The bottom has fallen out for support for the war in Afghanistan from U.S. voters and is putting the squeeze on GOP presidential candidates, who must navigate between their party’s hawkish line and the public’s growing impatience.
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While U.S. presidential candidates on both sides call for lower corporate tax rates, the United States is expected to have the highest corporate tax rate among the world’s developed countries starting April 1 when Japan revises its tax code. Britain, meanwhile, plans to cut the country’s corporation tax on company profits to 24 percent from 26 percent in April and to 22 percent by 2014 (APF), all lower than originally planned. Read more »

With major political changes for Beijing and Washington on the horizon, President Obama called on China (Reuters) before the second Nuclear Security Summit to use its influence in Pyongyang to stop it from ratcheting up global nuclear tensions. Read more »

The U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments Monday on President Obama’s 2010 health care law, which many Republicans — including the full slate of GOP presidential candidates — say is unconstitutional because it of its mandate that everyone buy health insurance or face a penalty tax. Read more »

GOP front-runner Mitt Romney’s plan to go further than President Obama or President George W. Bush in confronting China is raising concerns among business-friendly Republicans, who believe it could “set off a counterproductive trade war.” (NYT) Read more »

A new Gallup poll shows “a solid majority” of voters want the U.S. government to approve building the Keystone XL pipeline. Republicans are almost twice as likely as Democrats to want the government to approve the oil pipeline and about half of independents also approve. Read more »

GOP presidential candidates came out in immediate support for a new Republican budget plan (WashPost) unveiled Tuesday that would slash spending, lower and simplify taxes, overhaul Medicare, and cut food stamps. The latest budget proposal comes amid strong philosophical differences between Democrats and Republicans over U.S. fiscal policy, particularly how to reduce the country’s growing debt, which numerous analysts argue will force a crisis similar to the eurozone crisis if not soon addressed. Read more »

The economy remains the top issue for voters (CNN), according to 59 percent of those who went to the polls in Illinois to vote for GOP candidates Tuesday. Another 25 percent said the budget deficit was most important to them. Other issues — immigration and abortion — barely registered on voters’ radar, according to the poll. The poll results follow exit polling data in GOP contests in other states where the economy has remained voters’ major concerns. Read more »

A recent survey from The Hill shows many voters are pessimistic about policies coming out of the White House, with 62 percent of voters responding that President Obama’s policies will increase the national debt and 48 percent saying his policies will increase joblessness. Read more »

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is struggling to find his footing on the question of the war in Afghanistan, on one hand, criticizing President Barack Obama’s relationship with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (WSJ) as not close enough and on the other hand, saying he would want to hear from military leaders because he does not have enough information (HuffPo) currently on the war in Afghanistan to “take a stand” on troop withdrawal. Read more »