2008 Election - DC Bureau

Details of alleged sexual harassment emerge in N.C. Democratic Party scandal

A former staffer accused North Carolina's state Democratic Party executive director of showing him a picture of male genitals, caressing his leg and discussing his sexual exploits, according to new documents obtained by The News & Observer.

N.C. Democratic Party director steps down over sexual harassment allegations

N.C. Gov. Perdue calls on state Democratic Party Chairman Parker to resign

The chairman of the state Democratic Party is expected to resign after an avalanche of top elected officials called for his ouster Tuesday amid revelations that he authorized a secret agreement to pay a former staffer to keep quiet after making sexual harassment allegations.

N.C. Democratic Party director steps down over sexual harassment allegations

California Assembly committee kills teacher-student trysts legislation

On the same day that 18-year-old Jordan Powers disclosed that she has reunited with former teacher James Hooker, legislation to ban such romantic relationships in the future was killed by a California Assembly committee Tuesday.

McCaskill seeks law to stop GSA-like partying

Forgive Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri if she’s leery of the General Services Administration’s ability to police itself.

Commentary: Stimulus spending and GSA party animals

Lawmakers of both parties blast GSA for lavish spending

Campaign dollars flow in Washington state

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell has $4.6 million in the bank as she seeks to win a third term in November, while President Barack Obama has raised more than three times as much as his Republican challenger Mitt Romney in Washington state.

president-obama-hits-the-road-to-sell-the-buffett-rule-and-raise-campaign-dollar

feinstein-wants-to-replace-stolen.html

vern-buchanans-ethics-cloud-no.html

Study: ALEC has 'secretive influence' in Missouri statehouse

At least 30 bills have been introduced in the Missouri statehouse in recent years that are nearly identical to legislation originally written by a conservative organization whose membership includes some of the country’s largest corporations.

Senate falls short in vote on “Buffett Rule” millionaire tax

Democrats fell short of the 60 votes they needed under Senate rules to cut off debate and vote on the so-called “Buffett Rule” tax on millionaires.

White House report backs Obama push for tax on millionaires

Follow David Lightman on Twitter: @LightmanDavid

For more McClatchy politics coverage visit Planet Washington

Does wanting to tax millionaires more help re-elect Obama?

2010 Pulitzer finalist Goldman didn't tell SEC about mortgage moves for months

S.C. Gov. Haley 'makes stuff up' in her book, critics charge

Gov. Nikki Haley’s new memoir, "Can't Is Not An Option," is untruthful or twists many events, a half-dozen S.C. politicians said last week.

N.C. Democratic Party director steps down over sexual harassment allegations

The executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party resigned Sunday amid mounting questions about a secret settlement to pay a former staffer to keep quiet about sexual harassment allegations.

Congress tees up hearings on GSA's lavish Las Vegas conference

The federal officials who partied too hard in Las Vegas will now suffer the hangover on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers compete to out-investigate one another.

Exaggerations abound on both sides of 'Buffett Rule' debate

Democrats and Republicans are playing fast and loose with the facts and misleading the public as they trade barbs on legislation to create a minimum tax on the wealthiest Americans, tax experts insist.

Obama proposes cutting corporate tax rate, ending breaks

Commentary: Income tax inequality debate is fueled by fairness, not envy

Are too many paying no taxes at all? Issue is getting a hard look

'99 Percent Spring' protests gearing up locally, nationally

Occupy Wall Street encampments have been swept away in most cities, but their rationales live on in the “99 Percent Spring.” That’s the new shorthand for Occupy’s heir — an ongoing protest movement that covers a range of issues and actions.

Feinstein wants to replace stolen campaign money with new funds

The Federal Election Commission on Thursday raised sharp questions but came to no firm conclusion over Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein's bid for greater fundraising leeway in the wake of embezzlement by her former campaign treasurer.

Alaska's Assembly gets earful of election complaints

Concerns about voters being turned away from the polls in the April 3 municipal election erupted Tuesday at the Anchorage Assembly meeting.

Condoleezza Rice at Duke: 'I don't know when immigrants became the enemy'

Turmoil in the Middle East underscores the importance of reform and has changed the way the United States thinks about backing authoritarian regimes, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday.

FBI's Florida investigation of Alaska Rep. Young outlined in document list

The Justice Department revealed descriptions of hundreds of documents Monday night that it had prepared in its investigation of Rep. Don Young and the infamous Coconut Road interchange, including what it said was a "potential witness list and indictment."

Alaska Railroad credit rating gets hit after Senate's $30 million funding cut

Moody's Investors Service has lowered the outlook for Alaska Railroad bonds from stable to negative, saying the U.S. Senate's move to gut the railroad's budget could leave it short of money to pay off debt.

Texas engineer, whose wife sent Obama his résumé, still unemployed

More than two months after President Barack Obama asked for Darin Wedel's résumé, the phone is quiet, e-mails are no longer flooding in and the long-sought-after job interviews -- which had begun to be scheduled -- have petered out.

Texas woman talks to President Obama in Google Plus 'hangout'

Voter fraud and illegal immigration work brings Kansas Secretary of State Kobach praise, scorn

Kris Kobach holds what should be one of the quietest jobs in government: Kansas secretary of state. Yet it’s hard to find anyone who stays very quiet when asked about Kobach: He’s either loved or loathed.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio proposes a Republican DREAM Act

A few weeks ago, Daniela Pelaez visited Washington. A valedictorian at North Miami Senior High, the 18-year-old had just learned she no longer faced deportation, thanks in part to congressional intervention in her immigration case. She visited the nation’s capital the same week a Fox News Latino poll found Hispanic voters favor President Barack Obama six-to-one over any of the Republican presidential hopefuls.

Commentary: What role will Sen. Marco Rubio play in 2012 for GOP?

Internet could lead to regime change in Cuba, Sen. Marco Rubio says

Bank wants Missouri Rep. Cleaver to pay $1.5 million on car wash loan

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's car wash headache is raging once again. The bank that loaned the Kansas City congressman and his wife $1.3 million in 2002 to buy the Grandview Auto Wash is now demanding payment of more than $1.5 million, after the Cleavers repeatedly fell behind on repaying the loan.

Missouri Rep. Cleaver calls for end to 'vigilante justice'

Fla. Rep. Connie Mack launches Keystone XL pipeline petition

With a gas pump doubling as a campaign prop, Senate candidate Connie Mack launched a petition drive Thursday at a Miami gas station to call for the building of the politically charged Keystone XL pipeline.

Fla. Senate candidate Mack says divorce is behind financial woes

Florida congressman, Mack, preaches penny-pinching, but has past of debt and liens

Fla. Rep. Connie Mack calls Paul Ryan's budget 'a joke'

ACLU wants special counsel to investigate Anchorage election

As an internal city review of what went wrong in Tuesday's Anchorage election moves forward, the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska is calling for a special counsel to investigate the matter. So far, 59 of 121 voting precincts have been reviewed by the city clerk's office and just over half, 31, ran out of the preprinted ballot cards at some point, according to the clerk's office.

ACLU, Anchorage investigate ballot shortage during municipal election

Anchorage voters reject sexual orientation initiative

Obama vs. Supreme Court is latest episode in recurring rivalry

Barack Obama got off to a bad start with the Supreme Court the very moment he was sworn in as president, and it's not getting any better.

Supreme Court wraps up arguments over health care law

Congress is so divided it can't even pass a highway bill anymore

Providing money for highways and infrastructure historically has been one of Congress' easiest tasks. After all, it gives every lawmaker a chance to go home, stand in front of a bumpy highway and explain how he or she is making life better. Not anymore.

Senate's Mitch McConnell tells Obama to 'back off' Supreme Court

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell charged Thursday that President Barack Obama had "crossed a dangerous line" when he commented on the Supreme Court's deliberations over the 2010 federal health care law.

Planet Washington Blog - Musings from the Capitol

S.C. Rep. Clyburn compares voter ID laws to Jim Crow era

U.S. House Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn and voting-rights advocates warned Wednesday that laws in South Carolina and other states could disenfranchise millions of Americans in the November presidential elections.

Missouri Rep. Cleaver calls for end to 'vigilante justice'

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has introduced a House resolution condemning "vigilante justice" in the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, and urging states to repeal so-called Stand Your Ground laws.

Fla. Rep. Connie Mack calls Paul Ryan's budget 'a joke'

Criticizing the Republican House budget isn't just for Democrats, anymore. Republican Congressman and Senate candidate Connie Mack called the budget plan, drafted by fellow Rep. Paul Ryan, a "joke" during a weekend Orlando Tea Party forum. Mack, who missed the Ryan plan vote in Washington last week while he was fundraising in Florida, later said through a spokesman that he would have voted for it anyway.

ACLU, Anchorage investigate ballot shortage during municipal election

A shortage of ballots in Tuesday's municipal election led to chaos and dissatisfaction among voters at polling places around Anchorage and has spurred a review by the city attorney to see whether the problems impact the validity of the election.

Friends of Stevens group seeks Justice Dept. accountability

An advocacy group started by friends of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens is on a rampage, calling for accountability in the U.S. Department of Justice and specifically for the firing of two prosecutors and an FBI agent who pursued the flawed and failed corruption case against him.

Anchorage voters reject sexual orientation initiative

Anchorage voters rejected a proposed ordinance to add legal protections for gay, lesbian and transgender people in a chaotic municipal election fraught with ballot shortages and high voter turnout in many precincts.

Answers to questions about possible changes to Medicare

Congress is unlikely to consider legislation that would fundamentally restructure Medicare until a new Congress — and possibly a new president - are seated next year. But politicians have sought to tackle the growth in Medicare costs several times in the past two years, most notably in the 2010 health care law and then in last year's federal budget deal.

What to do about Medicare will be a big election issue

Deficit cutters target upper-income Medicare beneficiaries

Senators offer bipartisan plan to trim Medicare costs

Ryan Medicare plan puts GOP candidates on the spot

Obama blasts GOP budget and Romney by name

President Barack Obama took on Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney by name Tuesday in an election-year speech that contrasted his approach versus what he said was Republicans’ determination to continue failed economic policies.

Romney may win more delegates in Maryland, D.C., than in Wisconsin

Romney may be able to relax after Wisconsin votes Tuesday

Planet Washington Blog - Musings from the Capitol

Romney may be able to relax after Wisconsin votes Tuesday

Around the state, many Republicans approach Tuesday's Wisconsin primary with a sense of inevitability that Mitt Romney will win the Republican nomination. They think the often nasty primary campaign is hurting the party. And they feel it's time for rivals Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul to fold up and help rally the cause for a fall campaign against Democratic President Barack Obama.

Tea party favorite DeMint accused of targeting Indiana's Richard Lugar

Unlike in the last election cycle, Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina is maintaining a low profile as he appears to fulfill a promise to Senate Republican leaders that he won't oppose any sitting GOP senators through his Senate Conservatives Fund.

Texas Rep. Kay Granger presses Air Force on C-130 plans

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger told Air Force Secretary Michael Donley in a meeting Thursday that if the Air Force does not scrap its plan to move a fleet of C-130 transport aircraft from Fort Worth to Montana or provide more justification, she will work to stop its implementation legislatively.

Air Force to reassess C-130 plans

Gulf state governors ask Obama to keep C-130s in Fort Worth

S.C. Gov. Haley denies she's linked to temple tax probe

Gov. Nikki Haley vehemently denied Thursday that she is in any way connected to a 2011 tax audit of the Sikh temple in Chapin where her parents are leaders.

California Gov. Brown wants health care changes regardless of Supreme Court decision

Gov. Jerry Brown's administration vowed Thursday to continue pushing forward elements of the federal health care overhaul in California, even if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes it down.

Justice Department: We won't repeat Ted Stevens mistake

The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday that its misconduct in the case against then-Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens was an isolated incident and Congress shouldn't pass a law forcing prosecutors to disclose all evidence they have to the defense.

Probe into Ted Stevens case finds vital evidence concealed

Appeals court says Ted Stevens report can be released

GOP senators hit Holder on Ted Stevens case

Judge: Disclose details on federal misconduct in Ted Stevens case

Prosecutors in Ted Stevens case won't face criminal charges

Inquiry finds 'significant' misconduct in Ted Stevens case