Inside Politics Archive: March 2013
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White House: GOP outreach not Clinton's idea
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama held a previously undisclosed private dinner with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last Friday, the same night the sequester spending cuts went into effect. Published March 8 2013
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After the fact, White House reveals Obama climate meeting
President Obama met with representatives from the oil and gas industry, as well as advocates for renewable energy to discuss climate change and American energy production Thursday night. Published March 8 2013
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Brennan sworn in for CIA on draft of Constitution
After a week in which questions about U.S. drone policy and the potential of killing American citizens on U.S. soil dominated the news, John Brennan was sworn in as the new CIA director with his hand on an original draft of the Constitution dating from 1787. Published March 8 2013
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Obama talks immigration with religious leaders
Several prominent preachers and a diverse group of religious organizations met with President Obama and senior staff Friday morning to discuss immigration reform, even as bipartisan efforts to produce a bill continue on Capitol Hill. Published March 8 2013
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Court limits feds' ability to search laptops at border
A federal appeals court on Friday limited the Border Patrol's ability to search laptops or other electronic records during routine checks at the border, ruling that people have an expectation their data are private and that the government must have a "reasonable suspicion" to snoop. Published March 8 2013
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White House: Easter egg roll still on despite sequester cuts
The White House is moving forward with the White House Easter Egg Roll, despite closing its doors to all public tours because of the sequester spending cuts. Published March 7 2013
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Feds' $205B deficit in February dwarfs $85B in sequester cuts
The federal government posted a $205 billion deficit in the month of February, according to an early estimate by the Congressional Budget Office. Published March 7 2013
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Senate Dem leader Harry Reid praises Rand Paul's filibuster
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid led off Thursday's session with praise for Sen. Rand Paul's 13-hour filibuster the previous day, saying the junior senator from Kentucky used the rules the right way — and showed a strong spine, as well as other body parts. Published March 7 2013
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Democratic governor’s group gets $274,000 embezzled
More than a quarter-million dollars was embezzled from the Democratic Governors Association, an unlimited-money vehicle for the party, and a 22-year old Kentucky man has been charged with theft, the Jessmine Journal in that state. Published March 7 2013
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Graham, McCain blast Paul filibuster
Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster didn't thrill all of his colleagues. Published March 7 2013
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No more food fight: Obama's dinner-lunch combo revives dormant food diplomacy
With a swanky dinner Wednesday night for Republican senators at a local Washington hotel and a White House lunch for the top budget writers in the House Thursday, President Obama is getting back to the food-based political outreach he employed frequently in his first term. Published March 7 2013
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Tom Coburn on gun check deal: 'I think we'll ultimately get there'
Although lengthy bipartisan negotiations over strengthening background checks for gun purchasers hit a stumbling block this week, Sen. Tom Coburn appeared relatively confident Thursday morning that a deal could ultimately be struck. Published March 7 2013
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Obama administration approves four federal-state health markets
The Department of Health and Human services on Thursday approved four health-insurance marketplaces that will be run as a federal-state partnerships under President Obama's health care law. Published March 7 2013
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Obama sending official delegation to Chavez funeral
The Obama administration has dispatched an official delegation to Caracas to attend Friday's funeral for deceased Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Published March 7 2013
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Rand Paul's filibuster — with a little help from his friends
Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster Wednesday to bring attention to drone strikes turned into a committee affair, with a dozen other GOP senators coming to the chamber floor to help carry the speaking load by asking long-winded questions, giving Mr. Paul a chance to rest his voice and stretch his legs as the others spoke. Published March 7 2013
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Obama to sit down with Senate GOP
President Obama will travel to the Capitol next week to hold a private lunch meeting with Republican senators, GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday. Published March 6 2013
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Holder says 'no intention' to conduct drone executions in U.S.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. told Congress Wednesday the federal government has "no intention" of using drones to strike at targets within the U.S., saying it's easier to capture people here so that tool is not as important. Published March 6 2013
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Schlafly urges GOP to reaffirm support of traditional marriage
A leading supporter of traditional marriage called on the chairman of the Republican National Committee Wednesday to reiterate the party's opposition to gay marriage. Published March 6 2013
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Holder doesn't bite on Biden shotgun query
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. held his tongue when questioned at a Capitol Hill hearing on Vice President Joseph R. Biden's recent comments on the relative merits of the semiautomatic AR-15 rifle and a shotgun for self-defense. Published March 6 2013
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Hill hearing on global warming cancelled by D.C. snowstorm
An unusually chilly March day and the snowstorm it spawned have shut down much of official Washington on Wednesday — including a hearing House Republicans had called to examine global warming. Published March 6 2013
