INSIDE POLITICS
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States awarded second batch of exchange grants
More than half the states have accepted federal assistance for setting up new insurance exchanges, with a second round of grants announced Tuesday by the Obama administration.
Clyburn open to do-over on automatic cuts
Rep. James E. Clyburn, a member of the defunct debt-reduction "supercommittee," said Tuesday he is open to redoing the automatic spending cuts set to take place in early 2013 as a result of the group's failure — a position at odds with the White House.
Two states denied waivers on Obama health provision
The Obama administration has turned down requests by Indiana and Louisiana for exemption from a provision in President Obama's health care law that restricts how much insurers can spend on overhead.
White House: Obama's travel is not excessive
The White House on Monday pushed back against a report that President Obama's official visits to swing states have surpassed other presidents' records.
Obama signs law to honor black Marines
President Obama signed legislation Wednesday to award a congressional gold medal to the first blacks who enlisted in the U.S. Marines in the 1940s.
Democrats pounce on Romney immigration comments
The Democratic National Committee is out with a new web video attacking GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney for his views on illegal immigration, saying that the approach the former Massachusetts governor laid out in the debate Tuesday proves that he has "assumed the mantle as the most extreme, right-wing presidential candidate on the issue of immigration ever."
Poll: Iran sanctions not working
Fully 60 percent of Americans believe the Obama administration's economic sanctions aren't stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and half say the U.S. should bomb Iran if the sanctions don't work, a new poll has found.
Romney, Huntsman last holdouts as Cain signs pro-life pledge
Herman Cain signed the Susan B. Anthony List’s pro-life pledge Tuesday, leaving Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman as the last major GOP presidential candidate to refuse to support the pledge against abortion.
No booing at White House country music night
The deficit super committee may have come up empty-handed. but President Obama and a bipartisan audience appeared in good spirits for "an evening of down-home country music," as Mr. Obama put it, Monday night in the White House's East Room.
Obama welcomes new Italian PM
President Obama spoke with newly installed Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti Monday morning, congratulating him on his appointment and thanking him for taking on the job at such a critical time.
Hensarling: No debt deal yet
The Republican co-chairman of the congressional debt-reduction committee said Friday morning the panel hasn't reached an deal but is prepared to work through the weekend.
Obama uses autopen to keep government open
President Obama on Friday turned to mechanics to get him out of a jam, using an autopen to sign an emergency spending bill Congress sent him late Thursday.
God and the supercommittee
With the congressional supercommittee tackling the federal debt crisis apparently gridlocked, Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black on Thursday tapped a higher power.
Paul: Obama health care more fascism than socialism
It's doubtful whether anyone opposes President Obama's health care law more than Ron Paul, but the Texas congressman said Wednesday that the sweeping legislation is not socialized medicine — contrary to claims made by his fellow presidential contenders Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain.
Survey: Only jobs more important than health care to voters
Health care is topped only by jobs as the issue voters care about the most, according to a new survey released Wednesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Industries.
