Jacqueline Klimas
Articles by Jacqueline Klimas
Obama war powers unchecked despite postelection vow to work with Congress
President Obama promised a new war debate, but two weeks after making that postelection vow he has yet to send over legislation or even to begin negotiating with Congress on rewriting an authorization to allow him to go after the Islamic State terrorism group that he has committed thousands of U.S. troops to combat in Iraq. Published November 18, 2014
Harry Reid: Obama’s Holder replacement will get vote in early 2015
Majority Leader Harry Reid said approving the president's attorney general nomination is not a priority for the Democrats' remaining time in the majority. Published November 18, 2014
Capitol dome: Next phase of $60M repair begins
Workers are beginning to fill the more than 1,300 cracks in the Capitol dome as the next phase of restoration on the 150-year-old American icon begins. Published November 18, 2014
War on women? Pelosi prevents pregnant Dem from voting by proxy
Democrats are preventing Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a pregnant wounded war veteran, from voting by proxy in next week's caucus leadership elections, despite a doctor ordering Ms. Duckworth not to fly to Washington so late in her pregnancy. Published November 14, 2014
Lawmakers slam VA for lack of firings, accountability in wait-time scandal
Rep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said Thursday that the VA's efforts to remove leaders responsible for the wait-time scandal have been "nonexistent," prompting him to introduce a new law to further increase accountability. Published November 13, 2014
Senate Democrats to tackle Keystone, NSA snooping in lame-duck session
With just a few weeks left in power, Senate Democrats want to clear the decks of spending bills and force votes on dozens of President Obama's judicial nominations, but a brewing fight over the Keystone XL oil pipeline already has split Democrats and proved a major distraction. Published November 12, 2014
NSA phone snooping ban set for Senate vote
Senate Democrats took the first steps Wednesday to set a final vote on a bill to halt the National Security Agency's phone snooping, signaling a developing consensus to try to shut down the program before the end of the year. Published November 12, 2014
Denis McDonough, White House chief of staff: Nominations should be a priority for lame-duck session
Denis McDonough, White House chief of staff, said Wednesday that he encouraged Senate Democratic leaders to make approving presidential nominees a priority for the lame duck session. Published November 12, 2014
Veterans’ Care Card program is off to a promising start
Veterans groups are optimistic that the first Choice Cards entitling vets to care from private doctors are going out smoothly, marking a small victory for the embattled VA. Published November 11, 2014
VA overhaul fails to please veterans advocates calling for mass firings
The Veterans Affairs Department announced a bureaucratic reshuffling Monday that Secretary Robert McDonald said will make it easier for veterans to get the care they need, but veterans advocates are still waiting for the mass firings they think the troubled department needs. Published November 10, 2014
Robert McDonald: Helping vets is personal mission
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Sunday that he feels a personal commitment to provide the best care to veterans in the VA since many jumped out of airplanes alongside him during his time in the Army. Published November 10, 2014
VFW leader tells commanders to welcome younger vets
The VFW's national commander this week told members to be more welcoming to the newest generation of veterans — or else leave. Published November 7, 2014
Bob McDonald: Law didn’t specify deadline for VA’s Choice program
Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald said Thursday that the law didn't specify when Choice Cards needed to be sent to veterans, despite criticism from some veterans groups that the department missed the 90 day deadline. Published November 6, 2014
GOP’s new stars break mold, refresh Republican brand
From the first female black Republican ever elected to Congress to the first woman combat veteran to serve in the Senate, voters Tuesday injected a wave of fresh faces into American politics, helping to soften the GOP's image as the party of cranky old white men, and anointing a galaxy of new political stars likely to have an immediate impact in Washington. Published November 5, 2014
VA misses deadline for Choice Cards
The VA admitted Wednesday that it will miss a deadline to get veterans their new Choice health cards, failing on the first key test Congress gave the troubled department and new Secretary Bob McDonald in the wake of the wait list scandal. Published November 5, 2014
Sandra Fluke defeated in California state Senate race
California voters overwhelmingly rejected birth-control crusader Sandra Fluke in her bid for state Senate Tuesday, as she lost by 22 percentage points. Published November 5, 2014
Kansas GOP Gov. Brownback defeats Democratic challenger Davis
Kansans re-elected Governor Sam Brownback on Tuesday night despite backlash against his economic strategy that involved substantial tax cuts to schools. Published November 5, 2014
Pat Roberts defeats Greg Orman for fourth term in Senate
Sen. Pat Roberts won a fourth-term Tuesday night in Kansas, defeating independent businessman Greg Orman in a night overwhelmingly dominated by the GOP. Published November 4, 2014
DCCC chair says close races a success for Dems: ‘We left nothing on the field’
A top Democrat said the fact that so many races are too close to call Tuesday night is a testament to the Democrats hard work to drive grassroots supporters to the polls. Published November 4, 2014
Nancy Pelosi admits: ‘It’s a difficult night’
Top Democrats acknowledged Tuesday night that it will be a difficult night for the party, but said they would continue to knock on doors and make phone calls until the final polls close. Published November 4, 2014