Key Words: Trump calls for taking guns first and going through due…

Flanked by Senators John Cornyn and Dianne Feinstein President Donald Trump meets with members of Congress to discuss school and community safety on Wednesday. President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday taking guns away from potential mass shooters, saying during a White House meeting with lawmakers, "I like taking the guns early."

Congress is searching for clarity from Trump

President Donald Trump has backed off his call on raising the minimum age for rifle purchases, or at least that's what Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., believes. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., meanwhile, thinks the administration is seriously weighing expanding background checks for gun purchases.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., speaks to the media during a news…

Nearly two dozen House Republicans are pushing Speaker Paul D. Ryan for a quick vote on a bill to get more records into the national instant check system, as lawmakers search for a legislative response to the most recent mass shooting that has a realistic shot at passing Congress . The Republicans pushing for the vote say Sen. John Cornyn's "Fix NICS" bill could help the system flag more people who show signs of violent mental behavior, without infringing on Second Amendment rights.

President Trump supports improving gun background checks

The White House says President Donald Trump supports efforts to improve the federal gun background check system after a school shooting in Florida that left 17 dead. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that the president had spoken to Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, about a bipartisan bill designed to strengthen the FBI database of prohibited gun buyers.

Trump backs effort to improve gun background checks: White House

President Donald Trump spoke to Senator John Cornyn about gun legislation on Friday, two days after a shooting at a Florida school killed 17 people, and supports efforts to improve the federal background check system, the White House said on Monday. Trump spoke to Cornyn, a Republican, about the bi-partisan bill he and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Trump Backs Effort to Improve Gun Background Checks

President Donald Trump spoke to Senator John Cornyn about gun legislation on Friday, two days after a shooting at a Florida school killed 17 people, and supports efforts to improve the federal background check system, the White House said on Monday. Trump spoke to Cornyn, a Republican, about the bi-partisan bill he and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy introduced to improve federal compliance with criminal background checks, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

Senate rejects immigration bills; young immigrants in limbo

The Senate has left hundreds of thousands of "Dreamer" immigrants in limbo, rejecting rival plans that would have spared them from deportation and strengthened the nation's border security. Senators dealt President Donald Trump an especially galling defeat as more than a quarter of fellow Republicans abandoned him on an issue that helped propel him to the White House.

a Dreamersa left in limbo as Senate rejects immigration bills new

The Senate left hundreds of thousands of "Dreamer" immigrants in limbo Thursday, rejecting rival plans that would have spared them from deportation and strengthened the nation's border security. Senators dealt President Donald Trump an especially galling defeat as more than a quarter of fellow Republicans abandoned him on an issue that helped propel him to the White House.

Bipartisan immigration pact among several Senate proposals

A group of senators reached a bipartisan agreement aimed at balancing Democrats' fight to offer citizenship to young "Dreamer" immigrants with President Donald Trump's demands for billions to build his coveted border wall with Mexico. Though the compromise was announced Wednesday by 16 senators with centrist views on the issue and was winning support from many Democrats, it faced an uncertain fate.

Cruz lays off the corn, turns on the gas

Ted Cruz is holding up the confirmation of a key agriculture nominee to help oil refiners in his home state of Texas - infuriating some of the Iowans who fueled his rise in the 2016 presidential primary. Cruz is up for reelection this year in Texas, where oil and gas is king and employs hundreds of thousand of people.

Immigration fight looks tougher after budget debate

Republican leaders, top Democrats and President Donald Trump are all claiming big wins in the $400 billion budget agreement signed into law Friday. But the push to pass the massive legislation underscored enduring divisions within both parties, and those rifts are likely to make the next fight over immigration even more challenging.

All sides claim budget win; immigration fight looks tougher

Republican leaders, top Democrats and President Donald Trump are all claiming big wins in the $400 billion budget agreement signed into law Friday. But the push to pass the massive legislation underscored enduring divisions within both parties, and those rifts are likely to make the next fight over immigration even more challenging.

Don’t Blame Rand Paul for Last Night’s Shutdown Alexandra DeSanctis 24 minutes ago

Congress had weeks to pass another budget deal to keep the federal government open. Last night, Kentucky's junior senator, Republican Rand Paul, prolonged that process another few hours, filibustering the last-minute compromise over his complaints about increasing the federal deficit.

Cornyn Statement on Passage of Disaster Relief, Budget Agreement

U.S. Senator John Cornyn released this statement after Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act , including nearly $90 billion in funding available for relief efforts following natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey: "While long-overdue, this bill is a big step forward for Texans impacted by Hurricane Harvey up and down our coast. We know the recovery process is far from over, but these resources will go a long way for Texas families, small businesses and communities who are still rebuilding.

Trump signs budget deal, government to reopen

President Donald Trump on Friday signed a $400 billion budget deal that sharply boosts spending and swells the federal deficit, ending a brief federal government shutdown that happened while most Americans were home in bed and most government offices were closed, anyway. The House and Senate approved a bill to keep the government funded through March 23, overcoming opposition from liberal Democrats as well as tea party conservatives to endorse enormous spending increases despite looming trillion-dollar deficits.

Used to scuffles, Rand Paul takes on Senate, risks shutdown

The last time Sen. Rand Paul was in the news for a scuffle, it involved a neighbor who allegedly tackled him in his yard over a lawn dispute. Thursday night, the Kentucky Republican took on the entire U.S. Senate - and rather than fisticuffs, his weapons of choice were obstinacy and the chamber's weird rules.

Despite budget deal, Congress heads into an overnight government shutdown Source: Cox Media Group

For the second time in less than a month, the federal government officially ran out of money to operate, as the latest shutdown began at the stroke of midnight here in Washington, D.C., though Congressional leaders were hopeful that the federal government would be fully open for business by breakfast, as the House and Senate were poised to act after midnight. The lapse in funding occurred despite an agreement on a two-year budget deal, which also included full funding for the Pentagon, and a temporary funding plan for the rest of the federal government, as Sen. Rand Paul blocked action on the measure in the Senate.