Obama Sends Congress $3.77 Trillion Spending Plan

President Barack Obama is sending Congress a $3.77 trillion spending blueprint that seeks to achieve an elusive “grand bargain” to tame runaway deficits by raising taxes further on the wealthy and trimming popular benefit programs such as Social Security. The president’s proposal being unveiled Wednesday includes an additional $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction over the […]

Associated Press
By Associated Press

President Barack Obama is sending Congress a $3.77 trillion spending blueprint that seeks to achieve an elusive "grand bargain" to tame runaway deficits by raising taxes further on the wealthy and trimming popular benefit programs such as Social Security. The president's proposal being unveiled Wednesday includes an additional $1.8 trillion in

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Obama Faces Major Tests In Coming Weeks That Will Determine His Legacy

President Obama finds himself in an extraordinary situation. In the next few weeks, the president’s legacy will be formed and tested as Congress takes up the questions of gun control, immigration and the government’s budget for the upcoming year. The president faces a steep battle against a recalcitrant Republican Party, which promises Obama a nearly […]

Frederick Reese
By Frederick Reese

President Obama finds himself in an extraordinary situation. In the next few weeks, the president’s legacy will be formed and tested as Congress takes up the questions of gun control, immigration and the government’s budget for the upcoming year. The president faces a steep battle against a recalcitrant Republican Party, which promises Obama a

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Pentagon Struggles With High Cost Of Health Care

The loud, insistent calls in Washington to rein in the rising costs of Social Security and Medicare ignore a major and expensive entitlement program — the military’s health care system. Despite dire warnings from three defense secretaries about the uncontrollable cost, Congress has repeatedly rebuffed Pentagon efforts to establish higher out-of-pocket fees and enrollment costs […]

Associated Press
By Associated Press

The loud, insistent calls in Washington to rein in the rising costs of Social Security and Medicare ignore a major and expensive entitlement program — the military's health care system. Despite dire warnings from three defense secretaries about the uncontrollable cost, Congress has repeatedly rebuffed Pentagon efforts to establish higher

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Senators Work On Deal Expanding Background Checks

Talks between two influential senators have emerged as the most promising route for a bipartisan breakthrough on expanding federal background checks for gun buyers, a pivotal part of President Barack Obama’s plan for combating gun violence. One possibility being discussed by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., would involve expanding background checks […]

Associated Press
By Associated Press

Talks between two influential senators have emerged as the most promising route for a bipartisan breakthrough on expanding federal background checks for gun buyers, a pivotal part of President Barack Obama's plan for combating gun violence. One possibility being discussed by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., would involve

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Obama Aide: Budget Will Make Both Parties Unhappy

The White House is warning friend and foe alike: They’re not going to like every part of President Barack Obama’s budget when it is released this week. White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer is telling Republicans their “my way or the highway” approach would spell the GOP’s defeat in upcoming budget negotiations. He also is […]

Associated Press
By Associated Press

The White House is warning friend and foe alike: They're not going to like every part of President Barack Obama's budget when it is released this week. White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer is telling Republicans their "my way or the highway" approach would spell the GOP's defeat in upcoming budget negotiations. He also is telling Obama's

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Obama: Proposed Budget Not His ‘Ideal’ Plan

Confronting bipartisan criticism, President Barack Obama conceded Saturday his proposed budget is not his “ideal plan” but said it offers “tough reforms” to the nation’s benefit programs while closing loopholes for the wealthy, a mix that he argued will provide long-term deficit reduction without harming the economy. In his first comments about a budget he […]

Associated Press
By Associated Press

Confronting bipartisan criticism, President Barack Obama conceded Saturday his proposed budget is not his "ideal plan" but said it offers "tough reforms" to the nation's benefit programs while closing loopholes for the wealthy, a mix that he argued will provide long-term deficit reduction without harming the economy. In his first comments about

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