by Patrick Svitek | Feb 8, 2012 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON — As lawmakers quarreled over whether airports should hire more private baggage screeners, a bill sat on President Barack Obama’s desk this week that would answer that overarching question. The legislators’ inquiry: How should the Transportation...
by Patrick Svitek | Feb 7, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — Transportation Safety Administration head John Pistole told a House subcommittee Tuesday that he will continue a controversial program that replaces federal employees with private workers at airport security checkpoints, although he is unlikely to expand...
by Patrick Svitek | Feb 6, 2012 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON — Of all the places where disgraced ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff has been spotted since emerging from prison more than a year ago, his appearance Monday was surely the most unlikely of locales. Seated beneath a floor-to-ceiling banner headlined with the phrase...
by Patrick Svitek | Feb 1, 2012 | Politics
WASHINGTON — Sen. Scott Brown said Wednesday he favors any amendment that expands the scope of his bill to prohibit so-called “congressional inside trading” to include the executive branch. The STOCK Act, or Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge Act, would bar...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 31, 2012 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON — Sen. Joe Lieberman on Tuesday warned “irrelevant amendments” could erode bipartisan support for a bill outlawing what has been termed “congressional insider trading.” At a media briefing with Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Democratic...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 30, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared Monday that it’s “clear from every measure” that border security is improving under the Obama administration despite what she called outdated laws that should be strengthened. During her second annual...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 25, 2012 | Health & Science, Politics
WASHINGTON — Newt Gingrich is once again a political gift and a curse as he surges for the second time in less than two months, according to several panelists discussing the tumultuous primary season Wednesday at American University. The two-hour talk centered on...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 25, 2012 | Politics
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged a divided Congress on Tuesday night to rescue an American dream tainted by economic inequality — a dire situation he called “the defining issue of our time.” In his State of the Union address, Obama implored lawmakers to...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 23, 2012 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON — Open government advocates are re-energizing their push for President Barack Obama to issue an executive order that would require federal contractors to reveal political contributions. The issue is gaining traction at the White House after a false start...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 18, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security should redefine its mission as it moves away from strictly combating terrorism, experts at the Aspen Institute say. Before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, representatives from the think tank’s...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 17, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Tuesday assured the recent breach of more than 24 million Zappos online accounts would not be treated lightly by her department. “Don’t worry,” Napolitano said in between chuckles. “We have intel.” The...
by Patrick Svitek | Jan 10, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — Industry officials stopped short of suggesting drastic changes to safety guidelines at air shows and air races across the country before a sometimes skeptical National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday. They did, however, signal they will continue...
