Sean Lengell

S.C. Gov. Haley names Scott to replace DeMint in Senate

Rep. Tim Scott, who emerged from a modest upbringing to become an icon of the conservative tea party movement, on Monday was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to replace the resigning Sen. Jim DeMint, a fellow Republican. Published December 17, 2012

Coalition urges approval of a farm subsidy

A bipartisan coalition of senators representing almost a third of the chamber is pressing party leaders to include a long-delayed farm subsidy and food stamp bill in any overall package to avoid the looming "fiscal cliff." Published December 16, 2012

Paying for Sandy as ‘fiscal cliff’ nears

A $60.4 billion spending bill for Superstorm Sandy relief washed up on Capitol Hill in the middle of the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, forcing Republicans to grapple with whether to demand spending cuts to offset the storm bill or approve the money and clear the decks for bigger fights. Published December 13, 2012

States steer clear of health exchange

Almost half the nation's states are refusing to set up health care exchanges — a major component of the federal Affordable Care Act — and instead will let the Obama administration run statewide health-insurance-buying programs. Published December 13, 2012

House Democrats petition for a vote on tax-cut extension

Looking to break the "fiscal cliff" gridlock, House Democrats are attempting to use a "discharge petition," a little-known procedural move, to get around Speaker John A. Boehner and force a House vote on extending the Bush-era tax cuts for everyone except individuals making $200,000 and more and couples making $250,000. Published December 9, 2012

DeMint won’t leave tea party voiceless

GOP Sen. Jim DeMint's announcement Thursday that he will resign to run the conservative Heritage Foundation leaves the tea party without its leading voice in the Senate, but the movement has several advocates in the chamber ready to fill the void. Published December 6, 2012

Senate rejects U.N. disabilities treaty

Conservatives' deep-seated suspicion of the United Nations was on high display in the Senate Tuesday, when Republicans blocked ratification of a U.N. treaty aimed at ending discrimination against the disabled despite assurances it wouldn't affect U.S. sovereignty. Published December 4, 2012

U.N. disabilities treaty faces GOP opposition

A United Nations treaty advocating equal rights for disabled people faces significant Republican opposition in the Senate this week as lawmakers fear it could cede U.S. sovereignty and is not something that should be addressed during the lame-duck session. Published December 3, 2012

Barbs fly on ‘fiscal cliff’ but still no agreement

While Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is still optimistic a deal to avoid falling off the "fiscal cliff" will be worked out before critical year-end deadlines, House Speaker John A. Boehner said Sunday that talks with the administration are going nowhere and accused President Obama of trying to ram through the White House plan without negotiating in good faith. Published December 2, 2012

Boehner: ‘Fiscal cliff’ talks deadlocked

House Speaker John A. Boehner on Friday said ongoing budget talks between the White House and Republicans intended to head off a "fiscal cliff" have hit a wall, and accused President Obama of failing to negotiate in good faith. Published November 30, 2012

Hill panels play musical chairs

Twelve years after his father gave up the gavel of the House transportation committee shortly before resigning from Congress, his son, Rep. Bill Shuster, will take command of the influential panel in January. Published November 28, 2012

More states set up exchanges for health insurance

With President Obama's re-election effectively ending any threat of a quick repeal of his health care law, more states are moving forward on a key component of the Affordable Care Act ahead of a mid-December deadline. Published November 27, 2012

Questions about Benghazi shift to State Department

Republicans toned down criticism of U.N. Ambassador Susan E. Rice on Sunday, shifting the focus of their inquiries into the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, to the State Department's inaction on security requests in the days leading up to the terrorist assault and the Obama administration's handling of the aftermath. Published November 25, 2012

Graham pushes back at ‘no taxes’ pledge

Sen. Lindsey Graham says he is willing to violate Grover Norquist's "no taxes" pledge if Democrats will agree to entitlement program cuts. Published November 25, 2012

Uneasy fix to ‘fiscal cliff’ in works

It won't be easy and it won't be perfect, but Congress and the president will find a way to avoid having the nation's economy go over the "fiscal cliff" at the end of the year, lawmakers from both parties predicted Sunday. Published November 25, 2012

McCain threatens to end aid to Egypt

As U.S. political leaders rebuked Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on Sunday for his decree to assume sweeping new powers, police in central Cairo fired tear gas at protesters who accused him of a blatant power grab. Published November 25, 2012

Farm bill may help Congress avert the ‘fiscal cliff’

A multiyear farm bill that has stalled in Congress could be part of a solution to avoid the looming "fiscal cliff" — if party leaders decide they need its spending cuts to count toward an overall deficit reduction package. Published November 22, 2012

Federal employees say they’ve done their part to dodge ‘cliff’

Federal employee unions and their allies on Capitol Hill are drawing a line in the sand against potential efforts to solve the "fiscal cliff" crisis on the backs of the federal workforce, saying the civil service already has done its part. Published November 21, 2012

Jesse Jackson Jr. resigns from Congress

After a long struggle with medical and legal problems, Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. resigned from Congress on Wednesday, citing failing health as the reason he is stepping down after 17 years but adding he is cooperating with a federal investigation "into my activities." Published November 21, 2012

Judicial nominees sitting on sidelines

As if Congress didn't have enough on its plate this hectic lame duck session — the "fiscal cliff," Benghazi probes and the farm bill to name a few — the Senate is facing an escalating backlog of pending federal judicial nominations that the legal community says is hurting the justice system. Published November 19, 2012