Republican Party News
Featuring coverage of Republican priorities, legislation, and internal debates, this section examines how the party shapes U.S. politics from a conservative perspective.
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- News
Mitch McConnell Complains About ‘Unreasonable’ Conservatives, Points Blame at Talk Radio
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell takes pride in his reputation as a great compromiser. But the Republican leader won’t concede on one point: He refuses to let conservatives fight the White House for lower spending levels. McConnell, R-Ky., outlined his political roadmap for government spending on Tuesday, sketching out the routes he sees available: an…Philip Wegmann -
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Conservative Groups Call on Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan to Not Hold a Lame-Duck Session
A group of 75 conservative leaders want Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to promise that Congress will not hold a lame-duck session after the November elections. “At a time when the American people’s trust in their government is near an all-time low, the Republican-led Congress should demonstrate exemplary…Leah Jessen -
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Mitch McConnell Pressuring Banking Committee Chairman to Move on Export-Import Bank Nominees
As many Senate Republicans continue to oppose holding hearings for President Barack Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby to move the White House’s nomination to the Export-Import Bank’s board of directors, according to a GOP Senate staffer. The staffer told The Daily…Melissa Quinn -
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Rep. Jim Jordan Thinks It’s Time to ‘Do a Conservative Budget.’ Here’s Why.
Congress ought to “lower the overall spending level” to keep faith with Americans concerned that government doesn’t work and the national debt keeps rising, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, says. Republican lawmakers, especially conservatives, are inclined to scrap the higher spending of the Boehner-Obama budget deal, Jordan told me in an on-camera interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference,…Genevieve Wood -
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Tim Scott: Congress Will ‘Use Every Weapon in Our Arsenal’ to Stop Obama From Closing Guantanamo
Sen. Tim Scott vowed Thursday that the Republican-led Congress will “stand strong and use every weapon in our arsenal” to stop President Barack Obama from closing the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Scott, R-S.C., has been a leading opponent of Obama’s plan to close the facility in Cuba and has warned the president against authorizing…Josh Siegel -
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Mitch McConnell Promises House Members He Won’t Back Down in Supreme Court Fight
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell left the Senate to address House Republicans’ weekly conference meeting Tuesday morning. His message was simple: Senate Republicans will hold fast to their promise not to advance a Supreme Court nominee. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., summed up the closed-door appearance this way: “Mitch McConnell said to members, ‘Read my lips: No…Philip Wegmann -
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House Conservatives and Mitch McConnell Make Nice
A regular target of conservatives, Mitch McConnell often takes flak for political hesitancy and his willingness to cut bipartisan deals in the Senate. But Tuesday night, the Senate majority leader won high praise from leaders of the House Freedom Caucus for promising to block the confirmation of any new nominees to the Supreme Court until…Philip Wegmann -
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Nikki Haley in GOP Response: ‘Big Decisions to Make’
Here is the full text of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s Republican Address to the Nation after President Barack Obama gives the State of the Union address. >>> Watch the Speech Live on The Daily Signal Good evening. I’m Nikki Haley, Governor of the great state of South Carolina. I’m speaking tonight from Columbia, our state’s…Nikki Haley -
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Ted Cruz, Jeff Sessions Blame Lax Immigration Enforcers for 113 Terror Suspects in US
Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Jeff Sessions of Alabama continue to push the Obama administration for answers on the rise of homegrown and imported terrorism—an increase the two attribute to increased immigration from jihadi hot spots. The Republican senators seek more information concerning 113 individuals in the U.S. who, by their count, “have been…Philip Wegmann -
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29 Facts About Nikki Haley, Picked to Give the GOP Response to the State of the Union
Nikki Haley, South Carolina’s 116th governor, will deliver the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s last State of the Union address. This will be the third year in a row a woman provides the nationally televised GOP response. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, delivered the response last year. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., chairwoman of the Republican conference, gave the remarks…Leah Jessen -
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Rand Paul Moves One Step Closer to Auditing the Fed
The Senate will vote on Sen. Rand Paul’s legislation to audit the Federal Reserve when Congress returns from recess in January. The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015 would expand congressional oversight of the nation’s central bank and give the Government Accountability Office the authority to review the Fed’s monetary policy decisions. Paul, R-Ky., announced…Natalie Johnson -
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Jeff Sessions: Omnibus Spending Bill Explains Why ‘Voters Are in Open Rebellion’
In a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., voiced his concern about the $1.1 trillion government spending bill that lawmakers will vote on this week. Sessions cited these issues as most problematic: fully funding President Barack Obama’s refugee resettlement program, sanctuary cities, and the resettlement of illegal alien youths and their…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
Ted Cruz: Here’s How to Win the Battle Against ISIS
In part two of an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal, Sen. Ted Cruz talks about why the United States should not be picking sides in Syria and how past policies of deposing dictators, from Libya to Egypt, have backfired. The Texas Republican lays out his three-part strategy for defeating ISIS, where he says our ultimate…Genevieve Wood -
- Opinion
Ted Cruz: Despite What Obama Says, We Are at War Against Radical Islam
In the first part of an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal, Sen. Ted Cruz talks about why President Barack Obama won’t admit the United States is at war with radical Islam. Following his speech on national security at The Heritage Foundation, Cruz addressed the debate over banning Muslims from entering the U.S., whether France has…Genevieve Wood -
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Ted Cruz Outlines Assertive Foreign Policy, Campaign to Destroy ISIS
The United States must do “whatever is necessary and required” to destroy the Islamic State, Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday, laying out a muscular foreign policy that would target that terrorist army and reassert American leadership on the world stage. Cruz, R-Texas, recalled Ronald Reagan’s decisive role in dismantling Soviet communism during the Cold War, saying that a…Natalie Johnson -
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Sen. Ted Cruz: ‘Global Warming Alarmists’ Ignore Scientific Data ‘Inconvenient’ to Climate Change Narrative
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz convened a subcommittee hearing Tuesday to dispute the validity of research from climate “alarmists,” whose findings have become central to crafting environmental policy. Cruz used his opening remarks to detail the 2013 expedition where a ship of 74 people sent into Antarctica to research climate change got stuck in ice, forcing an…Natalie Johnson -
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Conservative Leaders Rally Against Mitch McConnell’s Campaign Finance Measure
As the Senate gears up to debate the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill, conservative leaders are pushing back against a measure floated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell boosting the amount of money political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. In a letter circulated among conservative groups, nearly 50 conservative leaders Thursday rallied in opposition…Melissa Quinn -
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Ted Cruz Offers Bill to Bar Refugees From Terrorist Strongholds
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced legislation to bar refugees from any country “substantially controlled” by a terrorist group from entering the United States. “After watching the horrific scenes play out in Paris, we have to take basic steps to protect ourselves from the growing threat of radical Islamic terrorism,” Cruz said in a…Philip Wegmann -
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Vote of Confidence: House Freedom Caucus Keeps Jim Jordan in Charge
For months, the House Freedom Caucus has been shaking up Congress. Monday night, the group of conservatives opted to keep that momentum going by re-electing Rep. Jim Jordan as chairman. Widely respected among the caucus, the Ohio Republican ran unopposed and was elected unanimously. Another founding member of the caucus, Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., said…Philip Wegmann -
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Sen. Ted Cruz Goes After Justice Department for Operation Choke Point
During a confirmation hearing for a high-ranking Justice Department nominee, Sen. Ted Cruz accused the agency of abusing its power as part of its involvement in Operation Choke Point. “By cutting off financial resources to lawful small businesses, Operation Choke Point is an abuse of power that undermines the integrity of the DOJ,” Cruz, R-Texas,…Kelsey Bolar