sweet
Lynn Sweet biography
Lynn Sweet is the Chicago Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief. She writes a column, a blog and files on Twitter. Find and follow her at http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet …Read More
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Obamacare won’t be shut down: Lynn Sweet
WASHINGTON — House GOP opposition to Obamacare led to a partial federal government shutdown on Monday, but all the GOP pyrotechnics could not stop the Tuesday launch of one of the most significant parts of Obamacare. New online health marketplaces are opening for business on …Read More
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Shutdown showdown: Hours before deadline, neither side is budging
Neither Republicans or Democrats in Congress nor White House staffers are coming to work Monday with a plan to avoid a partial federal government shutdown by the midnight deadline. In short order, the Senate will kick the budget can of worms back to House Speaker John Boehner, demanding that any continuing resolution to keep the government running not be linked to defunding or delaying Obamacare.
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Obamacare is a great bargain for uninsured
WASHINGTON — No matter your politics or life perspective — Tea Party, libertarian, conservative, liberal, progressive, socialist, nihilist, anarchist or independent — if you are young and uninsured, Obamacare is a great bargain. Here’s some context for everyone: You’re hearing a lot more about Obamacare …Read More
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Obama fears U.S. growing numb to gun violence
WASHINGTON — The Navy Yard massacre and the latest shootings in Chicago are sparking new rounds of outrage, but let’s face it, the volume could be turned up. President Barack Obama on Sunday said he fears where we are heading: resigned to accepting gun violence …
Quigley: Government shutdown seems unavoidable
WASHINGTON — “Most members are convinced we probably will shut down for a day or two and there won’t be much you can do about it,” a glum Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) is telling me. We’re talking about the looming Sept. 30 deadline for Congress …
Shutdown showdown over ObamaCare
WASHINGTON — For the 42nd time, Republicans pushed a measure through the House to defang ObamaCare, raising the stakes Friday by bundling it in a resolution to prevent a government shutdown when the fiscal year ends Sept. 30. While the Tea Party-fueled legislation has no …
How ObamaCare victory is a loss for Tea Party
House Speaker John Boehner could have put another try to dismantle ObamaCare off until another day. He chose not to in order to satisfy his Tea Party faction, even as they are wearing out their welcome with some GOP colleagues who — while not crazy about ObamaCare — at the same time do not even want to flirt with a government shutdown.
Roskam’s tangled Taiwan trip
If U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) had gone alone to Taiwan, he may not be facing a House Ethics probe today over the $25,652 trip.
Obama now has gift of time: Sweet
With pressure off to secure approval from Congress, Secretary of State John Kerry heads to Geneva on Thursday to launch talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Kerry said Tuesday afternoon that he had talked with Lavrov and expects draft proposals from the Russians on how the Syria deal would work.
Syrian deal could avert attack
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will address the nation Tuesday on the need to punish Syria for using chemical weapons. At the same time, he is not pushing for an immediate military strike vote in Congress for two reasons: It is facing defeat and a …
Obama fighting uphill battle over Syria
WASHINGTON — Intensely lobbying Congress to sell a Syria strike — with his presidency at stake — Barack Obama on Sunday night dropped in at Vice President Joe Biden’s residence, where Biden was dining with six GOP senators to discuss Syria over Italian food served …
Speed cameras could be just the start for Chicago, if D.C. is any indication
WASHINGTON — Chicago is getting speed cameras. What could be next? Massive mission creep: Stop cameras. Anti-gridlock cameras. Cameras catching trucks not allowed on city streets. Rahm’s speed cameras could be just the start of huge photo traffic enforcement by Chicago for all sorts of …
Split Senate panel votes for attack
WASHINGTON — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday advanced a measure to give President Barack Obama limited authorization to attack Syria, while over at a House hearing, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) offered a passionate case for approving a military strike. Obama picked up the …
Boehner backs Obama as Senate support grows: Sweet
Obama is in good shape in the Democratic-run Senate. The GOP-controlled House, as always, will be tougher. The pressure will be on wavering House Democrats — especially from safe districts — when and if Obama needs a few more votes to win.
Obama’s push for House, Senate votes on Syria strike
WASHINGTON — The White House is ramping up a “flood the zone” campaign to lobby Congress to authorize a military strike against Syria, with President Barack Obama picking up the support Monday of Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.). “I’ll be a yes,” Kinzinger told me in …
‘No’ vote on Syria wouldn’t be the end
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry sidestepped questions Sunday about whether President Barack Obama would order a military strike against Syria even if Obama lost the upcoming congressional vote he asked for. Kerry didn’t close the door because he did not want to concede …
Obama seeks Congress’ OK for strike on Syria
There will be House and Senate votes sometime after Sept. 9. Obama said Saturday he won’t order an attack until a vote because the U.S. can strike “whenever we choose . . . our capacity to execute this mission is not time-sensitive.”
Possible 2016 rivals Kirk, Duckworth on opposite sides of Syria debate
Kirk supports missile hits in the wake of evidence that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against civilians. Duckworth has serious reservations over a strike.
Sweet: White House careful to explain Syria isn’t Iraq
WASHINGTON — The Obama White House, in a bid to win support for a military strike against Syria from a war-weary public and Congress, has gone public in detailing the intelligence sources providing evidence of a chemical strike against civilians — including publicly available social …
Illinois congressional members to Obama: We get a say in this
Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) reflects where many members of Congress are at this stage, with the White House yet to present to most rank-and-file lawmakers the “smoking gun” evidence that gassing did take place and was ordered by Syria’s government.
