Two Congressional bills take opposite sides on SkiLink, a proposed gondola between two ski areas in the Wasatch Range.

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In Utah Ski Areas, Development and Conservation Battle Anew

Falling off a cliff is never a good idea. Then again, neither is digging yourself deeper into a hole. Those are the messages, contradictory but compelling, embedded in a new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) about the fast-approaching “ fiscal cliff .” The economy will confront the precipice at year’s end, on account of a confluence of tax cuts set to expire and spending cuts scheduled to kick in. Read full article > >

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Responsibility is missing as ‘fiscal cliff’ approaches

Millions of dollars in outside money began pouring into Congressional contests around the country in April, while spending by presidential “super PACs” dropped off.

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Campaign Spending Reports Released for April

The Office of Congressional Ethics has found no evidence of violations of insider-trading rules involving the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and will recommend that the case against him be closed. Read full article > >

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Congress ethics office clears Bachus of insider trading

With Congressional Republicans blocking his agenda, the president has been using executive powers to enact measures: on the environment, education, drug shortages and making recess appointments.

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A Measure of Change: Shift on Executive Powers Let Obama Bypass Congress

President Obama is finding himself increasingly boxed in on the Keystone pipeline fight as more Congressional Democrats are joining Republicans in backing the project.

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Democrats Join G.O.P. on Pipeline Vote

The waivers would exempt foreigners suspected of being Al Qaeda operatives from a Congressional mandate.

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Obama Issues Waivers on Military Trials for Foreign Qaeda Suspects

Between redistricting and a growing number of retirements, the face of California’s 53-member Congressional delegation is set to get younger.

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California Congressional Delegation Braces for Change

The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case. Read full article > >

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Rep. Spencer Bachus faces insider-trading investigation

Washington had four breweries operating in the early 20th century before the city was dried up by Congressional fiat in 1916. With a little luck, we should exceed that mark in the coming year, as 3 Stars Brewing Co . joins DC Brau , Chocolate City Beer and the Gordon Biersch and District ChopHouse brewpubs. Read full article > >

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D.C. is fermenting a brewery culture

Reid Ribble , a Wisconsin roofing contractor-turned-Republican lawmaker, has helped change the way Washington talks about the national debt. That’s not to say he has done much about the debt itself. Nearly a year ago, Ribble and other newly elected House Republicans came to Capitol Hill on a single-minded mission to shove the federal debt to the top of the congressional agenda. They succeeded. At every opportunity, they demanded cuts in spending, forcing a series of white-knuckle showdowns that have kept the government in a state of perpetual crisis. Washington nudged close to a public conversation about the kind of government taxpayers want and what they are willing to pay for it. Read full article > >

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Washington’s year of drama leaves little done regarding debt

Showing a new conciliatory tone, Senate leaders opened Congressional business Thursday by suggesting that a bipartisan compromise may come soon on a spending measure to keep the government running past Friday and a bill to extend a one-year cut in the payroll tax rate paid by 160 million workers. Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), who has been holding up a $1 trillion spending measure that would fund much of the government through next September, said he believes both issues can be resolved “in the next few days.” Read full article > >

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Senate leaders say deal on spending, tax cut measures may come soon

The city of Aurora, Colo., hopes that being the center of a new Congressional district will help propel it from being just a Denver suburb.

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Aurora Journal: Aurora, Colo., Tries to Outshine Its Bigger Neighbor

WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee announced Friday it will continue its investigation into allegations Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. or someone acting on his behalf offered to raise campaign cash for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for a Senate appointment in 2008. The committee also released an initial report from the Office of Congressional Ethics that said there was “probable cause” to believe that Jackson either directed a third party or had knowledge of a third party’s effort to convince the since-convicted Blagojevich to appoint Jackson Jr. in exchange for campaign cash. Read full article > >

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House Ethics Committee will continue investigation into Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

A US Congressional report says Nigeria’s militant Islamist group Boko Haram is an “emerging threat” to the US.

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US warns of Nigeria’s Islamists