Sean Lengell

Critics hit Sandy storm disaster aid add-ons

A $51 billion GOP-crafted Superstorm Sandy relief package scheduled to hit the House floor Tuesday includes billions of dollars in non-emergency spending — angering budget hawks, government-watchdog groups and many Republicans who say the bill is the latest example of out-of-whack government priorities. Published January 13, 2013

Powell: Vietnam vet Hagel is ‘superbly qualified’

Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell on Sunday vigorously defended President Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel to run the Defense Department, saying the former Republican senator is "superbly qualified." Published January 13, 2013

Hard-charging Cruz creates an early splash

Some new senators make a point of keeping their heads down and their media profiles low as they get the lay of the land on Capitol Hill. Published January 13, 2013

Sen. Murphy: Congress ready for ban on assault weapons

Sen. Chris Murphy on Sunday said there is growing momentum in Congress for a ban on so-called assault weapons, saying lawmakers' attitudes toward gun control have changed significantly in the wake of last month's shooting rampage in Newtown, Conn. Published January 13, 2013

Filibuster fight on hiatus with Senate

With the "fiscal cliff" averted for now, and the Senate on recess the next two weeks, the chamber's leaders have some breathing room to negotiate a possible compromise on another toxic topic — filibuster reform. Published January 7, 2013

Debt, funding fights show no signs of easing for new Congress

The bitter partisan fights on taxes and spending that dominated the past Congress — highlighted by the "fiscal cliff" battle — likely will continue to boil this year. Published January 7, 2013

Senate welcomes new members

After two years marked with partisan gridlock, the Senate kicked off the new Congress on Thursday with 13 new members and welcomed back Sen. Mark Kirk, who made an emotional return to the Capitol after suffering a stroke almost a year ago. Published January 3, 2013

Angry GOP: Hill has to ‘get serious about cutting spending’

Despite taking a beating this week in the "fiscal cliff" showdown with President Obama and Democrats, conservative Republicans have vowed to regroup in coming weeks and redouble their efforts to rein in federal spending. Published January 2, 2013

Farm bill to block price hikes snagged in ‘fiscal cliff’ discussion

While congressional leaders have reached a deal to avoid milk prices from skyrocketing in the coming weeks, the proposal was in limbo Tuesday as it was piggybacked onto the stalled measure intended to avoid the nation falling off the "fiscal cliff." Published January 1, 2013

Congress approves ‘fiscal cliff’ deal in bipartisan vote

After briefly pumping the brakes, House Republicans were poised Tuesday night to pass the deal to avert the "fiscal cliff" despite deep misgivings about hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending included in the compromise foisted on them by Senate Republicans and the White House. Published January 1, 2013

Senate votes to avoid ‘fiscal cliff’

Congress careened over the edge of the fiscal cliff at midnight, but a solution was in the offing after the Senate voted early Tuesday to approve a deal that combined tax-rate hikes and new stimulus spending, along with a two-month delay of automatic spending cuts. Published December 31, 2012

Obama signs act allowing spying on terrorists

President Obama has agreed to renew a controversial spy measure over objections from critics -- including many in his own party — who say it seriously threatens Americans' privacy and constitutional rights. Published December 30, 2012

Sandy-hit agencies get no free ride for new cars

The Senate passed a massive Superstorm Sandy relief bill late last week but not before lawmakers took a stab at some accountability — including insisting that the FBI, Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies first try to replace flood-damaged vehicles from within their existing fleets. Published December 30, 2012

Offers fly, but still no ‘fiscal cliff’ agreement

With hours to go, President Obama and Congress barreled toward the New Year's Day "fiscal cliff," trading last-minute offers and narrowing the range of options Sunday, but reaching no deal. Published December 30, 2012

Congress renews surveillance law

Congress on Friday voted to renew a key foreign surveillance law despite push-back from critics who say it seriously threatens constitutional privacy rights for Americans. Published December 28, 2012

Renewal of surveillance law set for vote in Senate

With talks stalled on averting the "fiscal cliff" ahead of Tuesday's deadline, the Senate spent hours Thursday debating whether to renew an antiterrorism measure that has led to warrantless wiretaps of Americans. Published December 27, 2012

Inouye’s death ends Senate’s 50-year club

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's death last week ended the more than 50-year reign of the Senate "lions" — a select group of iconic, long-serving members whose presence connected the chamber to some of the most important events of the past half-century. Published December 24, 2012