05/14/13 Comprehensive Real-Time News Feed for US Politics

• Justice investigating IRS targeting of tea party; government watchdog blames lax management _{2013-05-14, 10:56 pm}
  The Justice Department is investigating the Internal Revenue Service for targeting tea party groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax exempt status, Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday, widening a probe that includes investigations by three committees in Congress.
• Trio of troubles threatening Obama's second term _{2013-05-14, 10:56 pm}
  President Barack Obama seemed to lose control of his second-term agenda even before he was sworn in, when a school massacre led him to lift gun control to the fore.
• Attorney General orders probe into US tax agency's targeting of conservative groups _{2013-05-14, 10:56 pm}
  Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday he has ordered a Justice Department investigation into the U.S. tax agency's targeting of conservative groups for extra tax scrutiny.
• Scandals mark disappointing start to new term _{2013-05-14, 10:56 pm}
  The Obama White House has been rocked for much of the first few months of its new term by disappointing scandals and failures.
• Senators Vote to Plug Immigration Loophole Exposed by Bombings _{2013-05-14, 10:55 pm}
  Sen. Orrin Hatch , center, confers with Sen. Chuck Grassley , right, and Sen. Chuck Schumer during the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup for the immigration reform bill on Capitol Hill May 9, 2013 in Washington.
• Benghazi: Obama must find, hold responsible those who wrote talking points_{2013-05-14, 10:54 pm}
  In this Friday, Sept. 14 file photo, Libyan military guards check one of the U.S. Consulate's burnt out buildings during a visit by Libyan President Mohammed el-Megarif, not shown, to the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
• Minnesota governor signs bill legalizing gay marriage _{2013-05-14, 10:52 pm}
  Governor Mark Dayton on Tuesday made Minnesota the nation's 12th state to allow same-sex couples to marry and only the second in the Midwest, signing a bill on the steps of the state Capitol before thousands of supporters.
• Minnesota governor signs same-sex marriage bill into law _{2013-05-14, 08:33 pm}
  Minnesota became the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriages Tuesday after Gov.
• Romney Aide Heads to GOP Firm | Shop Talk _{2013-05-14, 07:04 pm}
  Tavares' work with Romney goes back seven years, to his time as general counsel during Romney's stint as governor of Massachusetts.
• Minnesota Makes It a Dozen _{2013-05-14, 12:00 am}
  Gay marriage sponsors Rep. Karen Clark, right, and Sen. Scott Dibble celebrate after the Minnesota House passed the gay marriage bill.
• Minnesota becomes 12th state to legalize gay marriage _{2013-05-14, 10:48 pm}
  Same-sex marriage will be legal in Minnesota on August 1st. Governor Mark Dayton has signed the legislation which passed the state senate yesterday. Dayton thanked the state's residents for supporting the issue. Minnesota is one of a dozen states to allow the practice.
• Chambliss seeks to declassify Benghazi e-mails _{2013-05-14, 10:47 pm}
  U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss said this week that he plans to ask the CIA to declassify all emails surrounding the Benghazi, Libya, attacks in an attempt to make the investigation into last year's assault a national security issue and not a "political exercise." Chambliss' announcement comes a week after leaked e-mails showed that State Department ... (more)
• EXCLUSIVE: McConnell decries IRS 'jihad' against Obama critics _{2013-05-14, 10:46 pm}
  The Internal Revenue Service has been turned into an arm of the Obama administration, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell charged Tuesday as the Department of Justice began an investigation of the agency's targeting of conservative groups seeking tax exempt status.
• Heads of Benghazi review board say they'll testify _{2013-05-14, 10:44 pm}
  The leaders of the panel that independently reviewed last year's deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, said Tuesday they were prepared to testify publicly before Congress to counter what they consider unfounded criticism of their work.
• Meet the Washingtonians getting wrung out by the sequester _{2013-05-14, 10:44 pm}
  Guest Opinion: Air traffic controllers are back at work, but others are still squirming under the effects of the sequester.
• The Daily Troll: Sacramento ready to take victory lap. Lone School... _{2013-05-14, 10:43 pm}
  The Daily Troll: Sacramento ready to take victory lap. Lone School Board candidate, so far.
• BIO Thanks Senate Agriculture Committee for Passing Farm Bill _{2013-05-14, 10:42 pm}
  Debbie Stabenow , Thad Cochran and other members of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee for including mandatory funding for Energy Title programs and eligibility for renewable chemicals in Farm Bill reauthorization legislation, which passed today on a 15-5 vote in the committee.
• Sen. Nelson slams regulators, credit bureaus for short-sale confusion _{2013-05-14, 10:42 pm}
  Sen. Bill Nelson wants regulators to fix a "disturbing" credit-reporting quirk that is torching the credit of people who sold their homes in short sales.
• Sonny Perdue's cousin considering run for Senate _{2013-05-14, 10:39 pm}
  "David is strongly considering a run for U.S. Senate," Sonny Perdue wrote Tuesday in an email sent to supporters.
• Obama calls tax officials to account over scandal _{2013-05-14, 10:34 pm}
  US President Barack Obama said an inquiry into allegations that tax agency staff had unfairly targeted conservative groups had uncovered "intolerable and inexcusable'' behavior.