Lisa Mascaro

Washington Coorespondent

Contact Lisa via e-mail

Call Lisa at 202-662-7436.

Story Archive

Tax on ‘Cadillac’ insurance plans could snare hotel maids: Highly paid executives aren’t only ones with costly coverage; Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009; Several years ago, when the powerful Culinary Union was negotiating new contracts on the Strip, its workers decided to forgo an initial pay increase to preserve their health care benefits. The union offers its workers, who clean hotel rooms and work in casino restaurants, a great benefits package by many measures — workers pay no premium from their paychecks for a policy that covers themselves and their families.
Reid taking punches from the left, too: Some liberals don’t think he’s been strong enough on health care reform; Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has not been getting much love from the left lately. Some of his liberal friends have been so unenthused over his performance on health care reform one anonymous group was toying with supporting a Republican against him in his reelection campaign next year.
Joe Biden to attend Nevada fundraiser for Harry Reid: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Vice President Joe Biden is coming to Reno next week to hold an event in town as well as attend a breakfast fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
If history is any indicator, John Ensign unlikely to be expelled: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009; The last time the Senate voted to expel one of its own was during the Civil War — the Club of 100 prefers instead to let voters decide whether lawmakers should stay or go.
Tourism bill advances with support of Nevada lawmakers: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Legislation to promote Las Vegas and other U.S. tourism destinations abroad moved closer to passage this afternoon after the House approved a measure that has been championed by Nevada’s lawmakers. Both Democratic Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus spoke on the House floor today to help pass the legislation in the face of a political assault by the conservative Club for Growth.
Outwardly, John Ensign is taking extra ethics scrutiny in stride: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; Behind the closed doors of the Republicans’ exclusive weekly luncheon Tuesday, Sen. John Ensign inserted himself into the policy debate with force, without any of the expected inhibitions of a lawmaker fighting for his political life.
Ethics group amends John Ensign complaints: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009; WASHINGTON -- An ethics group today filed supplemental complaints over Sen. John Ensign’s actions in securing employment for the husband of the former staffer with whom he was having an affair, and also asked that fellow Republican Sen. Tom Coburn be investigated for his role.
Dems blast Heck for switching to congressional race: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Former Republican state Sen. Joe Heck had barely announced his intention to drop out of the governor's race and instead for run Congress, and he's already getting blasted for the flip by Democrats in Washington.
Talk show host calls for John Ensign's resignation: Monday, Oct. 5, 2009; WASHINGTON -- The host of a Las Vegas talk radio show called today for Republican Sen. John Ensign to resign because of the continued fallout from the senator's his affair.
TV ad released today targets John Ensign on public option: Monday, Oct. 5, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. John Ensign is unlikely to vote for the health care reform legislation making its way through Congress, but he is being hit with TV ads this week that target his opposition to a possible public plan option.
What cuts in Medicare would mean for seniors: AARP says they’d be felt by insurers and providers, not patients; Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009; For seniors, the nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts proposed in the health reform bills moving through Congress can be a frightening proposition — less money for the popular program they rely on to help pay their medical bills. If costs aren’t reduced, Medicare is expected to go insolvent in 2017 as health care costs soar and more money is spent than is paid into the fund in taxes.
Is Harry Reid moderate on health care, or keeping powder dry for final fight?: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009; Toward the end of summer, word leaked that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was working on his own health care bill. True or not, it was a startling development for a majority leader who has taken great care in deferring to his committee chairmen.
After new disclosures, word of John Ensign investigations emerges: Hampton could also face serious legal jeopardy after his revelations about Ensign's actions; Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009; Sen. John Ensign faces the threat of expulsion from the U.S. Senate and possible criminal penalties, according to several legal and ethics experts. The New York Times reported Friday that he faces a preliminary FBI investigation into his actions.
Late attempt to revive Yucca Mountain plan falls short: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; WASHINGTON -- A last-minute attempt to keep the Yucca Mountain project alive suffered a blow today when the House approved a greatly reduced budget appropriation that excludes a provision to continue studying the site for a possible nuclear waste dump.
John Ensign scores win with health care amendment: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. John Ensign scored a victory in his pursuit of healthy lifestyle rewards with passage of his amendment to health care reform legislation that would offer deep discounts to those who quit smoking, lose weight or otherwise meet healthy milestones.
Attacks on Harry Reid have mixed messages: Reactions to senator’s Medicaid funding deal illustrate contrasts in GOP’s 2010 election strategy; Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; As Republicans ramp up their campaign against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the party’s Nevada and Washington operations can’t seem to get their stories straight on a line of attack. He is criticized for not doing enough and doing too much.
Harry Reid: 'I make no apologies' on Medicaid deal: John McCain, other Republicans critical of Reid on Senate floor; Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Facing backlash from Senate Republicans over the Medicaid deal Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid struck for Nevada, Reid said today he makes no apologies for getting better treatment for his state. “I make no apologies, none, for helping people in my state and our nation who are hurting the most,” Reid said this afternoon on the Senate floor.
John Ensign: Public option would be popular, so let’s not do it: So goes Ensign’s opposition, stated in Senate panel debate; Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009; Republican Sen. John Ensign on Tuesday delivered one of the more curious arguments against a public health care option. People might like it and use it. Then it would become popular, and too big to fail. And the government would have to support it.
Dems predict Harry Reid win, analyst expects GOP gains: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Despite his poor poll numbers, don't doubt Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's ability to win re-election. That was the word today from the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. But the non-partisan Cook Political Report is not so sure.
Harry Reid plans telephone town-hall meeting Thursday: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is hosting another telephone town-hall with Nevadans on health care reform at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Bigger premium discounts seen as a reward — and a problem: Ensign proposes amendment to encourage good habits by cutting insurance costs for those with healthy lifestyles; Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009; If you smoke, should your boss charge you more for health insurance?
Titus’ star rising as Ensign struggles: Her name is attached to popular legislation; his amendments shot down; Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009; Last week Rep. Dina Titus who has been in office just nine months found herself sharing the stage with leaders of the the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and Ways and Means Committee as she joined them in leading House passage of a bill that will halt Medicare rate increases for seniors.
Harry Reid: Public option trigger 'pretty doggone good idea': Friday, Sept. 25, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called the proposed public option trigger a “pretty doggone good idea” during a telephone-town hall on health care reform with Nevadans.
Millions for maglev: So, where’s the money?: It’s coming, but not when and perhaps not for what Gibbons announced; Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009; The $45 million the governor claimed was headed to Nevada for a maglev rail project won’t arrive any time soon, federal officials said Wednesday, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is working to divert the funding to state road and highway projects.
Transportation secretary: Gibbons 'not accurate' in noting maglev earmark: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009; WASHINGTON -- The check is not in the mail. That was the message today to Gov. Jim Gibbons in a letter from the Department of Transportation secretary regarding the release of $45 million earmarked for the maglev train. "It has come to my attention that you were recently quoted in the media as saying that Nevada expected to receive funds this week," Secretary Ray LaHood wrote. "If such a statement was made, it is not accurate."
Reid maneuvers for sweeter deal; some not impressed: Washington would pick up Nevada’s Medicaid tab for five years, but critics say price is still too high; Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid secured a better deal for Nevada in the health care bill Tuesday — 100 percent federal funding for the state’s initial expansion of Medicaid to cover uninsured, low-income residents. But even this legislative maneuvering may not be good enough for Nevada’s budget hawks and opponents of the health care reform bill making its way through Congress.
Crafty wording for bill would help cancer institute: Narrow phrasing in amendment would aid Nevada center aid Nevada center; Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009; A tough-to-decipher clause in an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee health care bill would give a long-sought financial assist to the Nevada Cancer Institute. The amendment would change the way the cancer center is reimbursed by Medicare, allowing the Nevada institution to join others across the nation that are exempt from the standard payment system.
Harry Reid to host tele-town hall Thursday on health care: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will host a tele-town hall with Nevada residents on health care reform at 1 p.m. Thursday.
Harry Reid cuts Medicaid deal for Nevada: State would get full funding for first five years of expanded program; Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009; WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid secured a deal today that would give Nevada full, 100 percent funding in the Senate health care bill for an initial expansion of Medicaid. The agreement reached with the committee chairman comes after Reid vowed last week to strike a better deal for Nevada before bringing any legislation to the floor. Reid took heat from Republican Rep. Nathan Deal who bemoaned the majority leader’s reach into Senate negotiations to improve the bill for Nevada.
Ensign will offer 30 tweaks to health care bill: Critics say he’s out to attract attention, not improve legislation; Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009; Republican Sen. John Ensign vowed to focus on health care reform, to show Nevadans he was working hard for them after the distractions that accompanied his disclosure of an affair this summer.
In the West, Democrats’ gains may be hard to keep: Issues now in the news tend to arouse the region’s anti-government sentiment; Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009; President Barack Obama swept the intermountain states, including his 12 percentage point victory over Republican John McCain in Nevada. But now those fiercely independent states that helped propel Obama to the White House may be shifting again, posing a threat to Democrats’ stunning gains in the region.
Sticker shock: How the overhaul could exact a heavy toll on state finances: Feds may pay to cover many more with Medicaid, but state would have to chip in; Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009; With a greater percentage of uninsured residents than most states, Nevada faces a key question arising from the health care debate: At what price is the state willing to expand its coverage of the poor? For cash-strapped Nevada, it’s a vexing question.
How the overhaul could alter the popular but costly Medicare Advantage: Cuts in private plans’ subsidies could force changes on seniors; Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009; One of the biggest targets for cost-cutting in the health care debate in Congress is Medicare Advantage — a relatively new offering that is wildly popular especially in Western states, including Nevada — costs on average 14 percent more per person than traditional Medicare and is helping to bankrupt the program.
High-speed rail competition heats up with new funding: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009; Competition between two proposed high-speed trains from Las Vegas to Southern California ignited anew today after federal authorities announced $45 million for the maglev project that had lost political support.
Titus, Berkley criticize Gibbons over highway spending: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Citing a new report that shows Nevada lagging well behind other states in spending its recovery act transportation funds, two Nevada lawmakers today asked Gov. Jim Gibbons to explain why the state “has performed so poorly.”
Harry Reid: Health care bill won't work for Nevada: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009; WASHINGTON - No sooner than the Senate Finance Committee's chairman released his long-awaited health care bill today than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it's not good enough for Nevada. Reid is concerned about the cash-poor state's inability to boost Medicaid spending as would be required under the bill. “While this draft bill is a good starting point, it needs improvement before it will work for Nevada," Reid said in a statement.
Tarkanian meets with GOP leaders, would welcome Ensign's support: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Danny Tarkanian, the Republican who hopes to emerge from a 2010 primary to challenge Harry Reid, said today he would welcome Sen. John Ensign’s support and believes the national Republicans aren’t playing favorites.
McCain unable to strip Nevada earmarks from bill: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; WASHINGTON — The Senate today beat back an attempt by Republican Sen. John McCain to strip $1.7 billion in earmarks from next year’s transportation spending bill, which would have gutted funds for several important projects in Nevada.
Harry Reid: Nevada economy to turn around in 2010: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today he expects the Nevada economy to show signs of turnaround next year – just in time to boost voter mood as he campaigns for re-election.
Daniel Bogden confirmed for Nevada's U.S. attorney: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; WASHINGTON -- The Senate today confirmed Daniel Bogden as Nevada's U.S. attorney, giving the career prosecutor who had been fired as part of an unusual purge by the Bush adminstration his old job back.
White House citizenship view bends to Heller’s: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; Republican Rep. Dean Heller’s 15 minutes of fame has just been extended.
Dean Heller against big government, but taxpayers bought mailing: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; Like the anti-big-government protesters over the weekend asking for directions to the Metro public transit system, Republican Rep. Dean Heller’s recent government mailing to his constituents had a bit of accidental irony to it.
Separating reform fact from fiction: Here are answers to some common questions — not necessarily what you heard in the summer’s squabbling; Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009; After town-hall meetings, congressional hearings and a prime-time presidential address on health care reform, many questions remain about the proposals being considered on Capitol Hill. Lest “You lie!” be the last word on the issue, here are some answers on how it would work, what it would cost and, finally, that most American of questions: What’s in it for me?
Report: Harry Reid's poor approval rating leaves race a 'toss up': Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s re-election chances entered dicey terrain this afternoon when the non-partisan Cook Political Report took the dramatic step of rating his 2010 race a “toss up.”
Committee votes to give federal prosecutor his old job: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009; WASHINGTON -- With little discussion today, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Nevada’s former U.S. Attorney, Daniel Bogden, to have his old job back as the state’s top federal prosecutor.
A do-over for Ensign, tourism bill: Nevadan shares in passage of bill that would boost promotion of travel to U.S.; Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009; Crisis managers have said the best way Sen. John Ensign could rehabilitate his image after disclosing an affair would be to bury himself in his work. He should not be seen or heard much, they said, unless showing he is working hard for his home state.
Reaction to Obama's speech a glimpse into political divide: Lawmakers say outburst marks low in civility of political discourse; Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009; WASHINGTON -- A presidential speech to a joint session of Congress is often a raucous affair. But shouting “You lie!” in the middle of President Barack Obama’s speech Wednesday night broke new ground. It’s one thing to call the president the l-word, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did after President George W. Bush approved Yucca Mountain. It’s another to heckle the president in the House chamber during a rare joint session of Congress.
Reid to Gibbons: Keep 1 million tons of trash out of Nevada: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today urged Gov. Jim Gibbons to intervene in a San Francisco-based company’s plans to ship 1 million tons of California trash annually to a new landfill in Winnemucca, calling it a threat to the state’s dignity.
How health care reform push looks to state delegation: Titus, Reid still favor public option upon return; opposition of Heller, Ensign unchanged; Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009; After listening to constituents during the hot August health care debate, Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley of Las Vegas returns to the capital giving long odds that her party’s reform proposals will pass as is. Too many questions remain, and too many distortions have seeped into the debate. Democrats wrongly assumed, she said, that because a majority of Americans voted for President Barack Obama they would be on board with the plan.
John Ensign leads debate on tourism bill: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009; WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. John Ensign returned to the capital today after time spent rehabilitating his image back home to throw himself into work on a tourism bill important to Nevada.