Panel: Apple uses firms outside U.S. to avoid taxes

Washington — The world's most valuable company, Apple Inc., employs a group of affiliate companies located in Ireland to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. income taxes, a Senate investigation has found — and its CEO will be questioned Tuesday.

Ex-IRS commissioner heads to Capitol Hill amid scandal

Washington — Lawmakers are getting their first chance to question the former head of the Internal Revenue Service, the man who ran the agency when agents were improperly targeting tea party groups.

Peters names campaign manager for Senate bid

Washington — Rep. Gary Peters is kick-starting his bid to become Michigan’s next U.S. senator by assembling his campaign leadership with no Republican yet stepping forward to challenge the Oakland County Democrat.

Obama aides knew of IRS audit, say he wasn’t told

Washington — White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and other senior advisers knew in late April an impending report was likely to say the IRS had inappropriately targeted conservative groups, President Barack Obama's spokesman disclosed Monday, expanding the circle of top officials who knew of the audit beyond those named earlier.

Senators: Require fingerprinting of foreigners at 30 airports

Washington —Foreigners leaving the country through any of the nation’s 30 busiest airports would undergo mandatory fingerprinting under an amendment senators added Monday to a sweeping immigration bill.

Tea party looks to seize on White House controversies

Des Moines, Iowa — Is the tea party getting its groove back? Shouts of vindication from around the country suggest the movement's leaders certainly think so.

Supreme Court to weigh in on legislative prayers

Washington — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a new case on the intersection of religion and government in a dispute over prayers used to open public meetings.

Senators working on immigration bill agree to tighten asylum controls

Washington — Senators working on a wide-ranging immigration bill have agreed to tighten controls on the asylum system that allows people fleeing war or persecution to find refuge in the U.S.

AP CEO calls records seizure unconstitutional

Washington — The president and chief executive officer of The Associated Press on Sunday called the government's secret seizure of two months of reporters' phone records "unconstitutional" and said the news cooperative had not ruled out legal action against the Justice Department.

White House insists Obama was not involved in IRS

Washington — A top White House adviser insisted President Barack Obama learned the Internal Revenue Service had targeted tea party groups only "when it came out in the news" while Republicans continued to press the administration for answers on Sunday.

Tea party looks to take advantage of moment

Des Moines, Iowa — Is the tea party getting its groove back? Shouts of vindication from around the country suggest the movement's leaders certainly think so.

Obama to speak on legality of drone program

Washington — President Barack Obama will discuss the legality of his administration's secret drone program and other counterterrorism practices during a speech Thursday, a White House official said.

Mich. Rep. Camp: IRS lied, must clean house

Washington — A top House Republican blasted the Internal Revenue Service for “lying” to the American people at the first congressional hearing since the agency a week ago admitted stonewalling the tax-exempt applications of tea party groups.

Military to re-train leaders on sexual assault prevention

Washington — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday ordered the military to recertify all 25,000 people involved in programs designed to prevent and respond to sexual assault, an acknowledgement assaults have escalated beyond the Pentagon's control.

Organic food companies gain Washington clout

Washington — The organic food industry is gaining influence on Capitol Hill, prompted by its entry into traditional farm states and by increasing consumer ...

Obama talks jobs, says politics misplace focus

Washington — President Barack Obama is calling attention to his economic proposals and efforts to expand the middle class.

GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law

Washington — Political scandals have strange ways of causing collateral damage, and Republicans are hoping the furor over federal tax enforcers singling ...

Obama: ‘Our focus cannot drift’ from jobs, economy

Baltimore — Trying to reset the agenda amid scandal in Washington, President Barack Obama turned his attention Friday to the economy and said lawmakers ...

House group in accord on immigration

Washington — A bipartisan band of House members working on a comprehensive immigration bill has reached an agreement in principle, lawmakers said Thursday, ...

Tea party tax returns show activism on a budget

Washington — Dozens of tea party groups and other conservative organizations of the kind subjected to improper scrutiny by the Internal Revenue Service ...

Nominee impasse poses problems for labor board

Washington — Senate Republicans said Thursday they would not support five nominees to the National Labor Relations Board, raising the possibility the troubled ...

House advances student loan rules

Washington — The days of fixed-rate student loans could be coming to a close, with House Republicans on Thursday advancing a proposal that would link ...

Obama out to quell IRS, Libya troubles

Washington — President Barack Obama, seeking to regain his footing amid controversies hammering the White House, named a temporary chief for the scandal-marred ...

Obama: Sexual assaults weaken trust in military

Washington — President Barack Obama said sexual assaults and harassment are undermining trust among members of the U.S. armed forces and pose a threat to ...

CBO: Obama budget would cut deficits $1.1T by 2023

Washington — President Barack Obama's budget would trim projected federal deficits by $1.1 trillion over the coming decade, using nearly $6 in higher ...

AT&T Michigan president may run for Levin’s seat

AT&T Michigan President James Murray said he is considering a run for U.S. Senate, adding another potential GOP candidate vying for the seat opened up by the ...

Obama calls on Congress to fund embassy security

Washington — President Barack Obama on Thursday tried to turn the tables on Republicans who have criticized his administration's response to last year's ...

Tea party groups call IRS process 'nightmare'

Washington — Anger over President Barack Obama's policies drove businessman Tom Zawistowski to file paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service nearly ...

Obama promises action on a trio of controversies

Washington — President Barack Obama confronted a trio of controversies Thursday, pledging to work with Congress to ensure the IRS doesn't abuse its power, ...