2chambers - Breaking news and analysis from Capitol Hill.

Posted at 02:36 PM ET, 05/31/2012

Bill banning ‘sex-selective abortions’ fails in the House

By Ed O'Keefe

But conservatives vow to make abortion a campaign-trail issue.

By Ed O'Keefe | 02:36 PM ET, 05/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/31/2012

Senate furniture stolen and sold illegally, report says

By Ed O'Keefe

Watchdog report details theft of tables and chairs.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/30/2012

House to begin debate Wednesday on bill banning abortions based on sex of child

By Ed O'Keefe

The House plans to begin debating a bill Wednesday that would ban abortions based on the sex of a child.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/30/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:17 PM ET, 05/29/2012

Marco Rubio visits Guantanamo Bay in first visit to Cuba

By Ed O'Keefe

The Florida senator is there to tour the Guantanamo Bay military base.

By Ed O'Keefe | 02:17 PM ET, 05/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/29/2012

House Republicans’ summer schedule heavy on jobs and repealing ‘Obamacare’

By Ed O'Keefe

Expect a series of political singles and doubles — and no home runs.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 05/25/2012

Postal Service bill: House leaders set vote after July Fourth

By Ed O’Keefe

Long-awaited consideration a U.S. Postal Service reform bill will be put up for vote in the House after the Fourth of July and before the August congressional recess.

By Ed O’Keefe | 12:10 PM ET, 05/25/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:25 AM ET, 05/23/2012

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan apologizes for Colombia prostitution scandal

By Ed O'Keefe and Carol D. Leonnig

Mark Sullivan’s testimony comes as a federal watchdog probes whether the director rushed his investigation.

By Ed O'Keefe and Carol D. Leonnig | 11:25 AM ET, 05/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 05/23/2012

Secret Service hearing ‘an important day’ for Director Mark Sullivan, lawmaker says

By Ed O'Keefe

Director Mark Sullivan making his first public appearance before lawmakers to address questions about sex scandal.

By Ed O'Keefe | 05:00 AM ET, 05/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:29 PM ET, 05/22/2012

Mark Warner, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio and Jerry Moran unveil a bipartisan job creation plan

By Lori Montgomery

Warner, Coons, Rubio and Moran offer a bill, dubbed START-UP 2.0, to encourage entrepreneurs and promote job creation.

By Lori Montgomery | 05:29 PM ET, 05/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: job creation

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/22/2012

Congressional discourse getting dumber, study says

By Ed O'Keefe

2CHAMBERS | Congress collectively speaks at almost a full grade-level lower than it did seven years ago, a new study finds.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:15 PM ET, 05/21/2012

Gregory Jaczko, Nuclear Regulatory Commission chief’s departure tied to diminishing congressional support

By Ed O'Keefe

Lack of support on Capitol Hill cited as one reason for his departure.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:15 PM ET, 05/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/21/2012

Barney Frank needs a vacation (and what else is going on this week in Congress)

By Ed O'Keefe

The Massachusetts lawmakers says things are as bad as ever in Congress.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 05/20/2012

Does Nancy Pelosi want to serve again as Speaker? She won’t say.

By Ed O'Keefe

Pelosi says she’s more concerned about making sure Democrats win back the House majority than she is about serving again as Speaker.

By Ed O'Keefe | 01:00 PM ET, 05/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:48 AM ET, 05/20/2012

Mitch McConnell, John Boehner double down on deficit concerns

By Ed O'Keefe

Using sharp rhetoric reminiscent of last summer’s fight over the issue, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday that President Obama “needs to become the adult” in discussions with congressional leaders on spending and debt.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:48 AM ET, 05/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:31 PM ET, 05/16/2012

House approves GOP bill to renew Violence Against Women Act; Democrats say it’s too narrow

By Rosalind S. Helderman

The measure is passed on a partyline vote as Democrats urge House to take up a broader version adopted by Senate.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 06:31 PM ET, 05/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:51 PM ET, 05/16/2012

Senate rejects Obama budget, Republican alternatives

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Republicans forced votes on the competing budget plans to highlight Democrats’ failure to advance a formal budget resolution.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 05:51 PM ET, 05/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:12 PM ET, 05/15/2012

Geithner warns Boehner, GOP on end-of-year debt limit showdown

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Responding to House Speaker John Boehner, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says Congress should avoid a repeat of last summer’s debt ceiling drama.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 03:12 PM ET, 05/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:45 AM ET, 05/15/2012

Boehner sees battle over debt limit as ‘action-forcing event’

By Lori Montgomery

In remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday at the Peter G. Peterson fiscal summit, the House speaker plans to demand deep cuts in government spending.

By Lori Montgomery | 12:45 AM ET, 05/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:14 PM ET, 05/13/2012

Senate to call Secret Service director to testify on prostitution scandal

By David Nakamura

The director of the Secret Service will be called before a Senate committee May 23 to provide details about the investigation into the Colombia prostitution scandal that has resulted in the dismissal of nine employees.

By David Nakamura | 01:14 PM ET, 05/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:34 PM ET, 05/10/2012

House passes bill to shield Pentagon from automatic spending cuts

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Vote offers a vision statement as election approaches, but bill is dead on arrival in the Senate.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 02:34 PM ET, 05/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:32 PM ET, 05/10/2012

John Boehner: ‘Stay focused on jobs,’ not gay marriage

By Paul Kane

By Paul Kane | 01:32 PM ET, 05/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:03 AM ET, 05/10/2012

Sen. Harry Reid: Richard Lugar ‘drummed out by tea party zealots'

By Rosalind S. Helderman

The Senate’s top Democrat says the long-serving Republican’s “first priority has always been getting things done for the American people.“

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 11:03 AM ET, 05/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Harry Reid

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 05/10/2012

As Obama backs gay marriage, House GOP tries to limit gay-friendly policies

By Ed O'Keefe

As Obama backs gay marriage, House GOP tries rolling back gay-friendly policies

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:00 AM ET, 05/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:09 PM ET, 05/09/2012

Noting personal beliefs, Reid says gay marriage should be left to states

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Ed O’Keefe

Senate’s top Democrat outlines careful position, says he believes marriage is between a man and woman but is untroubled by same-sex unions.

By Rosalind S. Helderman and Ed O’Keefe | 09:09 PM ET, 05/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:45 PM ET, 05/09/2012

House ethics panel won’t launch full probe into Vern Buchanan

By Ed O'Keefe

But a watchdog report says the Florida Republican tried to pay off a former business partner to the tune of $2.9 million.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:45 PM ET, 05/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 05/09/2012

Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois describes his recovery in video

By Ed O'Keefe

In a powerful new video, the Illinois senator details how he’s learning to walk again.

By Ed O'Keefe | 11:00 AM ET, 05/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:44 AM ET, 05/09/2012

Pete Sessions: ‘100 percent’ of GOP House candidates would campaign with Mitt Romney

By Ed O'Keefe

The head of the NRCC says yes, “100 percent” of his colleagues would campaign alongside the former governor.

By Ed O'Keefe | 10:44 AM ET, 05/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:15 AM ET, 05/09/2012

John Kerry’s tribute to Richard Lugar

By Ed O'Keefe

The Massachusetts senator pays tribute to his long-time colleague on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

By Ed O'Keefe | 07:15 AM ET, 05/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/09/2012

Export-Import Bank reauthorized by House; Senate expected to act soon

By Ed O'Keefe

The bipartisan deal is hailed by business and manufacturing groups as critical to helping the economic recovery.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:00 PM ET, 05/08/2012

In hours after Colombia sex scandal, ‘significant gaps’ in military chain of command, lawmaker says

By Ed O'Keefe

Senior lawmaker says the Pentagon investigation reveals troubling findings.

By Ed O'Keefe | 05:00 PM ET, 05/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:50 PM ET, 05/08/2012

IRS may issue $26 billion in fraudulent tax refunds, watchdog tells Congress

By Ed O'Keefe

Inspector general warns Congress that agency may mistakenly issue the money in the next five years.

By Ed O'Keefe | 02:50 PM ET, 05/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:38 PM ET, 05/08/2012

Student loan plan fails in the Senate

By Ed O'Keefe and Rosalind S. Helderman

On a party-line vote, GOP senators block plan to keep loan rates lower for another year.

By Ed O'Keefe and Rosalind S. Helderman | 12:38 PM ET, 05/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/08/2012

Gregory Jaczko, nuclear safety chief, under fire from House Republicans

By Ed O'Keefe

Gregory B. Jaczko is the latest Obama administration official targeted by the GOP. Republicans want to know whether Gregory Jaczko ever mistreated female employees by harassing or verbally abusing them.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:36 PM ET, 05/07/2012

House opens debate on how to replace Pentagon cuts

By Rosalind S. Helderman

Republicans offer plan to shield defense with deep new domestic spending cuts; Democrats counter tax increases must be considered as well.

By Rosalind S. Helderman | 03:36 PM ET, 05/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:28 PM ET, 05/07/2012

Rep. Kristi Noem earns her college degree

By Ed O'Keefe

The South Dakota lawmaker earned a political science degree Saturday after putting off her education for a family crisis.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:28 PM ET, 05/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:20 AM ET, 05/07/2012

Rep. Kathy Hochul confronts student loan horror stories

By Ed O'Keefe

Kathy Hochul is the mother of two recent graduates and her district encompasses 30 colleges and universities.

By Ed O'Keefe | 09:20 AM ET, 05/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/07/2012

What do John Edwards and Newt Gingrich have in common? (A look at the week ahead in Congress.)

By Ed O'Keefe

Don’t be surprised if senators invoke the former politicians’ names this week.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 05/03/2012

House Democrats plan to pounce again on GOP budget

By Ed O'Keefe

In a new memo, Democrats blame the GOP for targeting the poor and Obama administration programs.

By Ed O'Keefe | 04:00 PM ET, 05/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 05/03/2012

Sen. Mark Kirk heads home to continue recovery

By Ed O'Keefe

The Illinois Republican senator plans to continue recovery from a stroke on an out-patient basis.

By Ed O'Keefe | 01:45 PM ET, 05/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 05/02/2012

Secret Service employees paid 9 of the 12 women involved in Colombia sex scandal, agency says

By Ed O'Keefe

The agency provides new details to lawmakers tracking the Colombia sex scandal.

By Ed O'Keefe | 10:00 AM ET, 05/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 05/02/2012

‘Hey Girl, it’s Paul Ryan’ explained

By Ed O'Keefe

2CHAMBERS | Why did a Chicago libertarian launch the new Tumblr? He’s an “economic heartthrob” in certain circles.

By Ed O'Keefe | 08:00 AM ET, 05/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/02/2012

What Elijah Cummings plans to tell the Secret Service

By Ed O'Keefe

The agency plans to put all of its 3,500 agents and 1,400 uniformed officers through mandatory ethics training.

By Ed O'Keefe | 06:00 AM ET, 05/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 05/01/2012

Senators to Postal Service: Don’t close post offices until after Congress acts

By Ed O'Keefe

Four senators ask that it wait to lift a self-imposed May 15 moratorium on closings so that Congress can pass a bill.

By Ed O'Keefe | 03:00 PM ET, 05/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

2chambers: May, 2012