Dems say Trumpa s tweets about Gillibrand sexist, crude

By NANCY BENAC and JONATHAN LEMIRE, Associated Press WASHINGTON - Plowing into the sexual harassment debate in a big way, President Donald Trump laced into Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Tuesday, tweeting that the New York Democrat would come to his office to get them.

Democratic congresswomen call for Trump investigation

A group of Democratic congresswomen is calling Monday on the House Oversight Committee to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against Donald Trump, adding to a growing drumbeat of voices drawing fresh attention to accusations leveled against the President by numerous women. In a letter to the panel's chairman, GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy, and the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings, 54 female House lawmakers write that "the American people deserve a full inquiry in to the truth of these allegations."

Senate strikes tax exemption for college linked to Betsy DeVosThe Guardian

Education secretary's brother is alumnus of Hillsdale College, to which family gives money and which Republicans wanted to help because it refuses federal funds The Senate voted to strike an amendment from the Republican tax bill that would have benefited a small Christian college in southern Michigan with ties to education secretary Betsy DeVos. In a surprise 52-48 vote, four Republicans supported an amendment offered by Democrat Jeff Merkley to remove the exception from the legislation.

Senate votes to block special break for conservative college

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, and other Republican senators gather to meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on the GOP effort to overhaul the tax code, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. less Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, and other Republican senators gather to meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on the GOP effort to overhaul the ... more WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats on Friday successfully blocked a provision in the Republicans' sweeping tax bill designed to give a special tax break to a conservative college in Michigan.

States Face Children’s Health Coverage Uncertainty

Oregon governor Kate Brown recently wrote to her state's two Democratic senators warning that federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program will run out in December. About two months after federal funding lapsed for the Children's Health Insurance Program, state officials still don't know exactly when they'll run out of money or when Congress will renew funding - leaving families that depend on the program increasingly anxious about their benefits.

Trump could appoint conservatives to California’s federal courts more easily after Senate shift

President Donald Trump could have an easier time appointing conservative judges to California's federal courts under a policy shift in the U.S. Senate this week. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Thursday that he wouldn't necessarily follow the Senate's informal "blue slip" policy, which allows senators to veto judicial nominees in their home states.

Mercy Corps Recognizes U.S. Senators Merkley And Young With Humanitarian Hero Award

The global organization Mercy Corps has recognized Sen. Jeff Merkley , member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees, and Sen. Todd Young , member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with its highest honor, the Humanitarian Hero Award. "Senators Merkley and Young have been powerful and passionate advocates in the halls of Congress, protecting humanitarian and development support for the world's most vulnerable people," says Neal Keny-Guyer, Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Corps.

McConnell signals he will end the practice of allowing senators to block judges

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has signaled he will end the long-held practice of giving senators a chance to block judicial nominees who would have jurisdiction over their states - a move that comes as McConnell is facing increasing pressure from conservative groups to make the Senate more responsive to President Trump's wishes. In an interview with the Weekly Standard, McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, stressed that the use of so-called ''blue slips'' - named after the piece of paper senators from a potential federal judge's state must sign to indicate their approval - is a custom, not a rule, and that the use of them will no longer be enforced.

Idaho Briefing – Sept 25

This is a summary of a few items in the Idaho Weekly Briefing for July 17. Interested in subscribing? Send us a note at stapilus@ridenbaugh.com . Idaho picked up a large-scale wheat deal with China this week, as good economic news generally continued to roll.

McConnell calls for ending Senate tradition that gives…

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday told The New York Times that he thinks the "blue slip" practice should be scrapped for circuit court nominations, a move that would eliminate Democrats' only leverage against President Donald Trump's picks to the nation's second-highest courts. "My personal view is that the blue slip, with regard to circuit court appointments, ought to simply be a notification of how you're going to vote, not the opportunity to blackball," McConnell told The Times, adding that he still favors keeping the practice in place in its current form for district court judges.

US Senate approves funding for UN climate body

In this photo, US President Donald Trump gestures while walking across the South Lawn to board Marine One, bound for Camp David, on September 8, 2017 in Washington, DC. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP The US Senate Appropriations Committee passed a spending bill on Thursday evening that includes $10 million to help fund the United Nations' climate change body that oversees the Paris Climate Agreement, despite President Donald Trump's decision to stop funding it.

Senate confirms Christopher Wray to replace James Comey as head of FBI

Christopher Wray was confirmed Tuesday as the new director of the FBI , almost three months after President Trump controversially fired his predecessor James Comey amid the ongoing investigation into Russian election interference and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. Wray's confirmation passed by a 92-5 margin.

Good Morning, News: GOP Health Care Efforts Implode, The Mooch Gets…

Hey, the Democrats won something ! In a dramatic vote early Friday morning , Mitch McConnell's "skinny repeal"-a Hail Mary for ditching Obamacare that McConnell was urging senators to pass with assurances it wouldn't ultimately become law-fell short by one vote. "WHOSE ONE VOTE?!" is the question the Internet is arguing about today.

Trump: Obama a Did Nothinga About Russia Election Meddling

President Donald Trump questioned former President Barack Obama's response to Russia's attempts to influence the 2016 election in an interview airing Sunday morning, saying Obama didn't do enough to address the situation. "Well I just heard today for the first time that Obama knew about Russia a long time before the election, and he did nothing about it," Trump said in an excerpt of his interview on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" released Friday.

PHOTO: The Marines tweeted this photo on June 23, 2017, in honor of Take Your Dog to Work Day.

Lawmakers, branches of the armed forces and federal departments populated their Twitter timelines Friday with pooch pics in honor of Take Your Dog to Work Day, also referred to as Bring Your Dog to Work Day. The day was created in 1999 by Pet Sitters International, a North Carolina-based educational association for professional pet sitters, to encourage business owners to allow dogs in the workplace.

DeVos non-committal on private school LGBT discrimination

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 6, 2017, before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2018 budget. less Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 6, 2017, before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies ... more WASHINGTON - Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Tuesday that schools receiving federal money should follow federal law, but she would not commit to banning discrimination against LGBT students in private schools.