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Congress
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December 18, 2013
The History and Lessons of Congressional Crises
What can the current United States Congress learn from its past breakdowns?
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November 22, 2013
What the Filibuster Rule Changes, and What It Doesn’t
What are the likely effects of the Senate's decision to limit filibusters?
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October 20, 2013
Writing a Budget to Prevent Another Shutdown
The G.O.P. ended its standoff last week, but the deals were temporary. Can Congress and the White House negotiate a budget early …
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October 13, 2013
Is the G.O.P. Giving Independents an Opening?
Republicans have alienated the general public and their allies in the business world. In the next election, will onetime Republicans stray?
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August 13, 2013
How Lawmakers Can Stay Connected to Constituents
In an age of air travel and e-mail, is a month-long summer recess still fruitful?
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June 4, 2013
Another Year Older, Another Year Wiser?
Should there be an age limit for the House and Senate?
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May 8, 2013
Serious Investigations, or Partisan Ploys?
Have Congressional hearings become mere political devices to smear one party and attract voters?
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December 9, 2012
Understanding Immigration Reform
Comprehensive immigration reform means different things to different people. What should we look for in attempts to fix the system?
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December 2, 2012
Do Filibusters Stall the Senate or Give It Purpose?
Many want to improve the filibuster rules. But can they change without losing the Senate’s value as a counterweight to the House?
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March 27, 2012
The Ryan Budget: Policy, or Just Politics?
Paul Ryan and the House Republicans have offered a radical outline, and it is drawing fire from the right as well as …
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January 18, 2012
What’s the Best Way to Protect Against Online Piracy?
Online protests against anti-Web piracy measures sent lawmakers scrambling, but what's the alternative?
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November 16, 2011
Does Congress Hear the Occupiers?
President Obama and leaders of Congress don't seem to be addressing Occupy Wall Street's concerns. Why?
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September 19, 2011
Do Taxes Narrow the Wealth Gap?
Obama wants to tax the rich. Republicans say he's promoting class warfare. Should taxes bridge the income gap?
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August 1, 2011
Did the Tea Party Win?
Have the conservative freshmen Republicans misrepresented their constituents in being too rigid in their approach to the debt crisis?
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July 18, 2011
What Will the Debt Debate Mean for 2012?
For voters, this political standoff is a frustrating sideshow for what they really care about: jobs.
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April 6, 2011
What’s Boehner’s Next Move?
Can the House speaker convince other Republicans, if not the Democrats, to avoid a government shutdown?
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March 10, 2011
What Is the Terrorism Threat Now?
What have we learned in the past 10 years about identifying and tracking domestic terrorist groups?
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February 22, 2011
How Can Congress Avoid a Shutdown?
What do the Democrats and the Republicans stand to lose if they fail to reach a budget compromise?
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January 2, 2011
Watching the New Congress
What are the bellwether tests for Congress's conservative freshmen class?
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November 3, 2010
Can the Republicans Avoid Gridlock?
What the G.O.P. should do to prevent a repeat of the political stalemate in the 1990s.
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March 16, 2010
Will It Pass? The Odds on Health Care
What are the chances that a national health care overhaul will be approved this weekend?
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February 22, 2010
Can Obama Bypass Republicans on Health?
The political risks of pushing through health care legislation without the G.O.P.
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February 12, 2010
Hating Congress, a National Occupation
Does the current Congress deserve its historically low ratings?
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November 20, 2009
Senator Reid and the Power of Persuasion
How do Senate leaders persuade fence-sitters to vote against their own political instincts?
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November 10, 2009
How to Control Rising Health Care Costs
A look at some sensible tactics Congress could adopt.
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November 4, 2009
What Did the Election Mean?
Lessons learned for Democrats and Republicans.
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October 13, 2009
Why One Vote Matters in the Senate
How Olympia Snowe, representing a tiny sliver of Americans, gained so much power.
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February 26, 2009
When to Take a Federal Handout
Several governors may refuse stimulus money to expand unemployment benefits. Should they reconsider?
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February 23, 2009
Does Bipartisanship Matter?
Only three Republicans in Congress supported the stimulus plan, despite President Obama's overtures. Should he give up on bipartisanship?
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