Scott Horsley

Unclear Laws May Have Contributed to Tax-Exempt Controversy

Scott Horsley — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:28:00 +0000

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

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.

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.

Why Congress Has Reasons Not To Be Bipartsan

Scott Horsley — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:06:00 +0000

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STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Now let's look little more deeply at this narrative of scandal. NPR's Scott Horsley has more.

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.

White House Addresses Benghazi Emails, IRS Audits

Scott Horsley — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:57:00 +0000

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MELISSA BLOCK, BYLINE: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.

AUDIE CORNISH, BYLINE: And I'm Audie Cornish.

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.

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.

IRS Inspector General Faults 'Ineffective Management'

Scott Horsley — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:02:00 +0000

Audie Cornish talks to Scott Horsley about the IRS Inspector General's report on the agency's audit of conservative groups.

President Asks Moms For Help Promoting Obamacare

Scott Horsley — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:45:00 +0000

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ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

And I'm Audie Cornish. At the White House this afternoon, President Obama enlisted a new ally in his campaign to promote health insurance: moms. Starting this fall, Americans who don't have insurance or who've been buying costly individual policies will be able to shop for coverage through new government exchanges. The White House plans an aggressive campaign to encourage people to sign up.

Democrats Hope For A Bright Future In The Lone Star State

Scott Horsley — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:32:00 +0000

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.

Obama lost Texas by more than 1 million votes last year.

The Federal Deficit Is Actually Shrinking

Scott Horsley — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:37:00 +0000

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.

That's just one of the factors behind a better bottom line for the federal government.

Online Retailers Take Opposite Sides On Sales Tax Bill

Scott Horsley — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:31:00 +0000

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.

The political battle over the bill pits online retailers against brick-and-mortar stores — and, in some cases, against other online sellers.

Nancy Mashragi of Clearwater, Fla., backed in to online retailing.

Obama, Republicans Agree On Tax Loopholes, But Little Else

Scott Horsley — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:10:00 +0000

President Obama's newly released tax return 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.

The president signed his tax return last Monday, just one week before the deadline, and he's in good company.

Obama Highlights Colorado's Action On Gun Control Legislation

Scott Horsley — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:23:00 +0000

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.

Outrage Alone Won't Advance Gun Control Measures

Scott Horsley — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:34:00 +0000

President Obama is trying to regain some traction for federal gun control measures by visiting states that are moving forward on their own.

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.

Obama would like to see similar measures adopted nationwide.

Obama Asks Young Israelis To Push For Peace

Scott Horsley — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:40:00 +0000

President Obama is urging both Israelis and Palestinians not to abandon long-stalled peace talks. The president has been practicing some low-key shuttle diplomacy this week.

Obama Looks For A Spring Thaw With Congress To Start Melting Deficit

Scott Horsley — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:05:00 +0000

President Obama is hoping for a spring thaw in White House-congressional relations.

The president had dinner Wednesday night with a small group of Republican lawmakers. He's also planning rare visits to Capitol Hill next week to discuss his agenda with both Democrats and Republicans.

Aides say Obama is trying to locate what he calls a "caucus of common sense" in Congress to tackle the country's long-term budget challenges.

With across-the-board spending cuts now on autopilot, there's a momentary lull in Washington's budget brinksmanship.

Obama Announces His Picks For EPA, Other Cabinet Posts

Scott Horsley — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:02:00 +0000

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STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renée Montagne. President Obama is to announce, or has just announced, three Cabinet-level nominations today - for the Energy Department, for the Office of Management and Budget, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It's that last one, for the EPA, that will likely be the biggest lightning rod during Senate confirmation hearings. NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley is here with us now, to talk about the president's picks.

President Obama To Nominate New EPA, Budget And Energy Heads

Scott Horsley — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:02:00 +0000

President Obama plans to announce three Cabinet-level nominations Monday, including a new administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, who could be on the hot seat in the looming battle over global warming.

Gina McCarthy, currently an assistant administrator in the wing of the EPA that regulates air pollution, is the president's pick to head the EPA.

Obama will also tap the director of MIT's Energy Initiative, Ernest Moniz, as his new energy secretary, and the president of the Walmart Foundation, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, to head the Office of Management and Budget.

The nominatio

What's The Sequester? And How Did We Get Here?

Scott Horsley — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:06:00 +0000

They've been everywhere this week: dire warnings about threats posed by across-the-board federal spending cuts.

Unless Congress acts, the cuts are due to take effect a week from Friday. The administration is trying to drive home the ways that could affect you.

For example, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned Friday that air traffic controllers will have to take unpaid days off beginning in April.

Defense Cuts May No Longer Be Political Sacred Cow

Scott Horsley — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:06:00 +0000

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that the automatic spending cuts due to hit the Pentagon and other branches of government next week will damage U.S. national security.

In a letter to Congress, he said those cuts would put the military on a path toward a "hollow force." But the warnings don't appear to be moving the needle with lawmakers or the American public.

The automatic spending cuts don't officially take effect until March 1, but they are already being felt.

In Hometown Visit, Obama Advocates 'Common Sense' Approach To Guns

Scott Horsley — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:05:00 +0000

"It's good to be home," President Obama said to a crowd, including uniformed high school students, at Chicago's Hyde Park Academy on Friday.

The school is in the same neighborhood where the Obamas raised their children, but the topic of the president's visit was raising Chicago's children — and the nation's.

Obama's Road Trip To Conclude With Florida Break

Scott Horsley — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:41:00 +0000

President Obama will cap off a busy week of politicking with some R&R in Florida.

Obama plans to travel to the West Palm Beach area for what his spokesman called "some well-deserved downtime."

"He's going to spend Presidents Day weekend relaxing with some friends," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. "There's no work on the schedule."

The getaway follows three days of campaign-style events building on the president's State of the Union address Tuesday night. Obama visited North Carolina on Wednesday to promote manufacturing.

Obama Tries To Move Spotlight Off Deficit Reduction

Scott Horsley — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:01:00 +0000

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LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Pre-school is one example of how President Obama says the government can play a constructive role in the U.S. economy. In his State of the Union speech, President Obama tried to refocus a debate that, for two years, has been all about cutting. The president is highlighting government programs that even many Republicans support.

Here's NPR's Scott Horsley.

SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: The U.S.

Can An Ex-Prosecutor Make The SEC Tougher On Wall Street?

Scott Horsley — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:40:00 +0000

President Obama's choice to head the Securities and Exchange Commission has prosecuted terrorists and mobsters. If she's confirmed, Mary Jo White's next challenge will be tackling reckless behavior on Wall Street.

White, who spent nearly a decade as U.S. Attorney in New York City, would be the first former prosecutor to lead the SEC.

Inflation Index Fix Could Cut Federal Deficit

Scott Horsley — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:17:00 +0000

The Consumer Price Index is one of the most familiar measures in economics and politics. But some in Washington want to change the way the index is calculated to better reflect people's shopping habits.

While the proposed change is described as a technical fix, it could also cut the federal deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade.

It's a small number, but the inflation measure can make big waves. It's used to adjust Social Security and other retirement benefits.

'Paris Hilton Tax' Vs. 'Death Tax': A Lesser-Known Fiscal Debate

Scott Horsley — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:44:00 +0000

Ben Franklin famously observed that nothing is certain but death and taxes.

So far, Congress hasn't repealed the former, but the future of estate taxes — a largely overlooked piece of the "fiscal cliff" — remains uncertain as this year draws to a close.

Until now, most of the year-end tax debate has focused on the income tax, but another battle could be brewing over estate taxes.

Economist Jared Bernstein of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says if

Closing Tax Loopholes Easier In Theory Than In Political Practice

Scott Horsley — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:03:00 +0000

As leaders in Washington try to make a deal to avoid the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts slated to go into effect in the new year, one major focus of the negotiations is whether to let taxes go up on the rich.

The Obama administration wants to allow the Bush-era tax cuts to expire for top earners. House Speaker John Boehner and congressional Republicans have countered with a proposal that they say would raise revenue through ending loopholes and deductions in the tax code and would not increase tax rates.

But closing loopholes is easier said than done.

Pick A Number: Let's Play 'Cap Those Deductions'

Scott Horsley — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:26:00 +0000

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says it's up to congressional Republicans to take the next step in budget talks to avoid the pending automatic spending cuts and tax increases at the end of the year.

Appearing on the Sunday talk shows, Geithner said there's "no path to an agreement" until Republicans are willing to accept higher tax rates on the rich.

The GOP argues that if tax revenues must go up, it would be better to leave rates alone and inste

Using Campaign Tactics, Obama Takes Tax Fight On The Road

Scott Horsley — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:49:00 +0000

President Obama is hoping the same campaign tools that helped him win re-election will also deliver a policy win in the fight over federal taxes.

The president wants Congress to extend Bush-era tax cuts for most Americans, while allowing taxes to go up for the wealthiest 2 percent. His aides are using email, social media and beyond-the-Beltway campaign appearances in hopes of putting pressure on Republican lawmakers.

Inside the U.S. Capitol, old battle lines barely seem to have budged. Republicans resist higher taxes, while Democrats resist cuts to entitlement programs.

Obama In Cambodia For East Asia Summit

Scott Horsley — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:23:00 +0000

President Obama is winging his way home from Asia Tuesday. The White House insists domestic budget concerns won't affect U.S. investment in Asia, which was the point of the president's three-nation tour this week. But some in the region are not so sure.

Obama Hopes For Another Victory: Avoiding Fiscal Cliff

Scott Horsley — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:45:00 +0000

President Obama meets with labor leaders at the White House on Tuesday to discuss how to steer clear of the so-called fiscal cliff. It's the first of many meetings aimed at avoiding automatic tax increases and spending cuts at the beginning of the new year.

A week ago, the president proved again that he and his team are good at winning elections. The question now is whether he can translate victory at the ballot box to success in shaping policy.

The 62 million Americans who voted to re-elect the president last week had no illusions about what they were doing.

Obama Spends Election Day In Chicago

Scott Horsley — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:41:00 +0000

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SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: And I'm Scott Horsley, traveling with the Obama campaign. Actually, the president's campaign travel is finished. Mr. Obama spent the night at his own home in Chicago. Today's plans call for some TV and radio interviews and maybe a game of basketball with some friends. Mr.

Obama Tries To Bank Early Votes In Ohio

Scott Horsley — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 11:41:00 +0000

The presidential candidates will be hopscotching among the handful of states that are most closely contested this weekend. President Obama begins campaigning Saturday where he left off Friday, in the all-important battleground of Ohio.