Court Says CIA Can’t Have It Both Ways on Drones
A federal appeals court has rejected an effort by the CIA to deny it has any documents about a U.S. drone program that has killed terrorists overseas, ruling that the agency is stretching the law too far and asking judges “to give their imprimatur to a fiction of deniability that no reasonable person would regard as plausible.”
Update: Senate Committee Approves Expanding Background Checks For Gun Sales
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday is set to approve expanded federal background checks for gun buyers, moving the measure to the full Senate, where it could come up for a vote next month before going to the GOP-controlled House.
Senate Allows Nomination Of Chuck Hagel To Move Forward
The Senate voted today to stop debating and allow the nomination of former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense to come for a vote before the full Senate.
Romney 2013? Tagg Weighs Massachusetts Senate Bid
Mitt Romney’s eldest son reportedly is considering a bid for the Massachusetts Senate seat long held by new Secretary of State John Kerry. His candidacy would bail out Republicans there who were deflated by former Sen. Scott Brown’s decision not to run in the June 25 special election.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Hagel: ‘No One Individual Vote, Quote Or Statement Defines Me’
“My overall worldview has never changed,” said the former senator, who has been nominated to be secretary of defense.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Will Economic Contraction Affect Debate Over Sequester?
Federal spending cuts may have hurt the U.S. economy’s fourth quarter growth. But don’t count on that changing the dynamics of the current debate over the sequester, the ax poised to start hacking $1.2 trillion from federal spending if Congress fails to stop it by the March 1 deadline.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Kerry Gets Committee’s Backing For State; LaHood Leaving Transportation
As expected, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee supports the nomination of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to succeed Secretary Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood is the latest member of the administration to announce a departure.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Despite Bipartisan Beginnings, Immigration Overhaul Could Splinter GOP
If President Obama wanted to pick the perfect wedge issue to split the Republican Party, he could hardly have improved on a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws. Not that he has an ulterior motive in advocating for action on Capitol Hill. But it works out the same way.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
‘Path To Citizenship’ Part Of Senators’ Bipartisan Immigration Plan
Eight senators — four Democrats and four Republicans — are unveiling what they say is a comprehensive immigration overhaul. It would let undocumented immigrants with no criminal records get probationary legal residency if they pay fines and taxes. Full citizenship might come after other reforms.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Court Ruling Upsets Conventional Wisdom On Recess Appointments
In a bombshell decision, a federal appeals court panel has invalidated President Obama’s recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board. Legal experts say the ruling deals a big victory to Senate Republicans in an era of congressional gridlock, and could push the issue to the Supreme Court.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
