Donna Cassata

Read the latest stories and analysis from Donna Cassata.

House, Senate reach agreement on defense bill

Donna Cassata · December 18, 2012 11:49 pm

FILE - This Dec. 3, 2012 file photo shows Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Kerry stands tall as President Barack Obama's good soldier. The lawmaker from Massachusetts has quietly jetted off to Afghanistan and Pakistan numerous times to tamp down diplomatic disputes that threatened to explode in the administration's face, spending hours on tea and walks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai or delicate negotiations in Islamabad. It's a highly unusual role for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman: envoy without a specific portfolio. Kerry has pushed the White House's national security agenda in the Senate, with mixed results. He successfully ensured ratification of a nuclear arms reduction treaty in 2010 and most recently failed to convince Republicans to back a U.N. pact on the rights of persons with disabilities. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

On foreign policy, Kerry is Obama’s good soldier

Donna Cassata · December 17, 2012 2:00 pm

FILE - This Dec. 3, 2012 file photo shows Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Kerry stands tall as President Barack Obama's good soldier. The lawmaker from Massachusetts has quietly jetted off to Afghanistan and Pakistan numerous times to tamp down diplomatic disputes that threatened to explode in the administration's face, spending hours on tea and walks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai or delicate negotiations in Islamabad. It's a highly unusual role for a Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman: envoy without a specific portfolio. Kerry has pushed the White House's national security agenda in the Senate, with mixed results. He successfully ensured ratification of a nuclear arms reduction treaty in 2010 and most recently failed to convince Republicans to back a U.N. pact on the rights of persons with disabilities. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

On foreign policy, Kerry is Obama’s good soldier

Donna Cassata · December 17, 2012 8:59 am

FILE - This Nov. 28, 2012 file photo shows UN Ambassador Susan Rice leaving a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rice has withdrawn from consideration for secretary of state. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File)

Kerry, Hagel front-runners to lead State, Defense

Donna Cassata · December 14, 2012 7:59 pm

FILE - This Dec. 2, 2009 file photo shows Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., ranking Democrat of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Berman, a leading House Democrat closing out three decades in Congress says a new structure to provide U.S. assistance worldwide is long overdue, and he has a plan, unveiling a 923-page bill on Wednesday that would replace the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 with a framework for providing developmental and economic U.S. aid. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Leading Democrat calls foreign aid system outmoded

Donna Cassata · December 12, 2012 8:35 pm

House Dems, GOP embrace cuts in defense spending

Donna Cassata · December 10, 2012 10:16 pm

FILE - This Nov. 22, 2012 file photo shows New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) warming up before an NFL football game in East Rutherford, N.J. The New York Jets and their quarterback controversy have turned into Washington's political football. In remarks on the Senate floor Friday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. said the Jets have three quarterbacks _ Sanchez, Tebow and Greg McElroy, who replaced Sanchez last Sunday and led the team to its only touchdown in a 7-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Reid said Republicans can't decide on their leader either. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)

Pity the New York Jets: Reid latest with swipe

Donna Cassata · December 7, 2012 8:08 pm

FILE - This Oct. 6, 2011 file photo shows Senate Banking Committee member Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. listening during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Corker is spending a lot of time lately talking to Democrats. The freshman lawmaker from Tennessee spoke briefly last week with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner after he unveiled his 10-year, $4.5 trillion solution to averting the end-of-year, double economic hit of tax hikes and automatic spending cuts. Deficit-cutting maven Erskine Bowles had forwarded Corker's proposal to White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew.

On economics, foreign policy, Corker eager to act

Donna Cassata · December 7, 2012 6:27 pm

FILE - In this June 14, 2011, file photo Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., speaks to media on Capitol Hill in Washington. DeMint announced Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 that he is resigning to take over at Heritage Foundation. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Leading conservative DeMint resigning Senate seat

Donna Cassata · December 6, 2012 11:01 pm

Senate passes $631 billion defense bill

Donna Cassata · December 4, 2012 11:59 pm

Lawmakers unveil new round of Iran sanctions

Donna Cassata · November 30, 2012 1:29 am

Senate gives green light to Pentagon green energy

Donna Cassata · November 29, 2012 12:26 am