Trump budget hard on ‘forgotten’ rural American supporters

Trump budget hard on 'forgotten' rural American supporters Trump's budget could be punishing for the rural, working-class voters who overwhelmingly supported him Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2rQU26R WASHINGTON - Sen. Al Franken, the former comedian from Minnesota, had a not-so-funny response to President Trump's first budget that relies on deep cuts to the nation's health care and safety-net programs: "This piece of legislation is cruel," said Franken, who co-chairs the Senate rural health caucus. It could be particularly punishing for the rural, working-class voters who overwhelmingly supported Trump, according to a USA TODAY review.

Stephens film series features heroes of capitalism

Kyle Massey at Arkansas Business reports on an announcement today that Warren Stephens , the CEO of Stephens Inc. , has produced a film series and related media, "This is Capitalism." Stephens explains that capitalism has gotten a bad rap.

Trump’s $4T budget arrives on Capitol Hill

President Donald Trump on Tuesday sent Congress a $4.1 trillion spending plan that relies on faster economic growth and steep cuts to programs for the poor in a bid to balance the government's books over the next decade. The proposed 2018 budget immediately came under attack by Democrats and even some of GOP allies declared it dead on arrival.

How Hillary Clinton’s Party Produced Bernie Sanders

For the past two years, virtually everyone who's interested in Democratic politics has asked some variation of those two questions. Sanders is atypical -- he's consistently to the left of almost all of his Senate colleagues, his rhetoric is populist and he's not actually a Democrat -- yet he was able to win about 43 percent of the vote in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

Senate Intel leaders: Door open to holding Flynn in contempt after invoking Fifth Amendment

The top two leaders of the Senate intelligence committee are leaving the door open to holding Michael Flynn in contempt of Congress after President Trump's former national security adviser said he would invoke his Fifth Amendment rights rather than comply with a subpoena. Sen. Richard Burr, the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said the panel was reviewing a range of options to compel Flynn to disclose records about his meetings with Russian officials, including holding Flynn in contempt.

Lying Jon Ossoff is unfit for office

The most expensive congressional race in U.S. history has again dispelled the myth that conservatives are the aggressors in the moral wars that plague our politics. As Kyle Wingfield of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution recently pointed out , in the race to replace Tom Price in Georgia's 6th congressional district, it was only a matter of time before Jon Ossoff went after Karen Handel for her brief experience at the Susan G. Komen organization.

Westporter Off to Become U.S. Senate Page

Ethan Parker, 16, of Westport is off to Washington, D.C. this summer to work as a U.S. Senate page under the sponsorship of New York Sen. Charles Schumer, the Senate minority leader. The Greens Farms Academy honor roll sophomore is one of 30 students from across the country who will serve the 100 senators.

Even Republicans are nervous about Trump’s budget.

Though the official release is planned for Tuesday, leaked versions of the 2018 budget proposal show dramatic funding cuts for environmental programs - even those supported by the president's own party. The budget, which still needs congressional approval, would cut the Environmental Protection Agency's budget by 35 percent .

Coal impacts could push 122 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.

That's according to a report from the global anti-poverty organization Oxfam, which specifically calls for Australia to stop propping up the coal industry - especially the $300 million in subsidies it's offered up for a proposed mine in Queensland. "Against the backdrop of an imperiled Great Barrier Reef and extreme weather disasters, Australia's carbon pollution is continuing to climb - the tragic consequence of more than a decade of climate policy paralysis and short-term political opportunism," Helen Szoke , CEO of Oxfam Australia, says.

Political vitriol sparks call for moderation in Nevada

Small business owner Ron Nelsen, center, is told to leave after interrupting U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., during a luncheon to discuss infrastructure projects at the Suncoast casino-hotel on Friday, May 12, 2017 in Las Vegas. @Erik_Verduzco They disrupt his speeches and town halls screaming grievances.

Flynn rejects Trump-Russia probe subpoena; Dems say he lied

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, center, arrives for a news conference with President Donald Trump and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Washington. . From left, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Cory A. Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., walk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 18, 2017, to ... .

Michael Flynn to plead Fifth Amendment in Senate panel’s Russia investigation

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination on Monday when he declines to hand over documents to a Senate panel investigating Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, The Associated Press has learned. Flynn is expected to cite Fifth Amendment protections in a letter Monday to the Senate intelligence committee, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

Congress back to work while Trump overseas: Budget, Russia

In fact, the nation's legislative branch is still trying to get some work done. Both chambers will be back in session on Monday, and it will be interesting to see if President Donald Trump's long overseas trip will lower the daily drama in Washington or if his international events will lead to more controversies that lawmakers will wake up to each day and have to react.

Key lawmakers vow public hearings on why Comey was fired

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is surrounded by reporters as he leaves a briefing of the full Senate by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, amid controversy over President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, at the Capitol, Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Washington. From left, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Cory A. Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., walk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 18, 2017, to meet with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for a briefing of the full Senate amid controversy over President Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Key lawmakers vow full airing of reasons behind Comey firing

From left, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Cory A. Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., walk on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 18, 2017, to meet with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for a briefing of the full Senate amid controversy over President Donald Trump's ... (more)