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The article discusses the position of Mitt Romney in the Republican Party as presidential nominee for the 2012 U.S. elections. It examines the stages of response by the party to the presidential campaign by various Republicans. It cites the reasons for the lack of endorsements for Romney from the party at the start of his campaign. It notes the probable actions of the party of associating with Romney to gain credibility.

The article focuses on the career path of Newt Gingrich as a U.S. Republican presidential hopeful on the lead. He has been the House Speaker for four years. The article mentions that the overhaul of the U.S. welfare law is his major achievement. He also notes the focus of the Gingrich political action committee (GOPAC) on welfare for the advantage of the Grand Old Party (GOP).

The article reports on the redistricting initiative in California. A 14-member bipartisan citizens' commission wrested control of drawing election boundaries from the Democrat-controlled state legislature. It is believed that the redistricting dashed the reelection hopes of some incumbents in the 2012 midterm election. The redistricting has negatively impacted Hispanic representation despite their growing population.

The article highlights the significance of the long-term recommendations of the U.S. Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction in 2011. Texas Republican Representative Jeb Hensarling and Washington Democratic Senator Patty Murray are the leaders of the new committee. The expected focus of the joint committee is on changes in mandatory spending programs. The Medicare reimbursement rate for physicians is cited as one of the programs to be influenced by the work of the committee.

The article focuses on the influence of the tea party in the debt ceiling debate in the U.S. Congress in 2011. It notes that the debate led to a higher debt ceiling instead of a default. It points out that a polarized Congress is one of the reasons behind the tea party's growing influence. Particular focus is given to the bipartisan vote on the debate.

The article reports that the jobs bill proposed by U.S. President Barack Obama has received resistance from Republicans after launching a bipartisan campaign to promote the jobs program. The authors mention that the bill comprises a package of tax breaks including expansion of Social Security payroll cuts and spending on public-sector jobs. Republican House Speaker John A. Boehner explained that his party is against the implementation of new taxes because they destroy jobs.

The article offers an update on House Resolution (HR) 5872 in the U.S., which requires a report by government on how it would implement sequestration, as of July 23, 2012. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on July 18, 2012. A comparison of the view of the Republican and the Democratic senators on the bill is provided. The author examines the possible impact of delaying the passage of the bill.

The article reports on the bill approved by the U.S. House giving three-month extension of authorization for highway, transit and safety programs. House Republicans have struggled to win caucus for the five-year surface transportation bill. The slow pace of House action on a longer-term bill caused frustration among House Democrats. Efforts by Republicans to advance a short-term extension of surface transportation programs preceded the approval of the three-month extension highway bill.

The article reports on the progress of House Resolution (HR) 7 and Senate Bill 1813 which aim to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs. HR 7, proposed by Florida Representative John L. Mica, lacked the support from Republicans due to the elimination of the Mass Transit Account. Democrat Charles Schumer warned Speaker John Boehner not to repeat the mistake with regard to the payroll tax cut debate. Legislators point to S 1813 as a viable alternative, and a final vote is expected.

The article reports that the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would strengthen rules for lawmakers, executives and justice officials related to insider-trading and financial disclosure. The bill which was also endorsed by the Senate, has several issues that are unresolved, including possible further restrictions on political intelligence consultants. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will decide whether to approve House changes or to seek additional revisions.

The article discusses the bitter rivalry for Republican presidential nominees that could undermine Republican Party (RP) efforts in gaining the control of power in Washington. The growing divide at the top of the RP, it says, are posing new challenges to the efforts of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John A. Boehner to keep the focus on legislation. It also notes the special meeting of Senate Republicans for a discussion of election-year strategies.

The article focuses on the move of U.S. House Republicans to renew struggles with President Barack Obama over the limit on the federal debt and a proposed oil pipeline, as of January 2012. It notes the approval of a joint resolution (H J Res 98) by the House aimed at blocking a1.2 trillion dollar increase in the 15.2 trillion dollar debt ceiling. Republican Jeff Flake stressed the need for lawmakers to implement a plan to reduce government spending, rather than an increase in the debt limit.

The article discusses the move of some U.S. House Republicans to distance themselves from Grover Norquist, the founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). A conservative activist, Norquist has been opposing tax hikes. Many Republicans have signed Norquist's anti-tax pledge in 1998 including Mike Simpson. 40 House Republicans have signed a letter expressing their frustration with Norquist' anti-tax stridency.

The article presents updates on efforts by the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to produce legislation to reduce the U.S. budget deficit by roughly 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars over a decade. Republican House Speaker John A. Boehner indicated his support for collecting more revenues. The two legislators who favor a tax overhaul are Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana and Republican Senator Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The article focuses on the action taken by the U.S. Congress to deal with the unemployment in the country in 2011. A bill that would repeal a requirement that government agencies withhold federal taxes from payments to contractors has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on October 27, 2011. A tax-withholding measure has also been passed that would repeal the law that requires the U.S. federal government to withhold 3 percent of the most payments made to government contractors.

The article reports on the conflict between the U.S. Republican and Democratic parties over economic and job market issues. According to the author, conflicts are also present within each party, which will make it harder for the U.S. Congress to address high unemployment and increasing deficit problems. He adds that in terms of finding 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars for the deficit reduction effort, the Republicans have reportedly intimated that they will accept a higher revenue as a solution.

The article discusses the U.S. Congress' clearing of HR 2017, a stop-gap bill on September 29, 2011 that would keep the government operating through October 4, 2011 and give it enough time to vote on a longer-term measure. The bill's financing of the government at the annual rate of discretionary spending that was agreed to in the debt limit law enacted in August 2011 is described. Doubts about a joint deficit reduction committee's creation of a bipartisan deal to reduce the deficit are cited.

The article reports on the debate between members of the U.S. House and Senate over the spending policy of the nation for fiscal 2012. Lawmakers argued on the amount of emergency disaster relief funding to be appropriated and on whether to reduce the spending rate below what was agreed to in the debt limit law. Congressional members also raised concerns about the proposed long-term deficit reduction plan of U.S. President Barack Obama.

The article highlights the farm bill challenges faced by Ohio Republican Representative John A. Boehner. It states the goal of Boehner to align federal farm policy to free-market principles and to give farmers flexibility when it comes to choosing what to plant. It also cites the parallelism in Boehner's challenge in the farm bill with that of the highway bill.

The article focuses on the support of the House Appropriations Committee for transportation and housing programs spending bill or House Regulation (HR) 5972 with discretionary funds of 51.6 billion U.S. dollars (USD) while the Highway Bill amount is still under negotiation. It mentions a limit on what agencies could obligate from the Airport Improvement Program and Highway Trust Fund to 103.6 billion USD. It also notes the Choice Neighborhodd program that will not be funded by the House bill.

The article reports on the efforts to end the stalemate between the U.S. Senate and House over long-term highway spending bills. House Speaker John A. Boehner has warned that a failure to reach a deal by June 30, 2012 would lead him to support a simple six-months-or-more extension. The House Bill HR 4348 includes environmental and energy regulatory provisions which are being objected by the Democrats.

The article offers information on the plan of Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank to write several books after thirty years of service in January 2013.

The article reports on the moves by the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to seek a possible compromise on a long-term surface transportation bill that was not achieved since 2009. Democratic Congressman Nick J. Rahall II supported a measure that will extend the bill for three months. The opinion of House Speaker John A. Boehner on the developments is also cited.

The article reports on the decision of U.S. House Republican leaders to pass another temporary extension to the existing surface transportation programs. The proposed 90-day extension is a last effort to advance a longer-term highway authorization bill. However, Democrats oppose the idea and are instead pushing for a vote on two-year, 109 billion U.S. dollars authorization that passed the Senate with a strong bipartisan vote.

The article reports on the move by the Republican members of the U.S. Congress to advance proposals that would overhaul the U.S. tax code, including the signing of the taxpayer protection pledge sponsored by the Americans for Tax Reform.