U.S. Politics
Around-the-clock political news and analysis from Reuters. Follow @ReutersPolitics for more.
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Justice Department appeals judge's immigration order
ReutersThe U.S. Justice Department filed an appeal late Saturday to restore President Donald Trump's immigration order barring citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries and temporarily banning refugees, even as travelers raced to enter the country while the ban was lifted. -
MORE: Judge's ruling 'second guesses the president's national security judgment': Justice Dept
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BREAKING: Judge's block of Trump's travel ban harms the public by 'thwarting enforcement of executive order': Justice Dept. appeal filing
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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is expected to hold a press conference at 2:00pm ET (1900 GMT) on the House of Representative's failure to pass the Hurricane Sandy relief bill before the Congressional session ends. -
Live video: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie holds press conference on Hurricane Sandy relief bill http://bit.ly/YT6gpWby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/2/2013 7:01:14 PM -
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: "Governor Cuomo and I will not stop fighting together to see that justice is done and that our citizens' suffering is finally addressed by this Congress."
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New Jersey Gov. Christie blasts U.S. House Speaker Boehner for delaying Sandy aid bill http://bit.ly/YT6gpWby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/2/2013 7:21:26 PM
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Gov. Christie on failure to pass Sandy relief bill: "This is, unfortunately, the toxic politics of Congress right now."by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:22:46 PM -
Gov. Christie: "Our people were played last night as a pawn. That's why people hate Washington, D.C."by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:23:17 PM
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Gov. Christie: "Last night, it was my party responsible...for this."by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:23:26 PM
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Gov. Christie: "He hasn't lost all credibility with me," speaking about Boehnerby Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:25:48 PM
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Gov. Christie says Congress caught up in politics of "fake fiscal cliff."by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:28:09 PM
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Gov. Christie on Congress: "We sent them there to do the work for us, not to sit down there and play with each other."by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:28:34 PM
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Gov. Christie: "They are so consumed with their own internal politics that they have forgotten they have a job to do."by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:29:04 PM
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Gov. Christie: "I'm not dealing with the Tea Party. Next?"by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:29:44 PM
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Gov. Christie: "There's been no substantive reasons given to me" as to why Sandy bill wasn't vote on.
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Reporter calls fiscal cliff "epic battle." Gov. Christie: "Really? Is that what you call it? A huge, epic battle?"
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Gov. Christie currently speaking to constituents on Sandy relief. CNN, MSNBC, FOX not carrying press conference.
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None of the local channels in New York (WCBS, WABC, WNBC, WNYW, WPIX, WWOR) are carrying Gov. Christie press conference on-air.by Matthew Keys via twitter 1/2/2013 7:36:50 PM
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Gov. Christie: "Have some guts. Put it up, vote yes or no, and then move on."
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Senate panel to examine CIA contacts with "Zero Dark Thirty" filmmakers http://reut.rs/WlLHkmby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/3/2013 12:39:02 AM
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Bigger fights loom after "fiscal cliff" deal http://reut.rs/WmfKbLby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/3/2013 5:42:33 AM
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New Congress will take fresh crack at old problems http://reut.rs/UepHNrby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/3/2013 6:31:18 AM
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Analysis: Republicans start new Congress bruised and divided
In the wake of bruising fights in their own ranks over the "fiscal cliff" and aid for victims of superstorm Sandy - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives open a new Congress on Thursday more divided than ever.
While their leader, Speaker John Boehner, seems in no danger of losing his position because of the divisions, his ability to speak for his membership in the House appears greatly diminished.
That could not come at a worse time for Republicans as they prepare for their next attempt to get more spending cuts out of President Barack Obama. They will try to use the debt ceiling - and Obama's request to raise it - as leverage, as they did in 2011.
But if the final days of this Congress were indicative of things to come, Republicans will have a rough time effectively using their majority in the House against Obama, who even Republicans acknowledge is at the top of his game following the Democrat's re-election in November.
The fiscal cliff battle to avert steep tax hikes and spending cuts that were due to kick in at the start of this year proved gut-wrenching for Republicans.
Obama's demand for a tax hike on the rich challenged a core principle that has guided Republicans for decades: No new taxes. Ever.
Yet, late on New Year's night, 85 Republicans in the House did just that, voting to raise income taxes on household income of more than $450,000 a year.
Read on... -
Clinton discharged from hospital, doctors expect full recovery
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was discharged from a New York hospital on Wednesday after being treated for a blood clot near her brain and her doctors expect her to make a full recovery, the State Department said.
Clinton, who has not been seen in public since December 7, was at New York-Presbyterian Hospital under treatment for a blood clot behind her right ear that stemmed from a concussion she suffered in mid-December, the department said on Sunday.
The concussion was the result of an earlier illness, described by the State Department as a stomach virus she had picked up during a trip to Europe that led to dehydration and a fainting spell after she returned to the United States.
"Secretary Clinton was discharged from the hospital this evening. Her medical team advised her that she is making good progress on all fronts, and they are confident she will make a full recovery," Philippe Reines, a deputy assistant secretary of state, said in a statement.
Reines said Clinton was "eager to get back to the office."
Read on... -
The dome of the U.S. Capitol is reflected on the first day of the 113th Congress in Washington January 3, 2013. In the wake of bruising fights in their own ranks over the "fiscal cliff" and aid for victims of superstorm Sandy - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives open a new Congress on Thursday more divided than ever. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) walks with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) as Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden watch on his return to the U.S. Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington January 3, 2013. Kirk returned to the Senate after suffering a major stroke nearly a year ago. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
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A procedural recap for those who may just be joining us. A candidate must win an absolute majority of a House roll call vote to become Speaker. As ABC News explained earlier:Assuming all 433 members of the House vote, (there are two open seats), Boehner would need 217 votes to lock up another term as speaker. With 233 Republicans in the House this term, 17 Republicans would have to vote for someone else in order to send the question to a second ballot.
As The Hill reports, Boehner eked out a win after nine Republicans voted for other members of the party. His final total was 220 votes, which accounts for several other members who abstained or voted “present” to avoid moving Boehner’s total closer to the 217 needed to eclipse 50% of the 433 members today. The two vacant seats, awaiting special elections to bring the House to its usual 435 members, are those of Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) and Tim Scott (R-SC).
A vote without a majority winner would have necessitated another roll call vote, repeating until a candidate won the majority, and the field is not winnowed down. Though this hasn’t been necessary since 1923, some in conservative circles were floating this scenario as a way of expressing dissatisfaction with Boehner’s leadership.
Much more on House vote intrigue past, present, and perhaps future in this study (PDF) written by Richard S. Beth and Valerie Heitshusen and published by Congressional Research Service last year. -
U.S.: time not right for Google executive's North Korea trip http://reut.rs/Ui1Mggby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/3/2013 6:55:33 PM
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Who voted against Boehner for speaker and why? [Washington Post]
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Record number of women sworn into new U.S. Congress http://reut.rs/WnXzCyby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/3/2013 7:28:32 PM
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Updating the procedural post below, NPR reports that Boehner only needed 214 votes to win re-election as Speaker today, rather than 217, as only 427 members were present:
— Boehner received 220 votes.
— Pelosi received 192.
— 10 other people received a total of 14 votes.
— There was one "present" vote.
So, Boehner needed at least 214 votes, it appears (a majority of the 427 members present) and got six more than that.
As the paper linked to earlier explains (and why not one more time?), one must win a majority of “the total number of votes cast for a person by name” in order to become speaker. -
Graphic: In 2011, the NRA spent over 12 times more on lobbying than all gun control lobbyists combined http://bit.ly/W7OQn2by ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/3/2013 9:13:51 PM
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Speaker of the House John Boehner bangs the gavel during the first day of the 113th Congress at the Capitol in Washington January 3, 2013. Despite a rocky few weeks during the "fiscal cliff" fight, Boehner won re-election as speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday and will lead Republicans as they take on the White House over federal spending. Boehner beat Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi by 220-192 in the speakership vote on the first day of a new Congress. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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U.S. approves health exchanges in four Republican-governed states http://reut.rs/WoiVQ7by ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/3/2013 9:56:32 PM
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Congressional critics of bin Laden film step up pressure on CIA http://reut.rs/WoJ5SOby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/4/2013 12:41:35 AM
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Analysis: Geithner's planned departure puts Obama in tough spot http://reut.rs/WoPVHYby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/4/2013 1:13:41 AM
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Insight: "Fiscal cliff" fracas: From smiles to distrust to rancor http://reut.rs/Ulo0hiby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/4/2013 6:35:33 AM
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Postal Service looks to new Congress for rescue http://reut.rs/UofYnXby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/4/2013 6:03:01 PM
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Hillary Clinton has spoken to Senator John Kerry regarding a smooth transition - State Dept briefing. Live updates: http://live.reuters.com/Event/Politicsby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/4/2013 6:09:28 PM
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State Dept will not give details on requested postponement of Richarson/Google meeting with North Korea. Live updates: http://live.reuters.com/Event/Politicsby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/4/2013 6:11:35 PM
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Patriot missiles on Turkey border will be deployed today and continue until the end of Jan - State Dept. Live updates: http://live.reuters.com/Event/Politicsby ReutersPolitics via twitter 1/4/2013 6:20:16 PM
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"I interviewed Chuck Hagel in July. Had no real sense that he would be top contender for SecDef job." - James Ledbetter (@ledbetreuters)
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"The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency." (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
As UAE hails Israel accord, silence from Saudi Arabia
DUBAI/RIYADH As media and people in the United Arab Emirates hailed the Gulf state's deal to normalise relations with Israel as a diplomatic victory that helps the Palestinians, silence reigned in Saudi Arabia, longtime figurehead of regional policy towards Israel.