Immigration bill clears hurdle with 13-5 approval by Senate committee

Posted today at 7:33pm by Carrie Dann

A sweeping bill to overhaul the nation's immigration system cleared its first major hurdle late Tuesday night, with the 18-member committee charged with completing a first round of legislative edits voting to advance the amended bill to the full Senate. The vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee was 13-5. Three Republicans - Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Orrin...

Leahy withholds amendment to include LGBT couples in immigration reform

Posted today at 7:11pm by Carrie Dann

Acknowledging that it would jeopardize the passage of a sweeping immigration reform bill, a top ally of LGBT rights advocates will not call for a committee vote on an amendment that would include the spouses of LGBT individuals with the same standing as heterosexual couples in immigration law. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy announced "with a heavy heart" that he would withhold h...

Ex-manager doubts IRS on Tea Party scandal

Posted today at 7:00pm

With high-tech visa compromise, immigration reform proponents win GOP ally

Posted today at 3:59pm by Carrie Dann

With a final committee vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill finally in sight, proponents of immigration reform won the support of a key Republican panel member after hammering out a bipartisan compromise dealing with visas for high-skilled foreign workers.Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, long considered a Republican swing vote on the 18-member Senate Judiciary Committee, announced Tuesday nigh...

IRS official to invoke Fifth Amendment at hearing

Posted today at 3:47pm by NBC's Lisa Myers

A top IRS official scheduled to testify Wednesday before the House Oversight committee has notified Congress that she will invoke the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer questions.Lois Lerner, head of the IRS unit which handled tax exempt organizations, won't answer questions about what she knows about the improper screening of conservative groups or about why she repeatedly failed to tell Congre...

Hatch says he'll vote immigration overhaul out of committee

Posted today at 3:37pm by Carrie Dann

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, long considered a swing vote on immigration in the Senate Judiciary Committee, just said that he will vote the bill out of committee.He added that he could still oppose the legislation on the Senate floor if further changes are not made.His support comes after he and Gang of Eight negotiator Chuck Schumer hammered out a compromise relaxing some restrictions on how comp...

Durbin sharply criticizes Cruz immigration amendment

Posted today at 3:03pm

Reid: We'll 'do everything we can to help Oklahoma'

Posted today at 2:03pm

A new disaster sparks an old debate on federal aid

Posted today at 1:30pm by Tom Curry

The Oklahoma tornadoes that killed at least 24 people Monday have restarted the debate in Washington over emergency spending and whether it should be offset by cuts elsewhere in the federal budget. Its an ongoing battle for dollars that most recently flared in the wake of Hurricane Sandy last fall and resulted in a highly public and angry spat between New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his fello...

Apple CEO: No plans to move $100 billion back to US

Posted today at 1:19pm

Senators demand answers from IRS officials but get few new answers

Posted today at 12:51pm by Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC News

U.S. senators of both parties directed outrage at top IRS officials over not being informed earlier as to the tax agencys work to target conservatives and demanded answers Tuesday as to why action was not taken more quickly to halt the abuses. Senators voiced their dismay at the IRS leaderships efforts to respond to indications that officials in the agencys Cincinnati office had singled out con...

The GOP's focus deficit

Posted today at 12:17pm by Mark Murray, Senior Political Editor, NBC News

Yes, the last two weeks haven't been kind to the Obama White House. Yes, the administration has found itself on the defensive -- regarding the IRS, Benghazi and leak-investigation controversies. And, yes, those stories aren't going way. But it's also unclear if these controversies are political winners for the Republican Party.In addition to new polls showing that President Obama's approval ratin...

McCain says 'Apple is one of the biggest tax avoiders' in US

Posted today at 12:01pm

Washington promises relief to Okla. tornado victims

Posted today at 11:44am

Senators demand answers from IRS officials but gets few new answers

Posted today at 11:33am by Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC News

Apple CEO: 'We don't stash money on some Caribbean island'

Posted today at 11:27am

Familiar but tough words for African Americans from the first couple

Posted today at 11:27am

Paul: Senate committee 'should apologize to Apple'

Posted today at 10:26am

Obama: Help for tornado-ravaged Oklahoma will be there 'as long as it takes'

Posted today at 9:52am by Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC News

President Barack Obama pledged the full resources of the U.S. government to assist the community of Moore, Okla., in its recovery following devastating tornadoes that hit the town on Monday. The people of Moore should know that their country will remain on the ground -- for them, beside them -- for as long as it takes, Obama said in a statement Tuesday morning at the White House. Noting that tho...

Obama declares major disaster in Oklahoma

Posted today at 9:23am