INSIDE POLITICS

The Washington Times' political blog.

• DOJ dismisses leniency request for Border Patrol agent

  by Stephen Dinan

  

  Months after Rep. Duncan Hunter asked the Justice Department to consider leniency for Border Patrol Agent Jesus E. Diaz Jr., who was convicted of using excessive force in arresting an illegal immigrant, the Obama administration has brushed that request. Published February 22 2012

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• Romney says Obama tax plan too timid

  by Stephen Dinan

  

  With the presidential campaign shifting back to the economy, Mitt Romney on Wednesday attacked President Obama's new tax plan, saying it amounts to a major tax increase. Published February 22 2012

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• Poll: Christie is top choice at 'brokered' convention

  by Dave Boyer

  

  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is the top choice of Republicans if the party nominates its presidential candidate at a "brokered" convention this summer, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released Wednesday. Published February 22 2012

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• Obama to face critics at AIPAC conference

  by Susan Crabtree

  

  President Obama plans to address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's policy conference in Washington on March 4, the day before his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House announced Tuesday. Published February 21 2012

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• Supreme Court extends health care arguments

  by Paige Winfield Cunningham

  

  The Supreme Court has announced it will allow a full six hours for oral arguments over constitutional challenges to President Obama's health care law, granting the case the longest hearing in recent history. Published February 21 2012

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• Bigfoot goes after Santorum in new Paul ad

  by Seth McLaughlin

  

  The Ron Paul presidential campaign released a new television ad Tuesday morning claiming that rival Rick Santorum sold out conservatism with a variety of "not groovy" votes in Congress — even likening the former Pennsylvania senator's claims to the conservative mantle to the myth of Bigfoot, the legendary sasquatch. Published February 21 2012

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• Rep. Upton: Payroll-tax cut a win for everybody

  by Sean Lengell

  

  GOP Rep. Fred Upton says President Obama isn't the only one who can claim a political victory from an extension of the payroll tax holiday and renewed unemployment benefits, stating that Republicans pushed just as hard as the president and his Democratic allies for the package. Published February 17 2012

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• State attorneys general defend Medicaid expansion

  by Paige Winfield Cunningham

  

  A dozen state attorneys general defended a massive Medicaid expansion that 26 other states will challenge before the Supreme Court next month, filing an amicus brief with the court on Friday. Published February 17 2012

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• Poll: Brown leading Warren in Mass. race

  by Paige Winfield Cunningham

  

  In a reversal of recent poll results, Republican Sen. Scott Brown is leading likely Democratic opponent Elizabeth Warren in his bid for reelection after trailing her for several months. Published February 17 2012

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• Geithner: Payroll-tax cut must be temporary

  by Sean Lengell

  

  Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner warned Congress against extending the current payroll-tax holiday beyond 2012. Published February 16 2012

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• Bishop: Doubts mounting over Obama birth control compromise

  by Paige Winfield Cunningham

  

  A spokesman for the Catholic Church said Thursday morning that leading Catholic organizations who seemed to initially support President Obama's latest contraception rule are growing increasingly hesitant as they study the changes in detail. Published February 16 2012

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• Obama reverses progress on illegal immigration

  by Stephen Dinan

  

  The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. was actually dropping at the end of the George W. Bush years — but that progress has stopped under President Obama, according to a new report by the Center for Immigration Studies. Published February 16 2012

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• Catholic bishop: 'Massive concerns' with Obama edict

  by Paige Winfield Cunningham

  President Obama's contraception-coverage rule could open the door for the federal government to deny grants to Catholic refugee and relief services that refuse to offer birth-control insurance coverage, a spokesman for the Catholic Church said Thursday morning, telling a congressional hearing American clerics still have "massive concerns" with the proposed administration mandate. Published February 16 2012

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• Flake: Arizona is 'Mitt Romney country'

  by David Eldridge

  

  Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake, a Mitt Romney supporter, said Thursday that Rick Santorum doesn't have the organization in place in his state to win the upcoming Feb. 28 primary. Published February 16 2012

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• Obama to speak at groundbreaking for new African American Smithsonian

  by Dave Boyer

  

  President Obama will speak at the groundbreaking of the Smithsonian Institution's $500 million National Museum of African American History and Culture on Feb. 22, the White House announced Wednesday. Published February 15 2012

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