Trump flexes power over GOP
President-elect Trump tangled with Republicans in Congress for the first time since the election on Tuesday — and won.
Congress
Republicans projected to keep control of Congress
Both chambers of the U.S. Congress are projected to remain under Republican control when they convene on Jan. 3, with voters on Tuesday dashing Democrats’ hopes of taking over the Senate while keeping the House of Representatives in Republican hands.
Democrats poised for Senate takeover as unforced errors imperil Republican incumbents
The battle for control of the Senate remains a jump ball just days before elections, with Democrats leading or within striking distances in seven races — more than enough to take the chamber from Republicans.
Congress rebukes Obama, rejects his 9/11 lawsuit veto
President Obama lost his first veto fight with Congress on Wednesday after Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to override his objection to a bill that would allow families of the Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.
Planned Parenthood fight stalls funding bill
Efforts to pass a government funding bill by the end of September has ground to a halt over a fight between Republicans and Democrats over Planned Parenthood funding.
Congress Moves to Block Obama Admin’s ‘Ransom Payments’ to Iran
Congress is set to consider new legislation that would block the Obama administration from awarding Iran billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars in what many describe as a ransom payment, according to a copy of the legislation obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
Obama Admin Stonewalls Congressional Inquiry of Iran Receiving $1.3 Billion in Taxpayer Funds
The Obama administration is withholding from Congress details about how $1.3 billion in U.S. taxpayer funds was delivered to Iran, according to conversations with lawmakers, who told the Washington Free Beacon that the administration is now stonewalling an official inquiry into the matter.
Religious Freedom Bill Ignites New Battle over Gay Marriage
Legislators on Capitol Hill are weighting a bill that would protect those who have a religious objection to gay marriage.
First Amendment Defense Act raises debate on punishing belief against same-sex marriage
A House hearing convened Tuesday to discuss legislation aimed at bolstering protections for those who believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman.
Senate will vote on gun control compromise bill
Senate Republican leaders said Tuesday they’ll soon bring a compromise gun control bill to the floor, after lawmakers defeated four partisan gun measures in response to the latest in a string of mass shootings.
House approves defense aid to Israel despite veto threat
The United States House of Representatives on Thursday passed a $576 billion defense spending bill which includes $635.7 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense programs, despite a threat by the Obama administration to veto the bill, The Jewish Insider reports.
GOP unveils plan to block Obama’s executive overreach
House Republicans on Thursday unveiled a proposal that they believe will put the brakes on executive branch overreach and restore the power of Congress to write laws.
Dems to push new gun law in wake of massacre
Senate Democrats will try to force a vote on legislation that would block people on a federal terror watch list from purchasing guns, in the wake of the Orlando mass shooting Sunday.
House GOP blocks vote on poison pill LGBT amendment
Rules Committee Republicans blocked a vote on a Democratic-offered proposal that would strip federal contracts from companies that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, in order to ensure that the larger spending bill could pass the House.
Lawmakers, advocates push to reveal extent of surveillance
Even though the bulk collection of Americans’ telephone records has ended, calls and emails are still being swept up by U.S. surveillance work targeting foreigners. Congress is making a renewed push to find out how many.
Coming soon: More immigrants from Muslim nations than population of D.C. — 680,000
President Obama’s open-door immigration policy is set to accept more immigrants from Muslim nations over the next five years than the entire population of Washington, D.C., according to federal documents.
US role in Syria brings push for Congress vote on new war powers
In the fight against the Islamic State group, members of Congress talk tough against extremism, but many want to run for cover when it comes to voting on new war powers to fight the militants, preferring to let the president own the battle.
Obama Vetoes Defense Bill
President Barack Obama vetoed a sweeping $612 billion defense policy bill on Thursday, returning the measure to the Republican-controlled Congress because of the way it uses money meant for war spending to avoid automatic budget cuts to military programs.
Deal reached on Pacific Rim trade pact in boost for Obama economic agenda
President Obama hailed the historic 12-nation Pacific Rim trade deal completed here Monday as an accord that “reflects America’s values,” but within hours the administration had turned from the negotiating table to selling the agreement on Capitol Hill, a reflection of the harsh political climate the controversial pact is expected to face in Congress.
McConnell Says Federal Government Will Not Close
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday said he would get legislation passed to fund the federal government in time to avoid any agency shutdowns on Oct. 1.