Politics Bush Gets More Specific on Social Security Plans April 29, 2005 • President Bush offers details on his thoughts for fixing Social Security's long-term problems. During his first prime-time news conference of the second term, he suggested a plan to slow increases in payments to the wealthiest Americans.
Politics D.C. Update: Social Security, DeLay, U.N. Nomination April 25, 2005 • NPR's Noah Adams talks with NPR political editor Ron Elving about the major issues Congress and President Bush are likely to confront in the coming week, including possible changes to the Social Security program, the debate over the ethics of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the stalled nomination of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Politics Opposition to Bolton's U.N. Nomination Grows April 22, 2005 • The Senate Foreign Relations Committee delays the vote on U.N. ambassador nominee John Bolton. Democrats say President Bush's choice is too critical of the United Nations and has a record of intimidating subordinates. The vote is now scheduled for May.
Politics Gen. Pace Tapped to Head Joint Chiefs of Staff April 22, 2005 • President Bush names Marine Gen. Peter Pace to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If confirmed, he will succeed Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers. Pace saw combat in Vietnam and was a commander in the ill-fated U.S. military intervention in Somalia.
Bolton's Nomination Comes to a Close Senate Republicans Confer with Powell on Bolton April 22, 2005 • A confirmation vote for John Bolton's nomination as ambassador the United Nations has been delayed amid concerns among Senate Republicans. At least two members of the Foreign Relations Committee have spoken with Colin Powell, Bolton's former boss when he was undersecretary of state.
News Re-examining Who Is Eligible for Medicaid April 22, 2005 • Medicaid, designed to help poor seniors, is the single biggest source of payments for long-term health care. On any given day, there are more than a million American seniors living in nursing homes -- most of them at taxpayers' expense. Now, the federal government says some who are benefiting from Medicaid actually could afford to pay their own way.
Politics Senate Panel Delays Vote on Bolton Confirmation April 20, 2005 • Plans for the Senate Foreign Relations committee to vote on the embattled nomination of John Bolton for ambassador to the United Nations fell apart Tuesday. Republican Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio broke ranks with his party, asking for more time to probe allegations of misdeeds by Bolton.
Politics Senate Panel Fails to Bring Bolton Nomination to a Vote April 19, 2005 • The Senate Foreign Relations Committee fails to bring John Bolton's nomination as ambassador to the United Nations to the full Senate floor for a vote. Some Republicans on the committee expressed concern about Bolton's fitness for the job.
News Panel on Election Issues Hears of Money Problems April 19, 2005 • After two straight presidential elections marked by disputes over the voting process, a bipartisan commission examining the issue hears testimony about continuing voter suspicion and limited funds. Former President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of State James Baker III head the panel.
Bolton's Nomination Comes to a Close Chafee Faces Delicate Balance on Bolton Vote April 19, 2005 • Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) is crucial to the Senate Foreign Relations committee's vote, scheduled for Tuesday, on John Bolton's nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations. The liberal Republican from Rhode Island faces a tough re-election bid next year, and voting against Bolton -- and his party -- could prove politically risky.
Politics Political Corner: Immigration and Employment, the 'Nuclear Option' April 14, 2005 • NPR political analyst Juan Williams discusses inside-the-beltway issues affecting African Americans with Ron Walters, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland and the author of eight books, including White Nationalism, Black Interests; and Tara Wall, director of outreach communications for the Republican National Committee. They discuss the impact of illegal immigration on employment possibilities; the president's social security proposals; and the potential for Republicans to take away the centuries-old option for minority-party filibusters.
Politics Negroponte Vows to Improve Intel Efforts April 13, 2005 • President Bush's choice for director of national intelligence vows to improve intelligence-gathering efforts and stresses he will not preside over a status quo. John Negroponte also said the law establishing his position gives him "substantial authority."
Bolton's Nomination Comes to a Close Former State Department Official Blasts Bolton April 12, 2005 • The Senate Foreign Relations committee holds a second day of confirmation hearings on John Bolton, President Bush's nominee for U.N. ambassador. The committee heard testimony from former top State Department official Carl Ford, a Republican who accused Bolton of abusing his authority as undersecretary of state.
Politics Senate Panel Grills Intel Chief Nominee Negroponte April 12, 2005 • NPR's Madeleine Brand talks with NPR's David Welna about Tuesday's confirmation hearings for John Negroponte, President Bush's nominee to be the first national intelligence director. Negroponte was ambassador to Iraq and the United Nations, and has been criticized by detractors for what they see as tacit support of right-wing "death squads" during his tenure as ambassador to Honduras during the Reagan administration.
Bolton's Nomination Comes to a Close Bolton Confronts Criticism at Senate Hearing April 12, 2005 • The confirmation hearing for John Bolton, President Bush's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, continues. Senators have questioned Bolton about highly critical remarks he has made about the United Nations and whether he pressured intelligence analysts who disagreed with him.