Budget plan’s $1 trillion deficit sours some Republicans

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., center, leaves the podium as he turns toward Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, left, after a news conference, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Republican-led Congress on Thursday was rounding up support for a bipartisan budget bill that would put the government on track for annual deficits topping $1 trillion, a gap last seen toward the end of Obama's first term.

Civil libertarian(ish) groups cry foul over FISA reauthorization

Civil libertarian groups on both sides of the aisle aren't happy with the House's approval of the new FISA authorization. FreedomWorks heaped loads of criticism on the House, with Vice President of Legislative Affairs Jason Pye saying the Constitution doesn't matter to supporters.

Debt and Higher Taxes for Our Grandchildren

Should the government borrow against the future? Should it guarantee higher taxes for your children and grandchildren in return for lower taxes for you? If government's moral legitimacy depends on the consent of the governed, as Thomas Jefferson argued in the Declaration of Independence, can the federal government morally compel those who haven't consented to its financial profligacy - because they are not yet born - to pay higher taxes? These questions are at the base of the debate - such as it is - in Congress these days over the so-called Republican tax reform plan.

Sen. Rand Paul assaulted at his Kentucky home, man arrested

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks to supporters gathered at The Champions of Liberty Rally in Hebron, Ky., Friday, Aug. 11, 2017. Paul was joined at the fundraising event by Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, and U.S. Reps Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

Stossel: The Best Part of the Constitution

Parts of the Constitution are hard to read. But they're still important! John Stossel goes through some of the most important ones, like: -- The right to free speech -- The right of the people to bear arms, -- The guarantee of trial by jury -- The 13th amendment, which outlawed slavery Stossel also asks liberty-supporting people like Senator Mike Lee , Rep. Thomas Massie , and Rep. Justin Amash for their picks.

Inside the Beltway: Congress loves media, not voters: poll

Imagine this: A sleek member of the press and an earnest likely voter are standing side by side in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Which one would attract the most attention from passing lawmakers? Unfortunately, new research reveals a predictable, but shabby scenario.

Nation-Now 41 mins ago 2:48 p.m.Republicans tweak Obamacare repeal bill to woo moderates

MARCH 07: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan takes questions from reporters about the American Health Care Act during a news conference. House Republicans snagged a few more supporters for their Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill after promising to plump it up with $8 billion to help those with pre-existing conditions pay for their health care - part of a high-stakes push to win over moderate GOP lawmakers who have balked at the legislation.

Russia’s FM Lavrov Meets With Syria’s Deputy Prime Minister

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson listens right to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov back to a camera during their meeting in Moscow Russia Wednesday Johnson was widely criticised for failing to get the G7 to back his bid for new sanctions against senior Russian and Syrian figures following the chemical weapons attack in Syria's Idlib province that killed dozens and caused an global outcry. "Truth is the first casualty of war", he said, adding that the U.S., Russian Federation and Syria will all have their own versions of what happened.

Ryan’s legacy as speaker on line with health care vote

" The vote on the Republican health care bill is a defining moment for House Speaker Paul Ryan that could boost his aggressive agenda to overhaul the tax code and remake the federal government. If he fails? "It will be very hard to manage this," the Wisconsin Republican told reporters ahead of Thursday's likely vote.

There was one group noticeably absent from CPAC, the biggest conservative conference of the year

The "Stand With Rand" shirts were out, and the "Make America Great Again" were in among the younger crowd at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference. Libertarians, who normally make up the loudest and most vocal faction at the annual nationwide gathering of conservatives, had a noticeably diminished presence at the 2017 political confab.

GOP lawmaker stuns CNN’s Kate Bolduan: ‘Deep State’ …

A Kentucky Republican knocked CNN's normally unflappable Kate Bolduan sideways by suggesting President Donald Trump was being played for a pawn by "Deep State" forces eager for conflict with Russia. Rep. Thomas Massie appeared Friday morning on CNN's "At This Hour," where he defended the president after reports showed Michael Flynn misled FBI investigators and the vice president about his calls to the Russian ambassador.

Donald Who?:

Why the GOP Congress Will Stop Trump from Going Too Far : The coming resistance from Republican lawmakers who hate Trump, fear executive overreach--or both. Consider the many ways in which the substantial ambitions of GOP legislators could bring them into conflict with the Trump administration.

Forget new gun control: Citing Orlando, House may roll back existing D.C. gun laws

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform members Tom Massie , left, and Ron DeSantis talk on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 15 during a committee hearing. The mayor of the District of Columbia argued last week that assault rifles are "only meant to devastate humans," and that following the massacre in Orlando, Congress must "finally do something" about guns.