National Election Wire

Obama to tour Jersey Shore with Gov. Christie

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to give the Jersey Shore a boost with a post-Memorial Day visit to showcase recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

Obama speech suggests possible expansion of drone killings

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Thursday defended his administration’s use of drone strikes to kill terrorists as effective, lawful and “heavily constrained,” but he also appeared to be laying groundwork for an expansion of the controversial targeted killings.

Obama sees narrower terror threat, defends drones

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama sought Thursday to advance the U.S. beyond the unrelenting war effort of the past dozen years, defining a narrower terror threat from smaller networks and homegrown extremists rather than the grandiose plots of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida.

IRS replaces official in tea party controversy

WASHINGTON — A day after she refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing, Lois Lerner was replaced Thursday as director of the Internal Revenue Service division that oversaw agents who targeted tea party groups.

IRS replaces official in tea party controversy

WASHINGTON — Moving quickly to stem a raging controversy, the new acting head of the Internal Revenue Service started cleaning house Thursday by replacing the supervisor who oversaw agents involved in targeting tea party groups.

Scandal draws questions about IRS role in enforcing Obamacare

WASHINGTON — The blossoming IRS scandal over the targeting of conservative groups is provoking new scrutiny and terse questions about the agency’s role in shaping and implementing the controversial new national health care law, with the biggest changes set to begin next year.

Rep. Jo Bonner resigning to take Ala. college post

MOBILE, Ala. — U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner says he is resigning from Congress effective in August to take a post with the University of Alabama system.

Senate votes to cut crop insurance aid for wealthy

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday voted to limit the amount of government subsidies the wealthiest farmers receive when purchasing crop insurance.

NJ students to help Michelle Obama harvest garden

WASHINGTON — Schoolchildren from New Jersey shore communities battered by Superstorm Sandy will join Michelle Obama for a garden harvest next week.

Alaska Rep. Don Young, gone hunting in Africa, misses subcommittee oil hearing

WASHINGTON — When a key House of Representatives panel took up a bill this week that would require annual lease sales and streamline permitting in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, home state Rep. Don Young missed the session.