Jobless benefits, temporary extension of Bush-era tax rates frame potential deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Their political options limited, Democrats and Republicans appeared to unite Sunday behind the outlines of an economic package that would temporarily extend expiring tax rates to all taxpayers as well as jobless benefits for millions of Americans.

Democrats try to regain balance in fight over tax cuts

Congressional Democrats searched for leverage Friday in their bitter debate with Republicans over extending George W. Bush-era tax cuts, lashing out against giving "tax breaks to millionaires" and preparing for a rare weekend session in the Senate on the issue.

'Don't ask' discharges fall sharply, but for how long?

Even if the law barring homosexuals from serving openly in the military isn't repealed, gay and lesbian service members have a dramatically lower risk of being kicked out than they did only a few years ago, according to U.S. officials and outside experts.

Majority on deficit panel expected to back its recommendations

A majority of members of the bipartisan deficit commission are expected to endorse the panel's final recommendations Friday morning, though likely fall short of the supermajority required to guarantee a vote in the Congress.

Investigation of U.S. Rep. Jerry Lewis dropped

After four years, federal authorities in Los Angeles have dropped an investigation of Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), who came under scrutiny for his ties to lobbyists whose clients received millions of dollars in congressional earmarks.

Las Vegas gets its first national political party; Online activism

Finally, the desert city of Las Vegas breaks the ice and gets its first national political convention.

Deficit panel falls short of demanding congressional action on plan

The bipartisan deficit commission Friday fell three votes shy of the supermajority needed to require Congress to act on its recommendations, leaving uncertain the fate of the sweeping austerity and reform proposals it offered.

House censures Rep. Charles Rangel

After high political drama and an emotional debate, the House of Representatives censured Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) on Thursday for ethical misconduct, meting out its first such punishment in nearly 30 years.

House OKs extension of tax cuts for some Americans

The House of Representatives has narrowly passed a measure to keep lowered tax rates for individuals earning less than $250,000 a year.

GOP resolve dominates the agenda in Congress

Republicans rolled out a confrontational, no-compromise strategy this week that may carry long-term risks, but has put them in position to dominate the lame-duck session of Congress and marginalize President Obama's agenda.

White House accused of urging businesses to quit Chamber of Commerce

Since taking office nearly two years ago, President Obama has frequently clashed with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a major business group that has plowed millions of dollars into opposing his plans to overhaul healthcare and impose new regulations on Wall Street.

John McCain urges go-slow approach to 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned Thursday against a "rush to repeal" the 17-year-old law prohibiting homosexuals from serving openly in the military, despite a Pentagon study that concluded there was a low risk to the armed services from overturning the law.

Sen. Durbin on board with deficit commission's proposals

Sen. Richard J. Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat and a close ally of President Obama, will vote Friday to support the final recommendations of the bipartisan deficit commission, arguing that the nation's growing debt requires lawmakers to make difficult choices.

In final report, federal debt commission warns of fiscal 'reckoning'

The bipartisan debt commission issued its final report Wednesday, warning that without the sacrifices it calls for, a fiscal "reckoning will be sure and the devastation severe."

Sen. Ensign won't face criminal charges, attorney says

Federal officials have determined that Sen. John Ensign will not face criminal charges in connection with his efforts to find lobbying work for his mistress' husband, the senator's attorney said Wednesday.

After White House talks, a long road to partisan cooperation

In their first sit-down since the power-shifting elections last month, President Obama and Republican leaders in Congress agreed Tuesday on a way to negotiate the fate of expiring tax cuts — the issue likely to set the tone for the relationship between the president and his newly empowered opposition.