Sean Lengell

Post-inaugural Congress to revisit fiscal crisis

Congress will return to work less than 24 hours after the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, tackling a busy schedule Wednesday that includes spending measures totaling more than $1 trillion and a confirmation hearing on a controversial nomination to the president's Cabinet. Published January 19, 2009

Pelosi pushes Obama on repeal of tax breaks

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing Barack Obama to fulfill a campaign promise to repeal tax breaks for high earners and to investigate possible wrongdoing in the Bush administration - positions that the president-elect recently has been reluctant to address. Published January 19, 2009

Dem leaders seek larger stimulus

Plans for a massive economic stimulus package pushed by Congress and President-elect Barack Obama began to take shape Thursday, as House Democrats released details of a $825 billion proposal that includes spending projects and tax cuts. Published January 16, 2009

House Democrats unveil economic-rescue plan

House Democrats released details of an economic-recovery plan Thursday that would be more expensive but with fewer tax cuts than proposed by President-elect Barack Obama. Published January 15, 2009

House OKs child health care bill

The House passed an expansion of a popular health care plan for uninsured children Wednesday, providing President-elect Barack Obama with the chance to sign bills to protect children and equal-pay rights for women. Published January 15, 2009

Voinovich’s exit steepens GOP’s uphill climb

Sen. George V. Voinovich of Ohio has joined a growing list of Republican senators who say they won't seek re-election in 2010, making the GOP's efforts to recapture control of the Senate more challenging than previously anticipated. Published January 13, 2009

Another GOP senator to retire

Ohio Republican Sen. George V. Voinovich today announced he won't seek a third term in 2010, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Published January 12, 2009

Democrats set vote to tighten health gap

House Democrats set for vote on health bill Published January 12, 2009

Daschle says health care system broken

Tom Daschle told a Senate committee Thursday he is ready to "change the paradigm in this country on health care" if he gets the job as Health and Human Services secretary, receiving a friendly reception from the panel and paving the way for his expected confirmation. Published January 9, 2009

Daschle faces easy time before hearing

Health and Human Services Secretary designate Tom Daschle faced a warm reception Thursday before a Senate panel gathered to vet his nomination, paving the way for his expected confirmation to head President-elect Barack Obama's health care reform strategy. Published January 8, 2009

Swift confirmation likely for most nominees

Democrats are rushing to get a raft of President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet and other nominees approved with a whirlwind of Senate confirmation hearings beginning Thursday, the first featuring Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Daschle. Published January 8, 2009

Feinstein backs Burris as busy Congress begins

The 111th Congress opened Tuesday to a raucous start on a day typically reserved for ceremony, as Democrats dealt with an embarrassing sideshow over President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the Senate and pushed through rules changes to limit minority Republicans' ability to influence legislation. Published January 7, 2009

Busy new Congress convenes

The 111th Congress convened Tuesday afternoon for the first time, ushering in a surge of enthusiasm but also facing a daunting list of challenges that could make 2009 one of the most consequential years in congressional history. Published January 6, 2009

Franken grips Senate win as suit brews

UPDATED: Democrat Al Franken won't be sworn in as Minnesota's next senator when the chamber convenes Tuesday for the first time in 2009, despite a state board certifying that he won the state's two-month-long Senate recount over Republican incumbent Norm Coleman, an aide to the Senate's top Democrat said late Monday. Published January 6, 2009

LaHood’s tough road at Transportation

Outgoing Illinois Rep. Ray LaHood, President-elect Barack Obama's pick for transportation secretary, will face several daunting challenges if Congress approves his nomination, including a shortage of air traffic controllers, crumbling highway infrastructure and a fluctuating petroleum market. Published January 4, 2009

Muslim advocates file FAA complaint

A Muslim advocacy group filed a complaint Friday with the Transportation Department over a New Year's Day incident at a Washington airport in which nine Muslim passengers were removed from a flight after other passengers said they overheard a suspicious remark about airplane security. Published January 3, 2009

Iconic Market Inn to close doors

Tears will be flowing as freely as the champagne New Year's Eve at the Market Inn, as the iconic Southwest Washington eatery - loved by power brokers, politicians and working class alike for 49 years - is closing its doors for good after Wednesday. Published December 31, 2008

Obama pressured on ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

The nation's largest gay-rights lobbying group is demanding that President-elect Barack Obama eliminate the "don't ask, don't tell" policy covering military service members and immediately tackle a host of other gay issues to repair the damage they say he has done to his image by choosing conservative Christian preacher Rick Warren to deliver the inauguration invocation. Published December 19, 2008

Critics say abortion refusal rules vague

The Bush administration has issued new protections to health care providers who refuse to perform abortions and other procedures because of religious or moral objections. Published December 19, 2008

Health insurance lobby urges public-private reform panel

The nation's largest health insurance lobbying group is urging Congress to create a public-private advisory board to develop a plan to cut growth in national health care spending by almost one-third - savings that could be used to help pay for universal medical coverage for all Americans. Published December 4, 2008