Senate approves 1st spending bill to avert partial shutdown

As a major hurricane menaces the East Coast, Congress is moving to avert a legislative disaster that could lead to a partial government shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections. Senators approved a $147 billion package Wednesday night to fund the Energy Department, veterans' programs and the legislative branch.

FOP backs Patty-Pat in 177th

"I am extremely proud and honored to have the backing of the Philadelphia FOP and have practiced 'back the blue' my entire life," Kozlowski said. "From sitting on my local PDAC board, to volunteering over a decade at the Rizzo PAL, to having rallies, protests and vigils in support of our police officers, this endorsement means the world to me and this girl will be your biggest supporter, fighter and partner in Harrisburg.

Hillary Clinton to appear with Polis at fundraiser for Colorado Democrats

Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is set to headline a high-dollar Denver fundraiser in late September for Colorado Democrats, including gubernatorial nominee U.S. Rep. Jared Polis. The event, set for Sept.

Former President George W. Bush to help raise cash for Rick Scott’s Senate bid

Former President George W. Bush will help raise money for Gov. Rick Scott's bid to oust Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in a closely watched and expensive campaign. Former President George W. Bush will stump for Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Friday as Scott revs up for what's expected to be a close race for the U.S. Senate seat.

Correction: Carbon Fee-Washington story

In this June 28, 2018, file photo in Seattle Wash., Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks to people as he helps to gather signatures for a proposed initiative that would charge large industrial emitters a fee for their carbon emissions. Voters in Washington state will be asked this fall to do what state and federal leaders have been reluctant to: charge a direct fee on carbon pollution to fight climate change.

Bush boosting Republicans in places where Trump isn’t strong

In this June 23, 2017 file photo, former President George W. Bush speaks during "Stand-To," a summit held by the George W. Bush Institute focused on veteran transition, in Washington. Bush will be in Florida on Friday to fundraise for Gov. Rick Scott's bid to oust Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in a closely watched and expensive campaign.

Jury convicts pipeline company in 2015 spill that put tar balls on South Bay beaches

In this May 21, 2015, file photo, workers prepare an oil containment boom at Refugio State Beach, north of Goleta, Calif. The shutdown of a pipeline that spilled up to 101,000 gallons of crude on the Santa Barbara coast forced Exxon Mobil Corp. to halt operations at three offshore platforms because it couldn't deliver oil to refineries, the company said Tuesday, June 23. A jury has convicted a pipeline company of nine criminal charges, finding it responsible for crude oil washing up on South Bay beaches in record numbers more than three years ago.

US says transfer from FEMA funds won’t harm…

Trump administration officials pushed back Wednesday against a Democratic senator's claim that nearly $10 million from the government's disaster relief agency was transferred to immigration enforcement. Sen. Jeff Merkley's claim, which came as a monster hurricane barreled toward the Carolinas, was quickly branded by Homeland Security as "a sorry attempt to push a false agenda."

Karl Rove: By attacking Trump, Obama shows he’s a self-absorbed…

Karl Rove: By attacking Trump, Obama shows he's a self-absorbed partisan warrior, not a senior statesman Former President Obama reenters the political sphere with a campaign speech calling out President Trump and a big campaign trip to California. After leaving office, most modern presidents have largely eschewed partisan activity and avoided the normal rough-and-tumble of politics.

Wisconsin GOP Senate Hopes Rely on Underdog Leah Vukmir

Few gave the Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Wisconsin much of a chance of defeating her better-funded primary challenger last month, but she prevailed thanks largely to support from the party establishment. Now Vukmir faces another opponent with deeper pockets - Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin - in one of the most expensive Senate races in the country.

CALmatters Commentary: Feinstein, Harris pursue agendas in Kavanaugh hearings

As fate would decree, both of California's U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, both played starring roles in last week's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and both had personal political agendas. Feinstein is running this year for re-election and needed to be critical enough of President Donald Trump and Kavanaugh to avoid alienating fervently anti-Trump Democratic voters, while maintaining an air of senatorial decorum.

The Latest: Negron wins 2nd District Republican nomination

A state lawmaker who served in the Air Force and worked in the defense industry has won the Republican nomination for the state's 2nd Congressional District and will face Democratic incumbent Annie Kuster in November. Steven Negron defeated six other GOP candidates to get his party's nomination in Tuesday's primary.