Sean Lengell

Read the latest stories and analysis from Sean Lengell.

The U.S. Postal Service has long vowed that neither bad weather nor gloom of night will keep it from delivering the nation's mail. But sagging incomes, rising debt and the nation's increasing reliance on electronic communication are threatening the organization like Mother Nature never could.ÃÂ (AP Photo/The Republic, Joel Philippsen)

Postal Service tries to stem red ink

Sean Lengell · October 4, 2013 4:00 am

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has suggested that the chamber's Republican leaders are in no hurry to let the partial government shutdown end in a move designed to gain bargaining leverage on deals to fund federal agencies and increase the nation's borrowing limit.ÃÂ (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

Nancy Pelosi ‘concerned’ Republicans plotting to link Obamacare with debt limit increase

Sean Lengell · October 3, 2013 4:00 am

Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., said many rank-and-file House Republicans privately have expressed interest in giving illegal residents a way to earn citizenship. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)

House Democrats press for immigration reform despite government shutdown

Sean Lengell · October 2, 2013 4:00 am

Janette Dunder of Alexandria, Va., protests outside the Capitol building as Congress continues the budget battle Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, in Washington. President Barack Obama ramped up pressure on Republicans Monday to avoid a post-midnight government shutdown, saying that failure to pass a short-term spending measure to keep agencies operating would "throw a wrench into the gears" of a recovering economy. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

American public: Worst Congress ever

Sean Lengell · September 30, 2013 4:00 am

Government shutdown looms; parties look to dodge blame with no deal in sight

Government shutdown looms; parties look to dodge blame with no deal in sight

Susan Ferrechio, Sean Lengell · September 30, 2013 12:00 am

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.,ÃÂ suggested House GOP leaders will continue to link their fight against the health care law to a spending bill needed to avoid a government shutdown. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Kevin McCarthy: House GOP has more ‘options’ to avoid government shutdown

Sean Lengell, Rebecca Berg · September 29, 2013 4:00 am

Bill Clinton: GOP ‘begging for America to fail’ over Obamacare

Sean Lengell · September 29, 2013 12:00 am

Government shutdown primer: What would and wouldn’t happen

Sean Lengell · September 28, 2013 12:00 am

With a proposed merger between US Airways and bankrupt American Airlines grounded by a government-led antitrust lawsuit, the carriers -- backed by a bipartisan group of political allies -- are pressing the Obama administration to allow the deal to fly. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

US Airways, American Airlines fight surprise merger ruling

Sean Lengell · September 27, 2013 4:00 am

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says her Democratic caucus is willing to meet Republicans halfway on the spending level of a short-term budget bill to keep the government funded past Monday. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

House Democrats willing to split difference on sequester cuts to avoid government shutdown

Sean Lengell · September 27, 2013 4:00 am

U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Air and Marine agents work together to detain an undocumented immigrant after chasing him down near the U.S.-Mexico border on April 11, 2013 near Mission, Texas. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

House Democrats drafting new immigration reform bill

Sean Lengell · September 26, 2013 4:00 am

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday that his Republican majority would not support the government funding bill. (Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)

John Boehner: House GOP won’t OK Senate’s government funding bill

David M. Drucker, Sean Lengell · September 26, 2013 4:00 am