Michael Flynn

President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, appeared to break U.S. law when he failed to seek permission or inform the government about accepting tens of thousands of dollars from Russian organizations after a trip there in 2015, leaders of a House committee investigating possible Russian ties with the Trump campaign said Tuesday. They congressmen also raised new questions about Flynn's consulting firm accepting $530,000 from a company tied to Turkey's government.

Negotiators make progress on bill to keep government open

By ALAN FRAM and ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press WASHINGTON - Congressional and White House negotiators made progress Tuesday on a must-pass spending bill to keep the federal government open days ahead of a deadline as President Donald Trump indicated that U.S. funding for a border wall with Mexico could wait until September. But a big stumbling block remains, involving a Democratic demand for money for insurance companies that help low-income people afford health policies under former President Barack Obama's health law, or that Trump abandon a threat to use the payments as a bargaining chip.

Progress seen on budget deal that would prevent government shutdown

Bipartisan bargainers are making progress toward a budget deal to prevent a partial federal shutdown this weekend, a major hurdle overcome when President Donald Trump signaled he would put off his demand that the measure include money to build his border wall with Mexico. Republicans are also vetting proposed changes to their beleaguered health care bill that they hope will attract enough votes to finally push it through the House.

Government shutdown, health bill rescue at stake in Congress

Bipartisan bargainers are making progress toward a budget deal to prevent a partial federal shutdown this weekend, a major hurdle overcome when President Donald Trump signaled he would put off his demand that the measure include money to build his border wall with Mexico. Republicans are also vetting proposed changes to their beleaguered health care bill that they hope will attract enough votes to finally push it through the House.

Bush Beats Trump! And Other Insurance Political Giving News

Monumental views on insurance and risk in the nation's capital? S urely we jest. Well, we will take an occasional dip into the Potomac waters to poke fun, but overall we hope this reporting on insurance and risk as seen from the nation's capital will be worthy of reflection.

Roy Blunt

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Tuesday said Democrats will block President Donald Trump's budget proposals on expanding federal immigration forces and starting the border wall project. "Senate Democrats are prepared to fight this all the way," the New York Democrat said at an event organized by the National Council of La Raza , the country's largest Hispanic civil rights advocacy group.

Trump backs away from demand for border wall money

President Donald Trump appears to be stepping back from demanding a down payment for his border wall, which could remove a major obstacle to a bipartisan deal on must-pass spending legislation just days ahead of a government shutdown deadline. Trump told a gathering of around 20 conservative media reporters Monday evening that he would be willing to return to the funding issue in September.

Amid Trump backlash, hundreds question US Rep. Barr

Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr has held regular "Coffee with your Congressman" events in local shops across his central Kentucky district for the few dozen people willing to hear an update from Washington. Monday night, Barr will host his 70th cup of coffee since ousting a Democratic incumbent in 2012.

Watchdog: EPA spending on water pollution campaign was legal

The Environmental Protection Agency's Inspector General says the agency didn't violate the law when it gave an outside group money for a campaign to fight water pollution from farming. It was dubbed "What's Upstream?" and urged people - through billboards, a website and other media - to push for new restrictions on pollution from farmers.

CIA director Mike Pompeo repeatedly cited WikiLeaks to attack Clinton during campaign

US officials told CNN last week that the Justice Department has prepared charges to seek the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at a news conference on Thursday that Assange's arrest is a "priority" of the administration.

Spicer: No ‘Artificial Deadline’ For Healthcare Reform

One month after the House GOP's healthcare bill fell flat because of a lack of support, the White House said Monday President Donald Trump wants healthcare reform done right - and that means there won't be an "artificial deadline" put in place. White House press secretary Sean Spicer was asked about the topic during Monday's press briefing and said the ball is in lawmakers' court.

Trump Wants to Slash Corporate Tax Rate to 15 Percent

President Donald Trump's zeal to unveil a tax plan before his 100th day in office is raising questions about just how thorough his "tax reform" plans will be, amid signals that his focus for now is on slashing tax rates. Trump has directed aides to move quickly on a plan to cut the corporate income tax rate to 15 percent from 35 percent, a Trump administration official said on Monday.

Dems say Trump can avert shutdown risk if he relents on wall

In this April 5, 2017 file photo, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York takes a question during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump could avert the risk of a government shutdown next weekend by stepping back from his demand that lawmakers fund his promised border wall with Mexico in a must-pass spending bill, Congress' two top Democrats said Monday, April 24, 2017.

Bipartisan friendship is a civil solution to political dysfunction

Few jurists have managed to capture the attention and imagination of American society like Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the "odd couple" who built a lasting friendship despite their diametrically-opposed legal views. Because of their dedication to finding common ground across an ideological chasm, the two were honored earlier this month with the annual Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life .

Drop the push for the wall and wea ve got a budget deal, Democrats tell Trump

In this Wednesday, April 19, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office in Washington. With a budget deadline looming, he plans a whirlwind of activities seeking to highlight accomplishments while putting fresh pressure on congressional Democrats to pay for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, even if that pressure risks a government shutdown.

Russia investigations on the Hill: Where things stand

Multiple committee investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign will continue to push forward as Congress returns this week. Members of the House Intelligence Committee are hoping to get back to work after chairman Devin Nunes withdrew himself from the panel's Russia investigation amid ethics complaints.

Route 66 deemed endangered historic place

Landmarks Illinois , a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving history, has selected Route 66 as one of this year's most endangered historic place in the state. "One of the tools that some communities had to use was within the National Park Service there is a Route 66 corridor preservation program and that had been around since 1999 and was renewed in 2009 for another 10 years and this provides some cost share grants," Butterfield said.

Trump Holds Secret Meeting With Former Colombian Presidents

President Donald Trump quietly met a pair of former Colombian presidents last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, thrusting his administration into an ugly power struggle in Latin America that threatens to undermine the country's controversial peace agreement with rebel leaders. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is expected to push Trump to support the peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia at their first meeting at the White House next month.