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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Newt Gingrich: Choke Point ‘Is the Beginning of a Real Tyranny in the United States’
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal, Newt Gingrich called the Justice Department’s Operation Choke Point, “the beginning of a real tyranny in the United States,” and said the whole program needs to be dismantled. “I don’t think the average American realizes that the bureaucrats have come up with a model, which could kill…Kelsey Bolar -
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‘We’re Going to Keep Fighting This Battle’: Steve Scalise on Homeland Security Funding Fight
During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said that the House would “keep fighting” to both fund the Department of Homeland Security and stop the president’s “illegal” executive action on immigration. Scalise denied host Chris Wallace’s statement that the temporary funding bill merely “kicked the can down the road,”…Kate Scanlon -
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Rand Paul Tops CPAC Straw Poll for Third Year; Scott Walker Places Second
For the third straight year, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., won the presidential preference straw poll of attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. In results announced at about 5:15 p.m., Paul rolled up 26 percent of the vote to top the field of 17 possible Republican candidates for president next year. CPAC officials said he was…Ken McIntyre -
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Twitter Reacts to Mike Pence’s Reagan Dinner Keynote Speech
Indiana Governor Mike Pence closed out the second day of the Conservative Political Action Conference, keynoting the the Reagan Dinner Friday night. It was my honor to speak at tonight’s Reagan dinner at #CPAC2015. Thank you all for your support! pic.twitter.com/YOs7WX6a6Q — Mike Pence (@mike_pence) February 28, 2015 Listening to Mike Pence speak at CPAC….Ben Smith -
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Why John Bolton Hopes Rand Paul ‘Gets Redemption’ on Foreign Policy
National security needs to be at the forefront of the 2016 election, John Bolton told The Daily Signal at CPAC. “After six years of not paying attention, we have a lot of work to do,” said the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The possible 2016 contender also had harsh words for Sen. Rand…Daily Signal Staff -
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How Newt Gingrich Would Win Black and Hispanic Votes
Evoking the words of the late Rep. Jack Kemp, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told The Daily Signal that Republicans need to show people they care and listen to their concerns. In remarks that Gingrich admitted would probably get him in trouble, he outlined the approach 2016 candidates should take to convince black and Hispanic…Daily Signal Staff -
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Rand Paul: ‘Defend the Whole Bill of Rights’
The way to win more voters to the Republican banner is to guard “the whole Bill of Rights,” not just the Second Amendment, Sen. Rand Paul told an enthusiastic crowd of conservatives this afternoon. “We have to defend the whole Bill of Rights.”-@SenRandPaul at #CPAC2015 Democratic and independent voters too often identify the GOP with…Ken McIntyre -
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Ted Cruz Criticizes GOP Leadership for ‘Cutting a Deal’ with Democrats on Immigration
Sen. Ted Cruz criticized Republican leaders today for “cutting a deal” with Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid to help fund President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. The senator’s comments came at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington, D.C., where Cruz, R-Texas, delivered a speech and took questions from Fox News…Melissa Quinn -
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Sean Hannity to Put Jeb Bush on Hot Seat in CPAC Treat for Conservatives
Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush will take questions from conservative commentator Sean Hannity in what sounds like a must-see matchup Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington, D.C., The Daily Signal has learned. The move by the former Florida governor to face his conservative critics head-on through Hannity, a longtime champion of “bold…Ken McIntyre -
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Boehner: House ‘Has Done Its Job,’ Homeland Security Funding Up to Senate Democrats
House Speaker John Boehner said today that if funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires on Feb. 27, then the responsibility lies with Senate Democrats. During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Boehner, R-Ohio, said he is “certainly” prepared to allow the agency to shut down because Senate Democrats “would be to blame.” “The House has done…Kate Scanlon -
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Mitch McConnell Concedes Homeland Security Funding Bill Is ‘Stuck’ in Senate
In a move that surprised some Republicans in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters his chamber is “stuck” in its standoff with Democrats over funding the Department of Homeland Security. He put the onus on the House of Representatives to come up with a solution. “I think it’s clearly stuck in the Senate,…Kelsey Bolar -
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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Gets Plum Spot at Conservative Gathering
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who is high on the list of dream White House candidates for some conservatives, has grabbed a prime speaking slot at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, convening later this month outside Washington, D.C. The Daily Signal has learned that Pence will be the keynote speaker at CPAC’s Ronald Reagan Dinner on…Ken McIntyre -
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9 Interesting Facts About Lindsey Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced Thursday that he is actively exploring the possibility of a presidential run in 2016. >>> Update: Graham declared his candidacy for president June 1 in his hometown of Central, S.C., saying: “I want to be president to defeat the enemies trying to kill us, not just penalize them or criticize them…Kate Scanlon -
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Rand Paul Slams Federal Reserve’s Secrecy, Reintroduces Bill to ‘Audit the Fed’
Sen. Rand Paul is reviving his push to audit the Federal Reserve. The Kentucky Republican and presumptive 2016 presidential candidate said he wants to bring several of the Fed’s monetary activities under congressional oversight. In a statement released Monday, Paul said it was time to end the secrecy behind the Fed. He believes an audit…Ben Smith -
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Ted Cruz Pushes Plan to Criminalize Political Targeting by IRS
Sen. Ted Cruz wants to protect taxpayers from political targeting by the Internal Revenue Service. The Texas Republican introduced legislation yesterday making it crime to engage in such behavior as questions still linger about the full extent of the IRS scandal. This is not the first time Cruz has offered this type of legislation. In February 2014,…Ben Smith -
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How a Group of Kids Made John Boehner Break Down in Tears
Speaking at a school choice rally this morning, House Speaker John Boehner broke down in tears about his own educational upbringing at a Catholic school in Ohio. “I’ve got 11 brothers and sisters, grew up working at my dad’s bar,” Boehner said before a group of students. “And my parents sent all 12 of us to…Daily Signal Staff -
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Indiana’s Mike Pence Latest Republican Governor to Expand Medicaid
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence became the latest Republican governor to expand Medicaid in his state through what he billed as a series of “consumer-driven” reforms. But conservative groups are pushing back against the potential 2016 contender for growing an “already troubled entitlement program.” Pence announced his decision to expand Medicaid in Indiana yesterday. The Indiana…Melissa Quinn -
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Boehner Finalizing Plans to Pursue Legal Action Against Obama on Immigration
House Speaker John Boehner told Republicans in a closed-door meeting today that he is moving towards a plan to authorize legal action against the White House over President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. According to a source who attended the meeting, Boehner, R-Ohio, told lawmakers that the House will pursue a legal course that “gives…Josh Siegel -
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Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio ‘Surround’ Rand Paul in Opposing Obama’s Cuba Policy
U.S. relations with Cuba provided one of the few flash points last night as three Republican senators with their eyes on the White House met in California for a forum sponsored by conservative campaign donors. “I’m kind of surrounded on this one,” Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky quipped as he sat between his Cuban-American colleagues,…Ken McIntyre -
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How Nikki Haley Plans to Make South Carolina More Competitive
The governor of South Carolina has proposed lowering the state’s income tax rate from 7 percent to 5 percent, accompanied by a 10 cent hike in the state’s gas tax. In her annual State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Nikki Haley, R-S.C., said the state’s income tax puts it at a competitive “disadvantage.” “In order…Kate Scanlon