Congress leaves Washington, its dysfunction on display

Congress exited a sweltering Washington on Thursday, its dysfunction on full display as it left behind must-do legislation to combat the mosquito-borne Zika virus and a stalemate over lawmakers' basic job of fulfilling agency budgets. The twin failures highlighted the one step forward, two steps back nature of the bitterly-divided Congress, even as Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan trumpeted victories on drug abuse legislation and other, more modest bills.

VA advisory group: Critics wrong to ignore ‘MyVA’ reforms

A veterans medical center is seen in San Diego on May 2, 2016. A proposal that a Washington lawmaker made on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, is calling for the nation's veterans hospitals to be transferred from the Department of Veterans Affairs to a charitable nonprofit corporation.

Walker, Ryan, Duffy to speak at GOP convention

Speaker Paul Ryan, Gov. Scott Walker, U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy and Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke are all scheduled to speak at the convention that begins Monday in Cleveland. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, a Wisconsin native, is also speaking.

Donald Trump releases speakers list for GOP convention – and one person is noticeably missing

Donald Trump has released the speaking list for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and one major figure is noticeably missing. he list, sent out Thursday morning, omitted Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, a potential running mate who met with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee privately on Wednesday, heightening speculation that he could be selected as Trump's choice for vice president.

Boeing Hedging Its Bets

Boeing executives are mischaracterizing Congressional efforts to block a controversial $25 billion aircraft sale to Iran, according to lawmakers who spoke to THE WEEKLY STANDARD about statements by executives from the aerospace company. The lawmakers reiterated calls on Boeing to drop its planned sale to Iran Air, whose planes have been used by the Iranian military to transport weapons, according to the Obama administration.

Mitch McConnell: A Legacy of Obstruction

Next Tuesday marks 125 days since President Barack Obama nominated D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Merrick Garland, an eminently qualified judge, to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The Senate's inaction on the Garland nomination is the longest a Supreme Court nominee has ever waited for a hearing or confirmation.

Republicans “Acting at Behest of Big Oil” Trying to Block Investigation of Exxon “Fraud”

"The American people will wake up tomorrow morning shaking their heads when they learn that a small group of radical Republican house members is trying to block a serious law enforcement investigation of potential fraud at Exxon." This is how Eric Soufer , a spokesperson for the New York Attorney General's office responded to an unprecedented subpoena to them, as well as to the Attorney General of Massachusetts and eight environmental groups, by the House Science Committee yesterday.

Poll: Portman gains ground in Senate race

Rob Portman has taken the lead in Ohio's hotly contested U.S. Senate race, according to a new poll released Thursday. Poll: Portman gains ground in Senate race Rob Portman has taken the lead in Ohio's hotly contested U.S. Senate race, according to a new poll released Thursday.

.com | Trump and family meet with final VP candidates

Indianapolis Republican Donald Trump on Wednesday entered the final phase of his high-profile search for a running mate, arranging last-minute meetings with his finalists and family members as his staff prepares for a Friday announcement. Trump posted on Twitter on Wednesday evening that he would reveal his choice at 11:00 on Friday in Manhattan.

Large number of GOP senators skipping Trump’s convention

In this July 7, 2015, file photo, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, A large number of GOP senators are skipping next week's convention in Cleveland, citing a range of prior commitments, from fly-fishing to lawn-mowing. Although a majority of the Republican senators do plan to attend, the level of absenteeism is high as Donald Trump prepares to claim the Republican Party's nomination.

Polls in 3 crucial states show Trump improving

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are deadlocked in the crucial swing states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, according to new polls showing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee gaining strength on his Democratic rival because of doubts about her honesty. Surveys from Quinnipiac University show the two candidates statistically tied in the states going into their party conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia this month.

Tennessee Governor Outsources Governor’s Residence for Political Fundraiser

Senator Lee Harris and Representative John Ray Clemmons today called on Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to account for any state tax dollars he is using to host Representative Diane Black's July 21st, political fundraiser at the Governor's residence and return those funds to the taxpayers. "Haslam will outsource anything, even the Governor's Residence for a congressional fundraiser," said Representative John Ray Clemmons.

Donald Trump and family meet with VP finalists

Republican Donald Trump on Wednesday entered the final phase of his high-profile search for a running mate, arranging last-minute meetings with his finalists and family members as his staff prepares for a Friday announcement. He began Wednesday with breakfast at the residence of one, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Wednesday morning, a day after the pair campaigned together in the state.

House GOP uses funding bill to attack Arctic drilling rules

The Department of Interior finalized new safety rules for drilling in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska last week, but it took just six days for House Republicans to find a way to block them. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, offered an amendment to a $32.1 billion spending bill for Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency that would prohibit the department from spending any money on the new regulations.