National Journal Topics | NationalJournal.com

The U.S. Wants to Inspect Your Catfish, Twice

Niraj Chokshi | May 21, 2013

The farm bill has a reputation, and it’s not a good one.

Abortion Rights Activists Looking to Hillary Clinton As 2016 Champion

Elahe Izadi and Beth Reinhard | May 3, 2013

Abortion rights activists fuming over President Obama’s opposition to making emergency contraception accessible to women of all ages could have an ally campaigning for the Oval Office in 2016: Hillary Clinton.

The 'Obamacare' Rollout's 'Glitches and Bumps' Won't Doom Health Reform

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 30, 2013

Medicare Part D had them, too.

Clay Alspach, Chief Majority Health Counsel

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 17, 2013

When two veteran committee health staffers departed this year, Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., picked one of his own to promote. Clay Alspach, 35, has worked for the committee, or its members, for much of his professional life.

After the Obama Administration's Morning-After Pill Decision

Margot Sanger-Katz | May 2, 2013

President Obama has made a series of speeches in recent weeks, delighting scientists who work on controversial areas of research and advocates for reproductive and abortion rights.

Documenting the Failed 'War on Drugs'

Andrew Cohen, The Atlantic | December 28, 2012

The year began with a line that was as much a lamentation as it was an astute observation. "The scale and brutality of our prisons are the moral scandal of American life," Adam Gopnik wrote in a trenchant essay in the Jan. 30 issue of the New Yorker. "How did we get here? How is it that our civilization, which rejects hanging and flogging and disemboweling, came to believe that caging vast numbers of people for decades is an acceptably humane condition?"

No, Oncologists Are Not Going Broke

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 18, 2013

Cancer doctors say the sequester forces them to turn away dying patients. Nonsense.

Debt-Ceiling Fight May Flare This Week

Billy House and George E. Condon Jr. and Nancy Cook and Amy Harder and Fawn Johnson and Margot Sanger-Katz and and Sara Sorcher contributed | May 5, 2013

House Republicans will push action on a bill signaling no retreat from their demand for spending cuts as a condition to any ceiling hike.

No Big Bills, But Plenty of Action on Health Care

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 17, 2013

The Energy and Commerce Committee won’t be passing any blockbuster health care bills this session—much as some GOP members would still love to repeal the Affordable Care Act—but several smaller measures on the agenda are likely to make it to the House floor.

The Cajun Comeback

Adam B. Kushner | May 2, 2013

Eight years after Katrina, New Orleans is finding new ways to address old problems. Scenes from a turnaround.

Meet the Yahoo Caucus

Norm Ornstein | May 1, 2013

Congress is filled with informal caucuses, from the Black Caucus to the Wine Caucus. I have a new one to propose, which might be among the largest: the Yahoo Caucus.

Why Dr. Kermit Gosnell's Trial Should Be a Major News Story

Conor Friedersdorf - The Atlantic | April 12, 2013

The dead babies. The exploited women. The racism. The numerous governmental failures. It just is insanely newsworthy.

Health Care Interests Have Much to Monitor

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 17, 2013

Because entitlement reform could touch nearly every medical lobby, all will keep eyes and ears on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s doings.

What Will Max Baucus Do With His New Political Freedom?

Nancy Cook and Stacy Kaper and Chris Frates and Rebecca Kaplan contributed | April 23, 2013

The Montana senator's retirement could affect legislation on guns, taxes, immigration, and the debt ceiling. If only he'll agree with his fellow Democrats.

A Polarized Committee Reflects a Gridlocked Congress

Amy Harder | April 17, 2013

Shortly after Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., won the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in December 2010, he invited all the former committee chairmen and their wives to dinner at Carmine’s in downtown Washington.

Which States Sent the Most Liberal Members to Congress?

February 21, 2013

The vast majority of the most-liberal state delegations in the House of Representatives are clustered in the Northeast and out West, according to 2012 vote rankings compiled by National Journal.

Slow-Motion Gun Battle Plays Out in Senate

Billy House | April 14, 2013

Lawmakers will stage some slow-going drama this week as the Senate proceeds in its deliberations on gun-control legislation with a series of votes on amendments—many of them likely to usher in their own mini-floor fights, or even filibusters.

What Would President Romney Do?

Josh Kraushaar | February 21, 2013

For those convinced that President Obama doesn’t deserve any blame for the fiscal gridlock, let’s do a thought experiment. Let’s imagine that Mitt Romney was elected president and was dealing with the same Congress that Obama has faced so much trouble with in getting legislation to avert sequestration and myriad fiscal emergencies. Would a President Romney be confronting the same crisis?

Harkin's Departure Jolts Hawkeye State Politics

Alex Brown | February 1, 2013

Take one long, last look at Iowa. Two years from now, the state's long-static political landscape could be nearly unrecognizable. Plenty of dominoes have yet to fall following Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin's decision to retire next year, but when they do, they'll fall fast -- and the effects will likel...

Cliffs Notes on Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address

Michael Catalini | February 12, 2013

The first State of the Union address since President Obama's second inauguration focused overwhelmingly on domestic policy. He devoted roughly one paragraph each to Afghanistan, North Korea--which reportedly tested a nuclear weapon on Monday--and Iran. For comparison's sake, that's the roughly the same amount of time he spent on cybersecurity in the address.

Missed Opportunity? Obama May Avoid Spending-Cut Debate in Speech

Nancy Cook | February 12, 2013

When President Obama takes to the podium Tuesday night for the State of the Union, he’s expected to give scant attention to one of the most pressing issues facing Washington: the upcoming $85 billion in spending cuts.

Health Care: Great for the Economy Today, Terrible Later

Margot Sanger-Katz | January 31, 2013

Hospitals like Pittsburgh’s UPMC created enough jobs to end the recession. If they keep it up, they’ll wreck the economy.

The ‘Liberal Bulldog’ Takes on His Biggest Challenge

Coral Davenport | April 16, 2013

Rep. Henry Waxman, the California liberal who has spent decades battling the tobacco, coal, and pharmaceutical industries, is taking on what appears to be the most insurmountable challenge of his long career.

On the Move

Christopher Snow Hopkins and Mike Magner | February 21, 2013

Angela Rye launches a new lobby shop, Impact Strategies. Domingo Herraiz is Motorola's new VP of North American government affairs. Campaign insider Tharon Johnson joins McKenna Long & Aldridge.

Who Pays for Congress’s Big-Money Party Retreats?

Shane Goldmacher | January 14, 2013

It boils down to this catch-22: Either the special interests pay, or you do.

Using People as Props: Cantor Channels Clinton and Reagan

Ron Fournier | February 5, 2013

As Washington becomes increasingly staged-managed, 'real people' land roles in political scripts.

A Blood Clot in Hillary Clinton's Brain: How It Can Turn Out Just Fine

Richard C. Senelick for The Atlantic | January 1, 2013

Yesterday evening the U.S. Secretary of State was hospitalized in New York City for treatment and monitoring of a thrombosis in a cerebral vein. Her doctors expect a full recovery. What that means.

In the Hospital with a Blood Clot, Hillary Clinton Is Not In Good Health

Adam Clark Estes - The Atlantic Wire | December 31, 2012

Secretary of State and wouldn't be New York City mayor Hillary Clinton is back in the hospital, after doctors discovered a blood clot related to the concussion she suffered earlier this month. Clinton was admitted to New York-Presbyterian Hospital on Sunday night, so that her treatment team could monitor how she handles the anti-coagulant medication that's been prescribed to deal with the clot. (Read the State Department's full statement on her condition here.)

Full Text: President Obama and Joe Biden's Statements on Gun Violence Proposals

January 16, 2013

The White House released the following transcript of the statements President Obama and Vice President Biden made on the gun control proposals announced Wednesday.

Wealthy Mexicans Fleeing Drug Violence Find a New Home in San Antonio

Sophie Quinton | March 8, 2013

The city's newest immigrants from the south aren't low-wage workers, but business leaders looking to invest.

The (Fiscal) Case for Death

Margot Sanger-Katz | June 21, 2012

Over the long run, effective preventive health policy could cost the federal government more than it saves.

Lipitor Fights Back

Margot Sanger-Katz | December 1, 2011

Pfizer’s strategy to fend off competition from generics may be paving a path for the pharmaceutical industry.

U.S. Seizes Hundreds of Websites Accused of Selling Fake Drugs

Juliana Gruenwald | October 4, 2012

As part of an ongoing effort to combat online counterfeiting and piracy, federal authorities on Thursday announced a major crackdown on websites allegedly engaged in selling counterfeit drugs.

Report: Host at Romney Event a Convicted Drug Trafficker

National Journal Staff | August 13, 2012

A Miami juice shop where Mitt Romney held an event on Monday and where he planned to shoot a campaign ad is owned by a convicted cocaine trafficker, the Associated Press reported.

Today's Influence Ads: Law of the Sea and Drug Shortages

Elahe Izadi | June 28, 2012

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has a new ad praising Congress for approving a Federal Drug Administration bill that addresses drug shortages. CQ Roll Call has an ad for the Congressional Challenge, as part of the Sept. 9 Nation's Triathlon.

Today's Influence Ads: Medicaid and Drug Shortages

Elahe Izadi | June 19, 2012

New ads out today from the American Healthcare Association and Molina Healthcare address proposed changes to Medicaid's provider assessment rate. And the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' new ad pushes for passage of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which the group claims will address drug shortages.

Rothman Aide Heading to Chain Drug Stores Association

Andrew Joseph | June 10, 2012

Days after Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) lost his primary race to fellow Rep. Bill Pascrell, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced it had hired Rothman's chief of staff, Tom O'Donnell, as its vice president of federal government affairs. O'Donnell, who has also served as chief of sta...

FDA Considers Change In Breast Cancer Drug Testing

June 3, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration is considering letting some women with breast cancer try out experimental drugs earlier in the course of the disease, when they have a better chance of being helped, Reuters reports.

Today's Influence Ads: Supporting Drug Shortage Provisions

Andrew Joseph | May 17, 2012

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Institute for Safe Medication Practices, American Hospital Association and American Society of Clinical Oncology have a new ad out today calling for drug shortage provisions to be kept in the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, according to a compilatio...

FDA Advisers Recommend New Diet Drug

National Journal Staff | May 10, 2012

Food and Drug Administration advisers voted on Thursday to recommend a new prescription weight-loss pill, despite concerns over cardiac risks, AP reports.

Drug Helps Treat Autism Symptoms in Mice

Maggie Fox | April 25, 2012

An experimental drug appears to help autism-like symptoms in mice, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday in one of the first studies to suggest autism might be treatable with medications.

A Few Seniors Use Banned Drug Coupons

April 16, 2012

Six percent of seniors have used coupons to purchase brand name drugs even though Medicare has banned that tactic, according to a survey from the National Coalition on Health Care.

New Agreement Leases Drug Flops to NIH For Further Study

Maggie Fox | May 3, 2012

The federal government said on Thursday it will team up even more closely with drug companies to test old drugs for new uses.

FDA Needs Post-Market Drug Plan, Institute Says

Maggie Fox | May 1, 2012

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs a better plan for monitoring the safety of drugs after they’re released to the public, but it won’t be easy, an Institute of Medicine committee said on Tuesday.

Afghan Air Force Probed in Drug Running

Jonathan Miller | March 8, 2012

The U.S. is investigating allegations that officials in the Afghan Air Force, which was established largely with American funds, have been using aircraft to ferry narcotics and illegal weapons around the country, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Santorum Likens Obama Administration to ‘Drug Dealer’

Rebecca Kaplan | March 5, 2012

The Republican presidential candidate tells an Oklahoma audience that President Obama’s health care law is designed to get Americans hooked on government.

FDA Advisers Recommend New Diet Drug

Maggie Fox | February 22, 2012

Food and Drug Administration advisers voted against the pleas of consumer advocates on Wednesday to approve what would be the first new diet drug to hit the US market in 13 years. Called Qnexa, the pill is a combination of two older drugs – one itself a diet pill called phentermine, and an anti-seizure drug that appears to help suppress appetite as part of the combination.

FDA Slows Shortages of Two Cancer Drugs

Meghan McCarthy | February 21, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration, along with private manufacturers, announced efforts on Tuesday that they say will stave off shortages for two cancer drugs.

Hospitals Learning From Drug Industry

Phil Galewitz, Kaiser Health News, with USA Today | December 14, 2011

In northwest Indiana, Carrie Sota visits five or six doctors' offices every work day as part of her new sales job.

Implanted Chip Delivers Drugs Without a Thought

Maggie Fox | February 16, 2012

Researchers say they have made the first implantable chip that can deliver medicine for as long as a year and that several women tolerated it safely for up to four months. Not only did the subjects find the implant comfortable, but it appeared to deliver an osteoporosis drug effectively, the team told a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Santorum Doles Out Tough Medicine on Drug Costs

Megan Kelty | February 1, 2012

As Rick Santorum sought on Wednesday to spread his message on health care to Coloradans, he gave an answer to a question from the audience that some may find a hard pill to swallow.

Study: Drug, Medical Device Industries Spending Big on Lobbying

Andrew Joseph | March 29, 2012

A new analysis shows pharmaceutical companies and their trade groups dropped more than $487 million on lobbying from 2009 through 2011. Biotechnology firms and their trade associations, meanwhile, spent more than $126 million on lobbying and medical device manufacturers and their trade groups paid o...

Perry Backs Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

Rebecca Kaplan | December 21, 2011

MT. PLEASANT, Iowa – Texas Gov. Rick Perry said on Wednesday he wouldn’t be opposed to welfare recipients being drug-tested, joining fellow candidate Newt Gingrich in suggesting that federal aid should be tied to substance use.

Report: Medicare Drug-Coverage Gap Shrinks

Sophie Quinton | November 28, 2011

Medicare’s prescription-drug-coverage gap will shrink by almost 40 percent this year, the Associated Press reported on Sunday. The average beneficiary who lands in the coverage gap, sometimes known as "the doughnut hole," will see his or her prescription-drug expenses fall from $1,504 to $901 this year, the AP reported, citing Medicare’s Office of the Actuary.

Report: Drugs That Send Elderly Patients to ER

Sophie Quinton | November 23, 2011

A handful of commonly prescribed medicines may put elderly patients at risk of an emergency hospital visit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers reported on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Hundreds of Meetings Set for Chain Drug Store Fly-in

Andrew Joseph | February 15, 2012

Pharmacists and others in the industry are headed to Washington for the fourth annual National Association of Chain Drug Stores RxIMPACT Day - which is actually spread over two days -- on March 21 and 22 to emphasize to lawmakers how pharmacies help patients and keeps costs down.In hundreds of meeti...

FDA Says It's Approving Lots of New Drugs

Maggie Fox | November 3, 2011

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, battered by complaints that it approves new drugs too slowly, said on Thursday that it has approved 35 new drugs in the past year.

Obama Orders FDA to Address Drug Shortages

Sophie Quinton | October 31, 2011

President Obama will call on the Food and Drug Administration to address drug shortages in an executive order on Monday, The New York Times reports. The FDA has documented increasing shortages of anesthetics, electrolytes, and cancer drugs. Obama's order is "a modest effort," The Times noted: It do...

White House Presses Companies on Drug Shortages

Maggie Fox | October 31, 2011

The Obama administration asked drug companies on Monday to give more of a heads-up about drug shortages, pressing Congress to move legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration more teeth to enforce early warnings and also doubling the small staff of an FDA office that deals with shortages.

A Batch of Pricey Drugs Goes Generic

Kaiser Health News | October 24, 2011

Some of the most popular and expensive brand-name drugs are about to go generic, Kaiser Health News reports.

Asthma Drug Spending Soars in U.S.

Maggie Fox | October 12, 2011

U.S. spending on asthma drugs more than quadrupled from $527 million to $2.5 billion in the 10 years from 1998 to 2008, according to government figures released on Wednesday.

Pink Slips and Drug Tests: Where Congress Left Off

National Journal Staff | December 27, 2011

Congress is mercifully on recess until mid-January, but the debate over extending the payroll-tax cut and unemployment benefits is not out of mind.

Perry Lowballed Drug-Company Donations in Debate

Rebecca Kaplan | September 13, 2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry received more than $28,000 from the pharmaceutical company that makes a vaccine used in the battle against cervical cancer, significantly more than the $5,000 he acknowledged in Monday night’s Republican debate in Florida.

The NIH and Drug Development

Meghan McCarthy | January 31, 2011

The National Institutes of Health made waves recently by announcing the creation of a new drug development center, at the expense of an existing research center. The drug center, called the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, aims to cross what supporters call the "valley of death" that can occur between basic NIH discoveries and the sometimes risky and expensive undertaking of translating those findings into actual treatments.

New Generic Drugs Mean Lower Prices

July 26, 2011

Generic versions of seven of the world's 20 best-selling drugs will become available over the next 14 months, including the top two sellers -- cholesterol fighter Lipitor and blood thinner Plavix, the Associated Press reports.

Two Drugs Deemed Effective for Autism

Althea Fung | April 4, 2011

In a piece of rare good news for parients of children with autism, two antipsychotic drugs have been shown to help, federally funded researchers reported on Monday.

POLITICS - As Bush Does Balancing Act, His Ratings Keep Slipping

March 15, 2003

As war with Iraq increasingly appears inevit-

F-16s Intercept Plane Carrying Drugs in Obama's Restricted Airspace -- Report

National Journal Staff | February 16, 2012

Two F-16 fighters intercepted a Cessna 182 shortly after 11 a.m. on Thursday that had flown into temporarily restricted airspace that was in place as President Obama left Los Angeles International Airport, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Medicare to Keep Paying for Controversial Cancer Drug Avastin

June 30, 2011

Medicare will keep paying for patients to receive Avastin to treat breast cancer even if the Food and Drug Administration rescinds approval, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said on Thursday.

GAO: Drug Prices Rising Quickly

Maggie Fox | March 14, 2011

Prescription drug prices have risen more quickly over the past four years than costs for other medical goods and services, the Government Accountability Office reported on Monday.

Drug Legalization Group Gets In SupComm Game

Andrew Joseph | October 12, 2011

About 15 law enforcement officers and other volunteers were on the Hill this morning passing out information about the ineffectiveness and costs of the war on drugs. The effort, part of an ongoing campaign by the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition to legalize and regulate drugs, targeted lawmakers on the Super Committee and House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

Jimmy Carter: Time to Rethink War on Drugs

Rebecca Kaplan | June 17, 2011

Former President Jimmy Carter wants to shift focus from incarcerating drug users to treating them and refocusing international efforts on combating violent criminal organizations.

GAO Report Finds Medicare Pays For Prescription Drug Abuse

October 4, 2011

Medicare may be helping thousands of patients abuse painkillers by “doctor-shopping” to get multiple prescriptions, the Government Accountability Office reports, as a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee looks into the issue on Tuesday.

Florida Welfare Applicants Less Likely to Use Illegal Drugs

National Journal staff | September 27, 2011

People seeking welfare assistance in Florida are less likely than the population as a whole to use illegal drugs, preliminary figures stemming from a new Florida law indicates, the Associated Press reports.

FDA Limits Diabetes Drug Even More

Maggie Fox | May 18, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has tightened restrictions on the diabetes drug Avandia, and said on Wednesday that it will stop sales of the drug in retail pharmacies.

FDA, FTC Crack Down on Online STD Drugs

Althea Fung | May 3, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday cracked down on illegal, over-the-counter products promising to treat, cure, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

VA Spent $717 Million on a Drug Deemed as Effective as a Placebo

Bob Brewin, Nextgov.com | August 23, 2011

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the 13th story in an ongoing Nextgov series that examines the invisible wounds of war.

Medicaid Patients Busted in Drug Scheme

Althea Fung | December 6, 2010

Police in western New York charged 33 people in a drug ring that used Medicaid dollars to put illicit drugs on the streets.

How Drug Cartels Try to Corrupt Federal Employees

Katherine McIntire Peters, Government Executive | April 12, 2011

It's not clear when Louis Enrique Ramirez took his first bribe. In the summer of 2005, the former customs inspector apparently began cutting deals with smugglers to allow undocumented immigrants as well as the occasional load of drugs across the Southwest border from Mexico into Texas. During the next three and a half years, U.S. investigators believe Ramirez pocketed $500,000 to provide safe passage for illegal immigrants and cocaine. In early 2009, Ramirez fled to Mexico after someone tipped him off that investigators had begun to unravel his scheme.

FDA Spoils Drug Company's Plan to Cash in on Makena

Maggie Fox | March 30, 2011

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday pulled the rug out from under drugmaker K-V Pharmaceutical – the company that infuriated Congress and consumers alike when it said it would charge $1,500 for a drug that had been previously available for $20.

Pew Study Finds Gaps in FDA Oversight of Imported Drugs

Althea Fung | July 13, 2011

Three years after more than 200 patients died from adulterated blood thinner medication made in China, a new Pew Health Group report finds an increasing amount of medicines sold in the United States are manufactured in developing countries with little oversight.

FDA Pulls 500 Cold Drugs It Has Not Approved

Maggie Fox | March 2, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration continued a push against unapproved drugs today, ordering 500 prescription cold products off the market because their safety record is unclear.

Pull Approval for Breast Cancer Drug, Experts Tell FDA

Maggie Fox | June 29, 2011

The cancer drug Avastin does not help breast cancer patients and it should not be approved to treat them, experts advising the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

Santorum Compares Wisconsin Protesters to Drug Addicts

Sara Sorcher | February 23, 2011

Former Pennsylvania senator and presidential hopeful Rick Santorum compared pro-union protesters in Wisconsin to drug addicts in withdrawal at a small gathering Monday night.

Consumer Reports: Pharmacies Often Leave Warnings Off Drugs

Althea Fung | June 28, 2011

Many pharmacies fail to properly label prescription drugs with key safety warnings or include the medication guides that the federal government requires, according to a new investigative report from Consumer Reports Health.

40 Years Later, War on Drugs Has Created a Bloated DEA

Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic | June 15, 2011

Police officers, judges, and prison guards opposed to drug prohibition gathered in Washington on Tuesday to mark an eye-opening milestone: the 40th anniversary of President Nixon's War on Drugs.

Is Your Primary On Drugs?

April 28, 2008

NE 02 candidate Jim Esch (D) "is drug-free." That was the result, made public 4/28, "of a test Esch took" after his primary opponent, Air Force vet Richard Carter (D), "challenged him to prove that both are drug-free" as a "good example for children." Carter "released his own drug-free test results last week." Esch "said he was happy to take the test but feels Carter did a poor job of proposing the idea during their debate last week." Esch: "I don't think his intention was to insinuate anything, but unfortunately, certainly that innuendo was out there" (Elfrink, Omaha World-Herald, 4/29).

Some Patients Dump Lifesaving Cancer Drugs Because of Cost

Maggie Fox | May 19, 2011

New targeted pills can have dramatic effects on cancer, not only driving the disease into remission but also freeing patients from hours of uncomfortable and boring chemotherapy treatments. Up to 10 percent of patients, however, are not filling their prescriptions for the pills--and cost appears to be a factor, according to a new report.

Teen Drug Use Increases, Report Finds

Althea Fung | November 17, 2010

Despite aggressive youth anti-drug campaigns, the Office of the National Drug Control Policy has found an overall increase in teens using drugs, particularly black girls and Hispanic boys.

Florida to Ban Bestiality, Sagging, Doing Drugs While on Welfare

Elspeth Reeve | May 6, 2011

Florida is diving deep into personal life regulation, with new legislation requiring drug testing for people on welfare and ultrasounds for women seeking abortions. Plus they'd like to stop people from having sex with animals and wearing their pants unfashionably baggy. Florida! Who would imagin...

Former U.S. Marshal Says Suburban Drug Busts Were Verboten

Elspeth Reeve | August 31, 2011

A former Drug Enforcement Administration agent says he was blocked from doing drug busts in the suburban parts of Washington, D.C. -- as in, the parts where white people live. U.S. Marshal Matthew Fogg, who is black, says "I personally witnessed racially biased enforcement procedures when I ran...

Most Teens Don't Abuse Their Prescription Drugs, Michigan Study Finds

Althea Fung | August 3, 2011

Most adolescents on prescription medication for pain, sleep disorder, anxiety or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder used their medication appropriately, a new report from the University of Michigan finds.

U.S. May Have Armed Mexican Drug Lords

Ben Terris | March 4, 2011

A federal sting operation allowed hundreds of guns to be purchased by people expected to cross the border and use the weapons for criminal activity, according to a new report.

Breast Cancer Drug to Be Pulled: Good Science or Health-Care Rationing?

Caitlin Dickson | December 16, 2010

The FDA is considering rescinding approval of Avastin, a drug commonly used to treat breast cancer. An FDA advisory panel almost unanimously agreed that the drug should be reconsidered for not demonstrating enough effectiveness in patients. Cancer advocacy groups, though, are split on whether the FD...

Appeals Court Decides E-Cigarettes Not a Drug

Althea Fung | December 8, 2010

A federal Appeals Court rules that the Food and Drug Administration must treat electronic cigarettes as a tobacco product, not a drug used for smoking cessation.

'I've Ended The War On Drugs'

May 27, 2009

Incoming drug czar Gil Kerlikowske says he wants to reach outside the Beltway for new approaches to combat drug abuse.

Pediatricians To Enter Debate On Generic Biologic Drugs

Anna Edney | April 14, 2008

After sitting out the summer as senators debated giving FDA the authority to approve follow-on or generic versions of biologic drugs, the American Academy of Pediatrics plans this week to visit House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership and other members with a dog in the fight to assert their point of view, an academy source said.

Buyer, Matheson Push For Drug Counterfeiting Measure

April 22, 2008

Reps. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., and Jim Matheson, D-Utah, Tuesday urged Congress to pass legislation addressing pharmaceutical counterfeiting.

LEGAL AFFAIRS - Medical Marijuana and the Folly of the Drug War

May 19, 2001

The Supreme Court delivered a timely reminder of the social costs of our "war on drugs" with its May 14 decision rejecting a medical-necessity exception to the federal law criminalizing marijuana. Meanwhile, President Bush has moved toward abandoning his own best instincts and repeating his predecessors' mistakes by endlessly escalating a $20 billion-a-year "war" that-as most Americans now understand-we have lost.

Sen. Brown: Drug Price Increase from $10 to $1,500 is 'Unconscionable'

Althea Fung | March 21, 2011

In a Monday morning op-ed, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, criticized a pharmaceutical company for raising the price of a pregnancy drug from $10 to $1,500, days after he and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the price hike.

Drug Prices Rose Faster Than Inflation, Report Shows

Marilyn Werber-Serafini | April 15, 2009

Following five years of slower growth, prescription drug makers increased their prices by nearly 9 percent last year, promising higher premiums in Medicare's prescription drug benefit (Medicare Part D) next year, according to a new study by AARP's Public Policy Institute.

Panel Might Add Drug-Tracking Provisions To Import Bill

Anna Edney | April 15, 2008

House Energy and Commerce Committee staffers are discussing adding drug-tracking requirements to import safety legislation that Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell is readying for a reintroduction, industry and congressional sources said.

Panel Dems Call For Tougher FDA Scrutiny Of Drug Ads

Anna Edney | May 7, 2008

Congress should consider whether pharmaceutical companies should continue to produce direct-to-consumer advertisements or whether lawmakers should impose additional restrictions on the practice, House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak, D-Mich., said today.

Kennedy, FDA Drug Center Director Find Common Ground

Anna Edney | April 23, 2008

A top FDA official and leading Senate chairman said today that manufacturers and producers of food and pharmaceuticals need to do more to ensure their products are safe, and that FDA must have the powers to hold those that fail accountable. At a hearing before his committee, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Edward Kennedy and Janet Woodcock, FDA’s drug center director, aligned their messages as Congress considers overhauling the agency’s oversight of imports.

Generic-Drug Groups Battle Against Patent Law Changes

Andrew Noyes | April 8, 2008

Generic-drug manufacturers are calling upon congressional leaders to safeguard the “inequitable conduct” doctrine in U.S. patent law, which they say protects patent quality and allows affordable generics to reach the market. This puts them at odds with some major pharmaceutical executives, who h...

Opening Argument - Liberal Drug Warriors! Conservative Pot-Coddlers!

Stuart Taylor Jr | June 11, 2005

The Supreme Court's four more-liberal members voted to allow federal prosecution of medical-marijuana users -- including cancer patients who grow small quantities at home to alleviate agonizing pain -- even in the 11 states that have legalized medical marijuana. So did centrist Justice Anthony Kennedy and conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.

This Indie Rocker-Turned-Congressman Is Ready to Make His Name on Immigration Reform

Ben Terris | May 22, 2013

Beto O'Rourke represents the southern most part of Texas ... and the northern most part of Mexico.

10 Times the Fifth Amendment Has Been Used Before Congress

Matt Vasilogambros | May 22, 2013

IRS official Lois Lerner is not the only one to invoke her rights before a congressional committee.

Portland’s Decision to Forgo Fluoride May End Up Costing $11.3 Million a Year

Brian Resnick | May 22, 2013

Oregon is ranked the 5th-worst state for tooth decay, and on Wednesday voters of Portland may have missed an opportunity to change that.

How to Break the Cycle of Poverty

Sophie Quinton | May 22, 2013

This Twin Cities-based program knows what single moms need to finish college: housing and child care.

Which Is More Corrupt: Afghanistan or America?

Michael Hirsh | May 21, 2013

Karzai cash payments highlight a growing friction as Afghans blame NATO for their poor reputation.

Why the AP Phone Records Bombshell Could Threaten Eric Holder's Job

Jill Lawrence | May 13, 2013

If Obama wants a high-level symbol of accountability, the attorney general is the only one left standing.

Why Might the Cleveland Kidnapper Get Charged With Murder?

Niraj Chokshi | May 13, 2013

The government is wading into the murky waters of what constitutes a human life.

The 'Obamacare' Rollout Will Be a Bureaucratic Nightmare

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 18, 2013

When the last major government insurance plan launched in 2006, it was a disaster. The president’s health law will be even worse.

Michelle Ash, Minority Chief Consumer Protection Counsel

Catherine Hollander and Brian Fung | April 17, 2013

A Pittsburgh native, Michelle Ash, 45, had originally planned to go into law. But after a year at a local law firm, she decided on the world of policy instead.

Immigration Will Be Hot Topic During President Obama's Trip to Mexico

George E. Condon Jr. | May 2, 2013

President heads south of the border on Thursday.

Will the Benghazi and IRS Probes Do More Damage to Obama or the GOP?

Jill Lawrence | May 13, 2013

Impeachment talk and multiple investigations recall the Clinton era that Obama promised to avoid.

NATO’s Plan for Afghanistan Post-2014: A ‘Stable Instability’

Michael Hirsh | May 13, 2013

U.S., allies are talking about commitments through 2018 and beyond, says top commander.

The Border Hawks Have Already Won

Fawn Johnson | May 9, 2013

The Senate immigration bill already addresses hard-liner concerns, which means they’ll have less reason to oppose the final product.

Why Mexico Will Always Play Second Fiddle

George E. Condon Jr. | May 9, 2013

Like all presidents, Barack Obama says he wants a better relationship with his neighbors to the south. Then events get in the way.

U.S. and E.U. Will Gnaw on Trade Agreement

Catherine Hollander | April 17, 2013

Late last month, the White House notified Congress that it planned to begin negotiating a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the European Union. Talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership are expected to begin in June—and that’s when the House Energy and Commerce Committee will step up its involvement.

Phil Barnett, Minority Staff Director, Full Committee

Amy Harder | April 17, 2013

It’s no surprise that Democratic Staff Director Phil Barnett counts climate change among his very top issues. His boss, Energy and Commerce ranking member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., does, too.

Holcomb Considering Ga. Senate, Gubernatorial Bids

Sarah Mimms | May 1, 2013

Georgia state Rep. Scott Holcomb says he is considering running for his state's open Senate seat in 2014, even as the Peach State's Democratic Party brass tries to narrow down the field to a single candidate. "It's fair to say that I'm thinking about it, and that's largely a function of many people...

6 Tragedies That Sparked Legislation

Matt Vasilogambros | April 17, 2013

When tragedy strikes this country, Americans react with grief, anger, hope, and sometimes legislation.

Energy and Commerce's Jurisdiction: Anything that Moves, Burns, or is Sold

Peter Bell | April 17, 2013

That is how National Journal once described the jurisdiction of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. House rules offer one definition of the committee’s turf, but a practical, bottom-up view of the committee’s territory is visible in the word cloud below. It shows the terms most common to the titles of the almost 350 hearings held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its subcommittees in the 111th and 112th Congresses. The larger the word, the more frequently it appeared in those hearing titles.

Rand Paul's Play to Win Over Black Voters at Howard University

Elahe Izadi | April 8, 2013

How the libertarian-minded senator is received will indicate how well GOP is making inroads with minorities.

Mitch McConnell Wants to See the Hemp Ban Go Up in Smoke

Elahe Izadi | February 1, 2013

Senate Republican leader says hemp production would create jobs, not encourage illegal drug use.

Immigration Debate May Grow More Complicated

Billy House and George E. Condon Jr. and Nancy Cook and Coral Davenport and Fawn Johnson and Margot Sanger-Katz and and Sara Sorcher | April 21, 2013

With Congress focused on immigration reform this week, the national security aspects of the issue are moving to the forefront amid efforts by some conservatives to inject the Boston Marathon bombing suspects into that debate.

NFL Linebacker Helping Veteran Lawmaker Tackle ‘Superbugs’

Christopher Snow Hopkins | March 14, 2013

Borrowing from her background in microbiology, Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., has made a signature issue out of battling “superbugs,” strains of bacteria that have mutated from overexposure to antibiotics and become resistant to the very drugs meant to block their growth.

Stopping Terrorism at the Source

Michael Hirsh | May 2, 2013

Two years ago, the Obama administration launched a plan to use American Muslims as an early-detection system to spot radicals. So why hasn’t it worked?

Rand Paul Gets Skeptical Hearing At Howard University

Elahe Izadi | April 10, 2013

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky took his message of GOP inclusion to historically black Howard University Wednesday, where he received a polite but tough reception.

7 Things to Know About Obama's Budget

Matthew Cooper | April 10, 2013

You’ll see a lot about the aggregate budget size of $3.8 trillion. But here are the things that are really worth knowing.

Chickening Out on Medicare

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 14, 2013

They agree the entitlement is in deep trouble. So why didn't pols cut as much as they could have?

How Baby Boomers Became Pro-Pot Legalization

Brian Fung | April 8, 2013

The debate over marijuana legalization tends to focus on seniors who use the drug for medicinal purposes. But what if the aging and the sick aren't really the cohort that will wind up deciding the issue?

Will George W. Bush Ever Get Historians on His Side?

Jill Lawrence | April 24, 2013

Truman and Eisenhower won belated respect, but they didn't have an Iraq problem.

The Pot Industry’s Most Politically Important Dispensary

Ben Terris | March 21, 2013

In the eyes of the federal government, there is no such thing as “medical marijuana.” But there’s a dispensary just blocks from the Capitol.

Rand Paul Stumbled at Howard, but He’s Still Reaching Out to the Black Community

Elahe Izadi | April 12, 2013

The Kentucky Republican sits down with students at a Christian, historically black college in his home state.

Wealthy Mexicans, Fleeing Violence, Infuse San Antonio's Economy

Next America Staff | March 8, 2013

Wealthy Mexican business executives, finding life in their homeland increasingly dangerous, are among a new wave of immigrants settling in major Texas cities, including San Antonio.

How Tamerlan Tsarnaev Might Have Been Stopped

Michael Hirsh | April 22, 2013

Did the Obama administration fail to follow up on Muslim community outreach programs?

The Way to Combat Terrorism

Ronald Brownstein | April 18, 2013

America can persevere by embracing diversity.

Why We Defend Terrorists

Brian Resnick | May 2, 2013

What is it like speaking up for those accused of horrendous crimes? Five attorneys who have stood by bomb plotters, detainees, and murderers explain.

Why Obama's Optimism on Health Costs Is Premature

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 14, 2013

The country has just experienced four straight years of slow health care growth, a trend with huge implications for the federal budget, wages, and many people’s out-of-pocket costs. But what’s causing the trend is unclear.

George W. Bush's Reluctant Re-Emergence on the Political Scene

Tom DeFrank | April 22, 2013

The ex-president is preparing to dedicate his library this week, but these days he's more interested in painting, golfing, and enjoying a life away from politics.

A New Budget for a New Party

Ronald Brownstein | April 11, 2013

Obama's fiscal proposal aligns him with the politics of minority, millennial, and college-educated voters.

Some Republicans Don’t Believe Austerity Is Enough

Nancy Cook | May 9, 2013

Strategists and wonks are urging House leaders to refocus their economic message on ideas that the middle class actually care about.

The Most Adorable Tax Break

Ben Terris | March 12, 2013

A tax break for Girl Scout Cookies shows how hard it can be to get rid of loopholes.

Why Rand Paul Was Right to Reach Out to Black Voters

Josh Kraushaar | April 10, 2013

It's political malpractice for the GOP to ignore the constituency that is critical to its long-term success.

Will Immigration Hawks Ever Think the Border Is Secure Enough?

Molly Ball - The Atlantic | February 22, 2013

El Paso is the safest city in the U.S., the Border Patrol is bigger than ever, and illegal crossings have reached a 40-year low -- among other surprising facts.

Recidivism, AIDS Infections Linked Among Black, Latino Men

Rosa Ramirez | December 4, 2012

People of color are disproportionally affected by AIDS and HIV — more than 70 percent of new HIV cases in 2010 were minorities — but some researchers now connect incarceration rates to new infections, particularly among black and Latino men.

The New Orleans Restaurant That Offers a Life-Changing Experience

Adam B. Kushner | April 8, 2013

Café Reconcile brings at-risk teens into the workforce—and serves the best red jambalaya in town.

Invasion of the Drones Has Senate Panel’s Attention

Sara Sorcher | March 20, 2013

Like it or not, drones are coming to American skies. Now Congress must find a way to protect the right to privacy.

How Americans View Mexico – In One Word

James S. Taylor and Mike Shannon | November 20, 2012

In 2008, Mexican president Felipe Calderón traveled to Washington to meet with then President-elect Barack Obama. Part of their discussion focused on the worrisome rise in anti-U.S. sentiment in Latin America, and Calderón urged his new U.S. counterpart to act quickly to address our nation's tarni...

Today's Influence Ads: Aerospace Industries Warn Against Sequestration

Erin Mershon | December 20, 2012

The Aerospace Industries Association put human faces on the "political games" afoot in Washington in a new ad Monday, reminding negotiators that sequestration would jeopardize national security with a chess-themed ad.

Healthy Benefits

Jerry Hagstrom | April 3, 2013

Nonprofit hospitals could reap credit for improving the eating habits of their patients and communities.

How 'House of Cards' Gets the Biggest Thing About Washington Wrong

Josh Kraushaar | February 13, 2013

Netflix's House of Cards gets the small things right but the biggest thing about Washington wrong.

Poll: Most Americans View Mexico Negatively

Matt Vasilogambros | November 19, 2012

As the newly elected Mexican president travels to Washington next week, a new survey released by consulting firm Vianovo on Monday underscores the startling challenges Mexico faces with its international image, especially in the U.S.

A Pair of Senators Clash Over GOP Direction

Beth Reinhard and Ben Terris | March 15, 2013

For a life-sized representation of the identity crisis that’s been plaguing the Republican Party since the 2012 election, look to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.

Senators Jab FDA Over Lethal Meningitis Outbreak

Meghan McCarthy | November 15, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration was the subject of tough criticism from Democrats and Republicans Thursday at a Senate panel investigating a deadly meningitis outbreak.

The GOP's Identity Crisis: Marco Rubio Versus Rand Paul

Beth Reinhard and Ben Terris and Elahe Izadi contributed to this report. | March 15, 2013

The two ambitious senators are already clashing over the Republican party's direction.

Poll: Christie Approval Remains High, But Not on the Economy

Dan Roem | February 7, 2013

Just over two weeks after a Quinnipac University poll pegged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's job approval rating at 74 percent, a new Rutgers-Eagleton poll reaffirmed that rating by giving the Republican a virtually identical approval mark of 73 percent. The leading Democratic challenger in the Nov...

Justice Sotomayor, Fighting for the Minority

Scott Bland | February 28, 2013

The Supreme Court justice's questioning in Voting Rights Act hearing shows she’s still concerned about impact of racial discrimination.

Sonia Sotomayor, Fighting in the Minority

Scott Bland | February 28, 2013

For all the attention paid to growing Hispanic influence on elections and a rising class of Hispanic political stars, the most influential Hispanic in American politics holds an unelected position. And as a major Voting Rights Act case demonstrated Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor seems eager to play – and even magnify – that leading role.

DesJarlais Divorce Testimony Released

Julie Sobel | November 15, 2012

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., may have made it through the general election despite October revelations that he pressured a former patient he was having an affair with to get an abortion. But -- especially in light of new information out today -- the pro-life doctor may not be so lucky next time....

Owner of Pharmacy Tied to Meningitis Outbreak Pleads Fifth

Meghan McCarthy | November 14, 2012

The co-owner of the Massachusetts pharmacy linked to a deadly outbreak of meningitis refused to answer lawmakers' questions Wednesday, claiming his right to not incriminate himself.

Prop 8 Challenger Ted Olson Was My Lawyer

Matthew Cooper | March 25, 2013

The conservative litigator takes his fight for same-sex marriage to the Supreme Court. What I learned about why he's such a fierce and clever advocate.

What Drones Can Do for You

Sara Sorcher | April 11, 2013

Prescription drugs, fast-food delivery, disaster relief—unmanned aerial vehicles can be handy in all sorts of ways.

Gun-Buyer Background Checks Both Effective and Politically Achievable

Fawn Johnson | January 10, 2013

Lawmakers are too focused on banning assault weapons. Improved access to information about potential gun owners could be more effective.

The Cost of Deportation in 10 Eye-Opening Figures

Rosa Ramirez | January 9, 2013

Immigration is expected to take center stage this year if President Obama gets his way, the Nation Journal reports. A new Migration Policy Institute report, "Immigration Enforcement in the United States: The Rise of a Formidable Machinery," raises some interesting facts on the state and costs of immigration enforcement.

DSCC Goes Up With First Wisconsin Ad

Julie Sobel | September 12, 2012

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee launched their first television ad of the cycle in Wisconsin, a spot that hits Republican nominee Tommy Thompson on going Washington and selling his "influence and connections." "Tommy Thompson went to Washington over a decade ago," says the ad's narra...

GAO: FDA Should Protect Medical Implants From Hackers

Josh Smith | September 27, 2012

Citing a new government watchdog report, three House Democrats want the Food and Drug Administration to better protect implantable medical devices from hackers.

How Ed Koch Remade Liberalism

Matthew Cooper | February 1, 2013

The late New York mayor wasn't just a character, but a transformational figure.

FDA Panel Recommends Allowing Pill to Prevent HIV Infection

National Journal Staff | May 10, 2012

An advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration has recommended for the first time that a drug be approved to prevent HIV infection, the Associated Press reports.

In the Center of the Gun-Control Debate, a Father of a Convicted School-Shooting Conspirator

Brian Resnick | January 16, 2013

In 2008, Joseph Nee was convicted of plotting a school shooting. Today, his father might have influenced the future of gun control.

A Contentious Week in Congress

February 4, 2013

CongressWhite HouseNational SecurityPoliticsEnergyEconomy & BudgetHealth Care TOP FIVE A HOT WEEK ON THE HILL. With the next fiscal showdowns looming, Democrats in the House and Senate are set to brainstorm on strategy at out-of-town retreats this week. But that’s not all. The Senate Intel...

Meningitis Hearings Set for This Week

Lara Seligman | November 12, 2012

Committees in both the House and Senate will hold separate hearings this week to examine the deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis associated with the New England Compounding Center that has so far killed 32 people and sickened 438.

Can a Senate Seat Remain All in the Family?

Alex Brown and Elahe Izadi | March 5, 2013

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., could be retiring, leaving the door open for his son to run.

Akin Tops Most Conservative Lawmaker List

February 20, 2013

CongressWhite HouseNational SecurityPoliticsEnergyEconomy & BudgetHealth Care TOP FIVE AKIN TOPS MOST CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKER LIST. Topping National Journal's annual list of the most conservative representatives in the House is former Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., who is perhaps best remembered for h...

'Most Liberal' Label Probably Won't Hurt Sen. Tom Udall

Scott Bland | February 19, 2013

With New Mexico voters shifting to the left, his 90.7 percent composite liberal score for 2012 will likely have little effect on his reelection bid next year.

The First Political Battleground Over Gun Control Is Between Democrats

Naureen Khan | February 16, 2013

As President Obama made his pitch for gun-control legislation Friday in his hometown of Chicago, the death toll in the Windy City continued its ceaseless climb. Chicago had the ignominious distinction of surpassing 500 homicides in 2012, and is on pace to exceed that number in 2013, with at least 50 committed so far in the first two months of the year. On Friday night, four people were shot -- one fatally -- within a 90-minute period in the city.

Why Hostage-Taking in West Africa Is a Lucrative Business

Matt Vasilogambros | January 18, 2013

“We will not negotiate with terrorists.” It’s a line cemented in pop culture, ingraining the idea that Western nations will not succumb to the demands of militants that hold their citizens. But that’s not always the case in Western Africa.

Why Lobbyists, Lawmakers of Lincoln's Time Look Familiar

Michael Catalini | November 20, 2012

Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, if you haven't already read Jill Lawrence's review, features the 19th century forebears of contemporary K Street.

FDA Bill Headed to White House

Mike Catalini | June 26, 2012

The Senate made the miracle final Tuesday night: Congress passed bipartisan health care legislation in the form of a major Food and Drug Administration bill.

Pentagon Would Cut Thousands of Jobs Under New Bill

Kellie Lunney, Government Executive | December 20, 2012

The Pentagon will have to shrink its civilian and contractor workforces by thousands of jobs during the next five years under a provision in the fiscal 2013 Defense authorization bill that House and Senate conference negotiators approved on Tuesday evening.

The 9 Biggest Cliches in State of the Union Addresses

Matthew Cooper | February 12, 2013

Peggy Noonan, James Fallows, Matt Latimer, Eli Attie, and others weigh in on the hack phrases to avoid.

Even Experts Can't Spot the Next Violent Shooter

Sophie Quinton | December 18, 2012

President Obama has sworn to use “whatever power this office holds” to try to prevent massacres like the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary from ever happening again. The national discussion has focused on two policy prescriptions: tighter restrictions on firearm sales and improving mental-health services. But it’s unclear whether assigning more federal money and attention to mental-health programs would have prevented Lanza’s rampage -- or whether Lanza's actions were in any way connected with his mental health.

NACDS Names Boylan Communications Director

Mike Catalini | June 19, 2012

Lisa Boylan, most recently the senior editor of the Epilepsy Foundation, will be the new communications director for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the group announced on Tuesday.

The Rocky Times of Obama and Karzai

Matt Vasilogambros | January 10, 2013

President Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are having lunch at the White House today for yet another frank discussion on America’s longest war.

PCMA Attacks Drugstore Lobby in Ad Campaign

Andrew Joseph | May 7, 2012

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association is out with a new ad campaign accusing the drugstore lobby of advocating for policies that will lead to higher prescription drug costs for employers. "It's the drugstore lobby vs. employers in the fight to reduce prescription drug costs," the ad says.Th...

Where Automatic Spending Cuts May Hit Hardest

Matt Vasilogambros | February 21, 2013

Here are some of the programs that would be pared as part of the sequester, according to a report by the White House Office of Management and Budget and letters from administration officials

Diversity Roundup: Texas Schools' Hispanic Populations Growing

Rosa Ramirez | August 31, 2012

The racial makeup that demographers say will occur in coming decades has already happened in some Texas schools; GOP risks being “relegated to being a minority party” for years if Republicans fail to make a connection with Latino constituents, a party leader says; Mexican drug cartels spread tentacles in U.S. cities; Undereducated people tend to have shorter lifespans, study shows.

Rep. Emerson Resigns

Billy House and Elahe Izadi | December 3, 2012

Rep. Emerson Resigns After 10 Terms in Congress.

Emerson Retiring to Head Up NRECA

Elahe Izadi and Billy House | December 3, 2012

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., will be stepping down from her seat in Congress to head up the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Only Way for Immigration Reform to Work? A Guest Worker Program

Tim Fernholz and Quartz | February 4, 2013

A guest-worker program would be "absolutely far and away the biggest determinant of the unauthorized immigrant population a few years from now," a senior development analyst says, regardless of a path to citizenship for those already in America.

After 8 Years, HHS Countermeasure Program Still a Work in Progress

Chris Schneidmiller, Global Security Newswire | September 19, 2012

A leading federal WMD defense program can cite significant successes in eight years of operations, but continues to face major complications and threats to its pool of funding.

Baldwin Ends Thompson's Winning Streak

Kevin Brennan | November 6, 2012

With her victory in the Wisconsin Senate race Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin made history on a number of fronts. Baldwin is the first woman elected to the Senate from the Badger State. After she's sworn in early next year, she will be the first openly gay senator in the country's history. And she is the first person to defeat former Gov. Tommy Thompson in an election in 33 years.

Second Woman Claims Affair With DesJarlais

Julie Sobel | October 28, 2012

A second woman has come forward saying she had an affair with Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., while he was her doctor, the Chattanooga Times Free-Press reports.

The Year in Scandals

Courtney McBride | December 27, 2012

Correction: A previous version of this post misidentifed the Menedez staff member who was arrested for stealing an opposing candidate’s signs while on loan to a local campaign. It was the assistant to his chief of staff. 2012 was not short on political scandals. Here's our rundown, from Desjarlai...

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