy Power, an Irish bookmaker, says Newt Gingrich is the favorite to win Iowa's caucuses next month and is running even with Mitt Romney in the overall national race for the Republican presidential nomination.
Gingrich airs first TV ad in Iowa
Newt Gingrich is on the air in Iowa, releasing his his first television ad on Monday, roughly four weeks out from caucuses.
Ethics probe to continue on Jesse Jackson Jr.
The House Ethics Committee has said it will continue its investigation of Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. regarding his relationship with disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Report: Medicare Advantages remains popular among seniors
Medicare Advantage continues to surge in popularity among seniors and its premiums continue to fall, contradicting Republican predictions that President Obama's health care law would halt the program's recent and rapid expansion.
House sergeant at arms to retire
House Sergeant at Arms William "Bill" Livingood has announced he will retire in January after serving 17 years as the chamber's chief law enforcement and protocol officer.
Boehner: Obama should help Congress replace sequester
House Speaker John A. Boehner has pressed President Obama to review the automatic spending cuts set to be triggered by last week's failure of the defunct debt-reduction "supercommittee" and to work with Congress to develop a Plan B.
Barney Frank, fashion guru
Retiring Democratic Rep. Barney Frank has been called many things during his three decades in Congress. But fashion expert likely isn't one label that comes to mind for most people. Except for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The California Democrat, during her weekly briefing with reporters on Thursday, deviated from her talking points to wax nostalgic for several minutes about Mr. Frank, who announced Monday he won't seek a 17th term next year. When asked about her most memorable moment with the chronically blunt Massachusetts Democrat, Mrs. Pelosi recalled an episode years ago when she wore a new suit to work. "I go to the floor and the first person I run in to is Barney Frank, who said, 'Give it away, don't wear that suit anymore,'" said Mrs. Pelosi while holding back laughter. Later that day she said she received another reprimand from former House Appropriations Democratic leader David Obey for not being diplomatic enough when presenting a bill. "So (I thought), this is really my day: I'm getting fashion advice from Barney Frank and diplomacy advice from Dave Obey," Mrs. Pelosi said amid laughter from the press corps.
Pelosi: Don't shrink federal workforce
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she would consider "reasonable" Republican suggestions for paying for an extension of the payroll-tax break, but shot down a GOP proposal to offset costs by reducing the federal workforce.
Romney's first ad in Iowa touts his business experience
With about a month to go before the Iowa caucuses kick off the nomination process, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney released his first television ad in the Hawkeye State on Thursday, playing up his business background and his campaign pledge to cut federal spending.
Paul camp casts Gingrich as serial hypocrite
Newt Gingrich is getting a taste of what its like to be the GOP presidential front-runner, courtesy of Ron Paul, who released a new online ad Wednesday that paints the former speaker as a hypocrite.
GOP bill would fast-track pipeline construction
Senate Republicans introduced legislation Wednesday designed to speed up construction of a proposed transcontinental oil pipeline despite objections from environmentalists.
Evangelical leader urges Gingrich to explain 'turbulent marital history'
A leading religious conservative warned Newt Gingrich Wednesday that he risks losing the support of evangelical women voters if the Republican presidential hopeful refuses to publicly address his "turbulent marital history."
Texas Dems: Is Rick Perry smarter than a fifth-grader?
The Texas Democratic Party questioned Tuesday whether Gov. Rick Perry could outwit a fifth-grader after the Republican presidential contender appeared to forget — or not know — that the legal voting age in the United States is 18 during a campaign swing through New Hampshire.
Waters probe may impact committee promotion
Now that Rep. Barney Frank, the 16-term Democrat from Massachusetts, has announced his plans to retire at the end of next year, Rep. Maxine Waters' record is getting a closer look, and the picture is anything but clear.
Support for tea party dips nationwide
The Pew Research Center has released a new survey that found that support for the tea party is slipping nationally, including in districts represented by members of the House Tea Party Caucus.
