Tamara Keith http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122805042&ft=1&f=122805042 Tamara Keith is NPR's Congressional Reporter on the Washington Desk. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Tamara Keith http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122805042&ft=1&f=122805042 IRS Witness Turns Down Questions At Congressional Hearing Lois Lerner was the first IRS official to explain how conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status were flagged for extra scrutiny. On Wednesday, she cited her constitutional right not to incriminate herself and declined to answer questions from a House committee. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082391&ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186082391&ft=1&f=122805042 Lois Lerner was the first IRS official to explain how conservative groups' applications for tax-exempt status were flagged for extra scrutiny. On Wednesday, she cited her constitutional right not to incriminate herself and declined to answer questions from a House committee.

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]]> Conservative Advice To GOP: Don't Legislate, Focus On Scandals The political arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation wants GOP leaders to set aside legislation like the farm bill that might turn attention away from questions about the IRS and Benghazi. Fri, 17 May 2013 14:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/17/184824660/advice-to-gop-dont-legislate-focus-on-scandals?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/17/184824660/advice-to-gop-dont-legislate-focus-on-scandals?ft=1&f=122805042 The political arm of the conservative Heritage Foundation wants GOP leaders to set aside legislation like the farm bill that might turn attention away from questions about the IRS and Benghazi.

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]]> House Republicans Take Another Stab At Repealing Obamacare The House held a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act — again. This time it was to make freshman Republicans happy by giving them a vote to take home. Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184559281&ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184559281&ft=1&f=122805042 The House held a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act — again. This time it was to make freshman Republicans happy by giving them a vote to take home.

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]]> Cantor's Rebranding Effort Tested By House Republicans The House majority leader has pushed an agenda aimed at creating "health, happiness and prosperity" for American families. But so far Rep. Eric Cantor has had a mixed record in getting his fellow Republicans to go along with the effort. Wed, 08 May 2013 02:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/09/182035413/cantors-rebranding-effort-tested-by-house-republicans?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/05/09/182035413/cantors-rebranding-effort-tested-by-house-republicans?ft=1&f=122805042 The House majority leader has pushed an agenda aimed at creating "health, happiness and prosperity" for American families. But so far Rep. Eric Cantor has had a mixed record in getting his fellow Republicans to go along with the effort.

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]]> House Leadership Crashes Into Outside Hurdles On Bills In several recent cases, Speaker John Boehner's problem hasn't been the Democrats as much as members of his own party, backed by conservative outside groups. But those groups say they could be allies with the House leadership, if only it would push conservative policy. Sun, 28 Apr 2013 05:12:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/28/179307396/house-leadership-crashes-into-outside-hurdles-on-bills?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/28/179307396/house-leadership-crashes-into-outside-hurdles-on-bills?ft=1&f=122805042 In several recent cases, Speaker John Boehner's problem hasn't been the Democrats as much as members of his own party, backed by conservative outside groups. But those groups say they could be allies with the House leadership, if only it would push conservative policy.

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]]> Flight Delays Prompt End To Air Traffic Controller Furloughs Following a week of complaints about sequester-caused flight delays, Congress quickly pushed through a bill letting the FAA shift around its budget to end furloughs for air traffic controllers. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179297733/flight-delays-prompt-end-to-air-traffic-controller-furloughs?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179297733/flight-delays-prompt-end-to-air-traffic-controller-furloughs?ft=1&f=122805042 Following a week of complaints about sequester-caused flight delays, Congress quickly pushed through a bill letting the FAA shift around its budget to end furloughs for air traffic controllers.

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]]> FAA Expected To Gain Flexibility On Budget Cuts The Senate has passed a bill to give the Department of Transportation more flexibility in how it makes the mandatory cuts of the sequester. Hundreds of flights were delayed this week after the FAA furloughed air traffic controllers, setting off a political storm. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179179645/faa-expected-to-gain-flexibility-on-budget-cuts?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179179645/faa-expected-to-gain-flexibility-on-budget-cuts?ft=1&f=122805042 The Senate has passed a bill to give the Department of Transportation more flexibility in how it makes the mandatory cuts of the sequester. Hundreds of flights were delayed this week after the FAA furloughed air traffic controllers, setting off a political storm.

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]]> Should Air Traffic Controllers Be Included In Furloughs? As air travelers grumble about delayed flights, congressional Republicans have a new talking point: It's all President Obama's fault. They argue that he could make cuts in less critical parts of the FAA budget, but wants to inconvenience the public to force Congress to undo sequestration. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/178954992/should-air-traffic-controllers-be-included-in-furloughs?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/178954992/should-air-traffic-controllers-be-included-in-furloughs?ft=1&f=122805042 As air travelers grumble about delayed flights, congressional Republicans have a new talking point: It's all President Obama's fault. They argue that he could make cuts in less critical parts of the FAA budget, but wants to inconvenience the public to force Congress to undo sequestration.

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]]> Mont. Senator Baucus To Retire After 36 Years In Congress Montana Democrat Max Baucus announced he will not seek re-election in 2014, and instead retire from the U.S. Senate. The departure creates yet another challenge for Democrats, who hold a 55-45 majority in the chamber but who must defend a number of seats, some of them open, in states lost by President Obama last November. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178651280/mont-senator-baucus-to-retire-after-36-years-in-congress?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/23/178651280/mont-senator-baucus-to-retire-after-36-years-in-congress?ft=1&f=122805042 Montana Democrat Max Baucus announced he will not seek re-election in 2014, and instead retire from the U.S. Senate. The departure creates yet another challenge for Democrats, who hold a 55-45 majority in the chamber but who must defend a number of seats, some of them open, in states lost by President Obama last November.

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]]> Suspect Arrested In Poison-Laced Letters The FBI has arrested a Mississippi man believed to be responsible for mailing three letters that, at least preliminarily, tested positive for the poison ricin. They were addressed to President Obama, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and a judge in Mississippi. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/18/177721505/suspect-arrested-in-poison-laced-letters?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/18/177721505/suspect-arrested-in-poison-laced-letters?ft=1&f=122805042 The FBI has arrested a Mississippi man believed to be responsible for mailing three letters that, at least preliminarily, tested positive for the poison ricin. They were addressed to President Obama, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi and a judge in Mississippi.

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]]> Letters To Mississippi Senator, Obama Show Signs Of Ricin Just a day after a pair of explosions brought terror to the Boston Marathon, letters containing the poison ricin started turning up in the mail of senators and President Obama. So far the suspicious packets have been intercepted in the security procedures adopted after the post-Sept. 11 anthrax attacks. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/17/177650608/letters-to-mississippi-senator-obama-show-signs-of-ricin?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/17/177650608/letters-to-mississippi-senator-obama-show-signs-of-ricin?ft=1&f=122805042 Just a day after a pair of explosions brought terror to the Boston Marathon, letters containing the poison ricin started turning up in the mail of senators and President Obama. So far the suspicious packets have been intercepted in the security procedures adopted after the post-Sept. 11 anthrax attacks.

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]]> How Congress Quietly Overhauled Its Insider-Trading Law With no fanfare, Congress moved to undo large parts of the popular law known as the STOCK Act, and President Obama has signed the watered-down measure into law. Insider trading is still illegal, but disclosures of large stock trades by staffers will be harder to get than under the original law. Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:12:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/16/177496734/how-congress-quietly-overhauled-its-insider-trading-law?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/16/177496734/how-congress-quietly-overhauled-its-insider-trading-law?ft=1&f=122805042 With no fanfare, Congress moved to undo large parts of the popular law known as the STOCK Act, and President Obama has signed the watered-down measure into law. Insider trading is still illegal, but disclosures of large stock trades by staffers will be harder to get than under the original law.

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]]> The Next Debt Ceiling Deadline In the summer of 2011, Congress and the president were embroiled in a high stakes fight over the debt ceiling. At the last minute, they reached an agreement to avoid default. Another showdown over the debt ceiling is possible this summer, but House Republicans say they hope to avoid a repeat of the crisis. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/177369900/the-next-debt-ceiling-deadline?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/177369900/the-next-debt-ceiling-deadline?ft=1&f=122805042 In the summer of 2011, Congress and the president were embroiled in a high stakes fight over the debt ceiling. At the last minute, they reached an agreement to avoid default. Another showdown over the debt ceiling is possible this summer, but House Republicans say they hope to avoid a repeat of the crisis.

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]]> On Message: Who Wants To Cut Social Security? The part of President Obama's fiscal 2014 budget plan getting the most attention is his proposal to change the way the government calculates inflation for Social Security beneficiaries. Economists call it chained CPI; some politicians call it fodder for the midterm elections. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/11/176937604/on-message-who-wants-to-cut-social-security?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/04/11/176937604/on-message-who-wants-to-cut-social-security?ft=1&f=122805042 The part of President Obama's fiscal 2014 budget plan getting the most attention is his proposal to change the way the government calculates inflation for Social Security beneficiaries. Economists call it chained CPI; some politicians call it fodder for the midterm elections.

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]]> 'Chained CPI' Worked Into Obama's 2014 Budget President Obama has released his vision for the nation's finances for the coming decade. For many Democrats, changing the way the cost of ling is adjusted violates a campaign promise to protect Social Security and the middle class. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176880579/chained-cpi-worked-into-obamas-2014-budget?ft=1&f=122805042 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/11/176880579/chained-cpi-worked-into-obamas-2014-budget?ft=1&f=122805042 President Obama has released his vision for the nation's finances for the coming decade. For many Democrats, changing the way the cost of ling is adjusted violates a campaign promise to protect Social Security and the middle class.

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