Jacqueline Klimas
Articles by Jacqueline Klimas
Congress seeks to jack up fees on home heating oil in midst of frigid winter
Congress' mammoth farm bill restores the imposition of an extra fee on home heating oil, hitting consumers in cold-weather states just as utility costs are spiking. Published February 2, 2014
Cantor: Immigration reform should begin where both parties can agree
Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican, said Sunday that securing the nation's borders and enforcing immigration laws is a precursor to any talk of legal status or citizenship. Published February 2, 2014
Washington governor thanks Obama for allowing his state to legalize pot
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee thanked the Obama administration Sunday for allowing his state to move forward in legalizing recreational marijuana. Published February 2, 2014
Ryan: Border security No. 1 priority for GOP on immigration
Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, said Sunday that because there is no time limit on immigration reform, like there would be on a government shutdown, Republicans will not be forced to compromise with the Senate on a deal that the GOP doesn't agree with. Published February 2, 2014
Jindal: Election-year politics shouldn’t drive GOP’s immigration reform efforts
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said if Republicans act on immigration reform in 2014, it should be because it's good for America, not because of political motivations for mid-term elections. Published February 2, 2014
Democrats urge unemployed to lobby GOP for benefits
Democrats said they are still trying to get those who lost federal unemployment benefits to tell their stories to Republicans in Washington, but the effort has done little to sway GOP lawmakers who say they'll only accept a bill if the new spending is paid for. Published January 30, 2014
Veterans’ groups disappointed in Obama on veteran benefits
While President Obama talked about many initiatives to help veterans during his State of the Union address Tuesday night, veterans' groups criticized him Wednesday for not demanding a full repeal of cuts to military retirement benefits. Published January 29, 2014
Farm bill removed provision for lawmakers to disclose subsidies they received
The final version of the farm bill does not include a provision that would require lawmakers to disclose how much crop insurance assistance they received. Published January 29, 2014
Massive farm bill gets needed push across the House finish line
House Republican leaders Wednesday needed Democrats to help them push a big bill across the finish line — in this case, the massive farm bill, which spends nearly $1 trillion over the next decade on food stamps and farm subsidies. Published January 29, 2014
As Obama talks, Republicans fire back on Twitter
Lawmakers took to Twitter Tuesday night to agree with, bash and fact-check President Obama's State of the Union address in real time. Published January 28, 2014
For GOP lawmakers, ‘Duck Dynasty’ stars biggest draw at Obama’s speech
Stars from "Duck Dynasty" stole the show before President Obama arrived at the State of the Union Tuesday night. Published January 28, 2014
Reid admits to nodding off in past State of the Union speeches
Majority Leader Harry Reid admitted to reporters Tuesday afternoon that he's nodded off during past State of the Union speeches – but never one of President Obama's. Published January 28, 2014
No urgency in finding fix for COLA cuts, military leaders say
Military leaders called for a review of the cost-of-living adjustment cuts in last month's budget deal on Tuesday, but said Congress had "ample time" to find a fix, contradicting the urgency being stressed by some lawmakers and many veterans groups. Published January 28, 2014
House negotiators reach agreement on farm bill
House and Senate negotiators said Monday they’ve finally reached an agreement on the long-delayed farm bill, signing a deal that would save $8 billion in the food stamp program and cut $19 billion from farm subsidies — though it preserves both programs. Published January 27, 2014
Democrats fired up for fight for unemployment benefits
Democrats are returning to Washington this week armed with stories from some of the 1.6 million unemployed Americans back home who are desperate to have the federal government resume paying unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless. Published January 26, 2014
Former aide to Sen. Lamar Alexander commits suicide in Md. home
Jesse Ryan Loskarn, a former aide to Sen. Lamar Alexander who faced charges for child pornography, was found dead in a Sykesville, Md., home Thursday afternoon, a release from the Carroll County Sheriff's Department said. Published January 24, 2014
Sen. Charles Schumer pushes plan to undercut tea party
Democrats should push for more open primaries as a way of weakening the tea party movement, Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said Thursday, laying out a plan to try to isolate the grass-roots conservative movement that has emerged as a key hurdle to President Obama's agenda over the past three years. Published January 23, 2014
Uninsured rate drops in January despite Obamacare’s rocky rollout
Despite the rocky rollout of the President's signature healthcare law, the uninsured rate in the U.S. decreased slightly in January, according to a Gallup-Healthways survey released Thursday. Published January 23, 2014
Former NYC Mayor Guiliani: Gov. Christie can survive Bridgegate scandal, become stronger
If New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is telling the truth about having no involvement in the alleged retaliatory lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, he can survive the scandal unscathed, Former New York City Major Rudy Giuliani said. Published January 22, 2014
Sen. David Vitter to run for Louisiana governor in 2015
Sen. David Vitter on Tuesday ended months of speculation and entered the 2015 race for governor of Louisiana, saying the office would give him a more powerful post from which to protect taxpayer dollars. Published January 21, 2014