David R. Sands

Raised in Northern Virginia, David R. Sands received an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He worked as a reporter for several Washington-area business publications before joining The Washington Times.

At The Times, Mr. Sands has covered numerous beats, including international trade, banking, politics and Capitol Hill, and spent eight years on the foreign desk as senior diplomatic correspondent. He is currently the deputy editor for politics. In addition, he has reviewed books and written feature stories for the newspaper and authored The Times' weekly chess column since 1993. He is also senior writer for Washington GolfStyles, a monthly publication covering the Mid-Atlantic golf scene.

Articles by David R. Sands

Democrats to tap tax code to curb AIG

UPDATED: The Obama administration and Congress looked to the tax code to claw back bonuses given to traders at insurance giant American International Group Inc. while softening the losses for victims of Bernard Madoff. Published March 18, 2009

GOP gunning for vulnerable Dodd

Five-term Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd unexpectedly has emerged as one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats heading into the 2010 election cycle, with a new poll, a new challenger and new ethics problems all surfacing in recent days to give Republicans hope for taking the seat. Published March 18, 2009

Democrats mull end run for Obama

"Reconciliation" is proving a divisive word on Capitol Hill, where it could trigger one of the biggest partisan brawls of the year. Published March 17, 2009

GOP rips talk of 2nd stimulus

Sensing a political opening, congressional Republicans on Thursday said talk of a possible second stimulus spending program for the battered U.S. economy was proof that President Obama's first $787 billion stimulus effort had failed to do the job. Published March 13, 2009

Two confirmed to Justice Dept. posts

The Senate approved the nomination of two top Justice Department officials Thursday, overcoming reservations from some conservative Republicans about the choices. Published March 12, 2009

Feds might offer bounties for market miscreants

The nation's top market cop is looking for a few good snitches. Published March 12, 2009

Senate passes omnibus bill

The first major spending bill of the new Obama administration came stuffed with some old-fashioned pork as a $410 billion omnibus bill covering a slew of federal agencies won final approval Tuesday in the Senate. Published March 11, 2009

$900M Dulles rail deal back on track

UPDATED: The decades-long effort to bring Metrorail service to Washington Dulles International Airport reached a major milestone Tuesday when officials finalized a deal for $900 million in federal funding. Published March 10, 2009

Dulles rail project to get federal funds

Virginia officials and the U.S. Department of Transportation Tuesday will participate in a ceremony sealing the approval of $900 million in federal funding for a long-awaited rail line to Washington Dulles International Airport. Published March 9, 2009

Lawmakers told pirate threat not eliminated

A security threat as old as the republic itself - pirates - is generating interest on Capitol Hill. Published March 6, 2009

House approves mortgage revision

Struggling homebuyers would get new leverage to force banks to renegotiate their mortgages under a bill that passed the House on Thursday on a vote of 234-191. Published March 6, 2009

Lawmakers hear of pirate menace

A House committee Thursday looked into a security threat as old as the republic itself — pirates. Published March 5, 2009

Top Democrats cross Obama on earmarks

UPDATED: President Obama's drive to change Washington's free-spending ways is running into a buzz saw of opposition from his party, as another top congressional Democrat on Tuesday bucked the president's plan to curb pork projects. Published March 4, 2009

Hoyer pushes back on earmarks

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Tuesday became the second leading congressional Democrat in a week to push back against President Obama's drive to curb member-directed earmarks on spending bills. Published March 3, 2009

Hispanics wary of future in GOP

Five years after former President George W. Bush attracted nearly half of the Hispanic vote in the 2004 presidential election, Hispanic Republicans are worrying that support for the party among Latinos is in a free fall. Published March 3, 2009

Charity tax limits upset many

Democrats and Republicans poured cold water on President Obama's budget plan to cut down on wealthy taxpayers' charitable giving tax deductions, the second of his ambitious cost-savings plans to earn lawmakers' scorn, and underscoring the legislative minefield he is entering. Published February 27, 2009