Posted: 9:57 AM - Republican lawmakers have a message for those who want the party to soften its emphasis on social conservatism in hopes of reaching a wider national audience: Not so fast.

Posted: 9:55 AM - The obscure oversight board that President Barack Obama wants to scrutinize the National Security Agency's secret surveillance system is little known for good reason.

Posted: 9:49 AM - A wide-ranging farm bill the House is considering would cut food stamps by $2 billion a year and make it more difficult for some people to qualify for the domestic food aid program.

Posted: 06/18/2013 - "We don't want to make this thing more damaging that it already has become," Rep. Mike Rogers said ahead of an open hearing the Intelligence Committee scheduled with Army Gen. Keith Alexander.

Posted: 6:03 AM - In a statement Tuesday, Ramsey said De Friece is a former chairman of the Tennessee Arts Commission and a charter member of the Hands On! Regional Museum.

Posted: 06/18/2013 - The White House is reporting progress on President Barack Obama's initiatives to reduce gun violence, but says the most important step would be getting a reluctant Congress to pass new firearms laws.

Updated: 06/18/2013 - The justices' 7-2 ruling on Monday complicates efforts in Arizona and other states to bar voting by people who are in the country illegally.

Posted: 06/18/2013 - Military leaders are ready to begin tearing down the remaining walls that have prevented women from holding thousands of combat and special operations jobs near the front lines.

Updated: 06/18/2013 - Hunting for a glimmer of common ground, the leaders of major economic powers are declaring themselves dedicated to a political solution to Syria's bloody civil war.

Updated: 06/18/2013 - The abortion wars return to Congress in a big way with House legislation to ban almost all abortions after a fetus reaches the age of 20 weeks.

Posted: 06/18/2013 - A key committee in the Republican-led House is preparing to cast its first votes on immigration this year, on a tough enforcement-focused measure that Democrats and immigrant groups are protesting loudly.

Posted: 06/18/2013 - There's good news for most companies that provide health benefits for their employees: America's slowdown in medical costs may be turning into a trend, rather than a mere pause.

Updated: 06/18/2013 - The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states cannot on their own require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.

Posted: 06/17/2013 - An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status.

Posted: 06/17/2013 - Summoning young people to take responsibility for their country's future, Obama warned there is "more to lose now than there's ever been."

Posted: 06/17/2013 - The officials justify the massive trawling for phone and Internet data as new revelations add to public disclosures about the classified operations.