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Sean Lengell

slengell@washingtontimes.com

Sean Lengell was a staff writer for The Washington Times.

Articles by Sean Lengell

**FILE** Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 12, 2013. (Associated Press)

White House ups rhetoric on dangers of sequester

The Obama administration amped up its offensive Sunday with Republicans over the $85 billion in across-the-board federal spending cuts scheduled to kick in Friday, releasing fresh warnings of a "real impact on people's lives" despite GOP claims the White House is exaggerating the potential ill effects.

February 24, 2013
** FILE ** Thomas J. Donohue, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. (Associated Press)

Accord paves way for immigrants to legally take ‘lesser-skilled’ jobs

Big Business and Big Labor cleared a big hurdle Thursday, as the Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO agreed in principle on a plan to allow "lesser skilled" immigrants to work in the U.S. legally, a key sticking point for a final deal on overhauling the nation's immigration laws.

February 21, 2013
**FILE** Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (Associated Press)

For South Carolina’s Mark Sanford, House bid is a race for redemption

Mark Sanford is asking South Carolinians for their forgiveness -- and their votes. The disgraced former Republican governor, who quietly left office two years ago after a bizarre high-profile extramarital affair in 2009, is back on the ballot, running in a March 19 special-election primary to fill the House seat vacated by Tim Scott's December appointment to the Senate.

February 20, 2013
**FILE** Former Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill. (Associated Press)

Reports: Jesse Jackson Jr. agrees to plea deal

Embattled former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois has agreed to plead guilty and faces possible jail time as part of a deal with federal authorities investigating accusations he misused campaign money, Chicago news outlets reported Friday.

February 8, 2013
**FILE** Eric Cantor (Associated Press)

Senate loads up renewal of act to protect women

The Senate is plowing this week toward passage of a bill aimed at domestic abuse for the second time in two years — but with provisions involving gay partners, illegal immigrants and jurisdictional disputes on Indian lands, the legislation faces an uncertain future in the Republican-run House.

February 6, 2013
**FILE** Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican (Associated Press)

Murkowski rolls out energy-policy reforms

The Senate energy committee's top Republican rolled out a plan Monday for broad policy reforms that call for increased domestic oil drilling and loosening federal regulations, an effort designed to make the country largely energy self-sufficient by the end of the decade.

February 4, 2013

Sequester also to hit nondefense spending

While the Pentagon will take the brunt of the $85 billion across-the-board automatic spending cuts scheduled to kick in March 1, about half of the "sequesters" are poised to bite domestic programs — from child-nutrition programs to air-traffic control to the Internal Revenue Service.

January 31, 2013
**FILE** House Speaker John Boehner (center), Ohio Republican, speaks Jan. 23, 2013, during a news conference on Capitol Hill to discuss the debt limit. The House overwhelmingly passed a bill earlier in the day to permit the government to borrow enough money to avoid a first-time default for at least four months, defusing a looming crisis setting up a springtime debate over taxes, spending and the deficit. From left are Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington Republican; Dave Camp, Michigan Republican and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman; and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican. (Associated Press)

Let the sequesters begin, some Republicans say

Congressional Republicans are preparing to let $85 billion in automatic spending cuts begin to bite March 1, saying they have become convinced that letting the "sequesters" take effect is the only way they will be able to wrangle real spending cuts from President Obama.

January 30, 2013
Citizens fill the voting booths on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at the Stockton Community Center in Stockton, Minn. After a grinding presidential campaign, Americans headed into polling places across the country. (AP Photo/Winona Daily News, Andrew Link)

Online voter signup gains favor

If Capitol Hill Democrats have their way, every American soon will have the option to grab their laptop, plop down on the couch and register to vote. Yet unlike other hot-button voting rights issues, such as early voting and same-day registration, the idea is gaining momentum among some state-level Republicans.

January 29, 2013
** FILE ** Sen. Saxby Chambliss said he was confident he would have won if he had decided to run for re-election in 2014. Georgia Democrats say Mr. Chambliss’ retirement presents a “great opportunity” to claim the seat for their party. (Associated Press)

Possible contenders weigh succeeding Chambliss

Potential front-runners to replace retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss aren't ready to officially jump into the race for the Georgia Republican's seat but they're not denying interest in the job.

January 28, 2013
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (left) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have been negotiating changes to the Senate’s filibuster rules, but Mr. Reid has vowed to force them through if no agreement is reached. (Associated Press)

From Day One, Senate’s time stands still

In the real world, it's late January, the days last 24 hours, and people are doing their jobs. But in the crazy confines of the Senate it's still Jan. 3 — literally.

January 23, 2013
Associated Press Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he expected to reach a deal on filibuster reforms within “the next 24 to 36 hours,” but the Nevada Democrat added that “if not, we’re going to move forward on what I think needs to be done.”

Reid still vowing filibuster changes

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he's determined to move forward this week with proposed filibuster reforms — with or without the help of Republicans.

January 22, 2013
House Speaker John A. Boehner was among the dignitaries on the platform for President Obama's address. On Inauguration Day, Republicans voiced optimism. (Associated Press)

Bipartisanship makes a brief Hill appearance

A rare and likely fleeting show of bipartisanship enveloped Capitol Hill on Monday as members of both parties congratulated President Obama on his second inauguration, though some Republicans tempered their praise with concerns about the tasks ahead.

January 21, 2013
Rep. George Miller said, “Americans shouldn’t have to wait for hours and hours to cast a ballot.” He has submitted legislation to address that. (Associated Press)

Democrats press vote reforms

Fresh from the November elections in which both parties complained that voters' rights had been curtailed, House Democrats are pushing election reforms as a central tenet of their legislative agenda for the new Congress.

January 17, 2013
Rep. Harold Rogers (Associated Press)

Sandy funding passes House; GOP is denied cost offsets

The House on Tuesday approved $50 billion in emergency funds for Superstorm Sandy relief, rejecting conservatives' plea to offset the spending with cuts as most lawmakers said worries about the deficit need to take a back seat when natural disasters strike.

January 15, 2013