‘Devastating for the space program’: Even Marco Rubio…
Sen. Marco Rubio and Trump's NASA pic Rep. Jim Bridenstine . Images via Wikimedia Commons and screengrab).
Category Archives: US House of Representatives
Trump Asks for $8 Billion in Initial Harvey Aid, Debt Cap Hike 31 minutes ago
The Trump administration sent Congress a request Friday for almost $8 billion in initial relief for Hurricane Harvey victims and suggested the assistance be authorized in tandem with a measure to raise the federal debt ceiling, a move that House Republicans are unlikely to embrace. In a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan requesting the storm aid, Budget Director Mick Mulvaney stops short of explicitly asking for the two to be linked.
Harvey package grows; likely to include debt ceiling hike
President Donald Trump's initial request for a multibillion-dollar down payment for initial Harvey recovery efforts is growing. Republican leaders are already making plans to use the aid package, certain to be overwhelmingly popular, to win speedy approval of a contentious increase in the federal borrowing limit.
Tucker Carlson Shames GOPers Who Back DACA: ‘Their Campaign Pledges Were Lies’
The White House has said that President Trump will announce on Tuesday his decision whether to keep DACA in place or to gut it as he promised during the election. Meanwhile, several top Republicans including Speaker Paul Ryan and Sen. Orrin Hatch have urged the president not to terminate the policy .
Your Views Sunday, Sept. 3
Backers of the treaty argue that without renegotiation of NAFTA, the forecast growth of U.S. liquefied gas to Mexico would be compromised. Mexico isn't buying our gas because of NAFTA, but due to the proximity and reliability of our gas supply.
Oklahoma court’s ruling opens door for billions in tax increases
IN a narrow 5-4 decision, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that a new car tax is not subject to the Oklahoma Constitution's 75 percent supermajority requirement for enacting new taxes. The court said lawmakers didn't need supermajorities to remove tax The practical effect is that lawmakers are now free to approve literally billions in tax increases - as that term would be understood by a layman - with only simple majorities.
Oklahoma Capitol Boxscore for Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017
With the automobile sales tax decided, lawmakers are expected to finalize plans for a special session. The session, if it happens, likely won't be announced until the governor and legislative leaders agree on how to address a $215 million shortfall caused by the Oklahoma Supreme Court's rejection of an unconstitutional cigarette fee.
White House: DACA decision to come Tuesday
President Donald Trump will announce his decision on the DACA program protecting young undocumented immigrants on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday. House Speaker Paul Ryan on Friday gave a major boost to legislative efforts to preserve the program.
White House says Trump’s DACA announcement coming Tuesday
The White House says President Donald Trump will announce a decision Tuesday on the fate of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children - immigrants the president is calling "terrific" and says he loves. "We love the dreamers, we love everybody," Trump told reporters Friday, using a shorthand term for the nearly 800,000 young people who were given a reprieve from deportation and temporary work permits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program created by the Obama administration.
Young US immigrants mobilize effort to avoid deportation
President Donald Trump is facing increasing pressure from CEOs, Roman Catholic bishops, celebrities and a national mobilization effort as he weighs eliminating an Obama-era program that shields young immigrants from deportation. The last-ditch effort has taken on greater urgency in recent days amid reports that the White House may end the program.
Congressional Republicans offer ‘Conservative’ Dream Act for illegal immigrants
House Speaker Paul Ryan said to a Wisconsin radio station on Friday "I actually don't think" President Donald Trump should rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals , which was put in place by Barack Obama to allow 800,000 young illegal immigrants to work legally and prevent their deportation. He added that this is "something Congress has to fix."
The Latest: Trump decision on immigrant kids coming Tuesday
Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, right, speaks in support of allowing residency for some of the young people who immigrated illegally to the United States with their parents in Modesto, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. At left is Tomas Evangelista, who crossed the border from Mexico as a child and qualified under an Obama-era executive order that Denham would like to extend through an act of Congress.
Judge slams Menendez request to alter trial schedule for ‘critical’ votes in DC
The federal judge overseeing Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez's upcoming corruption trial rejected the New Jersey senator's request to modify the upcoming trial schedule so that he may return to Washington for "critical votes." Last week, Menendez's defense team filed a motion asking the court to modify the trial schedule to allow the senator to participate in key votes as needed, including on the future of the Affordable Care Act - raising a concern the jury would draw a negative inference from his absence.
Jared Kushner was the surprise guest at NC fundraiser
In this July 24, 2017 photo, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner speaks to reporters outside the White House after meeting on Capitol Hill behind closed doors with the Senate Intelligence Committee. Kushner attended a fundraiser Thursday night for Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who heads the conservative Freedom Caucus.
Former aides to GOP lawmaker describe toxic work environment
Working for four-term Republican Rep. Todd Rokita of Indiana is an exacting job with long hours, made more difficult by a boss known for micromanaging and yelling at his staff, according to 10 former aides who spoke to The Associated Press. All but one of the former staffers spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern of retribution from the congressman, who is in a competitive GOP primary for the chance to challenge first-term Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in next year's midterm elections.
HHS cutting way back on funds for – Obamacare’ promotion
Affirming its disdain for "Obamacare," the Trump administration on Thursday announced sharp cuts in programs promoting health care enrollment under the Affordable Care Act for next year. Advertising will be cut from $100 million spent on 2017 sign-ups to $10 million, said Health and Human Services officials.
Dawn Patrol: Poll says one-third of Illinoisans impacted by opioid crisis
One in three Illinois residents have been impacted by the opioid epidemic, but many still aren't concerned about prescription painkillers posing a danger to their families. Full story .
Hurricane fuels gas-price hike as reserves tapped
Damage to energy supplies from Hurricane Harvey combined with the traditional increase in Labor Day travel is already leading to higher gas prices in Massachusetts, and U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry is tapping into the nation's strategic reserves as part of the federal government's response to the massive storm. In an interview Thursday, a AAA Northeast official told the News Service she would not be surprised to see a double-digit increase in per-gallon prices when the organization's latest survey is released next Tuesday.
Milwaukee sheriff, Trump supporter Clarke resigns
The tough-talking sheriff of Milwaukee County, David Clarke, resigned without explanation Thursday, capping a tumultuous year for the divisive, provocative lawman whose unabashed support for President Donald Trump and in-your-face personality earned him a national following among some conservatives. Clarke submitted his resignation in a one-sentence letter to the county clerk that gave no reason for his departure more than a year before his term is up.
Rep. Coffman Plans Discharge Petition to Save DACA
A GOP lawmaker will attempt a rarely used gambit to force a vote on a bill extending protections for illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children, Politico reported. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., said he will file what is known as a "discharge petition" to force action on his proposal when he returns to Capitol Hill in September.