Skepticism at the Court on Validity of Vote Law
A provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 designed to protect minorities is at risk of being struck down as unconstitutional, judging from the questioning at the Supreme Court.
National Briefing | Washington: Hate Crimes Bill Is Approved
Victims of violence who are gay would have new federal protections under a hate-crimes bill approved by the House.
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On First Day as Democrat, Specter (Again) Bucks His Party
Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) began his first full day as a Democrat since the early 1960s at a party-switching celebration hosted by President Obama and Vice President Biden. He ended…
Obama Emphasizes Sharp Departures From Bush Policies
One hundred days into his term, President Obama used a pair of public events Wednesday to chart how far he has steered the country from the course set by the…
Senators Decry Flipping Of Life Insurance Policies
A full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune invited people age 50 to 85 to come hear football great Mike Ditka and learn "WHY WALL STREET WANTS TO BUY YOUR LIFE…
Judge Bybee Invited to Testify About Role in Interrogation Memos
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) yesterday invited federal Judge Jay S. Bybee to testify about his role in preparing two Justice Department memos that allowed interrogators to…
Justice Department Backs Plan to Eliminate Cocaine Sentencing Disparity
Justice Department officials yesterday endorsed for the first time a plan that would eliminate vast sentencing disparities between possession of powdered cocaine and rock cocaine, an inequity that civil rights…
Court Reveals Customary Divide In Wrestling With Anti-Bias Law
The Supreme Court yesterday split along a familiar ideological battle line in its consideration of the Voting Rights Act, apparently leaving Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in the pivotal position of…
RNC Move Seen as Bid To Rein In Chairman
A group of Republican National Committee members is circulating a resolution that would limit how much Chairman Michael S. Steele could spend without authorization from other party leaders, a move…
Congress Approves Obama’s $3.4 Trillion Spending Blueprint
The Democratically controlled Congress yesterday easily approved a $3.4 trillion spending plan, setting the stage for President Obama to pursue the first major overhaul of the nation's health-care system in…
