Final Spending Bill Sails Through Congress, Giving Speaker Ryan Another Legislative Win

The final spending bill for the 2016 Fiscal Year sailed through Congress today, marking the end of a very successful first two months in office for Speaker Paul Ryan

Senate Passes Two-Year Budget Deal

As expected, the Senate easily passed the two-year budget deal early this morning.

After Opposing Procedure Under Which It Was Negotiated, Paul Ryan Will Support Budget Deal

Yesterday, Paul Ryan spoke out against the procedure under which the new budget deal was negotiated. Today, he announced that he’ll vote for it anyway.

Paul Ryan Blasts Budget Deal Process, But He’s Likely Very Pleased It Happened

Paul Ryan is blasting the process that led to the new budget deal between the GOP and the White House, but one suspects he’s secretly quite pleased with the fact that it makes his job-to-be a lot easier.

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Congress, White House Reach Budget Deal, John Boehner’s Parting Gift To Paul Ryan?

Congress and the White House have reached a tentative deal on the budget and debt ceiling that promises to make Paul Ryan’s initial months as Speaker a lot easier.

Paul Ryan Now Has A Clear Path To Become Speaker Of The House

With the top conservative caucus in Congress acquiescing to his candidacy, Paul Ryan is largely certain to become the next Speaker of the House.

Ben Carson Isn’t Alone In Having Utterly Silly Ideas About The Debt Ceiling

Yes, Ben Carson’s comments about the debt ceiling are silly, but it’s the fact that a lot of Republicans agree with him that’s dangerous.

Congress Avoids A Shutdown, But It’s Likely To Come Back In December

Congress will get a temporary funding bill passed in time to avoid a shutdown on Thursday, but it may just be delaying the inevitable.

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With Eight Days To Go, Can Congress Avoid Another Government Shutdown?

Congress has just over a week to pass a funding bill, and it’s not looking very good.

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Mitch McConnell: Republicans Don’t Have The Votes To Defund Planned Parenthood

Mitch McConnell spoke a truth that many conservatives are likely not going to want to accept.

Voters Would Blame Republicans For Government Shutdown, Poll Shows

Some Republicans are threatening a government shutdown over funding of Planned Parenthood, but a new poll shows that it would be a big political risk for Republicans.

Missouri Republican Wants To Ban Food Stamp Recipients From Buying “Luxury” Food

One Missouri legislator is going on a crusade against a “problem” that may not actually exist.

After Two Month Stand Off, House Passes Clean DHS Funding Bill

As expected, Republicans have caved in the showdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Iraq And Afghanistan Wars Cost $3 Trillion

The costs of more than a decade of war are far higher than many ever thought, and we’re still paying the price for the fiscal irresponsibility of the Bush Administration while they were being fought.

U.S. Government Losing $100,000,000 Per Year On Nickel And Penny Production

The U.S. Government continues to lose money on production of two coins that people barely use anymore.

Senate Passes Spending Bill As Ted Cruz Maneuver Helps Democrats Pass Nominations

As expected, the Senate passed the so-called “Cromnibus,” but not before a self-aggrandizing maneuver by Ted Cruz ended up being exploited by Democrats to pass outstanding nominations.

Despite Last Minute Drama, House Narrowly Passes Bill To Fund Most Of The Government

Despite opposition from both Republicans and Democrats, the compromise budget resolution passed narrowly last night, but not without some last minute drama

Congress Reaches Budget Deal, Delays Immigration Fight For Another Day

It looks like Congress has averted a budget fight for the second straight year.

House Passes Pointless, Doomed Bill To Protest Obama’s Executive Action On Immigration

The House approved a bill to protest the President’s executive action on immigration that will go nowhere. The question is whether it will placate the right.

Top Senate Democrat: Democrats Should Not Have Focused On Obamacare in 2009, 2010

Sen. Charles Schumer says Democrats made a mistake by concentrating on getting health care reform passed instead of on fixing the economy.

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Who’s Going To Pay For The President’s War Against ISIS?

As we head into a new conflict, perhaps we ought to give more thought to fiscal issues than the President is to overall strategy.

The Midterms And The Economy: Bad News For Democrats?

Republicans are winning with voters on the issues they say they care the most about.

In Criticizing Paul Ryan, Sarah Palin And The Tea Party Confirm Their Own Irrelevance

As Sarah Palin and the Tea Party turn on Paul Ryan, they are making apparent their own lack of relevance in the political process.

The Tea Party’s Position On The Debt Ceiling Is Fiscally And Politically Irresponsible

Refusing to raise the debt ceiling does nothing at all to control spending.

Boehner To Bring Clean Debt Ceiling Bill To Vote In House

Big news out of the House of Representatives

Ted Cruz: Has No Regrets Over Shutdown, Continues To Say It Was All The Democrats Fault

Ted Cruz continues to act as if he hasn’t learned his lessons from the shutdown debacle

ObamaCare Hits New Lows In Poll

The PPACA has had a rough 2013, and 2014 could be even worse.

Paul Ryan And Patty Murray Reach Budget Deal, But Can It Pass Congress?

A budget deal has been reached, now it has to get through both Chambers of Congress.

Time To Start Thinking About Another Government Shutdown ‘Crisis’?

Are we headed for another Federal Government shutdown, or will Congress actually do its job this time?

Rand Paul: Government Shutdown I Was Totally Behind With My Floor Votes Was A “Dumb Idea”

The Junior Senator from Kentucky does some re-writing of history.

What Lessons Will The GOP Learn From The Shutdown?

Will the GOP learn the right lessons from the just-concluded showdown? That remains to be seen.

Ted Cruz Refuses To Rule Out Making The Same Dumb Mistake Again

Ted Cruz isn’t ruling out a reprise of his foolish, quixotic, crusade.

The GOP’s Seinfeld Shutdown

The GOP’s shutdown was about as pointless as a show about waiting for a table in a Chinese restaurant.

Debt, Default, And International Faith In The American Government

Would you trust the men and women in this building?

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What Lies Past October 17th? A Big Unknown, And That’s The Problem

If Congress isn’t able to reach a deal, the big problem going forward would be uncertainty.

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House Republicans Waste A Day, Leaving Final Deal Up To The Senate

The House wasted a day yesterday, now it’s crunch time.

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House Shutdown/Debt Ceiling Plan Already Falling Apart?

Well, so much for that plan.

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House To Pursue Its Own Shutdown/Debt Ceiling Bill, But That May Not Be Bad News [Update: Or, Maybe Not]

It looks like the House will be making its move before the Senate acts, but that may actually help resolve this faster.

Senate Nears Deal That Kicks The Can Down The Road, Accomplishes Little Else

The deal emerging out of the talks between Senator Reid and Senator McConnell is about what you’d expect, but it’s probably the best we can expect right now.

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Our Fate Apparently Lies In The Hands Of McConnell, Reid, Boehner, and Biden

Are these four men our last, best hope for a deal that will end the shutdown and avoid breaching the debt ceiling?

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Monument Shutdowns Bring Protesters To National Mall

Conservatives gathered on the National Mall today to protest the closure of memorials, but their message seems really intended for Republicans in Congress to not back down.

Reid/McConnell Talks Stalemated As Democrats Push For Sequester Changes

Talks between the two Senate leaders haven’t exactly gone so well.

How One Change In House Rules Made The Shutdown Inevitable

A little noticed rule change in the House is arguably one of the main reasons we’re in a government shutdown crisis.

Another Republican Debt Kamikaze

One Virginia Republican suggests that defaulting on our bonds wouldn’t be that big of a deal.