Sean Lengell
Articles by Sean Lengell
House Democrats say they’ll put up stiffer defense of their record
House Democratic leaders, while anxious to avoid being hit by President Obama's "do-nothing Congress" verbal jabs, say they won't shy away from his record — or their own — during this election year. Published January 26, 2012
Democrats urged to tout accomplishments
House Democratic leaders, while anxious to avoid being hit by President Obama's "do-nothing Congress" verbal jabs, say they won't shy away from his record or their own during this election year. Published January 26, 2012
GOP says Obama’s agenda is designed to divide
Saying the country is down but not out, Republicans on Tuesday accused President Obama of trying to divide the country by pushing tax increases and excessive regulations, and implored voters to embrace their party's "pro-jobs, pro-growth" agenda over the program Mr. Obama offered in his State of the Union address. Published January 24, 2012
Panel set to tackle tax-cut extension
A new congressional committee set up to hammer out an extension of the payroll-tax cut met publicly for the first time Tuesday, setting aside the partisan rancor that gripped similar talks late last year and expressing optimism for a bipartisan deal. Published January 24, 2012
Opposition to piracy bill shines spotlight on influence of e-lobbying
Sometimes it pays to complain. Published January 23, 2012
Boehner: Obama policies do harm
As rancorous and partisan as Congress was in 2011, Capitol Hill portends to be even more political this year, as House Republican leaders plan to ramp up their pushback on the Obama administration's domestic agenda even more. Published January 22, 2012
Boehner wants oversight of Obama policies
As rancorous and partisan as Congress was in 2011, Capitol Hill looks to be even more politically charged this year, as House Republican leaders plan a sustained attack on the Obama administration's domestic agenda. Published January 20, 2012
Backlash leads Reid to postpone anti-piracy vote
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called off a scheduled vote next week over a contentious online anti-piracy bill after several co-sponsors withdrew support amid mounting public and corporate backlash. Published January 20, 2012
Support wanes in Senate for anti-piracy bill
Support for an anti-online piracy bill — drafted with rare bipartisan support — is eroding in the face of mounting public and corporate backlash. Published January 19, 2012
House nixes $1.2T hike in debt limit in symbolic gesture
In its first real bit of business to mark the new year, the House passed a symbolic Republican measure against President Obama's request to increase the federal debt limit by $1.2 trillion. Published January 18, 2012
House faces issues from last year again
The House formally opened the second session of the 112th Congress on Tuesday with a sense of deja vu, as lawmakers faced several issues they've already dealt with — albeit temporarily — in the latter months of 2011. Published January 17, 2012
Nebraska Democrats pin hopes on Kerrey
Sen. Ben Nelson's semi-surprising announcement last month that he wouldn't seek re-election has left Nebraska Democrats scrambling to find a replacement candidate to hold onto one of the party's most vulnerable seats this fall. Published January 17, 2012
GOP Rep. Jerry Lewis to retire
Rep. Jerry Lewis, a Republican stalwart who formerly was chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said Thursday he won't seek an 18th term in office this year. Published January 12, 2012
California redistricting seen influencing five in House not to run
While the majority party typically hangs on as long as it can in Congress, in California, where redistricting has significantly altered the congressional map, two senior Republican House members in recent days said they're calling it quits, with more reportedly mulling the option. Published January 11, 2012
Partisan acrimony looms over talks on payroll-tax cut
Congress will begin its work in 2012 right where it left off in 2011 — locked in a partisan, bicameral struggle to hammer out an extension of the expiring payroll-tax holiday. Published January 10, 2012
Fourth-generation Kennedy considers a House run
The first member of the Kennedy clan's so-called fourth generation is inching closer to running for Congress - a place where his family had served almost continuously for more than six decades until last year. Published January 8, 2012
President ‘confident’ about recess appointments
The White House says it doesn't fear potential lawsuits challenging President Obama's controversial appointments while the Senate is on break, as Republican lawmakers and presidential hopefuls blasted the move as unconstitutional. Published January 5, 2012
Incandescent bulbs dimming despite GOP efforts on Hill
New light-bulb efficiency standards kicked in Sunday, despite a last-minute Republican move that prohibits the federal government from spending money on enforcement. Published January 1, 2012
House balance may hinge on court rulings
The 2012 congressional elections are more than 10 months away, but some key votes already have been cast — and not by the electorate. Published December 27, 2011
Sen. Ben Nelson won’t run for re-election
Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, one of the Senate's most moderate — and politically vulnerable — Democrats, announced Tuesday he won't seek a third term in office next year, saying it was "time to move on." Published December 27, 2011