Category: US Senate

PENCE: ‘The Obamacare nightmare is about to end!’

Vice President Mike Pence delivered a strong endorsement Saturday morning of the GOP’s replacement bill for the Affordable Care Act, which was introduced earlier in the week by House Republican leadership and supported by President Donald Trump. Pence, who spoke to constitutents in Kentucky, highlighted some of the pitfalls of Obamacare, including rising premiums and a lack of carrier options.

Congress looks to overturn Obama internet privacy rules

PanARMENIAN.Net – Republicans in the U.S. Congress are moving to repeal regulations adopted by the Obama administration in October that would have subjected internet service providers to stricter scrutiny than websites to protect customers’ private data , Reuters reports. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona introduced a resolution on Tuesday, March 7 backed by 34 other senators to undo the regulations under a provision that allows Congress to repeal recently approved federal regulations.

Congress May Overturn Obama-Era Rules on Internet Privacy

Republicans in the U.S. Congress are moving to repeal regulations adopted by the Obama administration in October that would have subjected internet service providers to stricter scrutiny than websites to protect customers' Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona introduced a resolution on Tuesday backed by 34 other senators to undo the regulations under a provision that allows Congress to repeal recently approved federal regulations. Representative Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who chairs a House panel on telecommunications, introduced a companion measure on Wednesday.

6 changes the FCC has made in just six weeks

Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2mI3xq2 One of the FCC’s moves under the new administration was the removal from the agenda an order that would require pay-TV providers make free apps so subscribers could watch programming without a set-top box. In just six weeks under the Trump administration, the Federal Communications Commission has quickly made its mark on issues such as Net neutrality and online privacy.

Senate Dems grill FCC chairman

Democrats grilled the new Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday, at his first hearing before Congress since taking over the agency. In his first month on the job, Chairman Ajit Pai has quickly begun rolling back a number of Obama-era initiatives and regulations, and faced tough questions from Dems at the Senate Commerce Committee hearing.

Trump SEC Pick Made Millions Representing Banks and Hedge Funds

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission has earned $7.62 million since 2015 representing some of Wall Street’s biggest firms, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management, according to a federal disclosure form. Jay Clayton, the Sullivan & Cromwell partner tapped by Trump, outlined his clients — and his potential conflicts — in a filing to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics that he signed in January.

Senators push FCC to keep its net neutrality rules

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission should reverse course and keep the net neutrality rules it passed just two years ago, several Democratic senators said Wednesday. The FCC has not yet moved to repeal the regulations prohibiting broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing web traffic, but the agency’s new chairman, Republican Ajit Pai, has called the rules a “mistake.”

Congress Takes Sledgehammer to Broadband Privacy Rules Through Congressional Review Act

Today Senator Jeff Flake introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to repeal the broadband privacy rules enacted by the Federal Communications Commission last October. The rules protect consumer privacy by requiring ISPs to seek affirmative consent before using or disclosing their customers’ sensitive information, including web browsing and app usage history, for marketing purposes.

WikiLeaks Says It Has CIA Spy Tools as McCain Cites Dangers

The Central Intelligence Agency’s hackers have developed tools letting them break into devices to monitor conversations and messages, according to documents released by WikiLeaks that — if true — could expose U.S. operations in countries from North Korea to Iran. “If they can hack into the CIA they can hack into anyone,” Republican Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said of WikiLeaks.

Conservative Republicans just ripped into the GOP’s…

Republican members of Congress held a press conference on Tuesday to denounce their party leadership’s American Health Care Act and said they would introduce their own Obamacare-repeal plan on Wednesday. Members of the House Freedom Caucus and Republican senators suggested the proposed legislation did not go far enough in repealing all the taxes and entitlements in the Affordable Care Act.

House, Senate Conservative Republicans Plan Own Obamacare Repeal Bill

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., criticizes the House Republican healthcare reform plan as “Obamacare light” during a television interview on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. ( Conservative Republicans in Congress said on Tuesday they oppose aspects of the Republican leadership’s healthcare bill and they plan to introduce their own legislation on Wednesday to repeal Obamacare.

Marathon’s $89,000 Drug May Exploit Patients, U.S. Senators Say

Marathon Pharmaceuticals LLC is facing added criticism over the $89,000 price tag on its drug for a rare muscle disorder as a group of eight U.S. lawmakers said they’re concerned that it “exploits” patients. In a March 3 letter to Marathon Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Aronin, seven Democratic U.S. senators and one independent demanded information on the closely held drugmaker’s pricing practices and product development costs for Emflaza, used to treat lethal Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Pai to Lay Out Plans for FCC on Wednesday

Ajit Pai, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, promised to return the U.S. to ‘the light-touch approach’ of regulating broadband. New Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai will get a chance to clue in lawmakers about his plans for net neutrality, wrapping up the broadcast spectrum auction and rewriting media ownership rules when he and fellow FCC members appear before panels on both sides of Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 8. Both the Senate Commerce Committee as well as the communications subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold oversight hearings examining the FCC’s operations Wednesday.

Fmr. Federal Prosecutor Robert Ray: Trump Russia Probe Does Not Need Special Counsel

Former federal prosecutor Robert Ray said Sunday there is no need for special counsel to look into possible ties between the 2016 Trump presidential campaign and Russian officials. Ray, in an exclusive interview with Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures,” weighed in on the continuing debate, days after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from investigations into the matter over two conversations he had with a Russian diplomat during the campaign, when Sessions was an Alabama senator.

FCC grants waiver allowing JCCs to receive caller information

The Federal Communications Commission has granted Jewish Community Centers throughout the country a temporary waiver allowing them to receive caller information, in response to the recent series of bomb threats on the Jewish institutions. The waiver, approved on Friday, comes days after 29 JCCs and Jewish schools across the country received called-in bomb threats, the fifth such incident in less than two months.

JCCs Win Special Permission To Identify Callers Amid Wave Of Threats

The Federal Communications Commission has granted Jewish Community Centers throughout the country a temporary waiver allowing them to receive caller information, in response to the recent series of bomb threats on the Jewish institutions. The waiver, approved on Friday, comes days after 29 JCCs and Jewish schools across the country received called-in bomb threats, the fifth such incident in less than two months.

Under threat, JCCs given special okay to track caller information

US Jewish leaders meet with the FBI director James Comey to discuss the ongoing investigation of bomb threats to JCC on March 3, 2017. The Federal Communications Commission has granted Jewish Community Centers throughout the country a temporary waiver allowing them to receive caller information, in response to the recent series of bomb threats on the Jewish institutions.

JCC waiver will help track bomb threats

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced Friday that the Federal Communications Commission will grant a temporary emergency waiver to all Jewish Community Centers that have been targeted during the recent wave of bomb threats. Schumer said the emergency waiver will help authorities track down and identify the people making those threatening calls that frighten communities and waste resources of local law enforcement.

The Latest: Reporter says bomb threat suspect harassed him

The Latest on an arrest in connection with threats made to Jewish institutions nationwide and the Anti-Defamation League’s headquarters in New York : A former journalist from St. Louis accused of making threats to at least eight Jewish community centers had been accused of bizarre behavior before. Juan Thompson is facing a federal charge of cyberstalking an ex-girlfriend.

Jewish Centers get FCC help in tracking bomba

Jewish Centers get FCC help in tracking bomb threats Jewish Community Centers are getting a federal waiver to help them identify perpetrators behind a wave of bomb threats. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2lnCTD4 People evacuated because of a bomb threat return to the David Posnack Jewish Community Center and David Posnack Jewish Day School, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Davie, Fla.

Feds will let JCCs obtain blocked numbers after bomb threats 0:0

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department K-9 officers search the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada after an employee received a suspicious phone call on Feb. 27. The Federal Communications Commission will offer temporary emergency waivers to Jewish Community Centers so they can obtain numbers for blocked callers in the wake of numerous bombs threats against the institutions nationwide, The Post has learned. “It’s a nationwide preemptive waiver for all JCCs and their carriers which lets them and law enforcement agencies get numbers even when the caller tries to block his or her number – no application necessary,” a US official said.

FCC approves waivers to track Jewish center threats

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is granting an emergency temporary waiver to Jewish community centers and telecommunications carriers that serve them to help track down callers who have made threats, the agency said on Friday. Jewish community centers and schools in at least 13 U.S. states have reported receiving bomb threats this year, stoking fears of a resurgence of anti-Semitism.

JCCs can now trace threatening calls after bomb scares

After more than 30 Jewish Community Centers around the country received call-in bomb threats this week, the Federal Communications Commission on Friday granted Sen. Charles Schumer’s request that Jewish organizations that feel targeted be allowed to trace threatening calls. The Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center on Manor Road in Sea View was one of 31 around the country that received a threatening phone call Monday.

Trump: Investigate Sen. Schumer Over Photo With Putin

President Trump is responding to calls for an investigation into his Attorney General over concerns that he is too close to Russia. President Trump tweeted that an immediate investigation should be launched into Sen. Chuck Schumer’s ties with Russia due to a photo featuring Schumer and Vladmir Putin.

Top Bush ethics lawyer: Russia could have blackmail on…

President George W. Bush’s top ethics lawyer told Business Insider on Thursday that while it was “debatable” whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions perjured himself during his Senate confirmation hearing, he must resign. Richard Painter, a professor at the University of Minnesota Law School who was the chief White House ethics lawyer from 2005 to 2007, added the latest Russia-related White House firestorm could leave Sessions open to the risk of “blackmailing.”

Pelosi Calls on Sessions to Quit After Post Discloses Russia Contacts

U.S. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign on Wednesday after the Washington Post reported he failed to disclose two meetings he had with Russia’s ambassador before Donald Trump was inaugurated as president. Citing Justice Department officials, the Post said Sessions spoke twice last year with Russia’s ambassador while he was still a U.S. senator.

Us FCC stays data security regulations for broadband providers

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has halted new rules that would require high-speed internet providers to take ‘reasonable’ steps to protect customer data. In a 2-1 vote that went along party lines, the FCC voted Wednesday to stay temporarily one part of privacy rules passed in October that would give consumers the right to decide how their data is used and shared by broadband providers.

FCC puts data security protections on hold – CNET

As expected the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday voted 2-1 along party lines to stop a new data security rule from taking effect. It was part of a bigger set of privacy regulation, approved by the FCC in October , that’s supposed to protect consumers’ sensitive personal information online.

Chuck Schumer Seeks FCC Waiver To Unscramble, Trace Origin Of Bomb Threats To Jewish Centers

After a disturbing rash of anti-Semitic acts, which includes Jewish cemeteries being vandalized and bomb threats called in to Jewish community centers, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Federal Communications Commission for a waiver that would allow authorities to unscramble anonymous phone numbers that are being used to call in threats. Schumer’s letter specifically referred to a series of bomb threats that were made on Feb. 27 to 11 JCCs, several of them in or near New York.

Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross confirmed as Trumpa s secretary of commerce

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., takes his seat at a hearing of Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee on January, 18, 2017 in Washington, DC. Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., a former banker and investor who earned billions during decades buying and selling industries and who Trump has touted to lead his trade negotiations, was confirmed as Secretary of Commerce on Monday night in a 72 to 27 vote in the Senate.

Father of Navy SEAL killed in Yemen raid to Trump…

The father of William “Ryan” Owens, the Navy SEAL Team 6 member who was the first US combat death during US President Donald Trump’s presidency in January, urged the Trump administration to not “hide behind my son’s death” and provide answers. In an interview with the Miami Herald , Bill Owens, also a Navy veteran, called for an investigation into the raid that left his son, an eight-year-old girl, and as many as 29 civilians dead.