USDA Invests More than $9 Million to Support Small Businesses in 12 States

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the investment of more than $9 million in loans and grants to support job growth and economic development in 12 states. The funding is being provided through USDA's Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program, through which USDA provides zero-interest loans and grants to utilities that lend funds to local businesses for projects to create and retain employment.

GOP can ignore the debt, but it won’t ignore our children

Four years ago, when Republicans gathered in Tampa to endorse Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as their party's vice-presidential nominee, it signaled the growing prominence that the debt issue had gained within the party. For decades, Republicans had sounded alarms about runaway spending, while in practice, they avoided doing anything to reform entitlements - the true driver of the nation's long-term debt problem.

Fight Over Reform Bill Turns into Fight Over Capital Worldviews

Regulators' calculations were "were wrong when it came to subprime mortgages [and] they were wrong when they were talking about Greek debt," said Rep. Scott Garrett in support of banks hitting a non-risk-based leverage ratio. The debate over a Republican bill to overhaul the Dodd-Frank Act is increasingly focused on two widely different philosophies about capital regulation, which were both on display at a hearing Tuesday.

Senior Citizen Group Endorses Hillary Clinton

Citing her commitment to expand Social Security, strengthen Medicare and rein in prescription drug prices, the executive board of the Alliance for Retired Americans voted to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. "Hillary Clinton has been a champion for retirees throughout her distinguished career.

The Imaginarium of Harry Blackmun

The Supreme Court has added another chapter to the body of law rooted in very little more than the imagination of Justice Harry Blackmun, who, with the assistance of a few of his fellow legal fantasists, delivered the constitutional right to abortion, Athena-like, from his head into the waiting world.At issue were a number of regulations in the state of Texas governing abortion clinics and the meat-cutters employed therein. Texas, with its relatively light regulatory regime, is sometimes regarded in the coastal cosmopoles as something between late-Seventies Hong Kong and the fever dreams of Ayn Rand, but it isn't quite.

Nation-Now 19 mins ago 10:14 p.m.Clinton: Cities are where things are ‘getting done’

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton told more than 200 mayors gathered Sunday in Indianapolis that cities are "where things are happening and getting done," despite, she argued, local leaders not receiving help from the federal government. "Instead, like other Americans, you see grandstanding, you hear threats to default on our nation's debt or shut down our government," Clinton said in her address to the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Gabi Grecko’s cryptic video after estranged husband Geoffrey…

Get out now! Furious EU leaders demand Britain makes quick exit from the EU as Prime Minister David Cameron resigns and global markets plummet over historic referendum vote to leave Europe PIERS MORGAN: No wonder Trump looks happy - Britain's exit from Europe should leave Hillary Clinton shaking in her boots and Donald knows it! Dow closes 610 points down wiping $800 MILLION off the value of US firms after tumultuous day of trading following shocking Brexit vote Rating agency CUTS British credit outlook to 'negative' as European finance ministers say Brexit will limit British banks' access to EU markets It wasn't me! Obama shrugs off his humiliating failure to stop Britain quitting Europe by claiming 'globalization' was to blame for shock result Donald Trump says 'always wrong Obama' and Clinton pushed the British out of Europe by lecturing them to stay - and Americans will be next 'to ... (more)

House Speaker Ryan proposes simpler tax code

House Republicans led by Speaker Paul Ryan unveiled a plan for a simpler tax code, the sixth and last installment of a GOP agenda designed to be a policy counterpoint to the personality-driven campaign of Donald Trump. Ryan and other Republicans announced the plan at a news conference Friday morning.

SCOTUS non-decision may block thousands of undocumented East Texans

After a 4-4 decision, an injunction against President Barack Obama's immigration program remains effective, blocking an estimated 4 million undocumented immigrants from applying for temporary work authorization. Representatives at the Hispanic American Association of East Texas in Tyler, which serves seventeen counties, say they were prepared to see hundreds through their doors, if the high court decision held in favor of the program.

Candidates avoid Medicare, Social Security finance woes

The nation's framework for economic security and health care in retirement is financially unsustainable, but you wouldn't know it from listening to the presidential candidates. This week the Social Security and Medicare trustees warned of tough choices ahead to keep the two programs solvent over the long run.

You Will Never Be As Ecstatic As This Woman Delivering Pizzas To Rep. John Lewis

Rep. John Lewis , a civil rights icon who led historic sit-ins in the 1960s, staged another sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday to pressure Republicans to bring up a vote on gun control legislation. People showed their support for Lewis in a variety of ways: Fellow House brought donuts ; protesters gathered outside the U.S. Capitol.

Social Security Still Isn’t Broke, New Report Confirms

Obama administration officials used the release of a report on the program's finances to amplify calls to expand benefits. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew acknowledged Wednesday that Social Security faces financial challenges, but nonetheless said that making benefits more generous should be a priority.