Scott Horsley http://publicradioeast.org en Obama: Sexual Assault Has No Place In The Military http://publicradioeast.org/post/obama-sexual-assault-has-no-place-military President Obama delivered the commencement address at Annapolis on Friday, challenging the U.S. Naval Academy graduates to help redefine national defense in the 21st century. Fri, 24 May 2013 21:26:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 14859 at http://publicradioeast.org Unclear Laws May Have Contributed to Tax-Exempt Controversy http://publicradioeast.org/post/unclear-laws-may-have-contributed-tax-exempt-controversy Transcript <p>DAVID GREENE, HOST: <p>Let's turn to another story for now: The acting head of the IRS has resigned, but is still facing questions about the agency. Lawmakers continue their probe into the federal tax agency targeting Tea Party groups seeking tax exemption.<p>Late last week, the House Ways and Means Committee demanded answers from top IRS officials to find out why the agency singled out conservative groups for scrutiny. Well, now, the Senate Finance Committee gets its chance to grill the outgoing commissioner. Tue, 21 May 2013 09:52:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 14525 at http://publicradioeast.org Why Congress Has Reasons Not To Be Bipartsan http://publicradioeast.org/post/why-congress-has-reasons-not-be-bipartsan Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>Now let's look little more deeply at this narrative of scandal. NPR's Scott Horsley has more.<p>SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: When President Obama gets frustrated with the gridlock in Washington, he sometimes looks back wistfully to the decades after World War II. Mon, 20 May 2013 09:06:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 14430 at http://publicradioeast.org Emails Track How Erroneous Benghazi Talking Points Emerged http://publicradioeast.org/post/emails-track-how-erroneous-benghazi-talking-points-emerged Transcript <p>MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: <p>We're going to take a closer look now at the trove of Benghazi-related emails that the White House made public late yesterday. The emails offer a behind-the-scenes look at how various agencies within the federal government worked to craft the talking points used to describe that attack last September. The talking points were initially developed for members of Congress, but they also provided a script for U.N. Thu, 16 May 2013 20:29:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 14224 at http://publicradioeast.org White House Addresses Benghazi Emails, IRS Audits http://publicradioeast.org/post/white-house-addresses-benghazi-emails-irs-audits Transcript <p>MELISSA BLOCK, BYLINE: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.<p>AUDIE CORNISH, BYLINE: And I'm Audie Cornish.<p>The Obama administration is doing some intensive damage control this evening. Tonight, the president announced that the acting commissioner of the IRS, Steven Miller, is being pushed out over heightened scrutiny given to Tea Party groups and other conservative organizations.<p>Earlier today, the White House also released 100 pages of emails in hopes of quieting a lingering controversy over last year's deadly attack at the U.S. Wed, 15 May 2013 21:57:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 14137 at http://publicradioeast.org 'Ineffective Management' Blamed For IRS Tax-Exempt Scandal http://publicradioeast.org/post/ineffective-management-blamed-irs-tax-exempt-scandal A Treasury Department Inspector General's report criticizes the IRS for inappropriately flagging some conservative groups for additional scrutiny on their applications for tax-exempt status. President Obama says those responsible must be held accountable. Wed, 15 May 2013 10:46:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 14071 at http://publicradioeast.org IRS Inspector General Faults 'Ineffective Management' http://publicradioeast.org/post/irs-inspector-general-faults-ineffective-management Audie Cornish talks to Scott Horsley about the IRS Inspector General's report on the agency's audit of conservative groups. Wed, 15 May 2013 00:02:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 14047 at http://publicradioeast.org Democrats Hope For A Bright Future In The Lone Star State http://publicradioeast.org/post/democrats-hope-bright-future-lone-star-state President Obama travels to Texas on Thursday for the second time in as many weeks. He will talk about job training and economic opportunity, but he may have a political opportunity on his mind as well.<p>Obama lost Texas by more than 1 million votes last year. Thu, 09 May 2013 07:32:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 13598 at http://publicradioeast.org Democrats Hope For A Bright Future In The Lone Star State Two Nominations Round Out Obama's Second-Term Cabinet http://publicradioeast.org/post/two-nominations-round-out-obamas-second-term-cabinet President Obama rounded out his cabinet on Thursday by naming Chicago benefactor Penny Pritzker as Commerce Secretary and White House aide Michael Froman as U.S. trade representative. Thu, 02 May 2013 21:14:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 13137 at http://publicradioeast.org The Federal Deficit Is Actually Shrinking http://publicradioeast.org/post/federal-deficit-actually-shrinking During the housing bust, taxpayers were forced to bail out mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. But thanks to the real estate recovery, Fannie Mae could end up paying tens of billions of dollars back to the Treasury this summer.<p>That's just one of the factors behind a better bottom line for the federal government. Wed, 01 May 2013 20:37:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 13036 at http://publicradioeast.org The Federal Deficit Is Actually Shrinking Obama Defends Positions At Surprise News Conference http://publicradioeast.org/post/obama-defends-positions-surprise-news-conference President Obama held a news conference on Tuesday, the 100th day of his second term. Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:43:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 12946 at http://publicradioeast.org Months In, Vacancies Remain In Obama's Second-Term Cabinet http://publicradioeast.org/post/months-vacancies-remain-obamas-second-term-cabinet President Barack Obama added one more new face to his cabinet. Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx was nominated Monday to be the next Transportation Secretary. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 12861 at http://publicradioeast.org Online Retailers Take Opposite Sides On Sales Tax Bill http://publicradioeast.org/post/online-retailers-take-opposite-sides-sales-tax-bill More online retailers would have to collect sales tax under a bill making its way through the U.S. Senate this week. The measure won strong bipartisan backing on a procedural vote Monday, and President Obama has said he would sign it.<p>The political battle over the bill pits online retailers against brick-and-mortar stores — and, in some cases, against other online sellers.<p>Nancy Mashragi of Clearwater, Fla., backed in to online retailing. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:31:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 12410 at http://publicradioeast.org Online Retailers Take Opposite Sides On Sales Tax Bill Obama, Republicans Agree On Tax Loopholes, But Little Else http://publicradioeast.org/post/obama-republicans-agree-tax-loopholes-little-else President Obama's <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/12/177049876/in-2012-obamas-made-662-076-paid-112-214-in-taxes">newly released tax return</a> shows his effective income tax rate was 18.4 percent last year. He'll likely pay a somewhat higher rate in 2013, and that tax bill would be even bigger if Congress were to adopt the recommendations in the president's own budget, unveiled this week.<p>The president signed his tax return last Monday, just one week before the deadline, and he's in good company. Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:10:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 11636 at http://publicradioeast.org Obama, Republicans Agree On Tax Loopholes, But Little Else Army Chaplain Awarded Medal Of Honor For Korean War Heroism http://publicradioeast.org/post/army-chaplain-awarded-medal-honor-korean-war-heroism Amid renewed tensions on the Korean peninsula, President Obama awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor to Army Captain Emil Kapaun, a military chaplain who was taken prisoner during the Korean War. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:01:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 11517 at http://publicradioeast.org Construction Jobs Take A Hit In March After A Fall Boost http://publicradioeast.org/post/construction-jobs-take-hit-march-after-fall-boost Transcript <p>ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: <p>From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.<p>AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: <p>And I'm Audie Cornish. The latest jobs numbers indicate a slowdown in the U.S. economy. A report out today from the Labor Department shows employers added just 88,000 jobs in March. That's about a third the number added the month before. The Obama administration is suggesting that across-the-board spending cuts may be to blame, and the president is proposing undoing those cuts and replacing them with more gradual deficit reduction. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:38:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 11085 at http://publicradioeast.org In Colorado, Obama Pushes For Gun Control http://publicradioeast.org/post/colorado-obama-pushes-gun-control President Obama was in Colorado Wednesday to highlight the state's gun control efforts as a model of what is possible for the country. Obama plans to visit Connecticut next week, to highlight that state's efforts. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:11:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 10928 at http://publicradioeast.org Obama Highlights Colorado's Action On Gun Control Legislation http://publicradioeast.org/post/obama-highlights-colorados-action-gun-control-legislation President Obama was in Denver on Wednesday to rally support for gun control laws. Colorado has stepped up on both background checks and ammunition magazines, and Democrats there fear backlash next year. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:23:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 10911 at http://publicradioeast.org Obama Tries To Rally Support For Gun Control Laws In Colorado http://publicradioeast.org/post/obama-tries-rally-support-gun-control-laws-colorado Transcript <p>ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: <p>From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.<p>AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: <p>And I'm Audie Cornish.<p>President Obama flew to Colorado this afternoon to rally support for national gun control laws. Colorado recently passed its own laws requiring background checks for all gun purchases and limiting the size of ammunition magazines. In Denver, the president delivered a speech and met with local law enforcement officials and community activists.<p>NPR's Scott Horsley joins us now from Denver. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:19:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 10901 at http://publicradioeast.org Outrage Alone Won't Advance Gun Control Measures http://publicradioeast.org/post/outrage-alone-wont-advance-gun-control-measures President Obama is trying to regain some traction for federal gun control measures by visiting states that are moving forward on their own.<p>On Wednesday, the president speaks in Colorado, where lawmakers recently passed a series of bills requiring background checks for all gun purchases and limiting the size of ammunition magazines.<p>Obama would like to see similar measures adopted nationwide. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:34:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 10832 at http://publicradioeast.org Outrage Alone Won't Advance Gun Control Measures