LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers voted by a resounding 522 to 13 on Wednesday to back Prime Minister Theresa May’s call for a snap election on June 8. The result easily surpassed the two-thirds majority of the 650 lawmakers needed to trigger an early vote. There were also a number of abstentions. May says holding … 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) — 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
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May sought Friday to reassure European Union leaders that her timetable for Britain to leave the EU remains intact despite a court ruling requiring British lawmakers to have more of a say in the process. She telephoned Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU’s top official, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel … Continue reading
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — Lawmakers in Burundi overwhelmingly voted Wednesday in support of a plan to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, something no country has ever done. The decision escalates a bitter dispute with the international community over the human rights situation in the East African country, which has seen more than a year … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers are planning to hold a meeting to discuss the upcoming election with the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections and local registrars. The joint meeting of the Privileges and Elections Committees will be held Oct. 13. Republican lawmakers say some local registrars are concerned about a backlog of … Continue reading
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California lawmakers on Thursday approved the nation’s highest statewide minimum wage of $15 an hour to take effect by 2022 after it was hailed by Democrats as an example to the nation as it struggles with a growing gap between rich and poor. The legislation now goes to Gov. Jerry … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — After years of stymied efforts to address the nation’s aging and congested highways and transit systems, Congress found the sweet spot for passage on Thursday — a 5-year, $305 billion bill laden with enough industry favors, parochial projects, safety improvements and union demands to gain overwhelming support. The bill was approved 359 … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of Volkswagen Group of America will testify before a House subcommittee Oct. 8. Volkswagen AG has admitted using a piece of engine software to cheat on diesel car emissions tests in the U.S., where authorities say there are 482,000 such cars. The company says that up to 11 million vehicles … Continue reading
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras set his leftist government on a collision course with Greece’s creditors Sunday, proclaiming an end to the era of austerity and “five years of bailout barbarity.” Tsipras presented his government’s policy statement to Greek lawmakers which included, as he had forewarned, all the promises … Continue reading
DENVER (AP) — Colorado lawmakers struggling to make sense of incomplete scientific evidence about marijuana use by pregnant and nursing women have scrapped a bill to add warnings in pot shops about maternal marijuana use.Lawmakers rejected a bill that would have required dispensaries to post signs warning about “dangers to fetuses caused by smoking or … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 