Politics Headlines

IRS official refuses to answer questions at scandal hearing

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WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of a scandal about extra tax scrutiny of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday she had done nothing wrong but invoked her constitutional right not to answer questions. | Video

6:10pm EDT

Immigration bill gets Senate boost; House effort teetering

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WASHINGTON - Supporters of U.S. immigration reform are hoping that the smooth and drama-free passage of their legislation through a Senate committee - a departure from almost everything that has happened in Congress over the past four years - will boost the likelihood of the bill winning full Senate approval.

U.S. 6:29pm EDT

Liberal Democrat wins Los Angeles mayor's race

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LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Councilman Eric Garcetti, elected mayor in a race shaped by dire fiscal constraints and questions of how to tame runaway budget deficits, declared victory on Wednesday by tweeting "the hard work begins."

U.S. 4:43pm EDT

Amid rancor, a chance for U.S. action on trade bill

WASHINGTON - Major trade legislation appears increasingly likely to clear Congress this year despite an intensely partisan atmosphere made worse by scandals plaguing President Barack Obama's administration.

12:05pm EDT

Disgraced ex-congressman Weiner announces candidacy for NYC mayor

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NEW YORK - Two years after resigning from Congress in a lewd photo scandal, former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner announced in a video message early on Wednesday he is running for New York City mayor.

U.S. 9:45am EDT

Voters oust mayor of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in primary

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- The embattled mayor of Pennsylvania's financially crippled capital of Harrisburg was ousted on Tuesday when she lost the Democratic primary to the owner of an independent bookstore.

U.S., 12:59am EDT

Kerry hails tentative Raytheon arms sale to Oman

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MUSCAT - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry hailed on Wednesday what U.S. officials said was an estimated $2.1 billion deal for Oman to buy a ground-based air defense system from U.S. defense contractor Raytheon Co..

3:53am EDT

Tue, May 21 2013

House panel approves spending cuts, assumes more to come

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WASHINGTON - The Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives made clear on Tuesday that automatic spending cuts will be a recurring nightmare for Washington as it passed a measure to sharply reduce funding for government agencies and programs next year.

21 May 2013

IRS officials thwart lawmakers' quest for answers on IRS scandal

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WASHINGTON - Three congressional hearings during the past week have allowed lawmakers to vent their anger at the U.S. tax agency for its targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny, but the sessions have yielded few answers about who was responsible.

Money 6:33pm EDT

Senate panel backs arming Syria rebels

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WASHINGTON - A Senate panel voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to send weapons to rebels fighting Syria's government, but it was not clear who would get the arms even if the bill succeeds, as Washington struggles to deal with its response to the conflict.

World, Syria 21 May 2013

Politics Video

IRS official refuses to answer questions at scandal hearing

IRS official refuses to answer questions at scandal hearing

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Front Row Washington

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McCain, Biden coming together for Sedona, Arizona forum

These days Washington is not known for bipartisanship, but every now and then a breakthrough is made. It is noteworthy that Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Senator John McCain, a Republican, are appearing together at a forum in Sedona, Arizona on Friday.