KVCR Politics News

Boehner: Who's Going To Jail For What IRS Did?

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:37:00 -0700

He doesn't want to know who's going to resign, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters Wednesday morning.

He wasn't to know: "Who's going to jail" for what IRS personnel did to some conservative groups?

IRS Chief Says 'Mistakes Were Made' But Weren't Partisan

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:15:00 -0700

"Mistakes were made, but they were in no way due to any political or partisan motivation," the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service writes in USA Today's op-ed pages.

Obama On IRS Actions: 'Outrageous' If True

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:45:00 -0700

It's "outrageous and there's no place for it" if the Internal Revenue Service did, as it has admitted, single out some conservative groups for extra scrutiny in recent years, President Obama said Monday morning during a news conference at the White House.

Do GOP's Benghazi Charges Harm Hillary Clinton For 2016?

Thu, 09 May 2013 09:17:00 -0700

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hasn't said whether or not she's running for president in 2016. Indeed, if her husband, President Clinton, is to be believed, she hasn't even told him of her intentions.

Polling suggests, however, that among potential Democratic candidates, Clinton is the runaway favorite — at least at this early stage.

Five Reasons Vetoes Have Gone Out Of Style

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:41:00 -0700

President Obama in recent weeks has twice threatened to veto legislation before Congress. Don't hold your breath that it will happen.

It's not that Obama isn't sincerely troubled by bills regarding debt repayment and online privacy. Actually vetoing legislation, though, no longer seems to be part of the equation — in part because so few bills actually make it to the president's desk.

Congress Considers Patch To Keep Helium Supply Afloat

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:16:00 -0700

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The Senate is considering legislation to prevent a global helium shortage from worsening in October. That's when one huge supply of helium in the U.S. is set to terminate. The House overwhelmingly passed its own bill last month to keep the Federal Helium Program going.

McConnell Tries To Show He's Still At Home In Kentucky

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:10:00 -0700

Republican Mitch McConnell has been the Senate minority leader since 2007, and he's the longest-serving senator in the history of Kentucky. He's up for re-election next year — and polling in the state shows his popularity is suffering.

Why Lobbying Is Now Increasingly In The Shadows

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:59:00 -0700

While ideological gridlock continues to immobilize Capitol Hill, another of Washington's institutions is morphing behind the scenes.

The lobbying industry is becoming more secretive — reversing a trend that dates back to the 1990s. And campaign money now looms ever larger as a critical element in the persuasion business.

Personality Or Party? Mass. Senate Race Shows Value Of Both

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:44:00 -0700

When Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts was tapped to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, his state — and national — party bosses were wringing their hands.

Why? The prospect of Republican Scott Brown launching another campaign to return to the Senate, where he served after winning a special election in 2010 to complete the term of the late Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy. Brown lost to Democrat Elizabeth Warren last November year in a race for a full Senate term.

Obama: Rumors Of My Demise Are Exaggerated

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:04:00 -0700

Joking that a reporter's question about whether he has "any juice" left to get things done in Washington made it sound like "I should just pack up and go home," President Obama on Tuesday paraphrased Mark Twain.

Bloomberg Aims His Money At Gun Control Opponents

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:47:00 -0700

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems determined to become the formidable adversary the National Rifle Association has never had.

The billionaire mayor is spending from his personal fortune to help defeat lawmakers who voted against gun control proposals last week and to prop up those who supported the measures.

At Bush Library Dedication Bipartisan Praise

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:56:00 -0700

Four presidents praised another member of their exclusive club Thursday at the dedication of the George W. Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Bush Sees Approval Hike, But Trumanesque Recovery? Unlikely

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:10:00 -0700

A poll released days before the opening of George W. Bush's presidential library in Dallas is serving as fodder for some sequestered GOP nostalgia about his two terms in the White House.

The Washington Post survey suggests that the 33 percent approval rating Bush took with him when he left Washington has bumped up to 47 percent. Gallup notes that it recorded Bush's lowest approval rating as 25 percent, which he hit three times

A Rand Paul White House Path Complicated By Dad's Legacy

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:57:00 -0700

Freshman Sen. Rand Paul insists that he won't decide until next year whether a 2016 presidential run is in his future.

But comments the Kentucky Tea Party Republican made this week at a newsmaker breakfast about a run — "we're considering it" — as well as upcoming speaking engagements in early caucus and primary states Iowa and New Hampshire suggest serious consideration.

Obama Uses And Loses Political Capital On Gun Control

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:29:00 -0700

The Senate's rejection of more robust gun purchase background checks was a stinging blow to President Obama that raised questions about his second-term agenda.

Expanding background checks had become a key part of Obama's post-Newtown push for tougher federal gun control laws. And in recent weeks, the president had campaigned for overall gun control legislation — especially the bipartisan background-check compromise — with a sense of urgency.

Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers Unveil Immigration Bill

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:22:00 -0700

A group of eight bipartisan Senators has reached broad compromise on immigration reform.

The Gang of Eight, as they've come to be known, released highlights of the bill this afternoon. ABC News reports the bill would:

While Congress Slumbers, Laws Pass Elsewhere

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:57:00 -0700

Maybe Barack Obama would be happier as a governor.

It's early days in his second term, but the president's agenda doesn't appear to have a whole lot of momentum. His budget last week was greeted with more criticism than applause from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Mother Of Slain Sandy Hook Student Sits In For Obama In Weekly Address

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 12:29:00 -0700

In a rare departure from tradition, Saturday's weekly presidential address was delivered not by President Obama but instead by Francine Wheeler, whose son Ben, 6, died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings last December.

Ryan Says He's 'Cautiously Optimistic' On A Bipartisan Budget Deal

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:19:00 -0700

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan tells NPR that he's "cautiously optimistic" that a budget deal can be reached with the White House.

Speaking to NPR a day after President Obama unveiled a 2014 budget proposal that includes cuts to Social Security and Medicare, as well as tax increases and new investments in education and infrastructure, Ryan said he was encouraged by the broad outlines from the White House.

Obama's Budget: What To Expect

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:05:00 -0700

The release of President Obama's proposed fiscal 2014 federal budget on Wednesday morning may seem a little anticlimactic. After all, we learned last week about its big news, the president's controversial idea of reducing Social Security payments to help reduce the deficit.

The 'Hard To Change' Legacy Of Medicare Payments

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:59:00 -0700

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The budget President Obama will send to Congress Wednesday is expected to include some $400 billion in reductions to Medicare and other health programs.

And if the word around Washington is correct, it may also include a proposal aimed at winning some bipartisan backing — by changing the way Medicare patients pay for their care.

Why Politicians Want Children To Be Seen And Heard

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:08:00 -0700

President Obama will visit Connecticut on Monday to keep pushing for new federal gun laws. The poster children for this campaign are just that — children.

The president has invited kids to the White House to watch him sign new executive orders on guns. And the images of the kids who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School are a constant reminder of the toll gun violence can take.

Back From Recess, Congress Preps For Gun Legislation Fight

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 08:33:00 -0700

The U.S. Senate was scheduled to begin voting on gun control measures this week when Congress returns from recess, but Senate staffers say a bipartisan agreement has yet to be reached on universal background checks. That snarl may end up delaying a vote on gun legislation for another week, as lobbyists on both sides of the debate use the extra time to keep the pressure on.

It's All Politics, Apr. 4, 2013

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:32:00 -0700

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President Obama launches a brain mapping initiative, but he can't concentrate enough to shoot better than 2-for-22 on the basketball court during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Mark Sanford wins the GOP runoff in South Carolina and faces Stephen Colbert's sister next month. Plus, NPR's Ron Elving and health correspondent Julie Rovner on the NRA's proposal of having armed guards in schools.

Colo. Gun Laws Offer Inspiration, Cautionary Tale For Obama

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:04:00 -0700

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President Obama is trying to regain some traction for federal gun control measures by visiting states that are moving forward on their own.

On Wednesday, the president speaks in Colorado, where lawmakers recently passed a series of bills requiring background checks for all gun purchases and limiting the size of ammunition magazines.

Reality Often Rivals Fiction In Political Corruption Scandals

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:30:00 -0700

The federal criminal complaint against New York politicians arrested after an FBI sting was a reminder of how often real-life political scandals can read like the imaginings of Hollywood screenwriters. (Think $90,000 in cash in a congressman's freezer.)

Obama's Plan To Explore The Brain A 'Most Audacious Project'

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:20:00 -0700

President Obama has announced an ambitious plan to explore the mysteries of the human brain.

In a speech Tuesday, Obama said he will ask Congress for $100 million in 2014 to "better understand how we think and how we learn and how we remember." Other goals include finding new treatments for Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury.

New York Politicians Accused In Plot To Sell GOP Spot In NYC Mayoral Race

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:50:00 -0700

New York State Sen. Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, was led from his Queens home in handcuffs Tuesday morning after being arrested for allegedly trying to buy his way on to the Republican ticket in this year's New York City mayoral election.

Immigration Change Is One Step Closer To A Bill

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:18:00 -0700

A final deal on a changing immigration laws is at hand but still incomplete, according to two of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators collaborating on it.

On NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona discussed a new agreement on a low-skilled worker program as a positive sign of progress, but both said there is more to be done.

Gun Store Owner Says He's No Longer Selling Mark Kelly A Rifle

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:23:00 -0700

A gun store owner in Arizona says he is refusing to sell Mark Kelly a semi-automatic rifle.

Kelly, along with his wife Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head during a shooting rampage at an event with her constituents, have become advocates for stricter gun controls. Kelly posted on Facebook that he had bought an AR-15. He said he didn't have possession yet, but he was planning on turning it over to Tucson Police once he did.

Thieves Target Political Ad Consultants On New FCC Site

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:30:00 -0700

Poke into the obscure corners of the Federal Communications Commission's website, and you can find one of the deepest disclosures in campaign finance.

An FCC database, which the government just approved last April and began making public in August, posts documents that reveal which politicians and advocacy groups buy TV ads on major-market network affiliates, and how much they pay for those ads.

Former Bush Aide Pushes 'Conservative Case' For Gay Marriage

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:37:00 -0700

One hundred thirty-one prominent Republicans have signed a pro-same-sex marriage legal brief that is clearly at odds with the House GOP leadership and the party's platform in the most recent election. Because of the prominence of the signers, the brief stands out among the more than 150 friend-of-the-court briefs filed in two same-sex marriage cases to be argued at the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

They All Voted For DOMA, But Now These Senators Are Split

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 10:41:00 -0700

The soul-searching over the Defense of Marriage Act went viral last week after Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman, a social conservative and original co-sponsor of the 1996 bill, sought out CNN to say something no one saw coming.

Meet The 83-Year-Old Taking On The U.S. Over Same-Sex Marriage

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:00:00 -0700

The tiny dynamo asking the U.S. Supreme Court to turn the world upside down looks nothing like a fearless pioneer. At age 83, Edith Windsor dresses in classic, tailored clothes, usually with a long string of pearls, and she sports a well-coiffed, shoulder-length flip. She looks, for all the world, like a proper New York City lady.

Timeline: Gay Marriage In Law, Pop Culture And The Courts

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:31:00 -0700

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to weigh two cases dealing with gay marriage, here's a look at how the debate has touched American life over the last four decades:

1972

In Baker v. Nelson, the U.S. Supreme Court dismisses a challenge of a ruling from Minnesota that gay couples have no constitutional right to marry, saying the appeal fails to raise a "substantial federal question."

Biden: Administration Still Fighting For Assault Weapons Ban

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:41:00 -0700

Vice President Biden told All Things Considered co-host Melissa Block in an interview Wednesday that he and the Obama administration plan to continue to fight for a ban on assault weapons to be included in a larger bill in Congress.

RNC Post-Election Report A Line In The Sand For Divided GOP

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:00:00 -0700

The release of a "postmortem" report on the 2012 national election by the Republican National Committee is either the first step toward the GOP's recovery or the latest sign that the party is headed for a breakup.

Or, it could be both.

Republicans' Secret To Success Sound And Act More Like Democrats

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:03:00 -0700

Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET

If Republicans hope to recapture the White House in the foreseeable future, they basically need to sound and campaign more like Democrats.

Hillary Clinton Announces Her Support Of Gay Marriage

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:08:00 -0700

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that she supports same-sex marriage, saying gays and lesbians are "full and equal citizens and deserve the rights of citizenship."

Ted Cruz: From Texas Underdog To Republican Up-And-Comer

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 10:28:00 -0700

The keynote speaker at Saturday night's closing session of the Conservative Political Action Conference is a 42-year-old Texan who's been a U.S. senator since January.

In that short time, Tea Party Republican Ted Cruz has already made a mark — and in doing so, he's simply ignored a tradition of new senators being seen, not heard. Cruz's sharp elbows have some colleagues wincing and others hoping he'll run for president.

Four Faces Of Conservatism: Possible Directions For The GOP

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:28:00 -0700

Is it the message or its delivery?

That's one of the questions being debated as Republicans — like all parties that have lost a national election — plot their comeback.

Some think they need to take a new tack on issues such as immigration in order to appeal to changing times and demographic changes. Others believe that the GOP's core conservative principles are still political winners, if delivered in a more convincing manner than was the case during last year's presidential race.

Son's Coming Out Leads Sen. Portman To Reverse On Same-Sex Marriage

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:12:00 -0700

Saying that he has reconsidered the issue in the two years since learning that his son is gay, Republican Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio announced Thursday that he no longer opposes same-sex marriage.

It's Still Early, But GOP Hopefuls Test The Waters For 2016

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:52:00 -0700

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During the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that begins Thursday, a slew of men who appear to want to try their hand at leading the GOP back to the White House in 2016 will be speaking, though not every potential presidential candidate was invited.

Retiring Carl Levin Says He Wants To Leave The Senate Fighting

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:22:00 -0700

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Retiring Michigan Sen. Carl Levin says he wants to spend his last two years in the Senate focusing on issues "that I believe to my core are really, really important to the country."

Republicans Face Off Over Strategy For Picking Candidates

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:51:00 -0700

Republicans have a steep hill to climb if they want to take control of the Senate next year. The GOP would need to pick up six seats in 2014.

There are plenty of open seats and vulnerable Democrats up for re-election, but Republicans are debating the best way to win.

Ryan Says His Budget Would Balance In 10 Years

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:24:00 -0700

(Note at 11:20 a.m. ET: Scroll down to see the GOP plan, which has now been released; new comments from Rep. Ryan; and White House reaction.)

For Some Conservatives, It's Homecoming Week

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 09:25:00 -0700

The American conservative movement has its homecoming this week: the Conservative Political Action Conference, where everyone from politicians to peddlers is out to inspire the faithful.

Last year, one of the headline speakers was former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who harked back to the second-ever CPAC in 1975, when Ronald Reagan laid out a vision for a conservative Republican Party.

Bill Clinton: Defense Of Marriage Act That I Signed Is Unconstitutional

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:22:00 -0800

Times were different in 1996 when he signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law, former President Bill Clinton writes in today's Washington Post.

Rand Paul Talks His Way Into The Political Big Time

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:02:00 -0800

Rand Paul has gained new prominence in ways that inevitably lead to speculation about his political future, including the possibility of a presidential run in 2016.

The Boehner Rule? Speaker Bucks House GOP For Some Legislation

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:06:00 -0800

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House Speaker John Boehner held a news conference the day after the November election.

"The American people have spoken," he said. "They've re-elected President Obama. And they've again re-elected a Republican majority in the House of Representatives."