Advertise on NYTimes.com House Sets Up Battle on Funding Social Programs

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are laying the groundwork for another battle with President Obama over spending and domestic policy with a bill that would cut some of his favorite health and education programs, tie the hands of the National Labor Relations Board and eliminate federal grants for Planned Parenthood clinics. (Read more)

House Republicans Get An Earful At Town Halls Back Home – Source: Huff Post

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, more than 200 protesters impeded traffic in Washington state as they gathered near the offices of GOP Rep. Dave Reichert, chanting, "We need jobs. Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!" This is the third protest targeting Reichert since the vote on the debt ceiling, Patch reported. (Read more)

Senate Blocks GOP Debt Plan After House Approval

WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Speaker John Boehner’s plan to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and slash government spending narrowly passed his chamber on Friday and then was blocked by Senate Democrats, setting up a weekend of negotiations to seek a deal that would avoid a potential federal default next week. (Read more)

After Republican election defeat, Senate rejects GOP budget plan that would overhaul Medicare–Source: The Washington Post

One day after Republicans lost a special election that was dominated by debate over their 2012 budget proposal, the Senate on Wednesday rejected the House Republican budget blueprint, a mostly symbolic vote that nonetheless underscores the political peril entailed in the GOP proposal to turn Medicare into a voucher program. (Read more)