Sean Lengell

Read the latest stories and analysis from Sean Lengell.

Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh, shown here Jan. 26 in Helena, Mont., has been appointed to the U.S. Senate. (AP Photo/Matt Volz)

Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh replaces Max Baucus in Senate

Sean Lengell · February 7, 2014 5:00 am

Supporters of campaign finance reform portray Cleta Mitchell as a major obstacle to fixing an election system they say is unfairly tilted to the advantage of wealthy corporations, individuals and groups. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Cleta Mitchell uses her political muscle to fight for causes and candidates she believes in

Sean Lengell · February 7, 2014 5:00 am

"We can get Americans back to work and our economy booming again, but this is not achieved by Washington turning a temporary federal benefit into another welfare program," said Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. (AP File)

Senate rejects extension of long-term unemployment benefits

Sean Lengell · February 6, 2014 5:00 am

Retiring Montana Sen. Max Baucus, center, shakes hands with Senate Foreign Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Menendez, D-NJ., accompanied by the committee's ranking Republican Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., right, and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, prior to the start of the committee's hearing on Baucus nomination to become US ambassador to China. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Senate confirms Max Baucus as next U.S. ambassador to China

Sean Lengell · February 6, 2014 5:00 am

House Speaker John Boehner says his Republican conference is having trouble coming up with a plan to avoid hitting the government's fast-approaching debt limit, suggesting that even heavenly intervention wouldn't help. ÃÂ (Photo: Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner file)

John Boehner: Mother Teresa couldn’t help Congress right now

Sean Lengell · February 6, 2014 5:00 am

With the edge of California's Folsom Lake more than 100 yards away, girls walk on rocks that are usually at the water's edge, on Jan. 9. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Energy and Environment

House passes California drought relief bill

Sean Lengell · February 5, 2014 5:00 am

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., second from left, celebrates with fellow committee members on Capitol Hill on Tuesday after Congress gave its final approval to a sweeping five-yearÃÂ farmÃÂ bill. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

Congress passes long-awaited five-year farm bill

Sean Lengell · February 4, 2014 5:00 am

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., holds a post-vote press conference with reporters Tuesday. Efforts to pass an extension of expired unemployment benefits have stalled, and the clock is ticking down towards recess next week. (Photo: Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)

Harry Reid says no to fast-track authority on trade deals

Sean Lengell · January 30, 2014 5:00 am

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., shown here in June 2012, this week announced his retirement. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Longtime Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman won’t seek re-election

Zack Colman, Sean Lengell · January 30, 2014 5:00 am

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Nancy Pelosi hopeful Republicans will draft immigration reforms Democrats like

Sean Lengell · January 29, 2014 5:00 am

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., rehearses the Republican response to the State of the Union on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

McMorris Rodgers: GOP, not Obama, offers real chance for ‘hope and change’

Sean Lengell · January 28, 2014 5:00 am

The bill would continue to heavily subsidize major crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, rice and cotton but would shift many of those subsidies toward crop insurance programs. (Thinkstock)

Congress agrees on five-year farm bill

Sean Lengell · January 27, 2014 5:00 am