Ryan blasts states that send billions to federal government

The top House Republican on Thursday blasted high-tax states that deliver billions to the federal government as he faced a backlash from rank-and-file GOP lawmakers over a sweeping tax-cut proposal. Speaker Paul Ryan went on the offensive against high-tax states like California, New York and New Jersey, even though disgruntled GOP lawmakers from those states need to be brought on board to support the $6 trillion tax overhaul.

Ryan blames high-tax states as GOP lawmakers balk on plan

House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday lambasted high-tax states like California, New York and New Jersey, arguing the rest of the country is "propping up profligate, big-government states" even as they pay billions more in taxes than they receive in return from the federal government. Ryan's attack came as he defended the Republican tax proposal that would repeal the federal deduction for state and local taxes, saying it has forced the rest of the country to support those states' high taxes and reckless spending.

Plan to scrap state and local tax deduction hits resistance

The noise of car engines enveloping the streets of the French capital might in the future become a memory for Paris pedestrians. The Department of Veterans Affairs has abruptly dropped plans to suspend an ethics law barring employees from receiving benefits from for-profit colleges.

Relief package for Texas reignites bitter feud with the north

Republicans from New York and New Jersey have pledged unconditional support for those devastated by Hurricane Harvey , despite lingering resentment. As historic floods wreaked havoc across the Gulf Coast, north-eastern Republicans recalled the days after Superstorm Sandy ravaged their region in 2012.

Why Approving Emergency Funding For Harvey Might Not Be Easy For Congress

A helicopter carries an evacuee during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on Tuesday in Houston. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images hide caption The cleanup bill will likely be hefty - possibly topping $100 billion - and the vast majority of those efforts will be funded by the federal government.

Reince Priebus out, John Kelly in as White House chief of staff

President Donald Trump drove out his chief of staff on Friday, replacing Reince Priebus with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly in an explosive move that ends a turbulent six-month tenure. "The President wanted to go a different direction," Priebus told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on "The Situation Room" Friday evening.

Trump replaces chief of staff Priebus with General Kelly

His White House in turmoil, President Donald Trump abruptly announced late yesterday he was appointing Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly to be his chief of staff, ending the tumultuous six-month tenure of Reince Priebus. After months of speculation about Priebus' fate, Trump tweeted his decision just as he landed in Washington after a speech in New York in which he lavishly praised Kelly's performance at Homeland Security.

Trump headed to Long Island to trumpet MS-13 crackdown

Trumpeting his administration's crackdown on illegal immigration and violent crime, President Donald Trump is traveling to Long Island to urge Congress to dedicate more funding to the fight. Trump is set to speak Friday afternoon at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, New York, close to where the ultra-violent street gang MS-13 has committed a string of gruesome murders, including the massacre of four young men in April in a Central Islip park.

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.

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.

Special counsel Robert Mueller named to probe Trump-Russia ties

The US Justice Department has appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into allegations that Russia and Donald Trump's campaign collaborated to influence the 2016 presidential election. The US Justice Department has appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into allegations that Russia and Donald Trump's campaign collaborated to influence the 2016 presidential election.