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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.

IRS Scandal Throws Max Baucus New Challenges on Tax Reform

Stacy Kaper | May 13, 2013

The unfolding Internal Revenue Service scandal could complicate Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’s No. 1 goal of enacting comprehensive tax reform before he retires at the end of this Congress.

5 Questions About That Obama IRS Mess

Nancy Cook | May 13, 2013

Here's what you need to know about the alleged targeting of conservative groups' tax status.

Overhauling the Tax Code With 'Max and Dave'

Nancy Cook | May 9, 2013

Max Baucus and Dave Camp, Congress's top tax-writers, are taking their message to the Internet in hopes of building public support for their efforts.

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.

Lobbyists: Max Baucus' Retirement Isn't a Game Changer for Tax Reform

Chris Frates | May 1, 2013

“I don’t think the landscape has changed because of Baucus’s announcement. He’s got 18 months to get it done, and he had 18 months to get it done before.”

The Poorly Attended Hearing on One of the Economy's Toughest Problems

Niraj Chokshi | April 24, 2013

It stands to reason that lawmakers who often decry the high jobless rate would want to be seen publicly trying to tackle the problem, right? Well, apparently not.

Conservatives Come Out for Renewable-Energy Projects

Amy Harder | April 23, 2013

Defying conventional wisdom in the era of Solyndra, conservatives in Washington are coming out to back renewable energy.

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...

Hydropower Bills Enjoy Bipartisan Support in Congress

Amy Harder | April 22, 2013

With a pair of bills on hydropower, lawmakers are reviving two pieces of conventional wisdom long forgotten in gridlocked Washington: Energy issues tend to be more geographical than ideological, and Republicans can (and do) support renewable energy.

Manufacturers Focus on Reforming Tax Code and Reducing Barriers to Trade

Catherine Hollander | April 17, 2013

Manufacturers are, naturally, the biggest stakeholders in the committee’s discussion of improving the manufacturing sector.

Forget Working Groups, House Judiciary Moving Immigration on its Own

Rebecca Kaplan | April 15, 2013

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., isn’t interested in waiting on immigration.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mike Ross To Launch Arkansas Gubernatorial Campaign Next Week

Jordain Carney | April 9, 2013

Former Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross will announce on April 17 that he's running for governor, according to an email sent out Tuesday by a local Democratic chapter within the state. Ross will fly to different cities throughout Arkansas on the day of his announcement, said Democratic insider Gary Grimes,...

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.

Is Chained CPI the Wrong Solution to the Right Problem?

Niraj Chokshi | April 3, 2013

When President Obama releases his budget next week, it's expected to include what some tout as an elegant solution to the nation's fiscal problems, a way of measuring price changes known as “chained CPI.”

Will Tax Reform See a Vote Anytime Soon?

Billy House | April 1, 2013

Despite pledges by the key chairmen in the House and Senate to move on tax reform, action is unlikely this year—and may not come at all in the 113th Congress.

The House GOP's Strategy to Starve the Senate

Billy House | March 28, 2013

A strategy by House Republican leaders to bottle up revenue bills until a comprehensive overhaul of the tax code is finished is being sold to GOP lawmakers as a tactical way to hobble Senate Democrats.

Gingrey Touts Social Conservatism in Declaring Senate Bid

Sarah Mimms | March 27, 2013

Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., announced his candidacy for Senate on Wednesday, fulfilling weeks of rumors that he was preparing to mount a bid. "It's time for Georgians to again send a tested, trusted conservative to the U.S. Senate who will work with Johnny Isakson, and with a sense of urgency, to rew...

Parents' Lack of Work Affects 1 in 6 U.S. Children, Study Finds

Jody Brannon | March 26, 2013

More than 1 in 6 U.S. children have a parent who is unemployed or underemployed, putting them at risk of suffering from hunger, performing poorly in school, and facing family violence.

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.

Hunters, Guns, and Money: Firearms Boom Sparks a Boon for Wildlife

Ben Schreckinger | March 20, 2013

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. And, it seems, what’s good for the gun industry is good for the goose. Through a federal excise tax on guns and ammunition, the booming industry is providing a nine-figure windfall to state conservation programs, according to a Congressional Research Service report issued this month.

D.C. Landmarks Under Construction

Brian Resnick | March 19, 2013

The Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, and other D.C. iconic structures in states of assembly.

5 Staffers to Watch on the House and Senate Budget Committees

Stacy Kaper and Amy Harder | March 17, 2013

The House and Senate will be wrangling with their respective budgets this week. There’s little expectation that the two chambers’ products will be combined into a joint budget resolution, but they serve as the starting points for broader budget debates between Republicans and Democrats. Here’s a look at the two Budget committees’ top staffers who are critical to this process.

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?

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Which Minority Passes More AP Math Tests?

Jody Brannon | February 26, 2013

The number of minority high school students taking Advanced Placement classes has risen fourfold in a decade, but college aspirants of color, especially from low-income families, continue to significantly lag white students.

Sources: Gingrey to Enter Senate Race as Broun Ramps Up Fundraising

Sarah Mimms | February 22, 2013

Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., is calling and emailing Peach State Republicans, letting them know that he is running for Sen. Saxby Chambliss' seat, according to several Republican strategists. "I have had two people now confirm to me that Phil Gingrey is now making phone calls," Republican strategist T...

Who Are Members of Color on Most Liberal, Conservative Lists for the 112th Congress

Jody Brannon | February 19, 2013

Examine the annual rankings, and the split by race, gender and geography might be surprising. Or it might not.

Here Comes the Budget Pain

Chris Frates | February 19, 2013

This post also ran on The Edge, National Journal's daily look at today in Washington -- and what's coming next. The email features analysis from NJ's top correspondents, insights on the biggest stories of the day -- and always a few surprises. Subscribe here.

New Language for Old Ideas in GOP Medicare Proposals

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 14, 2013

In the months leading up to last November’s elections, politicians were engaged in a linguistic war over how to describe Republican Medicare-reform plans.

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:

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.

Montana's Max Baucus Draws First GOP Challenger

Scott Bland | February 6, 2013

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., drew his first 2014 challenger Wednesday, as Republican former state Sen. Corey Stapleton announced that he will challenge the six-term Democrat. Stapleton did not mention Baucus by name in an announcement video posted to his campaign website, instead attacking federal spe...

Targeted House Republicans Start With More Cash Than Dem Counterparts

Scott Bland | February 1, 2013

For what it's worth, many of the most vulnerable House Republicans start the 2014 cycle in slightly better financial shape than the earliest targeted House Democrats. In recent days, major campaign groups on either side of the House have announced early target lists for 2014, mostly featuring veter...

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.

Behind the Republican Missteps on Abortion

Shane Goldmacher | January 17, 2013

Taking a page from the GOP playbook, Democrats learned to swap “partial birth” for “legitimate rape.”

Racial Trends: Federal Aid for Needy Families

Rosa Ramirez and Doris Nhan | January 16, 2013

In the months leading to the so-called fiscal cliff, politicians on both sides of the aisle made the case on the costs of slashing benefits, including those for lower-income individuals. In a way, the conversation highlighted the looming growing clash of two demographics: minorities and a graying generation.

Levin Indicates 2013 Tax Reform Not Likely

Stacy Kaper | January 15, 2013

Tax reform is not dead, but it certainly sounds postponed.

The Human Cost of Fruits and Vegetables

Rosa Ramirez | January 14, 2013

At least one farmworker in the U.S. dies each day while picking fruits and vegetables, according to a new study.

Democrats and Republicans Missed a Big Opportunity

Ronald Brownstein | January 10, 2013

Over the long term, the fiscal-cliff deal will make it harder for both the Left and the Right to achieve their goals.

How the Fiscal-Cliff Deal Affects Tax Season

Niraj Chokshi | January 8, 2013

Tax-filing season will be eight days later than planned this year thanks to the fiscal-cliff deal lawmakers passed last week, the Internal Revenue Service said on Tuesday afternoon.

Obama May Have Passed Up Nearly $250 Billion in Tax Savings

Niraj Chokshi | January 4, 2013

President Obama didn't just back away from a campaign promise when he relented to GOP demands to cut taxes for more upper-income Americans this week. He may also have passed up hundreds of billions of dollars in savings.

Battle Over Wind Subsidy Leaves Industry Bruised

Amy Harder | January 3, 2013

The battle to get Congress to renew the wind-energy production tax credit before year’s end strained relationships among utilities, splintered support within the industry’s biggest trade group, and is setting up the industry—and its supporters in Congress—for a 2013 that's even more contentious than 2012.

Battle Over Wind Subsidy Leaves Industry Bruised

Amy Harder | January 3, 2013

The battle to get Congress to renew the wind-energy production tax credit before year’s end strained relationships among utilities, splintered support within the industry’s biggest trade group and is setting up the industry—and its supporters in Congress—for a 2013 even more contentious than 2012.

Don't Despair (Yet) Over Next Fiscal Cliff

Jill Lawrence | January 3, 2013

Here’s a radical thought: Maybe the next round of Capital Hill strife won’t be as bad as what we’ve just endured at the precipice of the fiscal cliff.

Moody’s to Congress: Further Fiscal Steps Needed

Stacy Kaper | January 2, 2013

Moody’s Investor Service warned Washington Wednesday not to rest on its haunches after its New Year’s Day passage of legislation to avert the fiscal cliff, arguing more work must be done to meaningfully lower the U.S. debt trajectory and prevent the risk of a downgrade of the U.S. debt.

How the Tea Party Raised Taxes

Matthew Cooper | January 2, 2013

The great irony of the fiscal-cliff deal: The tea party forced the tax hike.

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.

Winners and Losers from a Fiscal-Cliff Deal

Sophie Quinton | January 1, 2013

Middle and lower-income taxpayers are the main beneficiaries of the fiscal-cliff deal, but there are other winners—and losers—of the last-minute scramble to avert scheduled tax increases and spending cuts.

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:

McConnell: Tax Deal Struck With Biden

Chris Frates and Elahe Izadi contributed | December 31, 2012

Echoing President Obama’s statement that a fiscal-cliff deal is near, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor on Monday afternoon to announce that he and Vice President Joe Biden have struck a deal to prevent tax hikes on the middle class.

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.

N2K Fiscal Cliff: Tax Deal Emerges as Talks Go Down to the Wire

December 31, 2012

With fiscal cliff negotiations coming down to the wire, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced this afternoon that a deal has been reached on taxes. But Democrats are saying that no deal is final until an agreement on spending has been reached.

Obama Keeps Pressure on GOP as Fiscal-Cliff Compromise Takes Shape

Sophie Quinton | December 31, 2012

As a compromise to avert the fiscal cliff began to take shape on New Year's Eve, President Obama did not race to the Capitol to try to nudge sharply divided lawmakers toward a deal. Instead, he held court at the White House, addressing a group of supporters and praising Congress for its work to try to spare the middle class from a tax hike.

Cliff Deal Would Extend Tax Cuts For Households Up to $450,000

Chris Frates | December 31, 2012

Talks between Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden have resulted in key tax provisions as the two worked to finish a compromise that would avert the fiscal cliff of tax hikes and drastic spending cuts poised to hit economy starting Jan. 1.

Forget a Fiscal Cliff Grand Bargain. A Bare Bones Deal is the Only Hope

Nancy Cook and Chris Frates, Shane Goldmacher | December 28, 2012

Congress and the White House made yet another public, last-ditch effort to resolve the fiscal cliff on Friday, as the mood increasingly darkened about the prospects of any deal and nearly 90 percent of Americans prepared to face some type of tax hike in the New Year.

What Happens If We Go Over the Fiscal Cliff?

Naureen Khan | December 27, 2012

National Journal has a refresher course on exactly what going over the cliff would mean over the next year and in the long term.

Time for Fiscal-Cliff Plan C? Here Are 3 Options for Entitlements

Sophie Quinton and Nancy Cook | December 21, 2012

The White House is looking for a "Plan C" for the fiscal-cliff negotiations, after talks between the White House and House Speaker John Boehner have gotten off track. As the president and his staff turn to the Senate now for a possible compromise, everything is once again on the table: all the tax hikes and all of the possible spending cuts. This may include different or additional cuts to the government’s social safety-net programs.

Exodus of Baucus Staff

Nancy Cook | December 20, 2012

The Chairman of Senate Finance is losing his top tax people from both his personal and committee staff, expertise that will hurt if the committee plunges ahead with tax reform in 2013.

How the Fiscal Cliff Battle Is Really Just a Battle of Demographics

Ronald Brownstein | December 20, 2012

Washington’s battle over the fiscal cliff is best understood as a confrontation not only between Democrats and Republicans, but also as an early skirmish in what could be a decades-long struggle for resources and influence between the Brown and the Gray.

Behind the Fiscal Cliff is a Demographic Struggle

Ronald Brownstein | December 20, 2012

Washington’s battle over the fiscal cliff is best understood as a confrontation not only between Democrats and Republicans, but also as an early skirmish in what could be a decades-long struggle for resources and influence between the Brown and the Gray.

How Will the Fiscal Cliff Saga Play Out? A Look At Four Scenarios

Billy House | December 19, 2012

The arrival by Christmas of some beautifully wrapped “grand bargain” to avert the looming fiscal-cliff crisis is now remote. But various scenarios remain as to how this all could still play out before the new year, including the scope of any deal President Obama and congressional Republicans might reach by then.

Should Congress Support Wind Tax Credit?

Sen. Lamar Alexander and R-Tenn. | December 17, 2012

[Editor's note: Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is guest-moderating and providing the question this week. Alexander is a member of the committees on Appropriations and Environment and Public Works.] Should Congress extend wind power's federal tax credit for six years at a cost of about $50 billion...

What's at Stake for Energy, Environment in Fiscal Cliff?

Amy Harder | December 10, 2012

What are the risks and potential opportunities for energy and environment issues as Washington debates a way to avoid the fiscal cliff?

The People, Not Washington, Will Solve America's Everyday Problems

James Oliphant and Stacy Kaper and Catherine Hollander and Adam Mazmanian and James Kitfield and Ben Terris and Fawn Johnson | December 6, 2012

Beyond the fiscal cliff, entitlement reform, and a tax overhaul, a host of other issues continue to vex Americans. They include burgeoning traffic, the shrinking pool of affordable housing, escalating gun violence, and the rising invasion of online privacy.

Medicare Competition Makes Bipartisan Comeback

Meghan McCarthy | November 25, 2012

After President Obama’s reelection win, you might think that" talk of competition in Medicare—a cornerstone of Mitt Romney’s campaign—would fall by the wayside. But introducing greater competition into the health program for older Americans is an idea that could prove ripe for a bipartisan compromise in any Grand Bargain" on the budget.

Hot Ticket

Michelle Bloom | May 6, 2012

What do William Shakespeare and Capitol Hill have in common? Once a year they come together in artistic harmony at the annual Will on the Hill benefit.

The New Goliaths

Margot Sanger-Katz | February 16, 2012

The health care reform law, which was designed to lower costs, could end up raising them instead. The law is triggering a wave of hospital mergers and acquisitions, and decades of data show that hospital consolidations almost always lead to higher prices for patients.

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