By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
As he struggles to find momentum in his second term, President Obama is setting a dubious record for the slowest pace in assembling a new Cabinet.
Despite President Obama's dire warnings of "brutal" budget slashing if automatic spending cuts hit March 1, federal agencies do have some wiggle room to soften the brunt.
Despite President Obama's dire warnings of "brutal" budget slashing if automatic spending cuts hit March 1, federal agencies do have some wiggle room to soften the brunt of the cuts.
With a number of weighty issues — from budget deadlines to guns and immigration — competing for his attention, the president will use Tuesday night's State of the Union address to again try to persuade the country that his top priority is the economy.
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.
Everyone thought it was true, and now there is official confirmation: The 112th Congress, which came to a close last week, was the least productive on record.
The Senate returned to business Thursday with an increasing sense that the country will go over the "fiscal cliff," leading to higher taxes and deep spending cuts across the board.
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner did what Washingtonians call the "full Ginsburg" on Sunday. The term refers to Monica Lewinsky's lawyer, William H. Ginsburg, who was the first to appear on all five network Sunday interview shows in one day.
Since summer's end, the United States has spent over $1.5 trillion - $900 billion of which was borrowed money. The cupboards are bare once again, so President Obama last week asked Congress for permission to raise the debt ceiling for the third time in six months, enabling him to spend another $1.2 trillion. This loan will be approved, but not before congressional Republicans make him sweat it.
It's official: Congress ended its least-productive year in modern history after passing 80 bills — fewer than during any other session since year-end records began being kept in 1947.
House Speaker John A. Boehner on Sunday rejected the Senate's bipartisan compromise short-term payroll-tax extension deal, reigniting a nasty legislative fight and once again raising the chances that a $1,000-per-year tax increase on families will take effect in two weeks.
The White House on Thursday issued a statement saying it views this summer's debt deal as a discretionary spending floor and that it opposes any effort to cut funding beneath that level.
When it comes to solutions to our economic woes, President Obama has a plan. Unfortunately, it's the same stimulus that proved to be a failure in 2009. Mr. Obama's latest scheme is to pay for another year of payroll-tax holiday by hiking taxes on small businesses and investors. He's wasting both the American people's and Congress' time by campaigning for a proposal he knows can't pass.
While President Obama and congressional Republican leaders have publicly dug in their heels on critical debt-limit negotiations, Obama's spokesman said Tuesday the president and Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell will continue discussions.
Mr. Stewart said that Democrats control the Senate and that Republicans are carrying out their responsibility to examine nominees thoroughly.
Empty chairs: Obama struggles to complete second-term team →
Addressing the White House complaints, Don Stewart, who is a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said simply, "Jack Lew was confirmed."
Empty chairs: Obama struggles to complete second-term team →
