Criminal probe of Pruitt sought

House Democrats on Friday formally requested that the Justice Department investigate Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt for potential criminal conduct. In a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray and Justice criminal division chief John Cronan, six Democratic lawmakers with oversight of Pruitt's agency allege that he repeatedly violated federal anti-corruption laws by seeking to leverage his government position for personal gain.

Trump DOJ looks to gut key Obamacare provision

Democrats are coming out swinging against the Department of Justice's move to back a lawsuit brought forth by a group of Republican attorneys general against the Affordable Care Act that, if successful, could result in the dismantling of some of the most significant parts of the health care law. The Senate's top Democrats fired off a letter to President Trump on Friday to denounce the decision and urged Trump's Justice Department to reverse course.

Should you be worried about Social Security and Medicare?

In this Jan. 11, 2013 file photo, the Social Security Administration's main campus is seen in Woodlawn, Md. A significant worsening in the financial condition of Social Security and Medicare and bitter political divisions among lawmakers who'd have try to find solutions have raised the level of concern around the government's latest status report on the two bedrock programs.

House Democrats seek criminal corruption probe of EPA’s Pruitt

House Democrats on Friday formally requested that the Justice Department investigate Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt for potential criminal conduct. In a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray and Justice criminal division chief John Cronan, six Democratic lawmakers with oversight of Pruitt's agency allege he repeatedly violated federal anti-corruption laws by seeking to leverage his government position for personal gain.

56 Lawmakers Call for HHS Investigation Into Planned Parenthood After Reports of Sex Abuse Cover-Up

Fifty-six members of Congress, led by Rep. Vicky Hartzler , sent a letter Thursday to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar asking him to investigate Planned Parenthood facilities that have allegedly been covering up sex abuse of minors, according to a recent undercover report by Live Action. The letter points out that Planned Parenthood is currently the largest recipient of Title X funds, although that may change if a proposed rule from the Trump administration goes into effect.

Senators continue search for sexual harassment economic data after Labor Dept. refuses to help

While those efforts have made enormous strides, nothing moves America like money. That raises the question: How much does sexual harassment cost? What is the economic impact to the workplace of men who impose their warped notions of sexual superiority on female colleagues? Harvey Weinstein isn't available to answer those questions, so a group of Democratic senators asked the Labor Department.

Medicaid Work Requirement Bill Sent to Michigan Governor

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature on Thursday gave final approval to a bill requiring able-bodied adults in the state's Medicaid expansion program to meet work or job-related requirements, sending it to Gov. Rick Snyder for his expected signature. Starting in 2020, adults age 18 to 62 would have to show workforce engagement averaging 80 hours a month - through work, school, job or vocational training, an internship, substance abuse treatment or community service.

Trump administration won’t defend ACA in case brought by GOP…

The Trump administration said Thursday night that it will not defend the Affordable Care Act against the latest legal challenge to its constitutionality - a dramatic break from the executive branch's tradition of arguing to uphold existing statutes and a land mine for health insurance changes the ACA brought about. In a brief filed in a Texas federal court and an accompanying letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the Justice Department agrees in large part with the 20 Republican-led states who brought the suit.

House GOP: Session could crash again without reforms

House GOP: Session could crash again without reforms Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to issue Friday a call for a third Special Session of the spring. Check out this story on thetowntalk.com: BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's House Republican Caucus has sent a letter to Gov. John Bel Edwards saying its members can't support more taxes to address the state's budget without spending reforms and transparency.

Trump plan to cut $15B in spending squeaks through House

The House on Thursday only narrowly passed a White House plan to cut almost $15 billion in unused government money, a closer-than-expected tally on legislation that's designed to demonstrate fiscal discipline in Washington even though it wouldn't have much of an impact on spiraling deficits. The measure, which passed 210-206, would take a mostly symbolic whack at government spending because it would basically eliminate leftover funding that wouldn't have been spent anyway.

Ted Cruz Says Imperiled Biofuel Overhaul Plan Not Dead

A day after a tentative agreement to overhaul U.S. biofuel policy appeared to collapse amid farm-state concerns, EPA chief Scott Pruitt met to discuss the issue with the lead senator pushing for the changes: Ted Cruz. Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, declined to comment on the June 6 meeting, but Cruz said it included discussion about the Renewable Fuel Standard and had been planned well before reports June 4 that a White House-brokered accord was unraveling.

Trump administration will no longer defend the Affordable Care Act in court

The Trump administration declared that it will no longer defend the Affordable Care Act from a challenge filed by 20 states in a brief filed Thursday night because it agrees that the law's individual mandate is unconstitutional and that key parts of the act - including the provisions protecting those with pre-existing conditions - are invalid. President Trump has long declared the ACA, also known as Obamacare, to be a "disaster" and the brief is the latest attempt by his administration to weaken President Barack Obama's signature health-care law.

Pruitt aide resigns after she describes personal errands

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt laughed off questions about whether he used his office to try to help his wife get a "business opportunity" with Chick-fil-A, while a close aide abruptly resigned amid new ethics allegations against her boss. Pruitt said in a statement Wednesday that his scheduling director, Millan Hupp, 26, had resigned.

EPA head laughs off Chick-fil-A questions; senior aide quits

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt laughed off questions Wednesday about whether he used his office to try to help his wife get a "business opportunity" with Chick-fil-A, while a close aide abruptly resigned amid new ethics allegations against her boss. Pruitt said in a statement that his scheduling director, Millan Hupp, 26, had resigned.