David R. Sands

Senate passes omnibus bill

The first major spending bill of the new Obama administration came stuffed with some old-fashioned pork as a $410 billion omnibus bill covering a slew of federal agencies won final approval Tuesday in the Senate.

March 11, 2009

$900M Dulles rail deal back on track

UPDATED: The decades-long effort to bring Metrorail service to Washington Dulles International Airport reached a major milestone Tuesday when officials finalized a deal for $900 million in federal funding.

March 10, 2009

Dulles rail project to get federal funds

Virginia officials and the U.S. Department of Transportation Tuesday will participate in a ceremony sealing the approval of $900 million in federal funding for a long-awaited rail line to Washington Dulles International Airport.

March 9, 2009

House approves mortgage revision

Struggling homebuyers would get new leverage to force banks to renegotiate their mortgages under a bill that passed the House on Thursday on a vote of 234-191.

March 6, 2009

Lawmakers told pirate threat not eliminated

A security threat as old as the republic itself - pirates - is generating interest on Capitol Hill.

March 6, 2009

Lawmakers hear of pirate menace

A House committee Thursday looked into a security threat as old as the republic itself — pirates.

March 5, 2009

Top Democrats cross Obama on earmarks

UPDATED: President Obama's drive to change Washington's free-spending ways is running into a buzz saw of opposition from his party, as another top congressional Democrat on Tuesday bucked the president's plan to curb pork projects.

March 4, 2009

Hoyer pushes back on earmarks

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Tuesday became the second leading congressional Democrat in a week to push back against President Obama's drive to curb member-directed earmarks on spending bills.

March 3, 2009

Hispanics wary of future in GOP

Five years after former President George W. Bush attracted nearly half of the Hispanic vote in the 2004 presidential election, Hispanic Republicans are worrying that support for the party among Latinos is in a free fall.

March 3, 2009

Charity tax limits upset many

Democrats and Republicans poured cold water on President Obama's budget plan to cut down on wealthy taxpayers' charitable giving tax deductions, the second of his ambitious cost-savings plans to earn lawmakers' scorn, and underscoring the legislative minefield he is entering.

February 27, 2009

Senate nixes Fairness Doctrine revival

The Senate overwhelmingly put itself on record Thursday against any revival of the defunct Fairness Doctrine, designed to require public broadcasters to air "balanced" coverage of controversial issues of public importance.

February 27, 2009

Senate nixes ‘Fairness Doctrine’ revival

The Senate overwhelmingly put itself on record Thursday against any revival of the defunct "Fairness Doctrine," designed to require public broadcasters to air "balanced" coverage of controversial issues.

February 26, 2009

Reid defends earmarks, cites duty to direct spending

The Democratic president and the Democratic leader of the Senate are not exactly on the same page regarding earmarks.

February 25, 2009

GOP gloom lightens for 2010

It's still an uphill fight, but Senate Republicans are finding the playing field has become just a little less tilted in the run-up to 2010 midterm elections.

February 24, 2009

Pressure builds on Burris to resign

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and other Democratic officials called on Sen. Roland Burris to resign from the Senate, which is investigating him for perjury. The White House wants hi actions leading up to his appointment explained.

February 21, 2009

Democrats revive Populist Caucus

A group of nearly two dozen House Democrats last week revived the party's moribund Populist Caucus, vowing to push aggressively for a broad "middle-class agenda" of good jobs, tougher corporate regulation, progressive tax cuts, universal health care and a deep suspicion of traditional trade deals.

February 17, 2009

Senate voting on stimulus bill

The House passed a $787 billion economic recovery package of spending and tax cuts Friday, sending the bill to the Senate, which is expected to approve the measure this evening before it's forwarded to President Obama.

February 13, 2009

Deal reached on historic stimulus

UPDATED: The White House and Democrat-controlled Congress struck a deal Wednesday for a $789 billion stimulus package.

February 12, 2009

Bankers deny misusing TARP money

Eight of the nation's most prominent bankers, representing an industry pilloried for its lavish bonuses and perks, defended their use of billions of taxpayer bailout dollars Wednesday before a House panel whose members collected $1.8 million in political donations connected with those banks during the last election.

February 12, 2009

Historic stimulus deal reached

The White House and Democrat-controlled Congress struck a deal Wednesday for a $789 billion stimulus package.

February 12, 2009