Political Horizons: 3-ring circus of a regular session slides into special session

Rep. Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, stands at the lectern asking the House to vote to direct the committee to report HB1 as House Speaker Rep. Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, right, watches during the closing minutes of the last day of the regular legislative session Thursday June 8, 2017, in Baton Rouge, La.. During floor debate in the final week of the regular legislative session, Democratic Rep. Barbara Norton, of Shreveport, apparently had enough of Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges from Denham Springs.

USS Gabrielle Giffords commissioned in Texas in her honor

The U.S. Navy has commissioned a new warship, the USS Gabrielle Giffords, in honor of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011. In a ceremony in Galveston, Texas, on Saturday, Giffords was joined on stage by her husband, former Navy captain and retired astronaut Mark Kelly, as well as several Democratic friends including Hillary Clinton and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Democrats are trying to doom New York’s public housing

The city's public-housing stock is falling apart, and there are scant funds for repairs. So why are local politicians trying to block a plan to pump in new money? That's right: City Councilman Ben Kallos, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Rep. Carolyn Maloney are trying to slow a plan to raise cash at the New York City Housing Authority's Holmes Towers on the Upper East Side.

Handel-Ossoff contest continues to draw major dollars

A lot of green - more than $36 million, according to the latest campaign financial filings - is flowing toward Georgia's 6th Congressional District as part of the GOP's efforts to keep the district Republican red while the Democrats aim to paint it blue.

Pence promises end to Obamacare during Milwaukee visit

Vice President Mike Pence and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker speak during a roundtable event at Direct Supply, a medical supply on Saturday June 10, 2017 in Milwaukee. Pence promised a group of Wisconsin business leaders Saturday that the Trump administration will replace former President Barack Obama's health care law with a system that gives states greater flexibility over coverage for their residents.

The Senate’s three tools on health care: Sabotage, speed and secrecy

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had a problem when the American Health Care Act arrived from the House last month. What to do with a bill that is clogging your agenda but only 8 percent of Americans want you to pass and members of your own caucus swore was dead on arrival? McConnell couldn't have missed the town halls filled with angry Americans who rely on Medicaid and see the Affordable Care Act's protections for those with preexisting conditions as a godsend.

Former Rep. Giffords receives tributes at ship commissioning

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2011 that led to her resignation from Congress, received touching tributes Saturday from female politicians and military officials at a commissioning ceremony for a warship named after her. With the naming of the littoral combat ship, the Arizona Democrat became the first living woman to have a Navy warship bear her name since the Lady Washington was named after Martha Washington in 1776; and Giffords is only the third living woman in U.S. history to see her name on a naval vessel.

Warship USS Gabrielle Giffords commissioned in Texas

Former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords speaks during a commissioning ceremony for the USS Gabrielle Giffords in Galveston, Texas on Saturday, June 10, 2017. The new warship named after Giffords who was wounded during a deadly 2011 shooting, has been put into active service following the ceremony.

I was an FBI agent. Trump’s lack of concern about Russian hacking shocks me.

Reactions to former FBI director James Comey's testimony Thursday mostly seemed to follow predictable, partisan lines. To many Democrats, Comey appeared to be describing a clear case of obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.

California governor further extends int’l outreach on climate action

Governor Jerry Brown of U.S. state of California met Friday in San Francisco visiting German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks, hours after returning from a climate mission to China, and continued his international outreach on climate action. "China and Germany - two of the most powerful countries in the world - are working with California and with other states to deal with climate change," Brown said, noting that "the current withdrawal from the Paris Agreement by the Washington administration is being overcome and countermanded by people throughout the whole world."

Trump’s Not the Only One Blocking Constituents on Twitter

As President Donald Trump faces criticism for blocking users on his Twitter account, people across the country say they, too, have been cut off by elected officials at all levels of government after voicing dissent on social media. In Arizona, a disabled Army veteran grew so angry when her congressman blocked her and others from posting dissenting views on his Facebook page that she began delivering actual blocks to his office.

.com | GOP shrugs off Comey revelations, sticks with Trump

The GOP still needs Donald Trump if it has any hope of accomplishing its legislative agenda and winning elections, and it's going to take more than James Comey's testimony to shake them. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Friday boasted of the GOP's accomplishments under Trump thus far, and promised more to come, making no mention of Comey in a speech.

Firm to receive small business vouchers

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Donald Trump ‘100%’ willing to testify under oath on James Comey

He also denied that Comey's version of the events of a February 14 meeting, in which Trump said that he " hoped " that the FBI director could let go of an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn . During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing , Mr Comey said he believed that Mr Trump had ordered him to drop a criminal investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Brexit talks face delay after United Kingdom election shock

"Any long-term delay in the start of Brexit negotiations could, potentially be disastrous for Britain as potentially it could mean that negotiations breakdown or even simply running out of time due to a two-year deadline". Donald Tusk , the former Polish premier who will oversee the process as chair of European Union national leaders' summits, also stressed there was "no time to lose" and a need for London and Brussels to cooperate to minimise disruption for people, businesses and governments across Europe when Britain walks out in 22 months.

Almanac for Saturday, June 10, 2017

Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include actor Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Oscar , in 1895; Broadway composer Frederick Loewe in 1901; Nobel literature laureate Saul Bellow in 1915; Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1921 ; Hollywood icon Judy Garland in 1922; children's author/illustrator Maurice Sendak in 1928; attorney F. Lee Bailey in 1933 ; football Hall of Fame member Dan Fouts in 1951 ; actor Andrew Stevens in 1955 ; model/actor Elizabeth Hurley in 1965 ; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal in 1971 ; Olympic figure skater Tara Lipinski in 1982 ; actor Leelee Sobieski in 1983 .

Trump preparing to unveil new Cuba policy, sources say

U.S. President Donald Trump departs to spend the weekend at his New Jersey golf estate from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 9, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump departs to spend the weekend at his New Jersey golf estate from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 9, 2017.