Category: Republican

Trump Team Sounding Out Tech Firms Ahead of Delayed Cyber Order

The Trump administration has quietly consulted technology industry leaders ahead of issuing a delayed executive order on cybersecurity, even as executives have clashed with the White House over policies including the president’s efforts to limit entry to the U.S. President Donald Trump delayed the signing of a cybersecurity directive that had been planned for Jan. 31 just as legal challenges stalled his effort to ban travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries. While no new date has been set for signing the cyber order, executives attending a security conference in San Francisco this week said the administration has sought input to help smooth the rollout.

John McCain just spent 9 minutes picking apart Trump’s…

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona just spent nine minutes picking apart President Donald Trump’s worldview without mentioning his name once at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday. “In recent years, this question would invite accusations of hyperbole and alarmism; not this year,” McCain said of the event’s provocative title.

Bank CEOs Ask Lawmakers to Ease Capital Rules, Allow Higher Fees

Chief executives at the biggest U.S. regional banks are asking U.S. lawmakers to consider easing capital requirements and repeal part of the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul that caps fees banks charge retailers on debit-card transactions. Regional banks don’t pose risks to the financial system that have caused concern among policymakers, executives of 18 banks said in a Feb. 13 letter to the top Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Congress.

The dubious cases against one med-tech tax and for a subsidy

The enduring adage that we detest taxes but obligingly accept public benefits those taxes support is playing out in Minnesota by one of the state’s largest and most prosperous interest groups. That’s hardly surprising, but eyebrows may wrinkle in this case, in which highly questionable “facts” are pushed to knock down a federal tax and, in St. Paul, to prop up a subsidy that some call a freebie handout to folks who often don’t need it.

Net neutrality fix faces hard sell

Two key Senate Republicans say they are open to a bipartisan legislative compromise on net neutrality, but their effort faces skepticism from both parties. John Thune Net neutrality fix faces hard sell FCC faces doubleheader of Hill hearings GOP senators demand more answers on Yahoo hacks MORE Roger Wicker Net neutrality fix faces hard sell Lawmakers push FCC chief to boost rural broadband FCC chairman unveils plan to increase transparency MORE , the chairman of a Commerce subcommittee on the internet, have said they are willing to work on a measure that keeps the core of the controversial internet rules but also allows Congress to limit the Federal Communications Commission’s powers.

New FCC chair closely guards his strategy to restructure net neutrality

WASHINGTON: The new chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission under President Donald Trump is keeping under wraps his strategy to revise or reverse the Obama administration’s “net neutrality” rules, but emphasized he is committed to ensuring an open internet. Ajit Pai, 44, a Republican lawyer who has served as a FCC commissioner since 2012, strongly opposed former Democratic President Barack Obama administration’s 2015 net neutrality rules that reclassified broadband providers and treated them like a public utility.

Equity Futures Edge Up After Wall St. Hits Record High

U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher on Friday, a day after Wall Street hit record high on President Donald Trump’s promise to unveil a tax reform plan in the coming weeks. Trump called the tax plan as “phenomenal”, but offered no specifics other than citing the need to lower tax burden on businesses.

Ohio drillers say 6 shale counties saw $43M tax bump

Oil-and-gas drillers in Ohio have paid $43 million in property taxes to local governments and schools in six shale counties since 2011, according to a report released Thursday. The finding by the Ohio Oil and Gas Association and Energy In Depth Ohio, a natural-gas research and education group, comes as Republican Gov. John Kasich has renewed calls for a severance-tax increase on the industry.

Jeff Sessions Confirmed as U.S. Attorney General

The Senate confirmed Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General on Wednesday, bringing to a close what became one of the most contentious debates over President Trump’s cabinet picks so far. The Senate voted to confirm Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General on Wednesday, bringing to a close what became one of the most contentious debates over President Trump’s cabinet picks so far.

Energy Transfer to Get Dakota Access Pipeline Approval From U.S.

The controversial Dakota Access pipeline is set to gain the final go-ahead for completion after President Donald Trump asked for a speedy approval. The U.S. Army said it will grant Energy Transfer Partners LP the easement it needs to finish the line that will ship almost half a million barrels of crude a day from North Dakota’s shale fields to refineries across the Midwest and on to the Gulf Coast.

Republicans vote to silence Elizabeth Warren for reading…

Republicans voted to silence Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts on Tuesday night, during a Senate floor debate over Sen. Jeff Sessions’ nomination as President Donald Trump’s attorney general. Warren, who is among the Democratic senators opposing Sessions’ appointment, attempted to read from a 1986 letter written by Coretta Scott King, the wife of civil-rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stopped Warren, alleging her recitation of the letter violated Senate rule 19, which forbids conduct “unbecoming” of a senator.

Overnight Tech: Dems vow to fight for net neutrality | FCC chief…

DEMS DRAW THE LINE ON NET NEUTRALITY: Democrats on Tuesday vowed to stand firm against any efforts by Republicans to roll back the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules. “The big broadband barons and their Republican allies want to turn back the clock and make big cable and big cellphone companies the gatekeepers for internet access,” Sen. Ed Markey said at a press conference in the Capitol.

Dems come out swinging on net neutrality

Democrats on Tuesday vowed to stand firm against any efforts by Republicans to roll back the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules. “The big broadband barons and their Republican allies want to turn back the clock and make big cable and big cellphone companies the gatekeepers for internet access,” Sen. Ed Markey Dems come out swinging on net neutrality Senators introduce resolution in support of Australia after Trump call Dem senator: Trump ‘trying to rig’ Supreme Court MORE Supporters of the internet rules, which require broadband providers to treat all traffic the same, are worried net neutrality could be on the chopping block under a GOP-controlled Congress and FCC.

U.S. Senate Budget Committee Approves Mulvaney as Budget Director

Rep. Mick Mulvaney testifies before a Senate Budget Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination of to be director of the Office of Management and Budget on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 24, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria – … The U.S. Senate Budget Committee on Thursday voted to confirm Republican Representative Mick Mulvaney to serve as White House budget director under President Donald Trump.

Trumpa s early moves spark alarm, resistance within the government

At the U.S. State Department, the dissent began building soon after President Donald Trump signed an executive order late on Friday to limit immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Opposition mounted through the weekend as a draft memo criticizing Trump’s policy was written up in Washington and circulated by email to U.S. diplomatic posts around the world, according to multiple officials involved in the effort.

Trumpa s early moves spark alarm, resistance within the government

At the U.S. State Department, the dissent began building soon after President Donald Trump signed an executive order late on Friday to limit immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. Opposition mounted through the weekend as a draft memo criticizing Trump’s policy was written up in Washington and circulated by email to U.S. diplomatic posts around the world, according to multiple officials involved in the effort.

Retailers, trade groups increase fight against tax proposal

More than 100 retailers including Wal-Mart and Target as well as key trade associations are launching a new coalition aimed at fighting a Republican proposal on how imports get taxed, which they believe would harm their businesses. The National Retail Federation, along with the American International Automobile Dealers Association, the National Grocers Association and others are joining forces to form Americans for Affordable Products, which will run a campaign to educate consumers and show lawmakers that the so-called Border Adjusted Tax plan would lead to higher prices of as much as 20 percent on everyday items including clothing, food and even gas.

Dakota Access Oil Pipeline Seen Gaining U.S. Approval Soon

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to issue Energy Transfer Partners LP the last permit it needs to finish the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline, two North Dakota lawmakers said. Acting Army Secretary Robert Speer directed the Army Corps to move forward with the easement necessary to build the final leg of the $3.8 billion crude line under North Dakota’s Lake Oahe, North Dakota Senator John Hoeven said in an e-mailed statement Tuesday, citing a conversation he had with Speer.

Labor nominee Puzder’s confirmation hearing delayed a fourth time

Amid mounting opposition from Democrats and labor groups, the confirmation hearing for labor secretary nominee and fast-food chief executive Andrew Puzder has been delayed a fourth time. A new hearing date will not be set until the Senate receives key paperwork laying out Puzder’s financial disclosures and detailing his plan for avoiding future conflicts of interest, according to an aide for Sen. Lamar Alexander , the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

Impetuous Trump on Course to Make Volatility and Uncertainty Great Again

“Although uncertainty has been ignored by most market participants, the Trump ascendancy comes with a lot of unknowns. A nationalistic and protectionism-based pro-business policy aimed at accelerating the rate of domestic economic growth through less regulation, cash repatriation of overseas profits and lower statutory corporate tax rates also is associated with the likelihood of higher interest rates in a debt-heavy world and the rising possibility of trade and foreign policy wars.

Fired: Trump Dumps Top Lawyer Who Defied Immigration Order

President Donald Trump fired top federal government lawyer Sally Yates on Monday after she took the extraordinarily rare step of defying the White House and refused to defend new travel restrictions targeting seven Muslim-majority nations. It was another dramatic twist in the unusually raucous roll-out of Trump’s directive that put a 120-day hold on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria and a 90-day bar on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Trump Fires Acting Attorney General Sally Yates

President Donald Trump Monday fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who defied Trump by refusing to defend his immigration executive order. President Donald Trump on Monday night fired acting attorney general Sally Yates, who had hours before ordered the Justice Department not to enforce Trump’s executive order imposing bans on immigration from certain largely Muslim countries.

Top Justice Official Won’t Defend Trump Immigration Order

Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates said Monday that she wouldn’t allow the Justice Department to defend President Donald Trump’s order banning immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries, questioning its legality. The highly unusual declaration by Yates, an Obama administration holdover, was the latest twist in a controversy that has sparked protests at airports across the country and seen many congressional Republicans break from the White House.

Deutsche Bank Ends N.Y. Mirror-Trade Probe for $425 Million

Deutsche Bank AG has taken the first step to resolve allegations that it helped wealthy Russians launder billions of dollars, reaching a deal with New York’s Department of Financial Services that requires it to pay a $425 million penalty, the regulator said. The New York settlement, approved by the bank on Monday, resolves allegations that Deutsche Bank employees used a “mirror-trading scheme” to help wealthy Russians move $10 billion out of that country from 2011 through 2014.

Week ahead: FCC enters new era under Pai

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an open meeting on Tuesday, its first of the year and the first with Ajit Pai as its chairman. The commission will consider eliminating a regulation that requires commercial broadcasters to keep copies of letters and emails from the public on hand.

Vice President Pence promised to stop taxpayer-funded abortion…

Addressing the 44th annual March for Life on Friday, Vice President Mike Pence declared that it was a new day for anti-abortion activists in America. “This administration will work with Congress to end taxpayer funding for abortion and abortion providers, and we will devote those resources to health care services for women across America,” Pence told the crowd of thousands gathered on the National Mall.

What Is the Cassidy-Collins Obamacare Replacement Plan?

Repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was a cornerstone of Donald Trump’s campaign for president. Recently, Trump said he wanted to repeal and replace Obamacare simultaneously.In response, Sen. Bill Cassidy and Sen. Susan Collins announced a plan that returns power to the states by allowing them to choose among three options.

GOP Leaders Embrace Trump’s Border Wall But Split on Details

Republican leaders are finally climbing on board President Donald Trump’s plan for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border — and they say they’re ready to spend as much as $15 billion to build it. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both suggested Thursday that, after months of studiously ignoring the border wall proposal, they’re now ready to act on the wall as part of a spending request they expect from Trump that would help jump-start construction.

Broadband in New York to get funding boost

FCC will reverse course and direct $170 million to the Empire State after threatening to bid the money out elsewhere. Broadband in New York to get funding boost FCC will reverse course and direct $170 million to the Empire State after threatening to bid the money out elsewhere.