WASHINGTON (AP) — Surrounded by multiplying questions, President Donald Trump complained Wednesday that “no politician in history” has been treated worse. Democrats demanded an independent commission to dig into his firing of FBI Director James Comey, but Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against “rushing to judgment.” Ryan said Congress needs to get the facts, … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders have abruptly pulled their troubled health care overhaul bill off the House floor, short of votes and eager to avoid a humiliating defeat for President Donald Trump and GOP leaders. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., withdrew the legislation Friday afternoon, March 24, shortly before a scheduled vote after Trump called … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and House leaders revved up pressure Wednesday on balky conservatives and other Republican lawmakers as crunch time approaches on the party’s health care overhaul bill, a drive GOP leaders concede they can’t afford to lose. A day before the House planned votes on the measure, Trump and top Republicans … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain, one of President Donald Trump’s harshest critics, made a secret trip to northern Syria to visit U.S. forces stationed there and discuss the campaign for defeating the Islamic State extremists, his office said Wednesday. The Arizona Republican’s visit to the war-torn country occurred as a major battle nears to … Continue reading
by Tiana K. Allen On Feb. 1, Virginia Governor Terrance McAuliffe hosted a luncheon, alongside Virginia’s Secretary of Education Dr. Dietra Trent, at Virginia’s Executive Mansion where he spoke with several college newspaper journalists regarding Virginia’s job opportunities, President Trump’s new immigration policy and many other topics. He said that he’s had great success in … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the first major congressional attempt to address the advent of self-driving cars, two senators said Monday, Feb 13, 2017 they’re launching a bipartisan effort to help to speed up the deployment of the vehicles on the nation’s roads. Republican John Thune of South Dakota, the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans are moving to dismantle former President Barack Obama’s rules on the environment, gun ownership and financial disclosure as they look to reverse years of what they see as excessive government regulation during the Democrat’s presidency. House Republicans are expected to vote Wednesday, Feb. 2, to scuttle a new regulation … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — For almost eight years, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus existed in the shadow of the first black president. They praised President Barack Obama’s achievements while at the same time pushing him to do more for their constituents who overwhelmingly supported his history-making campaign and administration. But with Obama set to … Continue reading
Republicans retained their lock on the House for two more years as GOP candidates triumphed in a checkerboard of districts in Florida, Virginia and Colorado that Democrats had hoped Donald Trump’s divisive comments about women and Hispanics would make their own. Democrats who’d envisioned potentially big gains in suburban and ethnically diverse districts instead were on … Continue reading
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Clasping the $4,000 check that Orlando area real estate agents handed him, Rep. John Mica stood in the F&D Cantina restaurant and described his pathway to a 13th term in Congress. “We’ve got to get everybody out to vote,” the Florida Republican told supporters last week. “Don’t let it get caught … Continue reading
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A group of six Gulf Arab countries expressed “deep concern” Monday over a bill passed by the U.S. Congress that would allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia over the attacks. The head of the Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdullatif al-Zayani, said in … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ Republican leaders face decisions on averting a federal shutdown, containing the Zika virus and impeaching the head of the IRS, with approaching elections pressuring the GOP to avoid doing anything that could damage its standing with voters. House Republicans were meeting behind closed doors Wednesday to hash out strategy on those … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite formidable opposition across the political spectrum, President Barack Obama is using his final months in office to fight for congressional approval of a 12-nation free trade pact called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Administration officials say Obama would speak about the trade agreement at each stop during his trip to China and Laos. … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Tuesday faced Senate Democrats skeptical about a rescue package for debt-stricken Puerto Rico, raising doubts about its fate just 10 days before the U.S. territory must make a $2 billion payment to creditors. “The question at the end of the day will be, does Congress act to … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is running out of time and options to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, so officials are scrambling to release as many prisoners as possible and considering novel legal strategies that include allowing some men to strike plea deals by video-teleconference. Another option would be to send … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation Tuesday, May 17, that would allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia despite a White House veto threat and fierce objections from the U.S. ally. The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, approved by voice vote, had triggered a threat from Riyadh to … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — They work for the government and even their closest relatives have no idea what they do. It’s not because they’re spies or nuclear scientists, but because their jobs are so arcane: trying to reinvent Medicare to improve it, and maybe save taxpayers money. In a sprawling, nondescript office park near Baltimore, some … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s nominee for Education Secretary told senators Thursday that the focus of decision-making on elementary and secondary education is “rightly shifting” to the states and away from the federal government. John B. King Jr. is poised to oversee the Education Department as it is losing some of its authority. … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is asking Congress for more than $1.8 billion in emergency funding to fight the Zika virus and the mosquitoes that spread it here and abroad, but says “there shouldn’t be a panic on this.” The virus is spreading rapidly through Latin America. While most people experience either mild or … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Abortion and race, two of America’s most volatile topics, have intersected in recent flare-ups related to the disproportionately high rate of ab ortion among black women. In Congress, Rep. Sean Duffy, a white Republican from rural Wisconsin, lambasted black members of Congress for failing to decry these high abortion numbers. The … Continue reading
