Category: US House of Representatives

FCC defends not fighting legal challenge to prison call rates

The Federal Communications Commission is defending its decision not to fight a legal challenge to its rate cap on prison phone calls that it passed under the Obama administration. Brendan Carr, the commission’s acting general counsel, wrote in a letter to Rep. Bobby Rush that the FCC’s stance has changed now that the group is chaired by Republican Ajit Pai, who criticized the original rule when it first passed.

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.

Marathon CEO Placed Steep Price Hikes on Drugs Before Emflaza

The CEO of the latest drugmaker to face criticism over a product’s high price has a history of steep hikes on other drugs and at past companies. Marathon Pharmaceuticals LLC Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Aronin, under fire for setting an $89,000 price on the company’s drug for a rare, deadly muscle disease, was questioned in a letter more than two years ago by Washington lawmakers about mark-ups on two heart drugs.

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.

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.

Lobbying world

Capitol Counsel hired Stacie Aman as a principal within its healthcare team. Aman comes from Golden Living, a provider of home health, hospice, rehabilitative therapy and assisted-living care services, where she served as the company’s top lobbyist and public affairs strategist.

Democratic senators push to save net neutrality rules under Trump

Democratic senators have promised to fight any move by President Donald Trump’s administration to gut the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules. Any moves by Trump or the Republican-controlled FCC to roll back the 2015 regulations will meet stiff resistance from Democratic lawmakers and digital rights groups, the five senators said during a press conference Tuesday.

Coty Says It Will Add First Woman Board Member by July

Fragrance and cosmetics company Coty will soon be adding a woman to its board of directors, reducing the number of S&P 500 companies without women in the boardroom to four. Fragrance and cosmetics company Coty said it will add a woman to its board of directors by July, reducing the number of S&P 500 companies without women in the boardroom to four.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Trump compares Chicago violence to Afghanistan

President Donald Trump repeated a threat that he would “send in the feds” if law-enforcement officials in the nation’s third-largest city fail to reduce the crime rate. During an interview with ABC News’ David Muir on Wednesday night, Trump asserted that “carnage” in Chicago is getting out of hand.

Budget nominee Mulvaney to face questions about Trumpa s plan for tax cuts and spending

Republican Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina is slated to testify on Capitol Hill on Tuesday in his confirmation hearing to become the nation’s budget director, likely facing questions about how President Trump’s promise of big tax cuts and public works projects fits with his own hand-line stance on government spending. Mulvaney, who will appear before the Senate budget committee, would bring a stridently hawkish voice to the Office of Management and Budget in an administration that is disproportionately made up of business executives with little to no experience in government.

Donald Trump names Republican Ajit Pai to head FCC

President Trump is naming Republican Ajit Pai, a foe of the Obama administration’s “net neutrality” rules, to become chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. “I am deeply grateful to the president of the United States for designating me the 34th Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission,” Mr. Pai said.

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President Donald Trump promoted and appointed Republican member of the Federal Communications Commission Ajit Pai to chairman of the government agency Monday. Pai, a lawyer, is a staunch opponent to net neutrality – a concept the Obama administration pushed throughout its tenure.

Trump picks PIO to head communications body

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has picked Ajit Vardaraj Pai, an outspoken opponent of new net neutrality, to head the crucial Federal Communications Commission , making him the fourth Indian-American in the administration at the senior level. “I am deeply grateful to the President of the United States for designating me the 34th cairman of the Federal Communications Commission,” Pai said in a statement.

Democrats say Trump’s Washington hotel lost money pre-election, push for GSA action

Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants answers from the General Services Administration about possible violations of Trump’s Washington hotel lease. Leading Democrats on Capitol Hill say President Trump’s Washington hotel lost more than $1.1 million in the first two months of operations and renewed their assertions Monday that the project has violated its lease with the federal government and raised untenable conflicts of interest.

Republican Ajit Pai named new FCC chairman

“I am deeply grateful to the President of the United States for designating me the 34th Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission,” Pai’s statement read. “I look forward to working with the new Administration, my colleagues at the Commission, members of Congress, and the American public to bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans.”