Eye on Congress

The new Democratic Governor, John Bel Edwards, and the Republican Legislature are going to have to work together to clean up a mess that even some Republicans in the state say was created by Edwards’ predecessor, Republican Bobby Jindal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Obama plans to aggressively pursue a replacement for late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. But with Senate Republican leaders adamant they won’t act until after the presidential election, the process of filling the vacancy could develop into unprecedented partisan gridlock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Islamic State is building a new stronghold in Libya, attracting recruits, attacking energy facilities and grabbing hold of cities and towns in the oil rich nation. That’s posing a major challenge to the United States and its European allies trying to prevent the extremist group from getting a potential gateway into southern Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the chief cases facing the Supreme Court this term are President Obama's immigration policy changes, redistricting and a Texas abortion law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Zika virus outbreak has captured the attention of Congress, where lawmakers are fretting over money to stop the disease and the role contraception could play in prevention efforts. It comes against the backdrop of President Obama’s request for $1.8 billion in emergency funding for the outbreak, which has been connected to birth defects in South America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Military spending accounts for about half of the U.S.'s discretionary spending budget. The fiscal 2017 plan President Obama just released reflects an emphasis to curtail Russia. But it also shows his lame duck status, by putting off important questions about new weapons, personnel levels and force structure.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While much of President Obama's $4.23 trillion fiscal 2017 budget will not make it into law, it still sets the stage for a year’s worth of spending battles between a lame duck administration and Republicans hoping to improve their lot in the congressional and presidential elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Obama releases his final budget plan Feb. 9. Though important details about fiscal 2017 spending for defense, health and other critical areas are already trickling out, the document will provide an important roadmap for the year’s biggest policy and spending fights, as well as fodder for campaign- trail talking points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The spending and tax package Congress passed at the end of last year freed up about $2 billion for cash-strapped state transportation departments to use on road and bridge projects. Some of the money has been sitting around for decades, unused because it was designated for projects that were deemed not viable.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A water contamination crisis in Flint, Mich. has thrown the national spotlight on the problem of lead in drinking water. It’s an issue Washington regulators have been grappling with since 2010 and one that could lead to costly new mandates on states. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Rifle Association has become the face of the gun safety debate for its organizational strength and the clout it wields in Congress. But it’s only one of a host of interest groups making its voice heard on the issue as the presidential race heats up and President Obama promises executive actions to clamp down on gun sales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across the United States, cities and states are contending with a wave of abuse of painkillers, which is leading people to use heroin. Senators are working to come up with a bill to help mayors and governors cope with the crisis, which the CDC calls an epidemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans appear ready to use their control over federal spending to try to withhold Justice Department money if President Barack Obama tries to move forward with any of the executive actions he announced on gun sales. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is standing on the sidelines, unwilling to take up the constitutionality of new firearms restrictions.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Obama’s last budget request includes almost $4 billion to develop self-driving vehicles. Many in Congress view the cars as a way to reduce accidents and deliver environmental benefits. The question is whether concerns over cybersecurity, liability and management of radio spectrum could ground the effort, even as technology floods the market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Republicans have designs on passing a tax and spending plan this year. But it won't be easy in the midst of congressional and presidential elections. What's more, it may not be strictly necessary because last year's budget deal essentially locked in congressional spending levels for fiscal 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than 50 ex-members of Congress who left public life at the beginning of last year are now free to lobby their former colleagues. They’ll have to prove to businesses and advocacy groups that they can wield influence from the outside in a uniquely Washington ritual known as the revolving door that's seen about a third of former lawmakers join the influence game since 2001. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump has been leading presidential polls for so long, only a skeptic would doubt he’s a shoo-in for the Republican nomination. But plenty of people are dubious about the state of public opinion research and its overreliance on traditional, landline telephone polling in an age of smart phones, caller ID and other trappings of the digital age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the rebounding economy, the number of Americans who may not have enough food to eat is higher than pre-recession levels, standing at 6.9 million homes with about 17 million people. That’s prompting a fresh look at government food and nutrition programs aimed at veterans, single-parent families and other vulnerable populations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A State of the Union address can give a lame duck president one last chance to take a nationally televised victory lap. That may not be possible for Barack Obama, who’ll have to temper his rhetoric on Tuesday night to address the concerns of voters anxious about job insecurity, a growing disparity between rich and poor and the constant threat of terrorism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The recent delay of more than $30 billion worth of Obamacare taxes to help fund the law's health insurance expansion could embolden critics to take a run at other pieces of the law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices