Seth McLaughlin

Hoyer, other Dems hint of willingness to extend all tax cuts

President Obama on Wednesday clobbered Republicans for holding "hostage" tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans just hours after a top House Democrat, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, signaled a willingness to compromise on an issue that has become the ultimate political football ahead of November's elections. Published September 15, 2010

Senate OKs small-business aid

The Democrat-led Senate on Tuesday overcame months of Republican resistance to push President Obama's small-business assistance bill toward passage, but it failed in a bid to reduce a costly tax-reporting provision on businesses in the new health care law. Published September 14, 2010

GOP leader nixes talk of taxing

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday vowed to block income tax hikes on any American next year, daring Democrats and the White House to raise taxes on wealthier taxpayers as the economy limps along. Published September 13, 2010

N.Y. imam regrets furor over mosque plan

The imam behind the proposed Muslim mosque and community center near ground zero said Sunday that he would have drawn up different plans if he had known the level of Islamophobia generated by the proposal. Published September 12, 2010

Boehner willing to limit tax cuts

House Minority Leader John A. Boehner signaled Sunday that he is prepared to support President Obama's plan to extend tax cuts for just the lower and middle classes — even if it does not include Republican-backed cuts for wealthier Americans. Published September 12, 2010

Cruel ‘summer’ for Dems pitching recovery

Heading into Memorial Day, Democrats were banking on "Recovery Summer" and a public rebranding of their health care overhaul to set right their political fortunes. But coming out of Labor Day and into the home stretch before November's congressional elections, that bet hasn't panned out. Published September 5, 2010

GOP wary of peaking too soon, despite lead

The caution of appearing overconfident comes despite polls released this week showing voters think Republicans are more fit to handle most of the country's pressing issues and that the GOP holds an "unprecedented" lead over Democrats in a new Gallup Poll. Published September 2, 2010

Similarities superficial in Pa. Senate race

They're both Catholic, middle-aged, Harvard-educated white men - but the similarities end there between the two candidates running for Arlen Specter's U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Published August 30, 2010

Glenn Beck calls on crowd to turn to God

The popular conservative talk show host turned preacher Saturday, telling a large crowd gathered on the National Mall that in order to restore America's honor, it must "turn back to God," as he stood on nearly the same marble steps from which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech 47 years ago. Published August 28, 2010

Hagel bucks party lines to endorse Sestak

Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel crossed party lines again yesterday to endorse Democrat Rep. Joe Sestak, casting the former U.S. Navy admiral and U.S. Senate candidate as someone who is not afraid to buck party leaders on Capitol Hill. Published August 24, 2010

Odierno: Only ‘complete failure’ of Iraqis would spur move

The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Sunday it would take a "complete failure" of Iraqi forces for U.S. troops to return to combat operations there. Published August 22, 2010

Blago’s return to politics up in air

Former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich said Sunday that he would not rule out a return to politics and that testimony from top national Democrats will clear his name if he is retried on corruption charges. Published August 22, 2010

General: Iraqis will be ready for U.S. withdrawal in 2011

Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the U.S. commander in Iraq, said Sunday that he expects Iraqi security forces to be ready for the withdrawal of U.S. forces at the end of next year. Published August 22, 2010

Blagojevich won’t dismiss return to politics

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Sunday that he would not rule out a return to politics and that testimony from top national Democrats will clear his name if he is retried on corruption charges. Published August 22, 2010

Republican ad buy indicates plan for targeting foes

Amid projections of nearly 80 House seats potentially in play in November, the National Republican Congressional Committee has announced its first ad purchase of $22 million - spread out over 41 races and offering a window into where GOP strategists think they are likely to pick off Democrat-held seats. Published August 19, 2010

White House touts success of stimulus

The Obama administration says the stimulus worked by creating millions of jobs and staving off a depression - doing so with great transparency. It should be a crowning achievement as Democrats prepare for November's congressional elections. Published August 17, 2010

GOP’s rising stars send out diversified messages

The poster boys for the Republican Party's resurgence - Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts - are deploying their differing styles to aid the GOP's quest for midterm election victory. Published August 16, 2010

Bill raises cost of global business

With their usual sources for money drying up, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have started tapping the wallets of foreign workers and international businesses to pay for their pre-election wish list - moves that have put them at odds with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Indian government and possibly the World Trade Organization. Published August 12, 2010

Democrats gamble on midterm elections with more state funds

By returning to Washington to give the green light to another round of taxpayer-funded state aid, congressional Democrats are betting voters will reward, rather than punish, them for helping their cash-strapped states cover the costs of health care programs and teachers' salaries. Published August 9, 2010

States awaiting federal cash to plug budget gap

State lawmakers from across the country breathed a collective sigh of relief on Thursday after the Democrat-controlled Senate voted to send them billions of emergency Medicaid dollars from last year's stimulus bill -- ending what had been a months-long, filibuster-fueled challenge to the deficit-spending. Published August 5, 2010