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February 15, 2012 There'll still be plenty of disagreements. Compromise seems next to impossible on Democratic proposals to raise taxes on the wealthy, for instance. But the congressional Republican leaders are clearly becoming more selective on where they draw the line.

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September 22, 2011 Less than a day after the House voted down a spending bill that would keep the government open past the end of the month, Speaker John Boehner vowed Thursday that Congress would avert a government shutdown. But it was clear he wasn't exactly sure how.

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July 20, 2011 In a story some version of which could probably have been written all the way back to the earliest Congresses, the New York Times notes that lawmakers of Congress who rail against federal spending in general tend to like it in their districts in particular.

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May 27, 2011 House Republicans have gotten mired in a debate about their proposal to privatize Medicare. So they took steps to make sure voters don't think the majority party in the House is neglecting the job issue.

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March 4, 2011 Speaker Boehner said President Obama focused on social issues instead of jobs, as voters wanted. That charge led a gay rights group, Human Rights Campaign, to accuse Boehner of hypocrisy for doing what he accused the president of.

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March 1, 2011 House GOP leaders got a big win on the short-term spending bill, keeping Democrats on the defensive.

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• OSHA Budget Targeted Amid Regulatory Debate

February 23, 2011 The House GOP's two-week offer counters Majority Leader Harry Reid's proposal for a four-week bill. Congressional Republicans are readying a two-week spending bill with $4 billion in cuts from current spending levels. Reid has said he's willing to discuss a four-week bill with no cuts.

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February 10, 2011 House leaders have hit severe turbulence as some of their fellow Republicans refuse to go along with legislative initiatives being pushed by Speaker Boehner and his leadership team. Meanwhile, Democrats have little to no incentive to help the GOP leaders.

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February 3, 2011 Proposed House GOP spending cuts raised tensions and puts a clash with Senate Democrats closer. House Republicans want to cut $58 billion in non-security, discretionary spending for the rest of the year. Sen. Harry Reid called such cuts "draconian."

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January 20, 2011 While the GOP House's health law repeal action may not become law, it gives both Republicans and Democrats fresh campaign fodder for 2012.

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January 18, 2011 A group of economists said mandates in the new law will be a disincentive to job creation. Many of the economists have played roles in the Republican administrations or have been GOP aides on Capitol Hill.

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January 5, 2011 Boehner vowed more openness in the way the House operates but only to a point. Democrats wouldn't be allowed to use the new rules to block the GOP agenda. Meanwhile, Pelosi ticked off Democratic successes.

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