National Journal Topics | NationalJournal.com

Meet the Man Who Set Off the IRS Firestorm

Shane Goldmacher | 5:59 a.m.

All the attention this scandal has brought is new for him, but this inspector general has operated in the halls of power his entire career. He worked for Bob Dole and in President George H.W. Bush’s White House, and in between, he attended Harvard Law School alongside a young Michelle—soon-to-be Obama—Robinson.

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.

Virginia Republicans Panicking Over Their Choice for Lieutenant Governor

Beth Reinhard | May 21, 2013

Archconservative pastor E.W. Jackson isn't the running mate Ken Cuccinelli had in mind.

Republicans Are Watching Their Rhetoric on Obama Scandals

Michael Catalini | May 20, 2013

It's more likely to hear Nixon comparisons from Bob Woodward or Bob Schieffer than GOP leaders.

Explaining the Connection Between Obama's Health Care Law and the IRS

Michael Catalini | May 17, 2013

The agency will play a big role in implementing ObamaCare, a point Republicans are amplifying.

Why You Should Feel Sorry for the IRS

Nancy Cook | May 16, 2013

Employees there don’t just collect taxes. They also implement America’s social policy and regulate different kinds of groups—without the money, training, or staff to do so.

Eric Cantor’s Caucus Thwarts His Push for an Alternative Agenda

Norm Ornstein | May 16, 2013

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has learned, to his chagrin, that solving problems, much less finding compromises, is not on the agenda of a majority of his House Republican colleagues.

Poll: McAuliffe Holds Slight Lead in Va. Gov. Race

Sarah Mimms | May 16, 2013

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe has taken a slight lead over Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia's gubernatorial race, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday morning. McAuliffe leads Cuccinelli, 43 percent to 38 percent, with 17 perce...

Eric Cantor’s Caucus Thwarts His Push for an Alternative Agenda

Norm Ornstein | May 15, 2013

Readers of It’s Even Worse Than It Looks know that I have not always treated House Majority Leader Eric Cantor kindly. I have excoriated him for engineering the debt-ceiling crisis in 2011 as a hostage-taking exercise, and then blowing up the talks between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner that could have led to a grand bargain. Cantor himself recently took credit for the latter in a profile written by Ryan Lizza in The New Yorker. He told Lizza “that it was a ‘fair assessment’ that he talked Boehner out of accepting Obama’s deal. He said he told Boehner that it would be better, instead, to take the issues of taxes and spending to the voters and ‘have it out’ with the Democrats in the election. Why give Obama an enormous political victory, and potentially help him win reelection, when they might be able to negotiate a more favorable deal with a new Republican president? Boehner told Obama there was no deal. Instead of a grand bargain, Cantor and the House Republicans made a grand bet.”

Are Health Care Costs Healing Themselves?

Niraj Chokshi | May 15, 2013

A mysterious shift in health spending patterns could have major implications for the fiscal policy debate—if only experts could figure out what’s behind it.

Search for ‘Obamacare’ Funding Angers Lawmakers

Margot Sanger-Katz | May 14, 2013

With money and time running out to implement the president’s health care law, administration officials are looking for funding wherever they can find it—and angering members of Congress along the way.

Good News for Doctors and Budget Hawks

Catherine Hollander | May 14, 2013

The price tag for repealing a flawed Medicare doctors' pay formula will remain near a recent record low, according to a new estimate from the independent Congressional Budget Office released on Tuesday. It’s good news for the physicians and lawmakers who hope to see a permanent “doc fix” in 2013, and suggests the momentum behind achieving repeal is likely to continue this year.

How Much Big Insurance Paid a Small-Business Group to Fight a Premium Tax

Chris Frates | May 13, 2013

The nation’s leading health insurance industry group gave $850,000 to a top small-business trade association as part of a campaign to repeal a key provision of President Obama’s health care law, National Journal Daily has learned.

'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.

What Jay Carney Could Have Said About Benghazi and Those IRS Probes

George E. Condon Jr. | May 11, 2013

It is never a good week for a president when twice in seven days the political opposition is trying to liken your administration to that of Richard M. Nixon.

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.

Terry McAuliffe's Woman Problem

Jill Lawrence | May 8, 2013

If McAuliffe can't change his image as a Mad Men-era spouse, he will have to hope people go for policy over personality. Just like they did in South Carolina.

Mark Sanford's Sex Scandal Survival Guide

Beth Reinhard | May 7, 2013

The former governor violated all the rules of political comebacks, but he won a solidly-Republican seat anyway.

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.

A New Life For Chris Christie

Marc Ambinder | May 7, 2013

The political and psychological aftermath of weight-loss surgery -- the skinny from a journalist who's been there.

Weighty Politics: Why Haven't We Seen Heavier Presidents?

Elahe Izadi | May 7, 2013

Chris Christie said his weight-loss surgery was for personal reasons, not politics. But overweight politicians haven't made it to the White House for a long time.

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.

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 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.

Why No One’s Winning in Washington

Ronald Brownstein | May 2, 2013

Republicans needed to move to the center. The Democrats needed to fix the economy. Oh well.

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.

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 Isn't Boehner a Target in Congressional Elections?

Billy House | May 1, 2013

Democrats haven't gotten around to demonizing the House speaker the way Republicans have with Nancy Pelosi.

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

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 30, 2013

Medicare Part D had them, too.

Corbett Badly Trails Democrats in New Poll

Kevin Brennan | April 29, 2013

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett faces long odds in his reelection bid, and it might not matter which Democrat emerges as his opponent. A Quinnipiac University poll released Monday shows the Republican trailing all three of the Democrats tested against him by at least nine points, and the Keystone...

Explaining the GOP Split Over Repealing Obamacare

Michael Catalini | April 26, 2013

Cantor's approach blew up this week. Conservatives who want repeal might have the upper hand politically -- over Democrats, too.

The American Dream, Downsized

Amy Sullivan and Sophie Quinton contributed | April 25, 2013

The middle class now worries more about holding on for dear life than about climbing the ladder to riches.

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.

In the Aftermath of Gun-Bill Loss in Senate, Liberals Put Incumbent Democrats on Notice

Alex Roarty | April 25, 2013

After last week’s failed gun-control vote in the Senate, in which a handful of moderate Democrats defected from their party, a coalition of progressive groups is warning those at-risk incumbents to start avoiding votes that make them look too conservative.

Brian Schweitzer, the Great Progressive Hope?

Elahe Izadi | April 24, 2013

Montana's former Democratic governor is liberal on health care, but more conservative on guns.

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.

Schweitzer Considering Bid For Baucus Seat

Reid Wilson | April 23, 2013

Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus's decision to retire instead of seeking a seventh term further complicates Democratic efforts to keep control of the Senate -- unless the most popular Democrat in Montana decides to take a shot at the seat. Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is "leanin...

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.

The Psychology of a Boston Marathon Terrorist: 10 Questions for a Retired Marine

Elaine M. Grossman | April 19, 2013

“Terrorists are not psychotics or mentally disordered,” retired Marine Corps Reserve officer and criminal behavior expert G.I. Wilson said.

Pete Williams' Reporting Philosophy, And Why He's Getting Boston Right

Brian Resnick | April 19, 2013

In a recent interview, the longtime NBC justice correspondent summed up his reporting approach: "The essence of journalism is the process of selection."

Why Would Anyone Want to Run for Congress?

Shane Goldmacher | April 18, 2013

How both political parties seduce (and sometimes browbeat) ordinary citizens into seeking a position in the nation’s most despised club.

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.

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.

Why John McCain Is Barack Obama’s New Best Friend

Jill Lawrence | April 18, 2013

The two have their eyes on history as they transcend years of friction. The upshot could be good for the country.

Why the Senate Vote May Signal 2016 Problems for the Gun Lobby

Ronald Brownstein and Stephanie Czekalinski contributed | April 18, 2013

The outcome of Wednesday’s dramatic Senate vote on expanding background checks simultaneously demonstrated the difficult geography confronting gun-control advocates in the Senate and the potentially daunting math facing gun-rights proponents in the Electoral College.

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.

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.

Karen Nelson, Deputy Minority Staff Director on Health, Full Committee

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 17, 2013

For more than 30 years, Karen Nelson has been the Democrats’ go-to health aide on Rep. Henry Waxman’s staff.

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.

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.

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.

Time Looks Right for Permanent ‘Doc Fix’

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 17, 2013

Since 1997, when Congress passed legislation with the dreaded “sustainable growth rate” formula, the problem of how to compensate doctors who treat Medicare patients has been a perennial issue before the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Congress as a whole.

Doctors Badly Want a Prescription for SGR

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 17, 2013

The sustainable growth rate formula that’s used for physician reimbursement under Medicare has been the top priority for doctors’ lobbies for years. The prospect of a permanent “doc fix” matters to them tremendously because it means certainty for physicians who have grown weary of worrying about looming pay cuts year after year.

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.”

11 Things We Learned About Rand Paul at Breakfast

Shane Goldmacher | April 17, 2013

Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican and potential GOP candidate for president, chatted with reporters over scrambled eggs and sausage at a breakfast event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor on Wednesday. Here is what we learned.

Ricin Letter Adds To Anxiety on the Hill

Billy House and Stacy Kaper | April 16, 2013

Amid an already edgy state of alert in Washington following Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon, law enforcement officials confirmed on Tuesday that they were also investigating whether an envelope containing the poison ricin was intended to harm Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

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.

Experts Skeptical Homegrown Terrorists Were Behind Boston Bombings

Matt Vasilogambros | April 16, 2013

While officials are still investigating who was behind the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon, President Obama made it clear on Tuesday that authorities are still unclear whether domestic or foreign actors are responsible for the attack.

Lawmakers Seek Answers on Boston Attacks

Stacy Kaper and Billy House and Rebecca Kaplan contributed. | April 16, 2013

Congress is asking lots of questions and getting few answers so far about the Boston attack.

In Boston, a Rare Tragedy

Michael Hirsh | April 15, 2013

Because of the FBI's police work, attacks like Monday's Boston Marathon bombing have been uncommon since 9/11.

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.

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.

The O'Malley Factor

Ronald Brownstein | April 11, 2013

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

It's Easy to Fix Social Security

Nancy Cook | April 11, 2013

Unlike Medicare and Medicaid, it's simple arithmetic. If only the politics added up.

Why Those Wellness Programs Don't Work

Margot Sanger-Katz | April 11, 2013

Obama's workplace health incentive was supposed to save money and make you fit. Instead it penalizes the poor.

Obama's Mixed Message on Austerity

Michael Hirsh | April 11, 2013

His Treasury secretary lectures Europe on the perils of thriftiness while his own budget agenda is driven by cuts.

How Pat Toomey Became the Face of the Blue State GOP

Alex Roarty | April 11, 2013

The senator from Pennsylvania could have followed Rick Santorum. Instead, he's moving to the center on guns and gay rights.

Poll: Which Senate Seats Are Likeliest to Flip?

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | April 11, 2013

Insiders say those of Democrats Tim Johnson and Jay Rockefeller are the most vulnerable.

Poll: Is It Politically Advantageous for Obama to Cut Medicare and Social Security?

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | April 11, 2013

Insiders from both parties say it is, though more Democrats are skeptical.

Obama's Budget Garners Anger From All Sides

Nancy Cook | April 11, 2013

Roughly 24 hours after the White House released its budget, liberal Democrats were furious about its so-called chained CPI provision, which would change the cost-of-living calculation for federal benefits like Social Security. Meanwhile, Republicans were criticizing President Obama's fiscal 2014 blueprint for not going far enough on its tweaks to Medicare and other cuts.

Proposed 'Sin Tax' on Cigarettes Sparks Hope for Preschools

Cory Bennett | April 11, 2013

But given the partisan climate and belt-tightening rhetoric in Washington, not to mention tobacco lobbyists, implementation will be a slog.

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.

Changing Sides on Medicare and Social Security Is a Time-Honored Tactic

Jill Lawrence | April 11, 2013

That's especially true for Republicans, and for Greg Walden in particular.

The Upside of Obama's Tobacco Tax Hike

Niraj Chokshi | April 11, 2013

Obama's proposed tobacco tax hike could do even more good than his budget gives it credit for. Here’s how.

George W. Bush Underwent Back Surgery, Spent January Recuperating

Tom DeFrank | April 11, 2013

43rd president now in good health as he prepares for library dedication.

Play of the Day: Look Out, Iranian Military Cats. The Navy Has a Laser.

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | April 11, 2013

Fast forward to 4:00 to see Colbert question the efficacy of the laser in Iran.

Tough Gun Votes Could End Careers on Capitol Hill

Jill Lawrence | April 11, 2013

TARP, taxes, Obamacare, and guns have been blamed for scores of defeats in the last 20 years.

Progressives Fight Obama on Entitlements with Eye on 2014

Rebecca Kaplan | April 10, 2013

For progressive Democrats in Congress, a fight with President Obama over the inclusion of cuts to Social Security in his budget proposal may be just a warm-up for the real looming battle: the 2014 midterms.

Is the GOP Preparing to Attack Dems on Social Security?

Alex Roarty | April 10, 2013

Are Republicans preparing to cudgel Democrats with, of all things, Social Security? That was the explicit impression left by Greg Walden, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, during a Wednesday interview on CNN. The Oregon congressman said President Obama's budget – which...

The Real Budget Action Won't Come Until Tonight's Dinner With the GOP

Nancy Cook | April 10, 2013

Contrary to popular belief, the real budget action on Wednesday won’t begin until the early evening, when 12 Republican senators are scheduled to arrive at the White House for a private dinner with the president.

Is Obama’s Budget Gamble Thawing the GOP?

Stacy Kaper | April 9, 2013

President Obama’s decision to include in his budget proposal cuts to Social Security and Medicare—two entitlement programs central to the Democratic base—has set off a fierce debate in Washington about whether the White House strategy will prove to be shrewd or a giant mistake.

GOP Health Experts Agree: Don't Count on 'Obamacare' to Fail

Jill Lawrence | April 8, 2013

Is the Obama administration totally bungling implementation of its signature universal health care law? The White House gets some surprising backup from top health officials from two GOP administrations.

Agenda Is Stacked for Return of Congress; Obama Will Pile on More With His Budget

Billy House and George E. Condon Jr. and Nancy Cook and Coral Davenport and Fawn Johnson and Margot Sanger-Katz and and Sara Sorcher contributed | April 7, 2013

The prospects for renewed talks on a long-term deficit-reduction deal reach a pivotal point this week with the release Wednesday of President Obama’s budget plan, which offers cuts to Social Security and Medicare in the hope of softening Republican opposition to tax hikes.

America's Chronic Disease

Michael Hirsh | April 5, 2013

The American economy is more than ever like a chronically ill patient suffering from a mysterious wasting disease that physicians would call “idiopathic” (a fancy term that means they have no idea what’s causing it).

With Morning-After Pill Ruling, the FDA Gets What It Wanted All Along

James Hamblin - The Atlantic | April 5, 2013

A federal judge ruled this morning that emergency contraception should be available without prescription to women of all ages, calling years of delays in making it so "intolerable."

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.

House Republicans Map Out Strategy for Debt-Ceiling Battle

Nancy Cook | April 4, 2013

When the House Republicans return from recess next week, one of their top priorities will be charting out the next fiscal battle—the debt ceiling.

Why the Culture Wars Now Favor Democrats

Ronald Brownstein | April 4, 2013

Gay marriage, gun control, immigration—the wedge issues now divide Republicans.

5 Controversial Measures From GOP Legislatures and Why They Matter

Michael Catalini | April 4, 2013

Democrats plan to take advantage of controversial laws in the states to attack Republicans.

Healthy Benefits

Jerry Hagstrom | April 3, 2013

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

Chris Christie's Popularity With Women Voters Thwarts Female Opponent

Beth Reinhard | April 3, 2013

To have a chance at defeating the popular governor, Democrats need to create a gender gap--fast.

South Carolina Special Election Will Be High-Profile but Have Little National Significance

Alex Roarty | April 2, 2013

There's little reason to believe this off-year fight between Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch and Republican Mark Sanford will carry with it important political lessons.

Play of the Day: Egg Rolls and Panda Mating

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | April 2, 2013

Fast forward to 3:10 to learn what surprising things an overzealous kid found at the White House Sunday.

Why the Obama Administration’s Novel Medicaid Idea Might Not Catch On

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 29, 2013

The promise of a private option for Medicaid expansion excited GOP politicians. But new rules are likely to dampen their enthusiasm.

There’s Nothing to Fear But the Debt Itself

Niraj Chokshi | March 28, 2013

Quick, which segment of federal spending will grow fastest from 2015 through 2021? Did you guess Medicare? If you did, you’d be wrong.

The Secret Republican Plan to Repeal 'Obamacare'

Chris Frates | March 27, 2013

Mitch McConnell knows how to unwind Obamacare. And he doesn't think it's too late to do it.

Why Waiting on the States Could Create a Messy Future for Same-Sex Marriage

Ronald Brownstein | March 27, 2013

In two big cases this week, the justices were hesitant to impose a national standard on gay marriage. But history shows that leaving the issue to the states could leave a long-lasting patchwork.

Why 1 Gay-Rights Activist Doesn't Want a Broad Supreme Court Decision Now

Matt Vasilogambros | March 27, 2013

Following the first day of oral arguments before the Supreme Court, some gay-rights activists fear the justices seemed hesitant to rule broadly on the constitutional right for same-sex marriage. But one activist says that might be fine for now.

Poll Shows Cuccinelli, McAuliffe Still Tied After Bolling's Exit

Kevin Brennan | March 27, 2013

In the first public poll released since Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announced he wouldn't mount an independent bid to be Virginia's next governor, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe remain locked in a tight, head-to-head race. Nearly all publi...

Your Guide to Today's Supreme Court Prop 8 Hearing

Alexander Abad-Santos - The Atlantic Wire | March 26, 2013

No more politicians switching sides. No more talk of what the polls mean. The long-awaited gay-marriage arguments at the Supreme Court have arrived, and the stakes are high for the most important civil-rights cases before the nation's highest court in years.

Could Overturning Gay-Marriage Bans Help the GOP?

Elahe Izadi | March 26, 2013

Taking the politically tough issue off the table would benefit the Republican Party.

Halligan's Withdrawal Is a Victory for GOP and Gridlock

James Oliphant | March 22, 2013

Obama loses the battle to get his pick onto a court considered an on-ramp to the Supreme Court.

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.

On the Move: March 23, 2013

Christopher Snow Hopkins and Mike Magner | March 21, 2013

Kelly Nallen is American Crossroads' new director of digital. Former Hillary Clinton collaborator Kris Balderston is a senior partner at Fleishman-Hillard. Onetime DeLay policy director Juliane Sullivan heads the House Education and the Workforce staff.

Obamacare Is a Prescription for a Democratic Headache in 2014

Alex Roarty and Beth Reinhard | March 21, 2013

With key provisions of "Obamacare" set to take effect in 2014, both parties are assessing the potential political fallout from the seismic changes coming to our health care system.

The Man Who Could Turn Texas Blue: Rick Perry

Ronald Brownstein | March 21, 2013

By opposing Medicaid expansion, the governor could hurt the GOP in a must-win state.

Picking Up a Diagnosis With Your Doritos

Sophie Quinton | March 21, 2013

With retail clinics at a growing number of neighborhood convenience stores, you may not have to wait for a doctor's appointment.

Mike Honda's Full-Bore Campaign Rolls On

Scott Bland | March 21, 2013

Rep. Mike Honda is not messing around. The California Democrat's campaign released an internal poll Thursday showing him with 57 percent support in a hypothetical open primary matchup against Republican Evelyn Li, his 2012 opponent, and potential Democratic challenger Ro Khanna.

The GOP Disconnect on Economic Policy

Nancy Cook | March 20, 2013

The RNC may want to send a few extra copies of the election postmortem to Capitol Hill. Judging by the budget blueprints put forth by congressional Republicans, they didn’t get the memo.

Public Opinion Stays Static on Affordable Care Act

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 20, 2013

In the three years since the Affordable Care Act became law, it has become fodder for campaign ads and the subject of a high-profile Supreme Court challenge, while news analysts have endlessly debated and dissected it. None of that has had any effect on public opinion.

Obamacare at Age 3: Still Too Young for Prognosis

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 19, 2013

Most major components of the Affordable Care Act don't go into effect until next year.

GOP Poll Shows Pryor's Favorability Plummeting

Sarah Mimms | March 19, 2013

Club for Growth Action and the Senate Conservatives Fund released results of a new poll Tuesday that shows a significant drop over the past two months in how Arkansas voters view Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor, a top Republican target in 2014. Pryor's favorability in the state has plummeted 28 points i...

Why the Trader Joe's Model Benefits Workers--And the Bottom-Line

Sophie Quinton | March 18, 2013

Companies that invest in higher salaries for low-level employees find success in a competitive market.

House GOP Committee's New Budget Plan: Faster, Deeper Cuts

Tim Alberta and Nancy Cook | March 18, 2013

The Republican Study Committee's new plan balances the federal government in just 4 years, whereas Paul Ryan’s balances it in 10.

GOP Can't Win Latinos Over Immigration

Matthew Cooper | March 17, 2013

Earlier this winter, Ann Coulter brought her usual light touch to the question of the Hispanic vote. The author of Godless: The Church of Liberalism argued in a column that Republicans who support immigration reform in an effort to court Latinos are wasting their time. “It’s not clear that amnesty wins any Hispanics,” Coulter wrote, “apart from the ones who can’t vote (because they’re illegal) and their ethnic ‘spokesmen,’ whose power increases as the Hispanic population grows.” Hispanics gravitate toward Democrats, she insisted, because they believe in more government, and no immigration courtship will seduce them.

At CPAC, Conservatives Downplaying the Culture Wars

Elahe Izadi and Beth Reinhard contributed | March 15, 2013

Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels controversially called for a social truce at CPAC in 2011. Now other conservatives are taking his advice.

Nondefense Slice of Domestic Spending on Track to Hit 50-Year Low

Niraj Chokshi | March 15, 2013

Both the Senate Democratic and House Republican budgets project funding for things like welfare programs and government operations will reach a 50-year low as a share of economic activity.

The Weird Time Warp of the George W. Bush White House Website

Brian Resnick | March 15, 2013

Step back in time to a era where the Affordable Care Act was a laughable dream, when No Child Left behind was touted by the White House, when Barack Obama was not president of the United States.

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.

The Great Party Paradox

Ronald Brownstein and Stephanie Czekalinski | March 14, 2013

A year of surveys shows that Americans don't line up consistently behind Republicans or Democrats -- but like a little of each.

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?

There's New Hope for a Grand Bargain

Nancy Cook | March 14, 2013

Amid the hot air in Washington comes the whiff of compromise.

Republicans Can't Win Latinos With Immigration Reform

Matthew Cooper | March 14, 2013

From big government to gay rights, America's fastest-growing demographic bloc aligns with Democrats.

Republican Insiders Doubt a Grand Bargain Will Be Reached

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | March 14, 2013

But then again, so do Democrats. Plus: Neither party expects to gain much much politically from the upcoming budget process.

The Rightward March of the Republicans

Ronald Brownstein | March 14, 2013

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

At CPAC, Ken Cuccinelli Moves to the Center

Beth Reinhard | March 14, 2013

Virginia's Republican candidate for governor tacks to the middle in speech to conservative activists.

In New Budget, Senate Democrats Offer Alternative Political Vision

Nancy Cook | March 13, 2013

For the first time since 2009, Senate Democrats on Wednesday introduced a budget resolution, which promised to stabilize the debt over the next decade and raise new revenue and cut spending in equal parts.

GOP Aide: Obama's 'Using Us As Props'

Chris Frates and Billy House and Tim Alberta and and Amy Harder contributed | March 13, 2013

President Obama continued his goodwill tour this week with stops at the Capitol to meet with House and Senate Republicans.

Obama's Pope Francis Challenge: Appoint a New Ambassador to the Vatican

Brian Resnick | March 13, 2013

How that appointment might come to define the U.S.-papal relationship.

House Republican Budget Offers More of the Same

Nancy Cook | March 12, 2013

By unveiling a budget blueprint that would erase the deficit in just 10 years, House Republicans sought on Tuesday to make that goal the gold standard and bare minimum for all future budget battles between the two parties.

Washington Gets Back to Its Day Job

Major Garrett | March 12, 2013

After years of busting its deadlines, Washington rediscovers what matters with the latest round of budgets.

Paul Ryan's Budget, Simplified: Save the Rich, Spare the Old, Forget the Poor

Derek Thompson - The Atlantic | March 12, 2013

It balances the budget! But it solves our income inequality problem like a flamethrower solves a house fire.

What Paul Ryan's New Budget Means for Health Care

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 12, 2013

No Medicare changes for 10 years. Big Medicaid cuts right away. And a kind-of-sort-of Obamacare repeal.

Ashley Judd Is a 30-Second Ad Waiting to Happen

Jill Lawrence | March 12, 2013

A Judd-McConnell Senate match would be catnip for the media and raw meat for the GOP. Democrats might have less fun.

House GOP Confident on Paul Ryan’s Medicare Plan

Alex Roarty | March 11, 2013

The House Budget Committee chairman’s plan to balance the federal budget in 10 years would have been, until recently, cause for House Republicans to fret. But emboldened by last year’s elections, the House GOP believes it can adopt his new proposal and avoid backlash at the same time.

Paul Ryan's Obamacare Repeal Fantasy

Jill Lawrence | March 11, 2013

Even with Obama in the White House until 2017, the Wisconsin Republican's new budget relies on repealing most of the Affordable Care Act.

Dueling Budget Plans Help Define Both Parties

Nancy Cook | March 10, 2013

By the middle of this week, Americans will once again be plunged into the wildly different world views of Republicans and Democrats as the two parties release competing budget proposals within hours of one another.

Citizenship Isn't Always Foremost What Undocumented Workers Want

Fawn Johnson | March 8, 2013

They just want to do their jobs, cash their paychecks, and be left alone. Here's a view of the immigration debate from the kitchen of your favorite restaurant.

What Ashley Judd Could Learn From Al Franken

Elahe Izadi | March 8, 2013

The actress is taking lessons from the Minnesotan's celebrity-campaign playbook.

What Undocumented Workers Really Want

Fawn Johnson | March 7, 2013

It's not always citizenship. They just want to do their jobs, cash their paychecks, and be left alone. A view of the immigration debate from the kitchen of your favorite restaurant.

Why the Republican Plan to Reform Medicare Could Really Make It More Expensive

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 7, 2013

Republicans like Paul Ryan want more market competition in federal health care programs. Trouble is, those plans don't save money.

Why the Senate Democrats' Budget Will Be Vague

Nancy Cook and Margot Sanger-Katz | March 7, 2013

The fewer specifics they offer, the less political ammunition there will be for the GOP to use against them.

The Real Budget Battle

Tim Alberta and Stacy Kaper | March 7, 2013

In Washington, all financial skirmishes lead to the same place.

Opinion: Why the U.S. AIDS Epidemic Is a Fight for All Americans

Martha Cameron | March 7, 2013

An advocate living with HIV talks about the epidemic in the U.S. and the alarmingly rising rates of HIV infections among the African-American community.

Rand Paul and Washington's Night of Hypocrisy

Matthew Cooper | March 7, 2013

Rand Paul’s filibuster was surprising, compelling, and a perfect window into Washington’s hypocrisy.

House Budget Chairman's Track Record on Medicare Belies His Rhetoric

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 6, 2013

Paul Ryan's plans for current seniors in Medicare are not much different from President Obama's.

The Obama Administration's Super-Expensive, Legally Dubious Medicaid Plan

Margot Sanger-Katz | March 5, 2013

Arkansas is a test case for a new privatization plan that could win support from GOP politicians in other states.

Republicans Need to Think for Themselves, Even in Election Years

Jill Lawrence | March 4, 2013

Fixing the GOP would be a lot easier if its officeholders would stop trying to spot potential purer-than-thou primary opponents over their right shoulders.

Previewing the Sunday Shows

Christopher Peleo-Lazar | March 1, 2013

With President Obama and congressional Republicans unable reach a deal to avoid budget sequestration, both parties will send representatives to the Sunday Shows to discuss the impact of the cuts and cast blame. Speaker John Boehner will give the House GOP's perspective on Meet the Press, while Dire...

Rep. Allyson Schwartz Steps Down as DCCC Fundraiser

Shane Goldmacher | February 28, 2013

Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., is stepping down as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's chief fundraiser. She will be replaced by Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., a former Goldman Sachs executive.

The Supreme Court Seems Ready to Send Voting Rights Issue to Congress

Matthew Cooper | February 27, 2013

The justices seem certain to strike down or change the Voting Rights Act. What Congress and President Obama might do.

Grover Norquist: George W. Bush Said He Would Have Backed Cliff Deal

Amy Harder | February 25, 2013

Former President George W. Bush told Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that he would have supported the fiscal-cliff deal that McConnell struck with Vice President Joe Biden late last year, antitax advocate Grover Norquist told National Journal Daily on Monday.

Why Medical Providers Don't Mind the Sequester

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 21, 2013

A grand bargain to reduce the budget deficit would sting health care providers. The sequester, by contrast, won’t really hurt.

Florida Governor's Embrace of Medicaid Money Undercuts GOP Attacks on 'Obamacare'

Beth Reinhard and Margot Sanger-Katz | February 21, 2013

Republicans who seemed united against "Obamacare" just two years ago suddenly find some prominent party leaders taking a different tack.

The Young and the Powerless

Ronald Brownstein | February 21, 2013

Social Security and most of Medicare are exempt from automatic spending cuts. That means the sequester falls hardest on America's youth.

Tom Udall Ties as Most Liberal Senator of 2012

Scott Bland | February 21, 2013

Not so long ago, being labeled the "most liberal senator" might have been a problem for Sen. Tom Udall.

Rick Scott Agrees to Medicaid Expansion, Despite Criticism of Health Care Law

Jordain Carney | February 20, 2013

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a long-time critic of Pres. Obama’s health care law, announced on Wednesday evening that the state would support a three-year Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. "I was a strong advocate for better ways to run health care,” Scott said during a press confer...

'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.

Poll: Markey Starts With Small Massachusetts Primary Lead Over Lynch

Steven Shepard and Kevin Brennan | February 15, 2013

Massachusetts Democrats tried to clear the field for Rep. Edward Markey in the special election to succeed Secretary of State John Kerry in the Senate, but a new poll released Friday shows Markey with only a slight lead over Rep. Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary. The WBUR-FM poll, conducted...

Voting Rights Act Faces a Supreme Test

Matthew Cooper | February 14, 2013

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority may modify a key part of the Voting Rights Act. But it’s unlikely to eviscerate it.

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.

Full Text: Marco Rubio's 2013 State of the Union Response

National Journal Staff | February 12, 2013

The Office of Speaker Boehner released a transcript of Marco Rubio's State of the Union speech (as prepared for delivery). Read the full text of the rebuttal below:

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:

Live Blogging the State of the Union Address

Niraj Chokshi and Brian Fung | February 12, 2013

10:40.Florida Senator Marco Rubio takes a break from delivering the Republican response to take a drink of water… 10:38. Rubio said that the economy shrank during the last three months of 2012. And, according to the government’s first read, it did. But first reads are almost always revised, a...

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.

The Math Behind the GOP Goal of Balancing the Budget in 10 Years

Nancy Cook | February 8, 2013

The plan spearheaded by Paul Ryan could prove to be an ingenious move for his party — or a disaster.

Why Governors Could Teach Washington a Lesson

Michael Catalini | February 8, 2013

Despite the inactivity in the nation’s capital, states are taking the lead in passing consequential legislation that could end up impacting the debate in Washington.

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.

Why the GOP's Resistance to Medicaid Expansion Is Eroding

Ronald Brownstein | February 7, 2013

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer wants her state to join the expansion, key to Obama's health care reform. Will other Republican governors follow suit?

Iowa Report: Braley Running for Senate

Alex Brown | February 7, 2013

Iowa Democrats have their man. Confirming what many in the state expected following Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin's retirement announcement, Rep. Bruce Braley is telling supporters today he's running for the seat, the Quad-City Times reports. From the Times: Braley is sending the news in an email to...

Why Republicans Are Getting Antsy Over Ashley Judd

Michael Catalini | February 6, 2013

Actress Ashley Judd hasn't declared if she'll challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in next year’s Kentucky Senate race. But from the way Republicans are acting, they sound a little bit jumpy about the prospect of her campaign.

Prospects Improve for a Permanent Medicare 'Doc Fix'

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 6, 2013

The Congressional Budget Office just handed the doctors and lawmakers eager to fix a longstanding Medicare-physician pay problem a big gift.

Budget Office Predicts Rocky Start for Health Care Law

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 6, 2013

The Obama administration has been publicly upbeat about the coming rollout of its health care law, but the CBO takes a more pessimistic view.

Louisiana, the Super Bowl of Politics

Michael Catalini | February 4, 2013

New Orleans was the center of the football world Sunday night, hosting its first Super Bowl since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city. But it also provided a platform for a series of ambitious Louisiana politicians — Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu — to showcase their governing aptitude in preparation for bigger campaigns ahead.

Hotline's Last Call!

February 1, 2013

Pres. Obama tells religious nonprofits they don't have to cover contraception; Sec/State Hillary Clinton officially resigns; ex-Sen. Scott Brown (R) says he won't run in MA SEN special; and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) may have rethink his position on guns ... as we bid farewell to The Hotline's Last Call!

You Can Thank the Health Care Industry for the Economic Recovery

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 1, 2013

Happy about the country’s shrinking unemployment rate? You have the health care industry to thank.

What I Learned Covering Hillary Clinton

Ron Fournier | February 1, 2013

I stopped betting against Hillary Rodham Clinton 23 years ago when I watched her crush one man’s ambitions to preserve her husband’s.

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.

A Boy Scout Rebel Who Accepted Gays in 1992 Is About to Be Vindicated

Brian Resnick | January 31, 2013

21 years ago, Scoutmaster Michael Cahn made a bold challenge to the Scouts' orthodoxy. Now, the change he called for could be happening.

Why No Democrat Wants to Run Against Chris Christie in New Jersey

Elahe Izadi | January 29, 2013

In heavily-Democratic New Jersey, party leaders can't find anyone willing to take on Gov. Chris Christie.

Harkin Retiring from Senate

Josh Kraushaar | January 26, 2013

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin will be retiring after his term ends in 2014, the Associated Press reports, a decision that sets up another competitive battleground state Senate contest and a potential pickup opportunity for Republicans.

Sarah Palin Leaving Fox News

Christopher Peleo-Lazar | January 25, 2013

The Sarah Palin experiment at Fox News is officially over after three years. A Fox News spokesperson confirmed on Friday that the network has parted ways with the 2008 vice presidential nominee. Palin's contract was due to expire this month, and it isn't clear what's next for the former Alaska gover...

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.

We Need to Talk About Mental Health Even If It's Only a Sideshow to the Gun Control Debate

Fawn Johnson | January 24, 2013

Even if Republicans focus on mental health as a way to shy away from addressing new gun laws, the attention to treatment and research is welcome.

Opinion: Obama’s Electoral Coalition Is Now His Policy Coalition

Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais | January 24, 2013

As demonstrated in the exit polls and rehashed in countless articles since the election, Barack Obama’s decisive reelection victory was a triumph for a still-emerging, majority Democratic Obama coalition, which we said in a pair of preelection Next America articles would define a new civic ethos, or consensus on the role of government, for the nation.

Boehner, Pelosi Reappoint Board of Ethics Watchdog

Billy House | January 16, 2013

The independent Office of Congressional Ethics officially received the green light Wednesday to continue its watchdog work.

At Retreat, House Republicans Hope to 'Turn Things Around'

Billy House | January 16, 2013

Will motivational speeches from the CEO of Dominos Pizza and the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest help House Republicans in an effort to use adversity to their advantage and turn things around in Washington?

Another Democrat Passes On McConnell Challenge

Sarah Mimms | January 15, 2013

Despite polls showing him potentially vulnerable, some of the Democrats' best-known prospects against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell don't sound all that interested in running against him.

Iowa Dem Chair: Harkin Likely To Run Again

Alex Brown | January 15, 2013

With indications this week that Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, might be leaning toward a re-election bid, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky told Hotline On Call she thinks it's unlikely he will vacate his seat in 2014. "The indications -- the fundraising indications, the chatter, indicates to me th...

It's Not Just Partisanship That Divides Congress

Ronald Brownstein and Scott Bland | January 10, 2013

The same demographic trends that helped Republicans keep the House will hurt their shot at the presidency. And the trends that propelled Obama to reelection will impede Democrats from retaking the House.

President Nixon Murdered Pigeons and Other Inauguration Facts

Ben Terris | January 9, 2013

It would appear to be an unmatchable record. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in as president four times. But this year President Obama will tie it.

Don't Bet on Barney Frank for Senate

Michael Catalini | January 4, 2013

Don't bet on Barney Frank making a mark in the Senate, even if he is appointed.

Facing Another Inactive Congress, Chris Christie Dangles John Boehner From Building — VIDEO

Cory Bennett | January 4, 2013

The late-night shows welcomed the 113th Congress to a new round of jokes last night. Jimmy Fallon praised the swearing in of a record 20 female senators. They, he said, "look forward to proving they can accomplish just as little as male senators." Both David Letterman and Jay Leno poked fun at New...

McConnell Team Touts Cliff Deal, Despite Conservative Opposition

Sarah Mimms | January 3, 2013

To hear Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's campaign tell it, you'd think he solved the fiscal cliff by himself. Campaign manger Jesse Benton sent out a fundraising email on Wednesday, touting his boss' work to avoid the fiscal cliff and prevent taxes from being raised on most Kentuckians, the...

Here's What's in the Fiscal-Cliff Deal

Catherine Hollander | January 1, 2013

Although the legislation will avert many of the year-end tax hikes and spending cuts that were set to kick in, it failed to address some of the major issues.

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.

Why Sen. Tom Carper Voted No On Fiscal Cliff Deal

Elahe Izadi | January 1, 2013

Early this morning, 89 senators voted for a fiscal cliff deal brokered between Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democratic Sen. Tom Carper was not one of those senators.

Here’s What’s In the Fiscal Deal Passed by the Senate

Catherine Hollander and Chris Frates | January 1, 2013

Early on New Year's Day, the Senate passed a measure aimed at pulling the country back from the "fiscal cliff" of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts. The measure, hammered out by Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, still needs approval by the House. Here's what's in it:

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