Politics | Journal Gazette

House OKs Obamacare repeal for 37th time

Washington Post — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

The House of Representatives voted again to repeal President Obama's health care law Thursday afternoon, marking the 37th time that the GOP-led House has tried to undo all or part of the legislation.

Stutzman reveals mom considered aborting him

Brian Francisco — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd, said in a commentary published Wednesday by the Washington Times that his teenage mother had considered terminating her pregnancy with him.

New committees yield new donors

Brian Francisco — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Sen. Joe Donnelly and Rep. Marlin Stutzman essentially traded many of their special-interest supporters when the federal lawmakers received new committee assignments this year.

In a first, black voter turnout rate passes whites

Hope Yen — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:54:37 EST

America's blacks voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the white turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which blacks strongly supported Barack Obama while many whites stayed home.

GOP faces Senate recruitment woes in key states

THOMAS BEAUMONT — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:59:12 EST

DES MOINES, Iowa - Republicans are struggling to recruit strong U.S. Senate candidates in states where the party has the best chances to reclaim the majority in Washington.

Donnelly praises Hoosier job sense

Brian Francisco — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly called for an "opportunity agenda" based on "Hoosier common sense" to create American jobs during his maiden speech Wednesday afternoon on the Senate floor.

Leahy: GOP exploiting Boston

David Nakamura — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Democratic lawmakers accused Republicans on Monday of trying to exploit the Boston Marathon bombings for political gain, revealing divisions that could complicate a bipartisan effort to overhaul the nation's immigration system.

Queen sees a knight in Lugar

Brian Francisco — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar is joining a club that has included Ronald Reagan, Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer and Placido Domingo.

State's senators split on gun bill

Journal Gazette — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

U.S. senators from Indiana split their votes on Thursday's motion to advance gun-control legislation to debate and amendments.

Coats will join move to derail new gun curbs

Brian Francisco — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Indiana's Dan Coats is among 13 Republicans in the U.S. Senate who have threatened to stall votes on gun-control legislation.

Obama pleads to save gun law

Philip Rucker — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

With his proposed gun regulations in serious jeopardy, President Obama delivered an impassioned and urgent plea Monday evening for swift action, telling a state still shaken by the Newtown school massacre, "We've got to expect more from Congress.

David Kuo, former Bush White House official, dies

Associated Press — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:44:11 EST

A conservative Christian who helped to lead President George W. Bush's faith-based initiative but then criticized the effort has died.

No Mayors Against Guns rally in city

Brian Francisco — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

Fort Wayne apparently will not be among cities where Mayors Against Illegal Guns will have advocacy events or gatherings today as part of the group's National Day to Demand Action.

Donnelly supports tighter gun checks

Brian Francisco — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

Media have described U.S. senators from Indiana as being "on the fence" regarding federal legislation that would require nearly universal background checks for gun buyers. One of them jumped off Tuesday.

After earlier OK, Stutzman opposes bill for spending

Brian Francisco — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd, was the only member of the Hoosier congressional delegation to vote Thursday against a bill to fund the government through Sept. 30.

Stutzman leads GOP gun forum

Brian Francisco — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman can recall the first gun he owned: a BB gun when he was 7 years old. Today, he has a small arsenal of firearms.

Senate Democrats unveil budget plan

Brian Francisco — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

The stalemate over federal spending practices continued Wednesday as Senate Democrats spurned another Republican attempt to halt the health care law.

In a rising economy, politicians look for credit

JIM KUHNHENN — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 07:09:25 EST

Increased hiring, lower unemployment, stock market on the rise. Who gets the credit?

Poll finds support for spending cuts

JON COHEN AND SEAN SULLIVAN — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

Americans broadly support an across-the-board cut in spending for a government often seen as wasteful, but there is wide opposition to blanket cuts to the military, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Senators eat and meet with Obama

JULIE PACE — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 03:00:00 EST

Shifting course in the face of political gridlock, President Obama is making rare overtures to rank-and-file Republicans, inviting GOP senators - including Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind. - to dinner Wednesday, planning visits to Capitol Hill and working the phones with lawmakers.

Dennis Rodman: NKorea leader wants Obama to call

MICHELE SALCEDO — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:45:27 EST

Call me? Maybe? North Korea's young leader has riled the U.S. with recent nuclear tests, but Kim Jong Un doesn't really want war with the superpower, just a call from President Barack Obama to chat about their shared love of basketball, according to erstwhile diplomat Dennis Rodman, the ex-NBA star just back from an improbable visit to the reclusive communist country.

Romney: Heart told him he'd win, until he saw Fla.

Associated Press — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 12:23:15 EST

Mitt Romney says his heart said he was going to win the presidency, but when early results came in on election night, he knew it was not to be.

Callers tired of spending drama': Donnelly

Brian Francisco — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., said Wednesday he has been hearing from Hoosiers about federal spending cuts that begin taking effect Friday. "No. 1 is stop the drama, please. Stop the constant last-day legislating," he said about constituent suggestions during his weekly conference call with reporters.

Hoosier senators follow party lines

Brian Francisco — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

U.S. senators from Indiana split their votes Tuesday on whether to confirm Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense.

Mayor visits DC to share city needs

Brian Francisco — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

It would appear Mayor Tom Henry picked a bad week to go to Washington, D.C., in search of federal support for Fort Wayne.

Coats fights debt as few listen

Brian Francisco — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats made no speeches on the Senate floor last week - but only because Congress wasn't in session.

Nebraska Sen. Johanns won't seek 2nd term

Grant Schulte — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:28:13 EST

LINCOLN, Neb. – U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska announced Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2014, explaining he wants a “quieter time” to focus on his family following a busy political career that has included a stint as governor and as President George W. Bush’s agriculture secretary.

Lugar bemoans depth of US political rancor

Brian Francisco — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

Political partisanship "is out of control," largely the fault "of a massive industry that makes money off of political discord," former Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said in his first public speech since leaving office in early January.

Lawmakers heap praise, skepticism

Brian Francisco — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., expressed doubts Tuesday about whether President Obama's actions will speak louder than the words of his State of the Union address.

Obama urges GOP to back him

JULIE PACE — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

Uncompromising and politically emboldened, President Obama urged a deeply divided Congress on Tuesday night to embrace his plans to use government money to create jobs and strengthen the nation's middle class. He declared Republican ideas for reducing the deficit even worse than the unpalatable deals Washington had to stomach during his first term.

Split Senate panel OKs Hagel for Defense

DONNA CASSATA — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

A bitterly divided Senate panel on Tuesday voted to approve President Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the nation's defense secretary at a time of turmoil for the military with looming budget cuts, a fresh sign of North Korea's nuclear ambitions and drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Spending, taxes top Coats list

Brian Francisco — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., has suggestions for what President Obama should talk about in his State of the Union address tonight.

At schools, Stutzman touts spending cuts

Brian Francisco — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 03:00:00 EST

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd, said Friday there should be no sacred cows when it comes to federal spending cuts. "I think everything should be on the table," he told about 30 students in a classroom at Harrison College. "There's places to cut within the military. There's reforms that need to happen within Social Security and Medicare."

Area Hispanic leader lauds Obama’s plan

Brian Francisco — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Max Montesino knows opposition and compromise lie in wait for immigration rules proposed this week by President Obama and a bipartisan group of U.S. senators.

Harkin won't seek 6th Senate term

THOMAS BEAUMONT — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:57:33 EST

CUMMING, Iowa - U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin said Saturday he will not seek a sixth term in 2014, a decision that frees a new generation of Iowa Democrats to seek higher office and eases some of the burden Republicans face in retaking the Senate.

Coats sees risks in global disengagement

Brian Francisco — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats warned Thursday that federal budget constraints and public sentiment might reduce America's influence in the world and hence its own security.

IU plans to announce new venture for Lugar

Brian Francisco — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar apparently will have a role with a third university. Indiana University Bloomington said Tuesday that it will make a "major announcement" at 1:30 p.m. Thursday involving Lugar, IU President Michael McRobbie and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, director of IU's Center on Congress.

State lawmakers looking to help riverboat casinos

Tom Davies — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Indiana legislators have introduced bills to help the state's riverboat casinos hold onto business in the face of growing competition from casinos in neighboring states.

Legislators oppose Obama's gun ban

Brian Francisco — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Two out of three federal lawmakers representing northeast Indiana oppose President Obama's plan to outlaw military-style assault weapons - and the third appears undecided.

Obama puts gun control atop agenda

Lisa Lerer and Heidi Przybyla — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

President Obama unveiled the most ambitious gun control agenda in decades Wednesday, announcing a $500 million package of legislative proposals and executive actions aimed at curbing firearms violence, from mass shootings to street crime.

Retired city pastor to lead state AARP

Brian Francisco — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Several years ago, Curt Sylvester filled out a card to become a volunteer for AARP. On Tuesday, AARP Indiana announced the Fort Wayne resident has been chosen for its top volunteer post: State president.

Hagel wins backing of Jewish senators

DONNA CASSATA — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Chuck Hagel secured the backing of two of the staunchest pro-Israel Senate Democrats in a clear boost to the Republican's prospects of becoming President Obama's next defense secretary.

Bush aide blames ego for hasty exit

Brian Francisco — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Compassionate conservatism is still gospel to Timothy Goeglein.

Treasury nomination ignites GOP disdain

Hans Nichols — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

President Obama's choice of White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew to be his next Treasury secretary may open a battle over the president's tax and spending priorities for his second term.

Obama will use Dr. King's Bible for public oath Jan. 21

Michelle Boorstein — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Martin Luther King Jr. carried a black leather King James Bible on his journeys as a young pastor starting out in Montgomery, Ala. He turned to this "traveling Bible" for inspiration, his family says, as he fought for freedom and equality.

School police may join gun restrictions

Philip Rucker — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

The Obama administration is considering a $50 million plan to fund hundreds of police officers in public schools, a leading Democratic senator said, part of a broad gun violence agenda that is likely to include universal background checks and a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips.

Lugar, Helmke both in Hagel's corner

Brian Francisco — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

The Washington Post has described former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana as a foreign-policy mentor to Chuck Hagel, President Obama's nominee for secretary of defense.

Coats critical of Obama nominations

Brian Francisco — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:11:22 EST

Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., is unimpressed with President Obama's nominations to lead the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Electoral College affirms Obama victory

Donna Cassata — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:59:30 EST

WASHINGTON – Congress made the obvious official on Friday. President Obama has been re-elected.

Donnelly joins Hoosier tradition'

Brian Francisco — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Before he was sworn in Thursday as a new U.S. senator, Joe Donnelly said he looked forward to following "in legendary footsteps" left by Hoosier predecessors.

Defense bill lets 122nd keep its Thunderbolts

Journal Gazette — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Fort Wayne's 122nd Fighter Wing will continue to maintain and fly the A-10C Thunderbolt II, after President Obama this week signed the National Defense Authorization Act, according to a statement from the fighter wing.

Donnelly takes U.S. Senate seat in political 'middle'

Brian Francisco — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:24:37 EST

Indiana's newest U.S. senator said Thursday he will be a lot like those Hoosiers who have preceded him in the past half-century -- relatively moderate.

Something for everyone to hate

Brian Francisco — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

This week's federal budget deal revealed divides in the Indiana congressional delegation that went beyond political parties. Both Republican senators voted for the fiscal cliff measure, but five of six Republican representatives opposed it. Retiring Rep. Dan Burton, R-5th, did not vote.

Legislators say real fiscal issues remain

Brian Francisco — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:00:00 EST

Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., said Monday the federal government's "real" budgetary crisis is far worse than the one manufactured by Congress and the White House.

Stutzman reveals his 2013 goals

Brian Francisco — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 03:00:00 EST

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd, spent much of 2012 trying to turn back the clock.