All Politics
New laws on New Year's Day, from gay marriage to 鈥楥aylee鈥檚 Law鈥�While much attention has been paid to the 鈥榝iscal cliff鈥� and the federal legislation behind it, thousands of new state laws took effect more quietly at the start of 2013.
In 'fiscal cliff' deal, Joe Biden upstages President ObamaWith 'fiscal cliff' talks teetering, Vice President Joe Biden 鈥� a former longtime senator 鈥� stepped in to broker a deal with his old colleagues and and stave off big tax hikes for most Americans.
Dancing troupe of middle-class taxpayers: Obama's 'fiscal cliff' trump card?President Obama took to the stage Monday to press Congress not to allow taxes to go up on middle-class taxpayers 鈥� and he had a rambunctious group of them on hand to support him.
'Dairy cliff'? Milk prices poised to spike unless Congress acts.Prices could surge in January, but probably not double, if inaction by Congress results in the revival of a 1949 price system. And it probably won't come to that, as lawmakers work to avert dairy-case price shock.- Obama, Hillary Clinton top Gallup's most admired: Who else is on the list?President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both extended their winning streaks as the man and woman most admired by Americans. The women's list is more diverse than the men's.
- How much do you know about US entitlement programs? Take our quiz.
The push to reform entitlement programs is at the heart of debates about the future of the US budget. Many Republicans want big changes as Medicare and Medicaid, in particular, consume a larger share of federal spending. Most Democrats merely want to ensure the programs' survival.
Entitlement programs include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare). How much do you know about them?
'Fiscal cliff': How far apart are the sides now on tax cut deal?Both sides have appeared to come closer together on Bush-era tax cuts, but many other issues remain, and Senate majority leader Harry Reid still isn't saying much publicly.
Fiscal cliff: 48 hours to go and Senate negotiations slow to a crawlA late-breaking Republican demand to cut Social Security benefits through an alternative method of calculating inflation adjustments has put negotiations at an impasse.
Obama keeps up the pressure as Senators Reid and McConnell negotiate 'fiscal cliff'President Obama appeared on 'Meet the Press' Sunday as Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell tried to work out a last-minute deal to avoid plunging over the 'fiscal cliff.'
GOP 'fiscal cliff' endgame: Let big government sting the middle class?For some tea party Republicans, part of the political calculation ahead of the 2014 elections is whether going off the fiscal cliff would spell political disaster or instead be seen as a return to principled governance.
Three (thin) reasons why Congress could yet avoid the fiscal cliffA deadline, the promise of a House vote on whatever the Senate can produce, and a sharp reaction on Wall Street boost prospects that gridlocked lawmakers will act to avert at least some aspects of the fiscal cliff by Jan. 1.
'Fiscal cliff' meeting at White House: Will it be 'Lincoln' moment for Obama?Many Senate Republicans say that with Congress deadlocked on averting the fiscal cliff, it is up to Obama to force a deal. The lesson from the movie 'Lincoln,' they say, is 'the president has to lead.'
Wind energy: Boom sputters as industry tax credit is set to expireCongress has so far not extended the tax credit for wind energy, resulting in the layoffs of thousands of workers. Communities that a few years ago were elated to attract a promising new industry are left wondering what will the future bring.
FocusImmigration reform: Is 'amnesty' a possibility now?Congress seems primed to address immigration reform in 2013, and even a path to citizenship 鈥� which critics deride as 'amnesty' for illegals 鈥� may be on the table. The shift in the national conversation came suddenly. Here's why.聽
'Fiscal cliff': Finger-pointing furiously, Congress slouches toward deadlineSpeaker Boehner, who called the House back into session Sunday evening, said Thursday it was up to the Senate to act, while majority leader Reid spoke on the Senate floor of a 'dysfunctional' GOP caucus.
鈥楩iscal cliff鈥�: Will Wall Street light a fire under Congress?So far at least, many on Wall Street seem to think that no matter what happens over the next few days with the fiscal cliff, Congress will still come through early in the new year.
Chuck Hagel: why his candidacy for Defense post is losing altitudeCritics of Chuck Hagel's potential candidacy have focused on remarks he made years ago about Israel, Iran, and Hamas. Some even called him anti-Semitic, a charge branded as outrageous, even by other critics.
'Fiscal cliff': Is Washington missing its chance to 'go big'?President Obama and Congress are preparing to have another go at a deal on the fiscal cliff, but more and more it's looking like an opportunity for something grand to be wasted.
Home for the holidays: Fewer US troops are absent this yearChristmas 2012 marks the smallest deployment of combat troops abroad in at least five years, as the war in Iraq ends and US forces deployed to Afghanistan have been drawing down.
Might Ben Affleck try leap from Hollywood to US Senate? So far, he's cagey.The actor and director says he's 'happy being involved from outside in government.' But Ben Affleck didn't exactly put the kibosh on talk about a possible run for John Kerry's Senate seat.
