Rep. Brian Mast wants feds to pay for massive algae problems they caused

A Florida Republican wants to add massive algae blooms to the list of emergencies covered by the federal government after his state was denied emergency funds for a destructive bloom that covered 200 square miles last year. Rep. Brian Mast introduced the Federal Do No Harm Act last month to add harmful algae blooms in state waterways and coastal estuaries caused by water releases from Army Corps of Engineers-controlled dikes and dams to the list of disasters under the Stafford Act.

GOP lawmakers mark success by flipping rules from Obama era

In this Jan. 18, 2017 file photo, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., right, confers with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. on Capitol Hill in Washington, during the committee's confirmation hearing for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator-designate, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

Venezuela is in crisis, the U.S. should help

Venezuela is in crisis, the U.S. should help Readers react to Venezuela's crisis: Your Say Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2qh83gv With the ongoing violence in Venezuela, it's extremely important to see the value in the U.S. providing aid. U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson of Florida introduced a bill to provide Venezuela with $10 million for food and medicine.

REPORT: Trump Basher Jason Chaffetz Planning to Join Fox News

Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, out of Utah, reportedly told House Republicans that he plans on taking a role at Fox News. Back in April, Chaffetz announced he would not be seeking reelection in 2018 and apparently he plans to have a "substantial role" at Fox News on air, as was reported by the Washingtonian .

Tillerson responds to McCain: ‘I make a distinction between values and policy’

John McCain Tillerson responds to McCain: 'I make a distinction between values and policy' Trump set for tense meeting with Turkey after ISIS decision Top House Dem: 'This is John McCain's finest hour' MORE Sunday, after the Arizona Republican pushed against Tillerson in an op-ed last week and warned it is "dangerous" to look at foreign policy as "simply transactional." McCain New York Times piece referenced earlier remarks from Tillerson, who said conditioning the United States' foreign policy too much on values forms barriers to advancing the country's national interests.

Clapper: US institutions ‘under assault’

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper issued a stern warning Sunday about the state of the US government after President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey last week, saying he thinks US institutions are "under assault." "I think in many ways our institutions are under assault both externally - and that's the big news here is the Russian interference in our election system - and I think as well our institutions are under assault internally," Clapper said on CNN's "State of the Union."

Sen. Graham: Trump Needs to ‘Back Off’ FBI, Its Investigation

It will require a Republican in Congress not President Donald Trump to help "clear the air" with regard to FBI Director's James Comey's firing, the dinner meeting between Comey and the president in January, and the ongoing investigation into potential Trump campaign collusion, because the president is too involved and needs to "back off," Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday. "I think it requires somebody like me, a Republican, to call Comey before the Judiciary Committee to let him explain that conversation," Sen. Graham told host Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press."

GOP wins in reversing Obama-era rules on guns, environment

In this Jan. 18, 2017 file photo, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., right, confers with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. on Capitol Hill in Washington, during the committee's confirmation hearing for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator-designate, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

Senate Republicans Arguing About How Badly to Screw the Poor

Medicaid doesn't get a lot of attention in the debate over Trumpcare, but it's likely that more people would be affected by Medicaid changes than by any other single part of the bill. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that Senate conservatives still aren't satisfied: Some conservative Senate Republicans, such as [Mike] Lee, want to immediately start phasing back federal money for expansion enrollees, a process that would take 10 years....Conservatives also hope to use a different formula to calculate federal Medicaid funding that would mean less money for states.

Canada to remain ‘firm’ as Donald Trump eyes massive NAFTA changes

WATCH ABOVE: International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tells Vassy Kapelos when the U.S. gives their 90 day notice to renegotiate NAFTA, there will be a number of things Canada will put on the trade table as well. Champagne told The West Block's Vassy Kapelos that the federal government is "very well prepared" for whatever Trump and his newly appointed trade representative, Robert Lighthizer , put on the table in terms of trade talks.

Ratcliffe: Next FBI Director should reopen Clintona

U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Rockwall, said the next FBI Director should reopen the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. DALLAS The next FBI Director should consider reopening the investigation into former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, said U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Rockwall.

Iran’s reformist ex-president Khatami says re-elect Rouhani

The family of a 48-year-old mom of five children is in mourning this Mother's Day weekend, after her slaying at the Ohio nursing home where she was a nurse's aide. The family of a 48-year-old mom of five children is in mourning this Mother's Day weekend, after her slaying at the Ohio nursing home where she was a nurse's aide.

Trump’s dangerous credibility gap

When Donald Trump was merely a real estate mogul, he exaggerated flamboyantly and reporters considered it charming: He promoted Trump Tower as a 68-story building, even though it has only 58 floors. When Trump was a presidential candidate, he lied enthusiastically, but that didn't prevent him from winning: He insisted falsely that he opposed the Iraq war from the start, to cite only one of many instances.

Senate Conservatives Look to Slash Medicaid

Conservative Senate Republicans are weighing faster and steeper cuts to Medicaid that could drop millions of people from coverage and mark the biggest changes to the program in its 52-year history. The plan being pushed by lawmakers such as Mike Lee is likely to face resistance from centrist GOP senators who are already concerned a health-overhaul bill passed by House Republicans would leave too many people uninsured.

Dems Flex Muscles on GOP Turf

Despite holding all the avenues of power in Washington, it's not a happy time to be a Republican officeholder. President Trump's suspiciously timed firing of FBI Director James Comey has all but guaranteed a media and political firestorm that will last indefinitely, and prevent legislation from getting through Congress.

WikiLeaks Offers $100,000 Reward For Trump-Comey ‘Tapes’

WikiLeaks announced on Friday that its organization is prepared to pay $100,000 to anyone who sends them the alleged taped conversations between President Donald Trump and former FBI Director James Comey, according to Newsweek. James Comey was the face of the FBI during its investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election and alleged coordination with President Trump's campaign.