Daily news coverage of politics, policy, and issues shaping the nation.
Releasing a pair of polls on the Affordable Care Act, Gallup noted Wednesday that the nation’s uninsured rate remained steady at 13.4 percent for the third quarter. On the same day, the national polling company found the health law—known as Obamacare—is still unpopular, with more Americans directly impacted saying the law hurt them (27 percent)…
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s announcement of the Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government drew applause from across the commonwealth. The politician-populated commission will look at caps on gifts for lawmakers, policies on personal use of campaign funds and procedures for congressional redistricting, among many others. But it also plans to take up…
Previously unpublished data from the last big election in Burlington, Vt., reveals a significant number of votes were cast by individuals whose names were not on the statewide checklist. In the 2012 presidential election, 17,383 votes were cast in Burlington, according to city-published data. According to data not published by the city, but made available…
Unable to break free from each other in the polls, North Carolina’s Senate candidates played offense Tuesday in their second debate. Incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan and her Republican challenger, North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis, both used a specific weapon — numbers — to make their attacks clear. With time running out before the Nov….
More than a dozen Senate Republicans today asked House Speaker John Boehner to stop the Obama administration from bailing out health insurance companies that participate in Obamacare. In a letter to the top House Republican, 13 fellow Republicans joined Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida to preempt unlawful spending by the administration using a provision of the…
As the number of pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong dwindles, one of the city’s veteran leaders is a key figure in seeking a compromise with the pro-Beijing camp on how to elect a new chief executive. “It is imperative that the Hong Kong government offer some concession–and a significant one–that can convince the die-hards in…
Former President Jimmy Carter sharply criticized President Obama for his handling of foreign policy yesterday, saying it’s often “hard to figure out what his policy is.” In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the nation’s 39th president accused Obama of violating the U.S. Constitution with drone strikes that killed Americans. >>> Drone Strikes: The Legality of U.S….
In the ongoing battle to deprive Mideast terrorists of financial support, one member of Congress vows he’ll make sure a group of violent extremists gets cash from U.S. taxpayers. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., defended U.S. funding of the Palestinian Authority, even though it includes members of Hamas, which the United States classifies as a terrorist organization. Connolly’s remarks, at a Sept….
Answering a simple “yes or no” question at last night’s debate in Colorado’s U.S. Senate wasn’t easy for either the incumbent Democrat, Sen. Mark Udall, or his Republican challenger, Rep. Cory Gardner. “I don’t think we should shortchange serious issues with yes or no answers without being able to talk about them now,” Gardner said…
And then there was linen. Veterans Affairs hospital officials in Shreveport, La., stocked the cabinets with linen, pajamas and towels cabinets after an investigation exposed that the hospital routinely did not have enough of these items to meet patient needs. Three employees at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center said linens were plentiful at the 10-story…
A food inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture who was suspended for failing to discover that rats had infested a pasta-making plant has won a fight to overturn his punishment and get back pay. Now, a federal labor board has directed an arbitrator to consider whether taxpayers also should reimburse the $67,589-a-year federal worker for…
A Senate race in Alaska—and control of the upper chamber of Congress—may be decided by issues that matter little to the rest of the country, like fishing rights and genetically modified salmon. Republicans are banking on Alaska to be one of the six new seats the GOP needs to take control of the Senate, with…
According to the creators of a new show, comedy has been politically one-sided for too long—and they want to show viewers the flipside. “I want to give a voice to the people who have no voice,” says @flipsideloftus. According to its website, “The Flipside” seeks to offer viewers “a fresh perspective by taking on the…
The AFL-CIO spent more than $30 million on politics during the past year, using money from workers to support political causes across the country. The labor union reported “political activities” totaling $28 million for its 2014 fiscal year, which ended on June 30. Another $4.8 million in AFL-CIO payments to political nonprofits was reported to the U.S. Department of…
Forty-eight percent of Americans pray “every day,” and 31 percent pray “several times a day,” according to a new survey by LifeWay Research. In addition to how often people pray, the survey analyzed what people pray for. Of people who pray, 82 percent pray for family and friends, and 74 percent pray for their own…
Red states give more money to charity than blue states, according to a new report by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. The study measured gifts to charity by taxpayers who itemized deductions on their tax forms. The Chronicle compared states’ giving habits to how they voted in the 2012 presidential election. They found that the 17…
Shirtless, armless and legless–meet Noah Galloway. Loading #Bataan View on Instagram The 32-year-old father of three is the “2014 Ultimate Men’s Health Guy” and will adorn newsstands across the nation this month with his November cover in Men’s Health magazine. Wow! Thanks to all who voted for me. Proud to represent @MensHealthMag! #KCMankind #guysearch #noexcusesnoah…
Meal, drink, tip … insurance? Some Los Angeles restaurants are adding a 3 percent surcharge to diners’ tabs in order to cover employees’ health insurance. The owners of the restaurants deny that the additional charge is a “political statement” about the Affordable Care Act, saying it’s merely a way to provide for their employees. “We…
Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper spoke honestly about Colorado’s decision to legalize marijuana, comments that could shake up the tight gubernatorial contest. “What the hell—I’ll say it was reckless,” he said on Monday during a debate against Republican challenger Bob Beauprez. Hickenlooper was referring to Amendment 64, which made Colorado the first state to legalize recreational…
Just weeks after attacking his Republican opponent on Ebola, Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., yesterday struggled to answer questions from a reporter about President Obama’s response to the international crisis. Pryor, who is locked in a close race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate, criticized Republican Rep. Tom Cotton on emergency preparedness to a…