All DC Decoder
Congress 'playing with fire' on debt limit, warns Treasury Secretary Jack LewMaking the rounds of TV news shows Sunday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said failure to raise the US debt limit means 'credit markets could freeze, the value of the dollar could plummet, US interest rates could skyrocket.'
Most furloughed Pentagon civilians headed back to workUnder the 'Pay Our Military Act' passed just before the government shutdown, most Pentagon civilians are considered essential to military readiness. Defense Secretary Hagel is ordering them back to work.
Washington at war: Political animosity reaches new, personal levelWith no end in sight for the government shutdown, the partisan animosity has gotten unusually bitter and personal, even for Washington. Americans are angry too.
Will Obamacare get its act together in time?HealthCare.gov, which under Obamacare is the federally run exchange for 36 states, is still overwhelmed four days after going live. It will undergo 'scheduled maintenance' this weekend, officials announced late Friday.
Government shutdown: Why Boehner doesn't overrule tea party factionThe tea party faction linking an end to the government shutdown to the defunding of Obamacare comes largely from recently redrawn, bullet-proof Republican districts. They don't hear what Boehner hears.听
Raise the debt ceiling? Not without progress on deficits, US public says.Some 57 percent of Americans oppose legislation that would raise the debt ceiling with no conditions attached, according to a new 海角大神 Science Monitor/TIPP survey.
Wendy Davis for Texas governor: why she has a chanceWendy Davis, who shot to fame with a June filibuster defending abortion rights, announced her campaign to replace retiring Texas Governor Perry. That the seat is open helps an otherwise longshot bid.
Government shutdown: Default now focus, as Treasury warns of 'catastrophe'On Day 3 of government shutdown, Democrats and Republicans shift the conversation to the looming debt limit, as chances grow that both issues will be resolved together.
Government shutdown: How much will it harm the economy?A government shutdown won't have much of an economic impact if it lasts just a few days, but a prolonged shutdown could become a drag on overall consumer and business confidence.听
Obamacare 101: What college students need to knowCollege students, like others, can purchase health insurance through the Obamacare exchanges that went live Oct. 1. But many students already have insurance through their parents or schools.
Obamacare 101: When will the enrollment glitches be fixed?The launch of enrollment in Obamacare was marred by delays and glitches, though Healthcare.gov still received 4.7 million visitors in 24 hours. The White House says tech support is on the case.
Obamacare 101: What owners of small businesses need to knowObamacare includes a separate online health-insurance marketplace for small businesses, those with fewer than 50 employees. Here is a Q-and-A on how it works.
Government shutdown: Obama faces political risks, tooOn Day 1 of the government shutdown, polls are on President Obama's side. But if the government shutdown drags on, the economy could suffer and Obama could look ineffective.听
How government shutdown affects benefits for seniors, poor, jobless, veteransRecipients of Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits won't be hit by the government shutdown. The poor may be first to feel the pinch of the funding crisis.
Obamacare 101: What to know if you opt out of buying health insuranceThe Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, requires that individuals buy health insurance. If you don't want to buy insurance, you will have to pay a penalty 鈥� unless you qualify for an exemption from the mandate.
Obamacare 101: how the federal subsidy worksAs of Oct. 1, Americans needing health insurance can shop for one at new electronic marketplaces. Here's how to tell if you are eligible for a federal subsidy to help you pay for coverage.
Government shutdown begins: What happens now?A last-ditch effort is under way to form a House-Senate panel to negotiate new funding so shut-down government operations can resume. But Democrats in the Senate are likely to wait to see if GOP lawmakers will crack.
Obamacare 101: What to know if you already have health insuranceAs Obamacare rolls out, the president's frequent assertion 鈥� that 'if you like your health-care plan, you can keep your health-care plan' 鈥� is proving to be not quite true for some people.
As the clock ticks toward a government shutdown, who's driving the debate?So far, Republicans and Democrats have failed to avert a partial government shutdown tied to the future of Obamacare. Both sides flooded the Sunday news shows with blame-naming and dire warnings.
Romneycare vs. Obamacare: Lessons for today's 'shutdown' debacleYou won鈥檛 hear many Republicans say it, but Mitt Romney鈥檚 health-care insurance program in Massachusetts, seen as a model for the Affordable Care Act, has been largely successful and popular.
