Problems from Hurricane Sandy prompt Christie calls for private flood insurance

WASHINGTON -- Hurricane Sandy homeowners who thought they were protected by their federal flood insurance received unwelcome surprises after the storm, when claims were rejected, payments delayed and damages minimized. Now the flood insurance program is up for renewal, and Gov. Chris Christie said the government should turn it over to the private sector.

Senate votes to repeal Labor Department rule on state-run retirement plans

The U.S. Senate voted narrowly on Wednesday to repeal an exemption from strict federal protections that former President Barack Obama's Labor Department had given to state-sponsored retirement savings plans for lower-income workers. The exemption, championed by states such as California but opposed by the mutual fund industry, had freed the state-run plans from the strict compliance requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA.

Coin to raise funds for Coast Guard museum considered

Following the inclusion of $5 million for the National Coast Guard Museum in the federal spending bill working its way through Congress, several of Connecticut's congressional delegates are reviving a bill to create a commemorative coin that would help to raise money for the museum. U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, on Wednesday reintroduced the United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act, which would require the U.S. Treasury to create new $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins and half-dollar coins.

FBI boss felt sick over Clinton probe

James Comey, the FBI director, said he felt 'nauseous' at the thought that he affected the result of last year's US presidential election by reopening a probe into Hillary Clinton's emails days before the vote. Eleven days before Donald Trump won the race to the White House, Comey announced the decision to reopen the investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server, which led to damaging headlines for the Democratic candidate.

FBI chief James Comey: I had to tell Congress of Clinton email news

FBI director James Comey has insisted he was consistent in disclosing information about an investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails before Election Day while keeping quiet about a probe into possible contacts between Russia and Donald Trump's campaign. Mr Comey, in his most impassioned public defence of how he handled the case, also said it made him feel "mildly nauseous" to think his actions in October might have influenced the race won by Republican Mr Trump over Democrat Mrs Clinton.

House GOP blocks Dem efforts to protect consumer watchdog

House Republicans on Wednesday blocked Democratic efforts to preserve the independence of a consumer watchdog created after the 2008 economic meltdown as the GOP pressed ahead with an overhaul of the nation's financial regulatory law. On the second day of a contentious, marathon session, the GOP-led Financial Services Committee rebuffed the Democratic attempts to protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the five-year-old agency which enforces consumer protection laws and scrutinizes the practices of virtually any business selling financial products and services.

Comey hearing: ‘A cloud of doubt hangs over the FBI’s objectivity’

FBI Director James Comey is hearing from senators Wednesday, the day after both the sitting US President and the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee sharply criticized him for his role in the outcome of last year's presidential election. "A cloud of doubt hangs over the FBI's objectivity," Senate judiciary committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said in his opening remarks, which listed a series of issues he took with the agency.

Q&A: Ralph Northam Aims For the Governor’s Mansion in Virginia

The Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary race between Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and Tom Perriello provides the biggest political test yet for the Democratic Party forces that have been mobilized by President Donald Trump's assault on American political norms. Northam is a 10-year veteran of Virginia politics, with deep ties to the state's political establishment.

Government-wide spending bill headed for a House vote

A government-wide spending bill that President Donald Trump seemed to criticize Tuesday morning but now calls "a clear win for the American people" is headed for a House vote. The House is scheduled to vote on the bipartisan $1.1 trillion measure Wednesday afternoon.

Democrats seek to protect watchdog as GOP tackles Dodd-Frank

Democratic lawmakers will attempt to protect the independence of a consumer watchdog unit as Republicans move forward with an overhaul of the nation's financial regulatory laws. House Republicans are working to undo much of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law that put the stiffest restrictions on banks and Wall Street since the 1930s Depression.

Full public FBI reveal is rare for Trump-Russia type probes

Don't expect FBI Director James Comey to reveal much about the bureau's months-long investigation of potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia when he speaks publicly before members of Congress on Wednesday. In fact, there's no guarantee Comey and his agency will ever fully lay bare those findings for the American public, because such investigations rarely end in criminal charges that offer a full picture.

Hillary Clinton cites FBI, Russia, WikiLeaks in election loss

Hillary Clinton's return to the national stage yesterday with a high-profile interview - declaring she is "now back to being an activist citizen and part of the resistance" - was welcomed by Democratic strategists eyeing ways to energize voters in the upcoming midterms and 2020 elections. But when it comes to Clinton repeatedly blaming Russians, FBI Director James Comey and WikiLeaks for her election loss, Democrats say she needs to change the broken record.

Ex-prosecutor helping Donald Trump with pick

A former top Bay State federal prosecutor has been making recommendations to the White House on who the next Massachusetts U.S. Attorney should be, but another with ties to the Trump administration says a decision isn't likely until late summer. "I've made recommendations.

Hillary Clinton blames misogyny, FBI, Russia, herself for 2016 presidential election loss

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Clinton: Lots of blame to go around for her loss to Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that she's taking responsibility for her 2016 election loss but believes misogyny, Russian interference and questionable decisions by the FBI also influenced the outcome. The former Democratic presidential nominee offered extensive comments about the election during the Women for Women International's annual luncheon in New York.