Federal Budget Cuts That Exempt 65% of Spending

Ezra Klein dubs the Federal government “an insurance conglomerate protected by a large, standing army.”

GOP To Drop “Forcible Rape” Language From Abortion Bill

In response to charges that it was attempting restrict abortion access beyond the boundaries of the Hyde Amendment, the GOP has agreed to drop the phrase “forcible rape” from its abortion bill.

No, No-One Is Trying To “Redefine” Rape

No, the legislation does not in any way “suggest that some kind of rape that would be okay.”

House Republicans Want to Redefine Rape

The “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” would remove the exception for non-forcible rape.

Silly State Of The Union Pageantry

As the night of the State Of The Union Address approaches, the silliness in Washington has been taken up a notch.

Barack Obama: The Comeback Kid?

After a fairly bad 2010, Barack Obama is starting off 2011 in a very good position.

House Votes 245-189 To Repeal Affordable Care Act

In a move that surprises nobody, the House voted today to repeal last year’s health care reform law. Now it goes to the Senate where it will die.

The Health Care Debate Underscore the Fundamental Problem with the GOP

The current approach of the GOP to health care is not dissimilar to its approach to fiscal policy: not a lot of substance.

House Republicans To Take Up Repeal Of ObamaCare 1099 Reporting Rules

There appears to be bipartisan support for repealing one of the most egregious tax rules in last year’s Affordable Care Act

Republicans Want to Ban Czars

House Republicans want to do away with the increasing number of “czars” in the White House.

Republicans Use ‘Deem and Pass’

David Kurtz reports, “House Republicans are about to use “deem and pass” — a.k.a., a self-executing rule — which you may recall was the same legislative mechanism they decried last year during the health care reform debate as a threat to all that is right and good about America.”

House Will Take Up Repeal Of ObamaCare Before State Of The Union

The next round in the health care reform wars is about to start.

Republican Hypocrisy On Pork Barrel Spending

The incoming House Republicans aren’t making a good first impression.

Professor Sabbaticals Under Fire

Iowa Republicans are targeting professor sabbaticals, thus demonstrating that they understand neither higher ed nor economics.

Republicans Aim to Fix Budget Process

Incoming House Speaker John Boehner plans a radical overhaul of how Congress spends our money.

Will The Class Of 2010 Repeat The Mistakes Of 1994?

The incoming freshman of the 112th Congress say that they won’t repeat the mistakes that Republicans made when they gained power sixteen years ago, but some of the advice they’re getting virtually guarantees it will happen if they aren’t careful.

Cutting Congressional Pay: Pointless Symbolism

Taxpayer “watchdog” groups are urging House Republicans to cut Congressional pay as an act of symbolism. It’s symbolism all right, pointless symbolism.

Bachmann v. Hensarling A Microcosm Of Internal GOP Battles

The race between Jeb Hensarling and Michelle Bachmann for Chair of the House GOP Conference is a microcosm for a battle that is likely to take place within the GOP for the next two years.

The 112th Congress: A “Do Nothing Congress”?

Republicans are promising two years of gridlock and obstructionism if they take control of Congress, but is that really what the people who are likely to vote for them next week really want?

Will A Republican Congress Impeach President Obama ?

Will a Republican-controlled Congress bring about the third Presidential Impeachment in American history? Jonathan Chait thinks it’s virtually certain that it will, I’m not so sure.

House Republicans Unveil Underwhelming “Pledge To America”

In 1994, it was the Contract With America. In 2010, it’s the Pledge To America. But does it really mean anything regardless of what it’s called ?

House Fails To Repeal New 1099 Reporting Requirements

Everyone seems to agree that the new 1099 reporting requirements contained in the health care reform bill are a bad idea, but nobody wants to take the time to repeal them.

Political Fight Over Expiring Bush Tax Cuts Heats Up

Congress and the White House are starting to stake out sides in the upcoming battle over extending the Bush tax cuts.

Michelle Bachmann Suggests Republicans Make The Same Mistakes All Over Again

If Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann gets her way, the 112th Congress will feature a lot of committees “investigating” the Obama Administration.

ObamaCare: Repeal and Replace? Or Repeal and Veto?

House Republican leaders want to repeal ObamaCare. But, even if the GOP takes over Congress, Obama will still have the veto.

Marion Berry Retires