Susan Crabtree
Articles by Susan Crabtree
Russia, U.S. quarrel over aid to Syrian parties
The diplomatic battle between the U.S. and Russia over Syria escalated Wednesday, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calling on Russia to stop arming the embattled regime and Moscow charging the U.S. of providing weapons to the Syrian opposition. Published June 13, 2012
Congress members agree to fix tricky tax code
Amid all the unbridled partisanship and naysaying about Washington gridlock, a glimmer of consensus has begun to develop in Congress around the herculean task of fixing the nation's tax code. Published June 13, 2012
Sanctions squeeze Iran’s oil exports to a 20-year low
Tough U.S. and European sanctions imposed on Iran's oil industry over its nuclear program are squeezing the country's crude exports and hitting Tehran where it hurts, in the pocketbook, dropping the Islamic republic's oil output to the lowest level in 20 years. Published June 11, 2012
U.S. exempts seven countries from Iran oil penalties
Citing progress in turning up the pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program, the Obama administration exempted seven countries from Iran oil sanctions after they significantly cut back their imports of Iranian oil. Published June 11, 2012
White House backs Holder’s decision to appoint U.S. attorneys to probe leaks
The White House is standing by Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s decision to appoint two U.S. attorneys to investigate the recent spate of national security leaks, rejecting Republican arguments that only an outside counsel would be independent enough for such a task. Published June 11, 2012
Holder taps two federal prosecutors to investigate leaks
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. late Friday afternoon appointed two U.S. attorneys to lead separate investigations into unauthorized leaks of classified information, giving the two prosecutors full latitude to follow all potential leads within the executive and legislative branches of government. Published June 8, 2012
Democrats ‘got beat’ in May fundraising
Mitt Romney and the Republican National Committee trounced President Obama and national Democrats in fundraising last month, according to numbers both campaigns released Thursday, signaling that the Republicans can compete on equal footing with the White House in November. Published June 7, 2012
Obama team calls Romney blind trust ‘not-so-blind’
The Obama campaign launched a new attack on Mitt Romney's personal finances Thursday, this time arguing that his Republican rival's blind trust for his $250 million fortune is "not so blind." Published June 7, 2012
Romney, RNC top Obama, DNC in May fundraising
Mitt Romney and the Republican National Committee raised more in campaign donations than President Obama and the Democratic National Committee in May, according to the numbers both campaigns announced Thursday. Published June 7, 2012
Counsel: Ethics case against Rep. Waters will proceed
An outside counsel hired by the House Ethics Committee to resolve allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in a 2-year-old conflict of interest case against Rep. Maxine Waters has concluded that the California Democrat's due process rights have not been violated and the case against her will proceed. Published June 6, 2012
Euro zone crisis could force debt compromise, senators say
A bipartisan group of senators are expressing new urgency about resolving a looming clash over the nation's debt this fall in the face of a European crisis they fear could threaten a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis, which caught members of Congress flat-footed. Published June 5, 2012
Bush steals the show at White House portrait unveiling
Former President George W. Bush quickly broke the ice and sliced through the awkwardness of sharing a stage with President Obama, who regularly assails his record on the stump, during the unveiling of the 43rd president's official portrait. Published May 31, 2012
Obama congratulates Romney
In a rare moment of comity, President Obama called Mitt Romney on Wednesday to congratulate him on securing the Republican presidential nomination even as his campaign was launching a new line of attack against Mr. Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts. Published May 30, 2012
Obama signs reauthorization of Export-Import Bank despite earlier opposition
President Obama on Wednesday signed a reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank that would raise its lending authority 40 percent to $140 billion by 2014 and pressed Congress to pass a list of other top White House priorities aimed at creating jobs and boosting the economy. Published May 30, 2012
U.S. boots envoy of Syria after weekend massacre
The Obama administration is expelling the top Syrian diplomat in Washington in response to Friday's reported massacre of 108 people, including 49 children, in the village of Houla. Published May 29, 2012
Catholics’ mandate suit draws dividing line for Obama
Three years ago, President Obama gave the University of Notre Dame's commencement address, pleading for common ground with Catholics on thorny issues and vowing to seek a "sensible conscience clause" for doctors and nurses who oppose abortion out of religious objections. Published May 28, 2012
White House: Sanctions will move forward despite progress in talks with Iran
The White House said it would not immediately lift sanctions on Iran as a result of progress in talks to allow an investigation into Tehran's nuclear program. Published May 22, 2012
Obama: Bain Capital is the issue in 2012
Seizing on his campaign's new line of attack against Mitt Romney's record as a venture capitalist, President Obama said Monday that private equity firms sometimes harm communities. Published May 21, 2012
G-8 backs Greece, ramps up pressure on Iran
Ratcheting up the pressure on Iran Saturday, leaders of the Group of Eight major economies expressed solidarity in their approach to cracking down on Tehran's nuclear development program, agreeing to act together to lower oil prices in the coming months if necessary. Published May 19, 2012
France’s Hollande confirms Afghan pullout
French President Francois Hollande stood by his campaign commitment to pull his country's troops out of Afghanistan by the end of the year in his first meeting with President Obama Friday, but pledged to provide assistance to Afghan security in a "different way." Published May 18, 2012