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Inside Politics Archive: March 2013

• Richard Cordray, drenched from rain, faces a sequester wait on Hill for hearing

  President Obama's pick to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau got a firsthand taste of the effects of the government sequester while trying to get to his confirmation hearing Tuesday. Published March 12 2013

• Obama: U.S. 'well on our way' to doubling exports

  President Obama said U.S. businesses are "well on our way" to doubling exports by the end of 2014, thanks to new trade agreements in Asia and Europe. Published March 12 2013

• White House: Obama GOP outreach efforts not a joke

  White House spokesman Jay Carney denied claims Tuesday that President Obama is reluctantly engaging Republicans on Capitol Hill only because of negative press and sagging poll numbers. Published March 12 2013

• Sen. Patrick J. Leahy: Judiciary likely to take up immigration after recess

  Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that after gun legislation, immigration will likely be on the committee's docket following a two-week Easter break. Published March 12 2013

• Baucus: 'Better late than never' for Obama meeting

  Senate Democrats generally were tight lipped about the specifics of their lunchtime meeting with President Obama at the Capitol on Tuesday, preferring instead to describe the conversation as "optimistic" or "upbeat," or to simply tick off a list of general topics discussed. Published March 12 2013

• Poll: Americans divided between Obama, GOP lawmakers on guns

  A poll released Tuesday shows the American public evenly divided on whether they trust President Obama or congressional Republicans more to do a better job handling the issue of gun control. Published March 12 2013

• Obama favorability drops 10 points in New York, poll shows

  President Obama's favorability rating in New York, which adopted the toughest gun restrictions of any state in the country in the country in January, dropped by 10 points from February, according to a Siena College Research Institute poll released Monday. Published March 11 2013

• Donald Trump on donating to keep White House tours open: 'Why not?'

  Will The Donald pony up to keep White House tours running? Maybe. Mr. Trump on Monday blasted the recent White House decision to halt tours in light of across-the-board spending cuts that took effect March 1. Some members of Congress have also hopped on the bandwagon, pledging that the U.S. Capitol will not follow suit. Published March 11 2013

• Michelle Obama hosts Twitter Q&A as part of 'Let's Move!' anniversary

  To commemorate the third anniversary of her "Let's Move!" program, first lady Michelle Obama is hosting a Twitter question-and-answer session on her program to combat childhood obesity Monday morning at 11:05. Published March 11 2013

• Average senator raised more than $14K a day in 2012 election cycle, study says

  U.S. senators who were elected in 2012 raised more than $10 million on average during the election cycle — which comes out to $14,351 per day, according to an analysis by a watchdog group. Published March 11 2013

• Report: Obama to talk to campaign arm offshoot this week

  President Obama is scheduled to speak at a summit for Organizing for Action — the nonprofit offshoot of his presidential campaign arm — at a "Founders' Summit" this week, Politico reports. Published March 11 2013

• Schumer knocks new TSA knife rules

  Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, has joined the chorus of voices calling on the Transportation Security Administration to rescind its new policy to allow passengers to carry small knives, golf clubs and hockey sticks onto planes. Published March 11 2013

• House intelligence chair Mike Rogers weighs race for Michigan Senate seat

  Rep. Mike Rogers, Michigan Republican and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, is giving "serious consideration" to the race for the seat of retiring Sen. Carl Levin, according to the Detroit Free Press. Published March 11 2013

• Thomas Perez of Justice Department is likely pick for Labor Secretary: report

  Thomas E. Perez, who has led the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division since 2009, is likely to be nominated by President Obama as his new Secretary of Labor. Published March 11 2013

• Rep. King: Bin Laden kin 'should not be given American due process'

  New York Rep. Peter King on Monday joined a chorus of Republicans who say Slaiman Abu Ghayth, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law and a spokesman for al Qaeda, should not be tried in a U.S. court but rather in a military setting in Guantanamo Bay. Published March 11 2013

• Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House GOP's No. 3, calls Paul filibuster 'fantastic'

  Count House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, among Sen. Rand Paul's fans. Published March 10 2013

• Rep. Paul Ryan: Budget assumes repeal of 'Obamacare'

  Rep. Paul Ryan said Sunday that the proposed budget he's planning to roll out this week calls for repealing President Obama's health care overhaul and that Republicans did not lose the argument on Medicare in the 2012 election. Published March 10 2013

• Rep. Cory Gardner: Don't expect Obama, Republicans to do 'Harlem Shake'

  President Obama's "charm offensive" is a welcomed development, but don't look for Republicans to suddenly fall in line and become the president's backup dancers, a Colorado congressman said Sunday. Published March 10 2013

• Jeb Bush: Obama 'won by, in some ways, dividing the country'

  Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said that President Obama was able to win re-election, in part, by making the election between "them and us" and saying Republicans don't care about a sizable chunk of the American population. Published March 10 2013

• N.Y. Mayor Bloomberg: 'Ban' on large sugary drinks 'in the country's interest'

  New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg defended the city's new law banning restaurants from serving large sugary drinks, saying that it's "in the country's interest." Published March 10 2013