Your Opinion: Trump undermines voter integrity

The United States of America allows for people who are registered voters to vote for a specific candidate without fear of being thrown in prison because of our choice. It means that we can choose to vote or not vote regardless of our race, religion, without fear of losing our job, without our income becoming the deciding factor of whether or not our vote should count, and that we don't have to tell anyone how we voted unless we choose to do so.

Peter Courtney, Oregon Senate president and state’s most-tenured lawmaker, mulls retirement

A month after lawmakers adjourned, the halls of the Capitol are quiet. But for one of the Oregon Legislature's most powerful members, a crucial question remains unanswered: Will Senate President Peter Courtney retire? The answer will determine the tone of future legislative sessions, the power split between Oregon's liberal and moderate Democrats, the level of bipartisanship in the Capitol and whether lawmakers take action on issues ranging from climate change to corporate taxes.

US politician with local links criticised for praising former IRA leader

An American congressman who has family in Banbridge has been defended for praising Martin McGuinness during a church service in Washington DC. A spokesman for Richard Neal, a Democratic Party congressional representative based in Massachusetts, issued a statement in response to criticism of a eulogy which the politician delivered at a memorial mass on Tuesday.

Will: GOP squanders chance to lead on budget, entitlements

In January 1988, in Ronald Reagan's final State of the Union address, he noisily dropped on a table next to the podium in the House chamber three recent continuing resolutions, each more than a thousand pages long. Each was evidence of Congress' disregard of the 1974 Budget Act.

It’s Time For a Big “You’re Fired.”

U.S. investigators examining money laundering accusations against President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort hope to push him to cooperate with their probe into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia, two sources with direct knowledge of the investigation said. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team is examining Manafort's financial and real estate records in New York as well as his involvement in Ukrainian politics, the officials said.

Republican tax reform plan may be limited by GOP budget

Republican plans for tax reform could be less sweeping than originally envisioned by the White House and GOP leaders in Congress, as a provision in a House GOP budget blueprint would require any tax bill to be 'budget neutral,' which would force lawmakers to offset any tax cuts with revenue increases that could be difficult in some cases to gain approval. Deep in the fine print of the budget resolution for next year, the Republican plan allows for a tax reform bill under budget reconciliation, "if such measure would not increase the deficit for the total of fiscal years 2018 through 2027."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Fighting to make sure that the little guy gets crushed

The last thing Republicans on Capitol Hill apparently want the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to do is actually protect financial consumers. That would explain the angry GOP reaction whenever the bureau announces new rules, such as one this week to stop big financial institutions from imposing mandatory arbitration agreements on consumers who have legal grievances.

Remembering Ralph Regula, the ‘Constituent Congressman’

Mike Hanke, retired editor and general manager of the Canton Repository, knew Regula from the days when -- as a new reporter -- he covered the congressman's run for the first of what would be 18-terms in the U.S. House. "He was a very kind and gentle individual, but I would say that I think he is probably going to be remembered for his constituency service.

Snyder task force: Municipalities must prefund retiree care

Michigan should require municipalities to prefund new hires' retiree medical costs and help local governments facing substantially underfunded pension and retiree health obligations, a task force created by Gov. Rick Snyder said Tuesday after failing to agree on potential benefit cuts and other issues. The group of 20 voting members was formed in February to study unfunded liabilities at the local level - $10.1 billion for retiree health care in roughly 340 municipalities and $7.5 billion for pensions in nearly 600 communities.

House budget blueprint boosts military, cuts food stamps

House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a budget that makes deep cuts in food stamps and other social safety net programs while boosting military spending by billions, a blueprint that pleases neither conservatives nor moderates.

Gova t to report on solvency of Social Security, Medicare

Republicans in Washington have been clamoring for years to address the long-term financial problems of Social Security and Medicare. On Thursday, the trustees who oversee the programs are scheduled to issue their annual warning about the finances of the federal government's two largest benefit programs.

Gov’t to report on solvency of Social Security, Medicare

Republicans in Washington have been clamouring for years to address the long-term financial problems of Social Security and Medicare. On Thursday, the trustees who oversee the programs are scheduled to issue their annual warning about the finances of the federal government's two largest benefit programs.

NORC Poll: Three-quarters in US say they lack influence

Linda Bell, a beekeeper and farmer who makes about $11,000 per year, feels Washington power brokers have no intention of making health care affordable. WASHINGTON - Linda Bell, a beekeeper and farmer who makes about $11,000 per year, feels Washington power brokers have no intention of making health care affordable.

MICEK: Republicans and Democrats pushing back against Trump

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf hit the nail on the head last week when he refused to play along with the Trump administration's invasive and unwarranted request for unfettered access to his state's voter rolls. "The right to vote is absolute and I have no confidence that you seek to bolster it," Wolf, a Democrat, wrote to Kris Kobach, vice chairman of President Donald Trump's hilariously misnamed Election Integrity Commission.

Presidential commission demands massive amounts of state voter data

On Wednesday, all 50 states were sent letters from Kris Kobach - vice chair for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity - requesting information on voter fraud, election security and copies of every state's voter roll data. The letter asked state officials to deliver the data within two weeks, and says that all information turned over to the commission will be made public.

Here’s How Trump Transferred Wealth to His Son While Avoiding the Usual Taxes

In April 2016, as Donald Trump was on the cusp of clinching the Republican nomination for the White House, he sold two luxury condos near Manhattan's Central Park for less than half the price his company had said they were worth. The lucky buyer: Trump's son, Eric.