Sen. John McCain, one of the leading opponents of President Obama's nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the new defense secretary, said Sunday that it's likely Mr. Hagel will be confirmed, but that he still doesn't believe he's qualified for the post. Published February 17 2013
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said Sunday that a bipartisan group that has been crafting a plan regarding background checks for gun sales has made progress, but he appeared less bullish on the prospects of a ban on so-called assault weapons. Published February 17 2013
The White House said Friday President Obama has put the nomination of Gen. John Allen on hold as the general decides whether he wants to take on the role of NATO supreme commander. Published February 15 2013
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama celebrated Valentine's Day Thursday with dinner out at MiniBar, a Jose Andres restaurant known as a tough place to get a reservation. The menu price is $225 per person, beverages not included. Published February 14 2013
If across the board spending cuts known as the sequester go into effect on March 1, their impact would "seriously impair" State Department efforts to "enhance the security of U.S. government facilities overseas and ensure the safety of thousands of U.S. diplomats," Secretary of State John F. Kerry wrote to Congress this week. Published February 14 2013
The National Rifle Association is out with a new ad Thursday taking President Obama and others to task over gun control, specifically targeting a proposed ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. Published February 14 2013
Seeking to strengthen his position in the fiscal battles on Capitol Hill, House Speaker John A. Boehner challenged the Senate to act on the liberal agenda that President Obama laid out in his State of the Union address. Published February 14 2013
Under fire for delaying a decision whether to allow fracking in his state, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended his handling of the situation on Wednesday. Published February 14 2013
President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wednesday are consulting about the appropriate steps to take in response to North Korea's test of a nuclear device at an underground site this week. Published February 14 2013
Climate change activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was one of dozens arrested Wednesday in front of the White House during a protest against completion of the massive Keystone XL pipeline project. Published February 13 2013
Jose Antonio Vargas, an illegal immigrant and former reporter, scolded a congressional panel on Wednesday, saying that he should not be called illegal, and saying it is an insult to his family who brought him here. Published February 13 2013
In a provocative move, President Obama Wednesday re-nominated two controversial Democratic candidates to the National Labor Relations Board just weeks after a federal court invalided their recess appointments to the posts. Published February 13 2013
Following up on his inaugural address, Mr. Obama devoted a lengthy passage of his speech to his intention to combat climate change, asking Congress to pursue a "bipartisan, market-based solution" and threatening executive action if it did not. Published February 12 2013
President Obama on Tuesday said his signature health-care law is saving money for the nation, a claim that is sure to draw the ire of Republicans who are hoping to scale back the law despite the president's reelection and the Supreme Court's decision to uphold its key reforms. Published February 12 2013
The president said his new spending proposals wouldn't add a single dime to the deficit but, if so, he'd require significant offsets in the budget to pay for them. Published February 12 2013
President Obama made an aggressive push for new voting rights in his speech, announcing the creation of a nonpartisan commission to "improve the voting experience in America." Published February 12 2013
President Obama is proposing an increase in the federal minimum wage to $9 per hour from the current $7.25 in his State of the Union speech. Published February 12 2013
Two members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights wrote to President Obama on Tuesday telling him that if he succeeds in enacting an "effective amnesty" for illegal immigrants, it will likely mean fewer jobs and lower pay for black Americans. Published February 12 2013
Blaming the nation's spending problems on both parties, Sen. Rand Paul plans Tuesday to use his response to President Obama's State of the Union address to warn that Congress must cut defense and domestic programs if it is serious about fixing the nation's "fiscal mess." Published February 12 2013
A gun control advocacy group is furious that conservative rocker and outspoken gun enthusiast Ted Nugent will be a guest at President Obama's State of the Union Address Tuesday night, along with approximately 30 victims of gun violence and their families. Published February 12 2013
By Douglas Holtz-Eakin
The young drop coverage to avoid higher premiums
