Politics

President Obama, with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) behind him, delivering his State of the Union address last January.

On 'Fiscal Cliff,' Majority Of Public Sides With Democrats, Pew Poll Says

8:01pm December 13, 2012

by Mark Memmott

Fifty-five percent of those surveyed said President Obama is making a "serious effort" to work with Republicans. Just 32 percent said Republicans are making a serious effort to work with the Democratic president.

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Most Of Congress In The Dark On 'Fiscal Cliff' Talks

11:44am December 13, 2012

by Tamara Keith

Of the 535 members of Congress, not many are in the loop about negotiations to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases in the new year. Lawmakers are waiting to see what President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner come up with — and some are nervous about having to quickly vote on a bill despite misgivings.

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., have opposing views about a report detailing CIA detention and interrogation practices.

Report On CIA Interrogation Tactics Revives Torture Debate

9:03am December 13, 2012

by Carrie Johnson

In a closed-door meeting Thursday, lawmakers will consider whether to approve the report, which human rights groups are pushing to be made public. It's part of an ongoing fight over whether harsh interrogation methods, which critics compared to torture, were effective.

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Politics & Government

Obama's Cabinet Reshuffle, What's Next For Hillary?

4:01pm December 12, 2012

President Barack Obama is expected to make some key changes to his second-term cabinet. As Hillary Clinton prepares to step down as Secretary of State, many wonder whether she will run for president in 2016.

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A customer shops for nectarines at a farmers market in San Francisco.

Farm Bill Becomes Fodder In 'Fiscal Cliff' Wrangling

5:58am December 12, 2012

by Brian Naylor

Farm-state lawmakers are urging leaders to include a farm bill as part of any budget deal to avert year-end tax increases and spending cuts. But others argue that Congress shouldn't toss the farm bill into a giant package because it would very likely stifle debate and amendments.

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'Paris Hilton Tax' Vs. 'Death Tax': A Lesser-Known Fiscal Debate

9:34pm December 11, 2012

by Scott Horsley

The estate tax is yet another piece of the fiscal cliff that needs to be worked out. Those who want to the raise what they call the "Paris Hilton tax" say it applies only to the very rich, who can afford to pay. Opponents of the increase, however, brand it the "death tax" and say it hurts farmers and small-business owners.

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A boy jumps into the sea from high above in the harbor of Mousehole, Cornwall, England.

What Happens If We Fall Off The 'Fiscal Cliff'?

10:55am December 11, 2012

by Tamara Keith

President Obama and congressional Republicans have been trying to negotiate a deal to avert the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff." But what happens Jan. 1 if no agreement is reached? Some experts say not much will happen — at least not immediately.

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Politics & Government

The Lost Art Of Budget Negotiations

10:55am December 11, 2012

Congress and President Obama have yet to reach a budget deal, despite an impending deadline. It's just the latest episode that has caused folks in Washington to reflect that it wasn't always this difficult to make deals inside the beltway. Renee Montagne talks to former Missouri Senator John Danforth about his experience in past budget negotiations, and what lessons they offer for today's discussions.

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Raising Taxes A Key Sticking Point In Fiscal Cliff Talks

8:44pm December 10, 2012

Congress had hoped to be out of town for the holidays by the end of this week. That's not looking likely anymore, with the negotiations on efforts to avert automatic tax hikes and spending cuts moving slowly, if at all. Tamara Keith talks to Audie Cornish.

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Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., talks on the phone in his Capitol Hill office on Dec. 6, the day he announced he will resign from the Senate and lead the Heritage Foundation.

Politics & Government

DeMint And Heritage: Playing Off Each Other's Strengths

8:44pm December 10, 2012

by Peter Overby

Sen. Jim DeMint says the conservative Heritage Foundation inspired him to run for Congress. Once there, he helped to bolster its allies on Capitol Hill. Now, as he leaves Congress to run the think tank, the building blocks are there to create a powerful operation with political clout.

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