Scott Horsley http://whqr.org en Unclear Laws May Have Contributed to Tax-Exempt Controversy http://whqr.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 10:28:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 36766 at http://whqr.org Why Congress Has Reasons Not To Be Bipartsan http://whqr.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 36696 at http://whqr.org White House Addresses Benghazi Emails, IRS Audits http://whqr.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 36500 at http://whqr.org IRS Inspector General Faults 'Ineffective Management' http://whqr.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 36430 at http://whqr.org Democrats Hope For A Bright Future In The Lone Star State http://whqr.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 36107 at http://whqr.org Democrats Hope For A Bright Future In The Lone Star State The Federal Deficit Is Actually Shrinking http://whqr.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 35710 at http://whqr.org The Federal Deficit Is Actually Shrinking Obama Defends Positions At Surprise News Conference http://whqr.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 35648 at http://whqr.org Months In, Vacancies Remain In Obama's Second-Term Cabinet http://whqr.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 35586 at http://whqr.org Online Retailers Take Opposite Sides On Sales Tax Bill http://whqr.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 20:42:00 +0000 Scott Horsley 35275 at http://whqr.org Online Retailers Take Opposite Sides On Sales Tax Bill Obama, Republicans Agree On Tax Loopholes, But Little Else http://whqr.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 34760 at http://whqr.org Obama, Republicans Agree On Tax Loopholes, But Little Else