House delays payroll tax deal vote until Tuesday

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Senate Democrats must come back to Washington and admit their bill is dead.

• Major Garrett
• December 19, 2011

GOP move could break spending logjam

Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., is said to be reopening the pending nine-bill spending package and rewriting language that sought to reinstate the Bush-era travel ban to Cuba.

• Major Garrett
• December 15, 2011

Congress now shooting for weekend wrap-up

If lawmakers' optimism proves founded, then they will avoid a partial government shutdown for the third time this year.

• Dan Friedman and Major Garrett
• December 15, 2011

Why the near shutdown matters

It was a skirmish in a war that won't end soon.

• Major Garrett
• September 27, 2011

House Republicans regrouping on CR, pondering two options

Continuing resolution failed to pass Wednesday.

• Major Garrett and Susan Davis
• September 22, 2011

Obama accepts Boehner's offer to address Congress at 7 p.m. Thursday

• Major Garrett and Billy House
• September 2, 2011

Debt deal reached; major cuts coming

Agreement will cut $1 trillion from U.S. spending immediately and a special committee of lawmakers will seek further decreases by November.

• Major Garrett
• July 31, 2011

No vote on debt plan Thursday; default deadline moves closer

Boehner is still seeking support for Republican proposal.

• Major Garrett, Billy House and Susan Davis
• July 28, 2011

Boehner to rewrite debt-limit bill after CBO score

The Congressional Budget Office said the original plan was $1 trillion short of promised savings.

• Major Garrett, Susan Davis and Katy O'Donnell
• July 27, 2011

Six similarities between the Boehner and Reid debt plans

Plans have some things in common, including caps and spending targets.

• Major Garrett
• July 27, 2011

Boehner ends talks with White House on debt deal

Speaker says grand bargain "was never really close"; President Obama rips Republicans for rejecting "extraordinarily fair deal."

• Major Garrett
• July 22, 2011

Social Security changes are on the table in debt talks

It's unclear if Obama is willing to raise the retirement age or merely accept changes in inflation-adjustment calculations that would reduce benefits.

• Major Garrett
• July 7, 2011

Democrats, Republicans to work over weekend on debt deal, Obama says

Bipartisan group of Congressional leaders agrees a deal to raise the debt ceiling must be reached soon, president says.

• Major Garrett and Billy House
• July 7, 2011

Obama names new military leadership team

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey tapped as new chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr. named vice chairman and Gen. Ray Odierno designated to be Army chief of staff.

• Major Garrett
• May 30, 2011

Muted abortion response speaks volumes about budget talks

The GOP reaction suggested a shrugging acceptance of one more round of talking points before the final brokering.

• Major Garrett
• April 8, 2011

Reality begins to bite in spending talks

While the prospect of a government shutdown remains real, bipartisan negotiations have begun over what, precisely, could be cut and by how much.

• Major Garrett
• April 1, 2011

Shutdown looms again as both sides harden budget positions

A spring closure of government -- possibly lasting weeks -- appears more likely than ever.

• Major Garrett
• March 16, 2011

House GOP working on bill to avert shutdown, deflect blame

Short-term measure will contain about $4 billion in spending decreases and will merge cuts the House passed last week and several Obama has proposed.

• Major Garrett
• February 24, 2011

GOP leader stands by promise of $100 billion in cuts

Majority Leader Eric Cantor pledges no retreat on overall target as it becomes clear Republicans won't be able to hit it this fiscal year.

• Major Garrett
• January 5, 2011

Shutdown scenario appears unlikely

If they take control, House Republicans say they will not blunder into the same 1995 trap of closing the government.

• Major Garrett
• October 29, 2010