Roy Blunt

Sen. Roy Blunt, a key Republican political insider, will head Mitt Romney's effort to secure congressional support for the former Massachusetts governor's presidential bid, the latest move by the GOP establishment to close ranks for 2012. The announcement of Blunt's campaign role comes as some Republicans seek to stop Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the leader for the GOP nod, and amid polls that show that Romney may have a slightly better chance to unseat President Obama. There is already talk in some Republican circles that, Perry, who has greater support among staunch conservatives such as those in the “tea party” movement, is unable to appeal to independents needed by the GOP to keep control of the House and to possibly win the Senate.

WASHINGTON -- Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt said on Monday that he is placing a hold on Gina McCarthy, President Obama's pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, which could delay a full Senate vote on the nominee. Blunt said the hold would remain in place until the Obama administration issued a timeline for release of a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project. The project calls for installing pumping stations and closing a 1,500-foot gap in the Mississippi River levee system in southeast Missouri.

WASHINGTON -- Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt said on Monday that he is placing a hold on Gina McCarthy, President Obama's pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, which could delay a full Senate vote on the nominee. Blunt said the hold would remain in place until the Obama administration issued a timeline for release of a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project. The project calls for installing pumping stations and closing a 1,500-foot gap in the Mississippi River levee system in southeast Missouri.

Sen. Roy Blunt, a key Republican political insider, will head Mitt Romney's effort to secure congressional support for the former Massachusetts governor's presidential bid, the latest move by the GOP establishment to close ranks for 2012. The announcement of Blunt's campaign role comes as some Republicans seek to stop Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the leader for the GOP nod, and amid polls that show that Romney may have a slightly better chance to unseat President Obama. There is already talk in some Republican circles that, Perry, who has greater support among staunch conservatives such as those in the “tea party” movement, is unable to appeal to independents needed by the GOP to keep control of the House and to possibly win the Senate.

In choosing Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio as the new House majority leader Thursday, Republicans sought to put a new face on a party reeling from scandals and worried about maintaining its congressional majority. In an upset, Boehner won a tense closed-door vote that went to a second ballot. Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the acting majority leader, had been favored to win the election.

House Republicans struggled Thursday to regain their political balance, one day after House Majority Leader Tom DeLay relinquished his leadership position after being indicted by a grand jury in his home state of Texas. As he worked to unite the party and turn its attention back to the legislative agenda, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, DeLay's successor as majority leader, faced ethics questions himself.

This was supposed to be the wrong year for Washington insiders. But no point telling that to Republican Senate candidates such as Roy Blunt and Dan Coats. Blunt is a longtime member of Congress from Missouri who led the Republican House shoulder-to-shoulder with the disgraced Tom DeLay, the former Texas lawmaker considered by some to be the very symbol of Republican hubris and overreach. Blunt voted for the massive Medicare expansion plan in 2003 and the Wall Street bailout in 2008.

Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) said he would not seek reelection. Shadegg becomes the 29th House Republican in the last 13 months to opt out. He is best known for his unsuccessful challenge to Republican leader John A. Boehner of Ohio and Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri for the top GOP position.

In cutting off access to thousands of websites for a day, the tech industry flexed its political muscle with a don't-mess-with-the-Web campaign that highlighted its vast reach and how indispensable the Internet has become. The sweeping blackout to protest federal anti-piracy bills sparked frustration and confusion Wednesday but had its intended effect - disrupting the usual flow of the Internet while mobilizing opposition among online users and lawmakers. More than 10,000 websites participated in the strike against the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act, bills that opponents say could lead to censorship online and force some websites out of business.

Republican leaders may plan a House vote on whether to raise the $5.15 minimum wage before leaving this weekend for a five-week recess. Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said the plan was for a vote before week's end. But Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), said that although Republican leaders were working to pass the increase, "no decisions have been made." Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.

This was supposed to be the wrong year for Washington insiders. But no point telling that to Republican Senate candidates such as Roy Blunt and Dan Coats. Blunt is a longtime member of Congress from Missouri who led the Republican House shoulder-to-shoulder with the disgraced Tom DeLay, the former Texas lawmaker considered by some to be the very symbol of Republican hubris and overreach. Blunt voted for the massive Medicare expansion plan in 2003 and the Wall Street bailout in 2008.

In choosing Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio as the new House majority leader Thursday, Republicans sought to put a new face on a party reeling from scandals and worried about maintaining its congressional majority. In an upset, Boehner won a tense closed-door vote that went to a second ballot. Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the acting majority leader, had been favored to win the election.

House Republicans struggled Thursday to regain their political balance, one day after House Majority Leader Tom DeLay relinquished his leadership position after being indicted by a grand jury in his home state of Texas. As he worked to unite the party and turn its attention back to the legislative agenda, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, DeLay's successor as majority leader, faced ethics questions himself.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought Thursday to explain to U.S. lawmakers a March comment that seemed to minimize Japan's role in forcing thousands of Asian women into sexual slavery during World War II. Abe's first U.S. trip as prime minister comes as lawmakers consider a nonbinding resolution that urges Japan to apologize formally for its role in coercing women to serve as "comfort women" for Japan's military. Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.

House Republicans pushed through legislation Thursday granting permanent tax relief to married couples, overriding Democratic complaints that they were draining Social Security trust funds to gain election-year advantage. The 271-142 vote sent the bill to the Senate, where Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) gave it a tepid reception. "We don't want to have a $42-billion annual tax increase that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2011, because people are married," said Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). But Rep.