Congress clears temporary spending bill to avert shutdown

The Republican-led Congress narrowly passed a temporary spending bill Thursday to avert a government shutdown, doing the bare minimum in a sprint toward the holidays and punting disputes on immigration, health care and the budget to next year. The measure passed the House on a 231-188 vote over Democratic opposition and then cleared the Senate, 66-32, with Democrats from Republican-leaning states providing many of the key votes.

Congress passes temporary spending bill to avoid government shutdown

The Republican-led Congress narrowly passed a temporary spending bill to avert a government shutdown Thursday, doing the bare minimum in a sprint toward the holidays and punting disputes on immigration, health care and the budget to next year. The measure passed the House on a 231-188 vote over Democratic opposition and then cleared the Senate, 66-32, with Democrats from Republican-leaning states providing just enough votes.

Secretary Zinke Signs Order to Begin Process of Creating First Ever…

Today, following President Donald J. Trump's executive order to break America's dependence on foreign minerals, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke signed a secretarial order directing the initial steps to producing the first nationwide geological and topographical survey of the United States in modern history. The order also directs Interior bureaus to begin work on identifying immediate domestic sources for critical minerals.

Colorado Democrats vote against stopgap bill

Winter Weather Advisory issued December 21 at 6:02PM MST expiring December 21 at 9:00PM MST in effect for: Delta, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel Winter Storm Watch issued December 21 at 6:02PM MST expiring December 24 at 12:00AM MST in effect for: Eagle, Garfield, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt Winter Weather Advisory issued December 21 at 6:02PM MST expiring December 22 at 12:00AM MST in effect for: Archuleta, Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel Winter Weather Advisory issued December 21 at 6:02PM MST expiring December 22 at 12:00AM MST in effect for: Delta, Gunnison, Montrose Winter Storm Watch issued December 21 at 6:02PM MST expiring December 24 at 12:00AM MST in effect for: Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin, Routt Winter Weather Advisory issued December 21 at 2:51PM MST expiring December 22 at 12:00AM MST in effect for: Chaffee, ... (more)

Loaded guns are OK in Texas churches following Sutherland Springs shooting, says AG

AUSTIN Unless churches in Texas expressly forbid them, loaded guns can legally be taken into houses of worship by anyone licensed to the carry them in the state, Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a legal opinion. "If a church decides to exclude the concealed or open carrying of handguns on the premises of church property, it may provide the requisite notice, thereby making it an offense for a license holder to carry a handgun on those premises," Paxton wrote in his opinion requested by Lt.

Air Force F-35A Lightning II one step closer to Madison base

The United States Air Force announced on Thursday that the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field, Dane County Regional Airport is one of two preferred candidate bases to receive the F-35A Lightning II. Governor Scott Walker says the decision is "outstanding" for the state.

Lock Her Up: Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Doj to Reexamine Uranium One Case

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is making moves to investigate the Uranium One case, by instructing Justice Department prosecutors to question FBI agents regarding the deal that has been linked to Bill and Hillary Clinton. At issue is a 2010 transaction in which the Obama Administration allowed the sale of U.S. uranium mining facilities to Russia's state atomic energy company.

GOP tax bill passes Congress

President Donald Trump looks back toward Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, as he speaks about the passage of the tax bill on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Must credit: Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford President Donald Trump looks back toward Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, as he speaks about the passage of the tax bill on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

4 questions for Democrats as Republicans celebrate their tax plan

Democrats suffered their first major legislative defeat of the Trump era on Wednesday, when congressional Republicans, snake-bitten by internal rifts for the first 11 months of Donald Trump's presidency, delivered a massive tax overhaul to his desk. In news conferences, op-eds and social media, Democratic lawmakers railed against the bill, which has more breaks for corporations than individuals and over time skews sharply in favor of the rich and big business, but they ultimately lacked any meaningful power and could not stop its progress.

Ivanka Trump: Corker had ‘real integrity’ during tax…

Warner: Firing Mueller would be 'gross abuse of power' - Warner warns of threats against Mueller - Washington Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that the firing of Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller would be a Ivanka Trump: Corker had 'real integrity' during tax negotiations - , first daughter and senior adviser to President Trump - for his work on the GOP tax bill, saying the Tennessee lawmaker "had real integrity." - "I spent a lot of time with Senator Corker as well.

The Latest: House GOP offering new patch to avert shutdown

Jubilant Republicans have pushed to the verge of the most sweeping rewrite of the nation's tax laws in more than three decades, a deeply unpopular bill they insist Americans will learn to love when they see their... Jubilant Republicans have pushed to the verge of the most sweeping rewrite of the nation's tax laws in more than three decades, a deeply unpopular bill they insist Americans will learn to love when they see their paychecks in the new year. Chicago police say a 5-year-old boy who was shot in the face in a drive-by shooting last year has accidentally shot himself in the hand.

Broken health care pledge tests Collins-McConnell relationship

Dems push for more money to fight opioids Study: ObamaCare bills backed by Collins would lower premiums Right scrambles GOP budget strategy MORE Addison Mitchell McConnell GOP strategist donates to Alabama Democrat McConnell names Senate GOP tax conferees Brent Budowsky: A plea to Alabama voters MORE next year, but it may be tougher to strike deals with her after McConnell failed to fulfill a pledge on health care. The moderate senator told reporters this month that she had an "ironclad" commitment from McConnell and Vice President Pence to pass legislation by the end of the year to stabilize ObamaCare premiums.

Is an anti-Trump wave ahead for Republicans in 2018? Signs say yes.

Senator Mitch McConnell , House Speaker Paul Ryan, and other lawmakers watched Senator Orrin Hatch sign the final version of the GOP tax bill. WASHINGTON - President Trump is spending the holiday season reveling in his tax overhaul victory, but the new year may bring bad tidings as evidence mounts of a coming backlash in the 2018 midterm elections.

With shutdown clock ticking, GOP struggles for spending deal

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walks through Statuary Hall for final passage of the Republican tax reform bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday. Republicans muscled the most sweeping rewrite of the nation's tax laws in more than three decades through the House.

‘The worst plot ever’: CNN’s Berman battles Rep….

CNN's John Berman on Wednesday went to war with Rep. Jim Jordan over the congressman's public accusation that the FBI conspired against then-candidate Donald Trump last year. As Berman noted, then-FBI Director James Comey notoriously re-opened the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server, a move many credit for handing Trump the election.

2 days away, Republicans still don’t have a plan to avoid shutdown

As House Republicans spilled out of a closed-door meeting Wednesday night, it was clear that things hadn't gone well. Members gave wildly varying accounts of the proposal that's being cobbled together to keep the government open ahead of Friday's shutdown deadline.