by Kris Anne Bonifacio | Mar 12, 2013 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON — Chuck Hagel faced an uphill battle winning confirmation as secretary of Defense, but his first few weeks on the job are proving to be an even bigger challenge. For his first foreign trip as defense secretary, Hagel headed to Afghanistan where his visit...
by Rachel Janik | Mar 7, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act into law Thursday after a 500-day journey to reauthorization that was fraught with controversy. Even now, some of the most significant gains of the new law may be the least talked-about. The...
by Kimberly Railey | Mar 7, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON — Despite a Supreme Court decision to hear new challenges to campaign spending limits, campaign finance reformers are doubling down on efforts to restrict the role of money in politics. The country’s highest court agreed Feb. 19 to hear McCutcheon v....
by Marshall Cohen | Mar 7, 2013 | Living, Politics
WASHINGTON — “Elections have consequences,” politicians often say, but the long lines at polling places in November have triggered a debate on voting reform that could outlast the re-elected president and his agenda. In the wake of problems on Election Day, President...
by Rachel Janik | Mar 7, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON—The Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday approved a gun trafficking bill over Republican opposition. The proposal would combat illegal movement of firearms across state lines, and also hit straw purchasers — those who buy guns from licensed dealers for...
by Kris Anne Bonifacio | Mar 7, 2013 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON – The Senate voted Thursday to confirm John Brennan as the next CIA director, ending a rare talking filibuster by Sen. Rand Paul after nearly 13 hours. The 63-34 tally included 13 Republicans voting for Brennan and three Democrats voting against his...
by Marshall Cohen | Mar 5, 2013 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON — Jack Lew has accumulated a few gray hairs after four decades in Washington. Now that he’s Treasury secretary, he’s in store to grow a few more. Lew enjoyed a surprisingly smooth nomination process and the Senate overwhelmingly confirmed him last week to...
by Stephanie Yang | Mar 5, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON- House Democrats said Tuesday they want to create more American jobs by introducing a bill that would require U.S.-made parts be used in the construction of all bridges, roads and other infrastructure projects nationwide. West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall, the...
by Kris Anne Bonifacio | Mar 1, 2013 | Politics
[kml_flashembed movie=”/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/sequester2.swf” height=”500″ width=”600″ /] As Congress and the White House negotiate alternatives for the impending sequester, find out how the across-the-board indiscriminate cuts...
by Summer Delaney | Feb 28, 2013 | Living, Politics
Voting Rights Act advocates rallied outside of the Supreme Court during the oral arguments of the case Shelby County v. Holder. Court hears Voting Rights Act challenge from Medill Washington on Vimeo.
by Fritz T. Burgher | Feb 27, 2013 | Business, Politics
WASHINGTON — Jack Lew was confirmed Wednesday as the nation’s next Secretary of the Treasury.in a bipartisan 71-26 vote. Lew, President Barack Obama’s chief of staff and a budget director in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, has years of experience in...
by Alyssa Howard | Feb 27, 2013 | Politics
WASHINGTON – New Yorkers will be sipping – not gulping – their sugary soft drinks this weekend when Mayor Michael Bloomberg starts enforcing a citywide ban on purchasing sugary beverages of more than 16 ounces. And Bloomberg isn’t the only one targeting...
