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Ready to Testify on Financial Stability, Lew Is Likely To Be Grilled on IRS Scandal

Catherine Hollander | May 20, 2013

The poor Financial Stability Oversight Council. It's likely this will be the second year in a row where testimony on the council's annual report turns into a grill-a-thon on the scandal du jour.

Where Are We on Too Big to Fail?

Catherine Hollander | May 17, 2013

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Why You Won’t Own Your Road

Fawn Johnson | May 16, 2013

Cash-strapped states such as Virginia are turning to the private sector to help finance large infrastructure projects.

The U.S. Is Not ‘Credit-Positive’

Stacy Kaper | May 16, 2013

If the debt-ceiling debate doesn’t bring real reform, says the S&P analyst in charge of grading government creditworthiness, get ready for another downgrade.

House to Tackle Student-Loan Rates

Fawn Johnson | May 12, 2013

House Republicans are preparing to pass legislation that would remedy, once and for all, the looming problem of student-loan interest rates.

'Obamacare' Repeal: Will the 37th Time Be the Charm?

Billy House and Nancy Cook and Coral Davenport and Fawn Johnson and Sara Sorcher and and George E. Condon Jr. contributed | May 12, 2013

With tensions over fiscal issues building, and the three-month suspension of the nation’s debt limit set to expire Sunday, lawmakers this week will be rehashing on the House floor their messaging war over repealing President Obama’s three-year-old health care law.

Congress Poised to Move on Farm Bill

Jerry Hagstrom | May 12, 2013

The atmosphere on Capitol Hill for the farm bill suddenly seems to be full speed ahead.

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.

Immigration Law May Be Tough on the Poor

Fawn Johnson | May 7, 2013

Don’t expect Congress to dive too deeply into the politically unforgiving topic of how the United States treats poor people as it begins debating immigration legislation. But that question is always lurking beneath the surface.

The Hottest Trend for Wealthy Do-Gooders

Sophie Quinton | May 7, 2013

The Rockefeller Foundation's Judith Rodin explains impact investing. But she warns: "This is not the solution to less government funding."

Marco Rubio: A Successful Salesman for Immigration Reform?

Rebecca Kaplan | May 5, 2013

Recess has been tough for Marco Rubio.

Two Completely Different Ways to Deal With the Upward-Mobility Crisis

Ronald Brownstein | April 25, 2013

Top economists from the Clinton and Bush administrations debate how to revive the economy to keep people from getting stuck.

Five Cool Innovations to Lift Workers Into the Middle Class

Sophie Quinton | April 25, 2013

From rent-subsidized apartments for single moms to an online medical clinic that saves $88 per diagnosis, American ingenuity works.

What If Oil Lasts Forever?

Charles C. Mann - The Atlantic | April 25, 2013

New technology and a little-known energy source suggest that fossil fuels may not be finite. This would be a miracle—and a nightmare.

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.

Get Ready To Be Taxed on Internet Purchases

Nancy Cook | April 22, 2013

The Senate is scheduled to debate the Internet sales-tax legislation this week. The bill is expected to pass.

Bob Corker Charts Leadership Course

Stacy Kaper | April 22, 2013

Sen. Bob Corker's independent voice on high-profile issues and scholarly devotion to studying policies he is interested in have made GOP leaders take notice of him and want to keep the Tennessee Republican close at hand — both to capitalize on his expertise and to watch his moves.

The Art and Agony of Oversight

Mike Magner | April 17, 2013

What many consider to be the golden age of congressional oversight can be summed up by a word coined but no longer heard much on Capitol Hill: “Dingell-gram.”

Crowdfunding Everything From Solar Panels to Veronica Mars

Sophie Quinton | April 17, 2013

A growing number of online companies help connect entrepreneurs and borrowers with investors and donors.

Explaining the Gender Gap On Gun Control

Elahe Izadi | April 12, 2013

Most women support strengthening gun laws, compared with fewer than half of men.

The O'Malley Factor

Ronald Brownstein | April 11, 2013

Can Gov. Martin O'Malley ride his Maryland success to the White House?

Has Obama Done Enough for Black Americans?

George E. Condon Jr. and Jim O’Sullivan | April 4, 2013

For many, this is still a land of unequal opportunity. A history-making president may not be enough.

When Corporations Are Hacked, Who Should Know?

Brian Fung | April 4, 2013

Companies hurt themselves—but help the rest of us—when they disclose cyberattacks.

Mary Schapiro and Lanny Breuer Give Us the Ultimate Dog-Bites-Man Story

Michael Hirsh | April 3, 2013

They failed to prosecute a single Wall Streeter over the 2008 disaster. Now it's home to mama.

Could Chuck Schumer Be Well-Set to Chair Senate Banking Committee?

Shane Goldmacher and Stacy Kaper | March 28, 2013

The departure of Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson after 2014 could set off a future chain of musical chairmanships. One of the leading contenders for the influential post is the chamber’s No. 3-ranking Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. Could the "senator from Wall Street" become the "chairman from Wall Street?"

Big Labor and Big Business Have One Big Issue: Immigration Reform

Fawn Johnson | March 26, 2013

It's a sign of the times: Immigration reform is now the number one issue for both the AFL-CIO and the Business Roundtable.

Short-Term Flexibility Won't Help Long-Term Impact of Sequestration

Nancy Cook | March 26, 2013

President Obama signed legislation on Tuesday to keep the government funded through the end of September and to give greater flexibility to a handful of agencies as they roll out the mandated across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration.

From Hoops to Harry Potter: Behind the Scenes of the Senate's All-Nighter

Shane Goldmacher and Nancy Cook | March 23, 2013

After four years of waiting, senators unleashed a torrent of budget amendments that pushed the vote-a-rama well into Saturday morning. No wonder everyone looked a little unhinged.

The One Word You Can't Say in Washington

Niraj Chokshi | March 21, 2013

Democrats agree on the need for stimulus. Just don't call it that.

What You Need to Know about Ben Bernanke's Evolving Views on Asset Bubbles

Catherine Hollander | March 20, 2013

Ben Bernanke isn’t seeing hints of irrational exuberance in the stock market.

DSCC Outraises NRSC 2-to-1

Alex Roarty | March 20, 2013

The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised nearly $2.2 million in February, according to numbers provided by the political committee, figures that will likely do little to quiet concern the group is struggling to raise money in the early going of the 2014 cycle. It was the second consecuti...

Fed Cautious About Economic Growth

Catherine Hollander | March 20, 2013

The Federal Reserve slightly downgraded on Wednesday its forecasts for growth in 2013. It now expects gross domestic product to rise between 2.3 percent and 2.8 percent, just a hair less than the 2.3 percent to 3.0 percent it expected in December.

Berman Joins Covington; Ambassador Returns

Mike Magner | March 18, 2013

Four new members have been appointed to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, which provides grants to projects that increase public access to historical records.

The Rightward March of the Republicans

Ronald Brownstein | March 14, 2013

Republicans in Congress were supposed to moderate their message. It's not happening.

Can a Pathetic Congress Really Pass Tax Reform?

Matthew Cooper | March 14, 2013

Despite all odds, some members of Congress still believe. NJ chats with one.

America's 3 Biggest Cybersecurity Vunerabilities

Matt Vasilogambros | March 13, 2013

The Obama administration has put cyberattacks at the top of the list of global threats, and concerns are rising about at-risk infrastructure.

The Washington Women Who Leaned In When Sheryl Sandberg Didn't

Michael Hirsh | March 12, 2013

They may not get the publicity, but these women have been ahead of Sandberg in leaning in against the most chauvinistic industry in America: Wall Street.

An Ingenious Business Model: Speak Spanish and Serve Immigrants

Sophie Quinton | March 12, 2013

For one North Carolina credit union, courting Latino immigrant members is a risk that pays off.

Deal in Sight to Keep the Government Open

Stacy Kaper | March 12, 2013

The House appears willing to accept the Senate's proposal to keep the government funded for the rest of the fiscal year, avoiding a protracted fight that could lead to a government shutdown by the end of the month.

The Economy Is Sluggish and Weighed Down by Washington's Gridlock. So Why Are Stocks Soaring?

Catherine Hollander | March 6, 2013

Wall Street is ebullient even as Main Street frets over its future. Here are some reasons for the surge in equity prices and some caveats about the gains.

What's Behind the Endless Delays on New Rules for Wall Street?

Catherine Hollander | March 6, 2013

Just over one-third of the roughly 400 required rule-makings under the Dodd-Frank financial-reform law have been finalized. Why the holdup?

The Stock Market Is Back! The American People...Not So Much.

Matt Phillips and Quartz | March 5, 2013

Since the bleakest hours of early 2009, the stock market has clawed, scampered and inched higher—with some notable slips. Now that venerable equity market metric—the Dow Jones Industrial Average—has summited 14,164.53, its all-time highest close last seen way back on Oct. 9, 2007.

How the House Holds the Senate GOP Hostage

Alex Roarty | March 3, 2013

Upper-chamber Republicans prefer a more circumspect approach, but they are increasingly defined by their hard-line House counterparts.

Does Ben Bernanke Care Too Much About Jobs?

Caren Bohan and Catherine Hollander | February 28, 2013

Critics say the Fed chair has tried so hard to get Americans back to work that he may cause another financial crisis.

McAuliffe, Bolling Trading Calls in Run-Up to Bolling's Decision

Dan Roem | February 26, 2013

ARLINGTON, Va. -- As Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling approaches his own March 14th deadline for making a decision about whether to enter the 2013 gubernatorial race as an independent, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe is doing everything he can to stay on Bolling's good si...

Could Bernanke's Testimony Signal an Early End to Easy Money?

Catherine Hollander | February 26, 2013

The Federal Reserve's balance sheet continues to grow. But for how long?

Few Know Jack Lew's Views on Big Bank Laws As His Confirmation Moves Through Senate

Nancy Cook | February 25, 2013

So far, the Senate proceedings on President Obama’s nominee for Treasury secretary, Jacob Lew, have been surprisingly free of political fireworks, which could pave the way for a confirmation vote by the end of the week.

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.

Can This Congress Be Saved?

Alex Roarty | February 21, 2013

National Journal’s annual vote ratings show a Congress as paralyzed and polarized as ever. But better days may lie ahead.

How Will Senate GOP Lead as Boehner Takes a Back Seat? Exploit the Process

Chris Frates | February 20, 2013

When Senate Republicans gathered at the Library of Congress earlier this month to plot strategy, they were joined by a special guest, John Boehner.

It's Been Almost 3 Years Since the Senate Passed a Major New Law

Molly Ball - The Atlantic | February 20, 2013

If you're wondering whether President Obama's ambitious second-term agenda has a chance to make it through Congress, that might be worth keeping in mind.

Key Votes Used to Calculate the Ratings

February 19, 2013

The 116 Senate votes and 116 House votes on which National Journal’s 2012 vote ratings are based.

6 (More) Reasons Why Americans Hate Washington

Ron Fournier | February 15, 2013

In a moment of eloquence almost unprecedented in the malapropistic career of Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader said Thursday, “Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse, it gets worse.”

Can Marco Rubio Live Up to the Hype?

Beth Reinhard and Scott Bland contributed | February 14, 2013

He's the GOP's Barack Obama, a fresh-faced politician with an immigrant name, a playlist full of rap, and a collection of fawning press clips. The challenge: He's selling the same old party message.

Nothing Big or Bold About Obama's State of the Union Address

Ron Fournier | February 12, 2013

For all his swagger and political capital, the president subtly acknowledged the limits of what he can accomplish--even while promising in his State of the Union address to create “a rising, thriving middle class.”

Full Text: President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Speech

National Journal Staff | February 12, 2013

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, fellow citizens:

Alex Sink Weighs Another Fla. Gov Run Against Rick Scott

Jordain Carney | February 12, 2013

Former Florida CFO Alex Sink hasn't decided whether to run for governor again in 2014. The 2010 Democratic nominee said Tuesday that she hasn't "ruled it out completely," adding that she will finalize her plans by the summer. Sink called a potential run "a big undertaking" and "a very personal deci...

Watchdog Finds Well-Oiled Revolving Door Linking SEC and Industry

Kristin Roberts | February 10, 2013

Former SEC employees routinely helped companies overseen by the securities regulator to influence rulemaking, soften enforcement actions, and secure exemptions from federal law, according to a report that will be released Monday by the Project On Government Oversight.

There’s No Such Thing as Political Capital

Michael Hirsh | February 7, 2013

The idea of political capital—or mandates, or momentum—is so poorly defined that presidents and pundits often get it wrong. With Obama’s State of the Union upon us, it’s time to rethink the term.

The Scary Truth About How Much Climate Change is Costing You

Coral Davenport | February 7, 2013

While policymakers fiddle, the threat of economic harm posed by rising sea levels, devastating storms, and drought is growing every day.

Ohio Dems: Don't Rule Cordray Out

Alex Brown | February 7, 2013

When Pres. Obama renominated Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, political observers -- including this one -- presumed it was safe to remove him from the list of potential challengers to Gov. John Kasich. In fact, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, the current Dem...

How Republicans Came to Love Automatic Spending Cuts

Major Garrett | February 5, 2013

Congressional Republicans work to prove they are tough enough to take the sequester.

The S&P Lawsuit: The Empire Strikes Back ... Sort Of

Michael Hirsh | February 5, 2013

The Justice Department’s lawsuit against the Standard & Poor’s ratings agency, announced Tuesday, may be overdue but at least it is happening.

Can Washington Break Its Addiction to Crisis Economics?

Nancy Cook | February 5, 2013

The country has lurched from one emergency to the next since 2007. Amid a rare lull, here's a modest plan of action for Congress and President Obama.

With New Support Base, Obama Doesn't Need Right-Leaning Whites Anymore

Ronald Brownstein | February 1, 2013

For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of the culturally conservative white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.

Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites

Ronald Brownstein | January 31, 2013

For decades, Democrats shaped their policies around fears of losing right-leaning white voters to the GOP. But Obama’s winning coalition has altered that calculus.

Harry Reid Puts His Legacy in the Hands of Others

Chris Frates | January 31, 2013

The Senate majority leader wants other leaders to handle the most controversial legislation.

Why Richard Cordray Re-Nomination Fight Won’t Be About Richard Cordray

Catherine Hollander | January 25, 2013

President Obama’s re-nomination of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reignites the battle that raged last year over the structure of the regulatory agency created under the landmark Dodd-Frank financial-reform law.

A 12-Step Program for the Republican Party

Tim Alberta and Jim O'Sullivan | January 24, 2013

The GOP has finally admitted it has a problem winning over voters. Here’s a 12-step program to get the party back on track.

Why the Vote to Suspend the Debt Ceiling Didn't End the Threat to the U.S. Economy

Nancy Cook | January 24, 2013

Delaying the fight could make matters worse if it just puts the economy in a holding pattern for the next several months.

Cordray Appointment Narrows Ohio Governor Field

Alex Brown | January 24, 2013

The field of potential Democratic challengers to Gov. John Kasich narrowed by one today, with news that President Obama is renominating Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. With Cordray out of the race, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald told the Columbus Dis...

Who Is Mary Jo White, Obama's Choice for Top Wall Street Cop?

Niraj Chokshi | January 24, 2013

The president nominates an outsider with an insider past to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Obama Signals Tougher Approach on Wall Street with SEC Pick

Caren Bohan | January 24, 2013

President Obama was accused by liberal critics of coddling Wall Street during his first term. His pick of Mary Jo White to head the Securities and Exchange Commission is a signal that he is ready to take a more confrontational approach toward the financial industry. The timing of the SEC selection—coming three days after his inaugural address in which he championed a progressive agenda and a willingness to fight for it—underscores that message.

After Taking on Terrorists, Can Mary Jo White Handle Tycoons?

Michael Hirsh | January 24, 2013

As U.S. attorney, she took down John Gotti and the “blind sheikh.” As head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, she would be hunting a different kind of game.

The High-Profile Cases of Mary Jo White, Obama's SEC Pick

Catherine Hollander | January 18, 2013

You've probably heard of some of Mary Jo White's clients--as well as those she prosecuted.

The Next Fiscal Showdowns That Could Ruin Us

Caren Bohan and Billy House | January 17, 2013

Both parties fantasize about a grand bargain. In the real world, they’ll be lucky to avoid a fiscal catastrophe.

The Next Treasury Secretary Doesn’t Trust Wall Street With His Own Money

Tim Fernholz and Quartz | January 16, 2013

Jacob Lew, the White House chief of staff whom President Obama nominated to replace Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary, is considered a change of pace for the department: He is known as a budget wonk and political fixer, not a financial-marketsr.

Q&A: Why Immigration Reform Is Key to the GOP's Survival

Beth Reinhard | January 11, 2013

Carlos Gutierrez, former Commerce secretary, sees dangers in Republicans taking a "piecemeal" approach to legalization.

What Treasury Secretary Jack Lew Needs to Do

Niraj Chokshi | January 11, 2013

If confirmed as the next Treasury secretary, White House Chief of Staff Jacob Lew will be tagging into an immediate three-round fight, with a long tournament ahead.

Carlos Gutierrez: GOP Needs Immigration Reform to Survive

Beth Reinhard | January 10, 2013

Carlos Gutierrez says the GOP needs immigration reform to survive.

Is Jack Lew A Friend to Wall Street?

Michael Hirsh | January 10, 2013

Like Tim Geithner, the new Treasury nominee may owe his views to Robert Rubin. So don't expect him to pursue much in the way of bank reform.

The $1 Trillion Platinum Coin Is As Good an Idea As FDR's Court-Packing

Matthew Cooper | January 4, 2013

A provocative idea has the Treasury secretary minting $1 trillion coins to pay off the debt. Ignore it.

The GOP's Failed 'Plan O': Inside the Fiscal-Cliff Saga

John Aloysius Farrell and Chris Frates and Nancy Cook and Billy House | January 2, 2013

This is the story of Plan O – the congressional Republicans’ failed attempt to meet the challenge of Obama’s victory. It begins in September and ends in the fiasco of the Christmas season, when Speaker John Boehner was repudiated by his own troops and had to pull his last, desperate solution from the House floor, leaving Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to cut the best deal he could with dramatically diminished leverage.

Fiscal Deal Would Only Set Stage For a New Year of Mini-Cliffs

Nancy Cook and Michael Catalini contributed | December 31, 2012

In the coming days, the Democrats will bill the deal as a historic win for the party by saying it broke the Republicans' no-new-tax orthodoxy. That is true, but the small-scale deal poses its own problems over the long run for the White House and congressional Democrats.

Biden May Be the Most Influential Vice President Ever

Michael Hirsh | December 31, 2012

But in a sign of just how important a figure the vice president has become in Washington, Biden’s absence until now has been one reason that Republicans doubted Obama’s seriousness about cutting a deal, my colleague Chris Frates reported last week.

Five Sleeper Issues Washington Could Face in 2013

Amy Harder and Stacy Kaper and Fawn Johnson and Coral Davenport and Catherine Hollander | December 31, 2012

The incoming Congress has big challenges ahead. But don’t be distracted by the bright shiny objects that are tax reform, entitlement reform, and maybe even gun control. There are some important issues for the U.S. economy and U.S. industries that could pop to the top of the agenda in 2013 and have widespread implications for Washington and the country.

Republicans Aim To Slash Dodd-Frank Reforms in 'Plan B'

Stacy Kaper | December 20, 2012

Beneath the fracas on the fiscal cliff fight, the Republicans' Plan B proposal would check off many items on the GOP’s financial services wish-list, gutting core pieces at the heart of the Dodd-Frank 2010 reform law and terminating one of the administration’s main housing relief programs, under the radar.

Jack Lew: The Man Who Could Save Obama's Legacy

Nancy Cook | November 1, 2012

Lew’s power has grown over less than a year as President Obama’s chief of staff—and he already has Republicans dreading a budget confrontation with him during the lame-duck session of Congress.

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