Scott Horsley

White House Addresses Benghazi Emails, IRS Audits

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

Transcript

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.

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 20:19:00 +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 21:09:00 +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 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

Transcript

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.