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
Ted Cruz Willing to Use ‘Any and All’ Tools to Stop Export-Import Bank Reauthorization
With talk of the Export-Import Bank’s reauthorization continuing on Capitol Hill, Sen. Ted Cruz said today he plans to use “any and all” tools possible to stop the 81-year-old agency from coming back to life. Speaking to reporters in front of the U.S. Capitol today, Cruz, R-Texas, raised the prospect of filibustering a highway funding…Melissa Quinn -
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The New York Times Leaves Ted Cruz’s Book Off Bestseller List
The New York Times has refused to include a book written by Sen. Ted Cruz on its bestseller list. Cruz, R-Texas, who is a 2016 presidential candidate, published his book, “A Time for Truth,” on June 30. On Thursday, Politico reported that the book “sold 11,854 copies in its first week:” That’s more than 18…Kate Scanlon -
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Lindsey Graham: Removing Confederate Flag From South Carolina Capital Was ‘Right Decision’
MANCHESTER, N.H. – During a meet and greet here Friday, Sen. Lindsey Graham said that it has “been a tough three weeks” in his home state of South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the confederate battle flag that, until today, flew on the South Carolina Statehouse grounds. “The flag came down today, it was…Kate Scanlon -
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Rand Paul Exposes $25,000 Federal Grant for Oscars Museum
Sen. Rand Paul put Hollywood in the spotlight Monday revealing a $25,000 federal grant billing taxpayers for the building of an Oscars museum. The National Endowment for the Arts is sending the federal dollars to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science to help build what the academy claims as the “world’s premier museum”…Natalie Johnson -
- Opinion
How ‘Robert Bork’s America’ Gave Us Justice Kennedy’s America
It would go down in history as Sen. Edward Kennedy’s “Robert Bork’s America” speech. Judge Bork, a brilliant constitutional scholar, had been nominated by President Reagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, and Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, was having none of it. Just minutes after Bork was nominated in July…Betsy Hart -
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If Elected President, Lindsey Graham Would Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ To Defeat ISIS
MASON CITY, Iowa— At Music Man Square here Wednesday night, Sen. Lindsey Graham touted himself as a “very good commander-in-chief” who would do “whatever it takes” to defeat ISIS if he were to win the presidency in 2016. “I’m running for president because I’m very much worried about where we’re going,” said Graham, R-S.C., who…Leah Jessen -
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Ted Cruz: ‘Tragic’ Supreme Court Decisions Are ‘Judicial Activism’
DES MOINES, Iowa—At a campaign appearance here, Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday railed against two “tragic” Supreme Court decisions, criticizing the verdicts as “judicial activism.” “Both decisions were judicial activism, plain and simple,” said Cruz, referring to the Supreme Court’s decisions to legalize gay marriage and allow nationwide health care subsidies under Obamacare. “Even in…Leah Jessen -
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John Boehner Spokesman Attacks Reporter: ‘A Prop for Freedom Caucus Propaganda’
House conservatives have suffered their share of retribution from GOP leadership over the past few years. Now, it appears journalists could be in store for punishment, too. Roll Call reporter Matt Fuller, who has covered the conservatives’ clash with leadership, was on the receiving end of a personal attack from Speaker John Boehner’s top communicator…Robert B. Bluey -
- Opinion
Exclusive: Ted Cruz on the ‘Age of Cronyism’ in Washington
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sat down for an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal to talk about what he describes as the “age of cronyism” in Washington. From the backroom deals being made to push through President Obama’s trade agenda to the fight over the Export-Import Bank, sugar subsidies and the ongoing battle to repeal Obamacare,…Genevieve Wood -
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Sean Hannity: ‘We Need a New Speaker’
Conservative talk-radio host Sean Hannity voiced outrage over Speaker John Boehner’s treatment of House conservatives, calling leadership’s punishment of members “disgusting.” “How pathetic in my opinion that John Boehner is so petty,” says @SeanHannity During an interview Wednesday with two lawmakers who bucked party leadership, Hannity directed his criticism at Boehner, the Ohio Republican, for…Robert B. Bluey -
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Why Ken Buck Is the Latest Conservative to Be Punished by House Republican Leadership
Freshman Rep. Ken Buck is now the latest conservative member to face retribution from House Republican leadership, as his fellow freshman lawmakers will gather tomorrow to decide if he will remain freshman class president. Buck, of Colorado, joins a growing number of conservatives who have been punished by the party’s top leaders for bucking the…Melissa Quinn -
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Ted Cruz: ‘Washington Fairness’ Is ‘Hammer the Little Guy, Help the Big Guy’
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz spoke out today against the cozy relationship between lawmakers on Capitol Hill and corporations’ lobbyists, or what he calls the “Washington Cartel.” He criticized lawmakers with open “ears and wallets” for appeasing special interests while hurting U.S. taxpayers. “Let me explain to you how it works: A bill is set to…Melissa Quinn -
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Ted Cruz Reverses Trade Position Hours Before Vote
Sen. Ted Cruz switched his position on major trade legislation that expedites presidential trade negotiations, announcing early Tuesday he would vote against the bill just hours before the Senate voted to narrowly pass the deal. The Texas Republican publicized his vote reversal in an op-ed for Breitbart News, citing immigration provisions covered under Trade Promotion…Natalie Johnson -
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Rand Paul Warns GOP Leadership: Don’t Give Us ‘Obamacare Lite’
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., tells The Daily Signal that he’s not in favor of a GOP plan to extend Obamacare subsidies for a couple of years if the Supreme Court rules they are unconstitutional in the King v. Burwell case. “By keeping parts of Obamacare and letting it sputter on for awhile and saying we’re just…David Brody -
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Lindsey Graham Introduces Senate Plan to Ban Late-Term Abortions
Getting one step closer to what could be the most significant pro-life victory since the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, Sen. Lindsey Graham today introduced a measure in the U.S. Senate that would drastically limit women’s ability to access abortions past a certain point in their pregnancy. The legislation, called the Pain-Capable Unborn…Kelsey Bolar -
- Opinion
Senator Rand Paul Cracks Down on Government Waste and Corporate Welfare
This afternoon, the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management will hold a hearing on “Wasteful Spending in the Federal Government.” Romina Boccia, the Grover M. Hermann Research Fellow in Federal Budgetary Affairs and Research Manager at The Heritage Foundation, will testify on eliminating wasteful government spending by cutting corporate welfare. Corporate welfare, one form of crony capitalism, redistributes taxpayer resources to well-connected interest groups, rather…Amber Athey -
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Rand Paul Returns to New Hampshire With an Anti-Washington Message
MANCHESTER, N.H.—Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., celebrated what he characterized as a small victory against the government’s bulk collection of metadata at the grand opening of his Manchester campaign office. “It wasn’t a complete victory, but we did send a message to the president. The court told him it was illegal, and last week Congress told…Kate Scanlon -
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Conservatives Accuse Mitch McConnell of Playing Politics With Debate Over NSA ‘Spying’ Program
House conservatives today accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of playing politics with the 2015 USA Freedom Act, a measure designed to scale back the government’s mining of personal data in the post-9/11 era. “I believe Mitch McConnell supports the USA Freedom Act,” Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., told reporters today at a panel event on…Kelsey Bolar -
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At Town Hall Event, Rand Paul Makes Case for Limited Government
Londonderry, N.H.—During a town hall event in New Hampshire today, 2016 presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul said there are two arguments for keeping government small—the “liberty argument” and the “efficiency argument.” “The liberty argument was put forward by Thomas Paine; he said ‘government is a necessary evil,’” Paul said. “Oh, that sounds terrible, he’s saying…Kate Scanlon -
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Lindsey Graham on Radical Islam: ‘I’m Going to Stand Up to These Thugs’
DES MOINES, Iowa—In an interview with Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican says he’ll announce his intentions about a presidential campaign either next month or in June. But whenever he decides, Graham has a clear message for voters: “Security through strength.” >>> Update: Graham declared his candidacy for president June 1 in his hometown…David Brody