Friday’s report from the Labor Department that the economy added 175,000 jobs in February was better than economists expected. After two very weak reports in December and January, expectations had been lowered for job creation in the month. While the
On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities jumped to 14.3% in February. This is a 16% increase over last year, when the unemployment rate for the disabled was just 12.3%. This spike in
On Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy gained 175,000 jobs in February, roughly on pace with population growth. In a worrying trend, though, the Department also reported that the average number of hours worked fell for the month. Production
On Friday, the Labor Department reported the economy gained 175,000 jobs in February. The consensus among economists had been for a 149,000 increase in jobs for the month. The unemployment rate ticked up a notch to 6.7%. In January, the
National payroll firm ADP reported Wednesday that just 139,000 private sector jobs were added in February. The number was below economists’ forecast of 155,000. ADP also revised downward its estimate of new private sector jobs in January, falling to 127,000
North Carolina Freshman Senator Kay Hagan is one of the most vulnerable Senators running for reelection this year. Her challenge to winning reelection is evidenced by a new poll from Elon University showing that just one-third of Tarheel voters approve
In the five years that Obama has been President, the Senate Democrats have produced only one budget resolution. During Obama’s presidency, the government has been funded by a series of “continuing resolutions” which simply extend all current government programs, preventing
The Commerce Department announced Friday that its revised estimate of GDP growth in the 4th Quarter was revised down to 2.4% annual growth. Initial estimates had put GDP growth at 3.2%. Economists had expected a downward revision to 2.5%, making
Democrats have been heavy favorites to capture the seat of the late Rep. Bill Young (R-FL) in a special election on March 11th. Their nominee, Alex Sink, lost a close race for Governor in 2010 and has both high name
The trouble with being an actor is that you have to remember your lines. The trouble with being a political actor is that that you have to make the new lines fit with all the other lines you’ve delivered in
One of the more persistent myths of modern politics is that Democrats are swimming against a torrent of money supporting Republicans. In the media narrative, nefarious business and monied interests subvert the democratic process by deploying millions against Democrats progressives.
Last week, the Democrat controlled House in West Virginia passed legislation raising the state’s minimum wage to $8.75 an hour, $1.50 higher than the federal minimum wage. The action is part of a nation-wide effort by Democrats to make a
President Obama’s FY 2105 budget will drop the one concession he had made to Republicans on entitlement reform. Under pressure from Congressional Democrats, Obama’s budget will not contain a proposal called “chained CPI” which changes the calculation of cost-of-living increases
Earlier this week, Democrat Rep. Ami Bera was asked on a local Sacramento news channel whether he supported bailing out insurance companies who lost money as a result of the failures of the ObamaCare exchanges. After some qualifying, and not
The Commerce Department reported Thursday that retail sales unexpectedly fell 0.4% in January. Economists had expected sales to be unchanged from December. The agency also revised December retails sales downward. An initially report 0.2% increase was revised to just a
Just one day after unveiling a plan to link a lift in the debt ceiling to restoring cuts to military pensions, House Speaker John Boehner announced on Tuesday that he would push a “clean” debt ceiling increase. Under a “clean”
The black teen unemployment rate spiked to 38% in January. The dramatic increase represented almost a 10% increase over December’s 35.5% unemployment rate. Overall, the teen unemployment rate for all races was 21%, a modest increase from December. This increase
House Speaker John Boehner reacted quickly to the weak jobs report on Friday, criticizing the Administration for what he called “the worst jobs recovery in history.” Boehner urged Obama to remove obstacles to job-creating efforts, specifically construction of the Keystone
On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the economy added just 113k jobs in January. Economists had expected a gain of 180,000 after a very weak report in December. The two months are both far below employment growth trends last
On Friday, the Labor Department reported that the economy added just 113k jobs in January. Economists had expected a gain of 180,000 after a very weak report in December. The two months are both far below employment growth trends last
On Tuesday, the CBO confirmed what conservatives warned about during the first debates on the law — ObamaCare is bad for the economy. The non-partisan office estimated that, in just a decade, there will be 2.5 million fewer workers in the
Payroll firm ADP reported that the economy added 175,000 jobs in January, a sharp decrease from its reported gain of 228,000 jobs in December. The estimate was lower than economists’ expectations, which had predicted a gain of 185,000 jobs in
President Obama’s oft-repeated claim that “if you like your health care plan, you can keep it,” was named the “lie of the year” by Politifact. In fact, more Americans have lost health coverage than obtained it through ObamaCare. Unfortunately for
New Jersey Democrat Rep. Rob Andrews, who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, announced his resignation from Congress on Tuesday. Andrews’ misuse of campaign funds was chronicled in Breitbart News’ Peter Schweizer’s book Extortion. Andrews is taking a
On Friday, every political campaign had to file its 2013 year end report with the FEC. The reports delivered two big surprises. The Democrats are dominating the Republicans in fundraising. More surprising, perhaps, though, is that Tea Party and conservative
A significant obstacle to construction of the Keystone pipeline was removed Friday, as the State Department released its review of the project. The State Department said there were no major environmental objections to construction of the pipeline. President Obama has
In the Netflix show “House of Cards,” Kevin Spacey plays a powerful member of Congress who stacks the deck in order dispense favors and to help those who help him. The show may be fiction, but a real life, bigger
With the retirements of two of her closest allies in the House, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was forced Thursday to assure the press that she was running for reelection in November. “I’m running. I’ve already started the paperwork process. My work
Each week, it seems another Democrat lawmaker announces their retirement from Congress. On Thursday, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) joined the growing list. It is only January, but 11 Democrat lawmakers have said they are quitting at the end of this
The Commerce Department reported Thursday that GDP growth dropped to 3.2% in the 4th Quarter. While generally a healthy number, it is a dramatic drop from 3rd Quarter growth, which was 4.1% on an annualized basis. For the entire year,
On Wednesday, the House gave final approval to the Farm Bill, clearing the way for Senate action and President Obama’s desk. The $1 trillion deal authorizes farm and food stamp programs for the next 5 years. For the past two
At his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), Obama’s nominee for US Ambassador to China admitted, “I’m no real expert on China.” The answer came in response to a question from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI). Points to Baucus
Most pundits and political professionals expect the GOP to have a good showing in the midterm elections. Historically, the opposition picks up seats in the 6th year of a President’s tenure. Obama’s approval ratings are at rock bottom and the
Democrat Rep. Jim Moran was interviewed on a DC public radio station Friday and expressed his growing fear over the fate of ObamaCare. His chief concern is that not enough young people are signing up for insurance. Critics of the
Reading the 43-page indictment of Bob and Maureen McDonnell provides a glimpse of the intersection of politics and money. Many of the alleged gifts and actions listed, however, don’t seem especially extraordinary in today’s political environment. What is breathtaking, though,
Democrats have made the issue of “income inequality” the cornerstone of their platform going into the November elections. In less than two months, the House Democrats will discuss this and other issues at the swanky and posh St. Regis hotel
At the end of last year, embattled NJ Gov. Chris Christie took control of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), which acts as a kind of super-pac for GOP gubernatorial campaigns. In 2010, a cycle comparable to the upcoming elections, the
The GOP establishment got its preferred candidate in a Florida special election when David Jolly defeated state Rep. Kathleen Peters in a Republican primary earlier this month. Jolly is a former staffer for deceased Rep. Bill Young who has been
A new ad from the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) looks to have had about as much review as the ObamaCare website. The ad, targeting Rep. Joe Heck, misspells the DCCC’s website. Amazingly, considering it is 2014, and not 1994,
On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said the US would exhaust its borrowing authority in late February, rather than early March as originally estimated. If Congress doesn’t lift the debt ceiling by then, the government would have to prioritize its