National Politics

Politics Effort building to change U.S. marijuana laws

By GENE JOHNSON Associated Press Published: Feb 4, 2013 at 12:57 PM PDT Last Updated: Feb 4, 2013 at 2:32 PM PDT

An effort is building in Congress to change U.S. marijuana laws, including moves to legalize the industrial production of hemp and establish a federal pot tax.

Politics Scouts considering retreat from no-gays policy

By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer Published: Jan 28, 2013 at 12:34 PM PDT Last Updated: Jan 28, 2013 at 2:30 PM PDT

The Boys Scouts of America is considering a dramatic change in its controversial policy of excluding gays as leaders and youth members.

Politics Senators reach agreement on immigration reform

By ERICA WERNER Associated Press Published: Jan 28, 2013 at 8:14 AM PDT Last Updated: Jan 28, 2013 at 11:33 AM PDT

A bipartisan group of leading senators has reached agreement on the principles of sweeping legislation to rewrite the nation's immigration laws.

Politics Senate confirms Kerry nomination for State Dept.

By DONNA CASSATA Associated Press Published: Jan 29, 2013 at 2:37 PM PDT Last Updated: Jan 29, 2013 at 4:42 PM PDT

The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed President Barack Obama's choice of five-term Sen. John Kerry to be secretary of state, with Republicans and Democrats praising him as the ideal successor to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Politics House votes to defuse debt limit crisis

By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press Published: Jan 23, 2013 at 12:04 PM PDT Last Updated: Jan 23, 2013 at 12:51 PM PDT

The House overwhelmingly passed a bill Wednesday to permit the government to borrow enough money to avoid a first avoid default for at least four months, defusing a crisis looming next month and setting the stage for a springtime debate over taxes, spending and the deficit.

Politics Obama unveils executive actions, legislation aimed at gun violence (Photo Gallery)

By ERICA WERNER Associated Press Published: Jan 16, 2013 at 10:13 AM PDT Last Updated: Jan 16, 2013 at 1:24 PM PDT

Braced for a fight, President Barack Obama on Wednesday unveiled the most sweeping proposals for curbing gun violence in two decades.

Politics Obama weighing executive action on guns

By ERICA WERNER Associated Press Published: Jan 15, 2013 at 7:46 AM PDT Last Updated: Jan 15, 2013 at 10:35 AM PDT

Facing powerful opposition to sweeping gun regulations, President Barack Obama is weighing 19 steps that could be taken through executive action alone, congressional officials said.

Politics Obama taps Hagel for Pentagon, Brennan for CIA

By JULIE PACE AP White House Correspondent Published: Jan 7, 2013 at 12:22 PM PDT Last Updated: Jan 7, 2013 at 2:35 PM PDT

President Barack Obama announced Monday he will nominate former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary, calling him "the leader our troops deserve."

Politics 'Fiscal cliff' standoff over, Obama back in Hawaii (Video)

By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press Published: Jan 2, 2013 at 5:35 PM PDT Last Updated: Jan 2, 2013 at 10:43 PM PDT

A week after rushing to Washington to help end a tense, end-of-year standoff with Congress, President Barack Obama is back in Hawaii for vacation.

Politics Lawmakers postpone tough decisions on spending, debt

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writers Published: Jan 2, 2013 at 7:57 AM PDT Last Updated: Jan 2, 2013 at 10:31 AM PDT

Another standoff is likely to arrive as early as February, when Congress will need to raise the $16.4 trillion federal borrowing limit so the government can keep paying its bills.

Politics Despite deal, taxes to rise for most Americans

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press Published: Jan 2, 2013 at 8:03 AM PDT Last Updated: Jan 2, 2013 at 1:46 PM PDT

While the tax package that Congress passed New Year's Day will protect 99 percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of them will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.

Politics Cliff avoided: Congress staves off tax hikes (Video)

By ALAN FRAM and DAVID ESPO Associated Press Published: Jan 1, 2013 at 3:46 PM PDT Last Updated: Jan 2, 2013 at 12:15 AM PDT

Past its own New Year's deadline, a weary Congress sent President Barack Obama legislation to avoid a national "fiscal cliff" of middle class tax increases and spending cuts late Tuesday night in the culmination of a struggle that strained America's divided government to the limit.

Politics Obama: Fiscal cliff deal close, not done as deadline looms

By DAVID ESPO, Associated Press Published: Dec 31, 2012 at 7:43 AM PDT Last Updated: Dec 31, 2012 at 6:13 PM PDT

Agonizingly close to a New Year's Eve compromise, the White House and congressional Republicans agreed Monday to block across-the-board tax increases set for midnight, but held up a final deal as they haggled away the final hours of 2012 in a dispute over spending cuts.

Politics Obama says immediate action needed on fiscal cliff (Video)

By DAVID ESPO Associated Press Published: Dec 28, 2012 at 4:12 PM PDT Last Updated: Dec 28, 2012 at 6:27 PM PDT

President Barack Obama says "the hour for immediate action is here" on a deal to avert the fiscal cliff.

Politics White House meeting a last attempt to dodge fiscal cliff

By JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press Published: Dec 28, 2012 at 11:23 AM PDT Last Updated: Dec 28, 2012 at 1:14 PM PDT

President Barack Obama was preparing to present a limited fiscal proposal to congressional leaders at a White House meeting Friday, a make-or-break moment for negotiations to avoid across-the-board tax increases and deep spending cuts at the first of the year.