WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden butted heads with the powerful National Rifle Association on Thursday in his drive to reduce U.S. gun violence, drawing complaints from the lobby group that the White House is trying to limit constitutionally protected gun rights.

Biden sat down for about an hour and a half of talks with an NRA representative and officials from other gun owners’ groups after telling reporters he is likely to recommend background checks for all gun buyers and a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday his task force on reducing gun violence is likely to recommend background checks for all gun buyers and a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips as part of a plan to be given to President Barack Obama by next Tuesday.

Biden on Thursday met with a representative of the powerful National Rifle Association gun rights lobby group for about an hour and a half. Before that meeting, Biden said there is only a “tight window” for action to reduce firearms violence.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday his task force exploring ways to reduce U.S. gun violence plans to submit recommendations to President Barack Obama by next Tuesday, likely including background checks for all gun buyers.

Biden planned talks later in the day with a representative of the powerful U.S. gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, as well as major retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the largest U.S. gun seller.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Labour Secretary Hilda Solis, the first Latina to head a major U.S. federal agency, announced plans to resign on Wednesday, just as President Barack Obama faces questions about a lack of women in his second-term leadership team.

Solis said in a statement she had submitted her resignation to Obama – not an unexpected development given that many Cabinet members grow fatigued by the long days in office and are eager to look at opportunities in the private sector after four years.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, the first Latina to head a major federal agency, announced plans to resign on Wednesday, just as President Barack Obama faces questions about a lack of women in his second-term leadership team.

Solis said in a statement she had submitted her resignation to Obama – not an unexpected development given that many Cabinet members grow fatigued by the long days in office and are eager to look at opportunities in the private sector after four years.

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) – Labor Secretary Hilda Solis,
the first Latina to head a major U.S. federal agency, announced
plans to resign on Wednesday, just as President Barack Obama
faces questions about a lack of women in his second-term
leadership team.

Solis said in a statement she had submitted her resignation
to Obama – not an unexpected development given that many Cabinet
members grow fatigued by the long days in office and are eager
to look at opportunities in the private sector after four years.

WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) – The powerful U.S. gun lobby,
the National Rifle Association, is slated to meet with Vice
President Joe Biden as he considers recommendations on how to
respond to a mass shooting last month in Newtown, Connecticut,
the White House said on Tuesday.

After the Newtown school shooting, which President Barack
Obama called the worst day of his presidency, he asked Biden to
come up with a broad range of ideas to curb gun violence – ideas
he will unveil in his annual State of the Union address,
traditionally given in late January.

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on
Monday nominated former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as his
next defense secretary and counterterrorism adviser John Brennan
to head the CIA, potentially setting up a Senate confirmation
battle on two fronts and establishing a tough tone to start his
second term.

Mindful of the concerns about both Hagel and Brennan on
Capitol Hill, Obama spoke at length about each in a White House
ceremony, then turned over the microphone to outgoing Defense
Secretary Leon Panetta and acting CIA Director Mike Morell to
provide testimonials about their chosen replacements.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama appeared poised on Friday to pick former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as the next U.S. defence secretary and the announcement may come early next week.

Sources on Capitol Hill and in the national security community said all signs were pointing to Hagel as Obama’s choice to replace current Defence Secretary Leon Panetta.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama appeared poised on Friday to pick former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as the next defense secretary and the announcement may come early next week.

Sources on Capitol Hill and in the national security community said all signs were pointing to Hagel as Obama’s choice to replace current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.