Outside the Beltway

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Big news out of the House of Representatives

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Would you trust the men and women in this building?

A plan finally starting to come together?

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

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

Well, so much for that plan.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Harry and Mitch to the rescue?

With the House’s proposed deal reaching an impasse, the Senate is now taking center stage.

There seems to be at least some hope for a temporary deal in Washington to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling, but don’t count your chickens just yet.

Republicans appear to be uniting behind a short-term plan to deal with the debt ceiling, but seem okay with keeping the government shutdown going forward.

Paul Ryan is back, and he has a plan his party ought to be paying attention to.

Signs that investors are starting to get nervous about the lack of action coming out of Washington.

Contrary to the White House’s arguments, negotiating over the debt ceiling is not at all historically unprecedented.

They’re back…….