President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, for his address to a joint session of Congress. Kansans in Congress each found something in President Donald Trump’s first address to support Tuesday night on a hodgepodge of topics ranging from health care and taxes to veterans administration and trade.
Month: February 2017
Trump declares it’s ‘time to join forces’ to fix US problems
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis.
Text of U.S. President’s Trump’s speech to Congress
Tonight, as we mark the conclusion of our celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of our Nation’s path toward civil rights and the work that still remains. Recent threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms.
Trump sounds optimistic tone, hails ‘new chapter of American greatness’ in speech
Heralding a “new chapter of American greatness,” President Donald Trump stood before Congress for the first time Tuesday night and issued a broad call for overhauling the nation’s health care system , significantly boosting military spending and plunging $1 trillion into upgrading crumbling infrastructure. Trump’s address came at a pivotal moment for a new president elected on pledges to swiftly shake up Washington and follow through on the failed promises of career politicians.
Trump pushes state Medicaid flexibility
President Trump said state governors need flexibility on Medicaid to “make sure that no one is left out” of healthcare coverage. During an address Tuesday before a joint session of Congress, Trump pushed for giving states more power to craft Medicaid, a nod to Republican plans to move federal funding toward a block grant program or per capita caps.
Trump declares US ‘ready to lead’ even as he warns of engagements’ costs
President Donald Trump said in his first address to Congress that the US was “once again ready to lead” internationally amid concerns that his ‘America First’ policy and moves to curtail the State Department budget will do the opposite. “Our allies will find that America is once again ready to lead,” Trump said in an address that was largely dominated by domestic concerns.
Rosie O’Donnell protests Trump outside the White House
Rosie O’Donnell’s longtime feud with Donald Trump hit close to home for the President: The comedian and actress protested outside the White House ahead of Tuesday night’s Joint Address to Congress. “This is not Russia.
Ap Fact Check: Trump distorts an immigration report
President Donald Trump took undue credit Tuesday night for massive cost-savings in a fighter jet contract and gave a one-sided account of the costs and benefits to the economy from immigration – ignoring the upside. TRUMP: “According to the National Academy of Sciences, our current immigration system costs America’s taxpayers many billions of dollars a year.”
Media applaud Trump’s first joint session speech
Journalists applauded President Trump’s first joint session address on Tuesday, calling it presidential and predicting that it will be popular beyond his core base of supporters. “This will be, I think, a very well-received speech for Donald Trump ,” said liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow after the speech.
‘Fairness formula’ dead, but push for school aid changes isn’t
Gov. Chris Christie appears to have given up on his ‘fairness formula,’ though not the broader goal of revamping how New Jersey distributes school aid. Christie has called since last June to equalize per-pupil school aid across all districts, rather than give additional aid to districts with higher levels of poverty and homes where English isn’t the main language.
Trump throws down a huge challenge to the tea party
President Trump has thrown down a major challenge for the tea party and its congressional bloc, known as the Freedom Caucus. He is proposing to Congress a massive budget-busting plan that increases military spending by a whopping $54 billion, slashes domestic programs, and leaves Social Security and Medicare intact.
Trump touts raid that killed Navy SEAL as ‘success’
President Trump once again touted the success of a raid in Yemen last month that left a Navy SEAL dead and a government helicopter destroyed. “I just spoke to General Mattis, who reconfirmed that, and I quote, ‘Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemies,'” Trump said Tuesday night in a joint address to Congress.
Democratic response pitched to middle-class white voters who went for Trump
Former Gov. Steve Beshear, D-Ky., followed up President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress late Tuesday surrounded by white, presumably middle-class Americans in what may have been an appeal to a demographic the Democratic Party lost to Trump in the election. Beshear sat casually at a table inside a diner in Lexington, Ky., while he lectured Trump on how his actions as commander-in-chief have hurt the working class in his red state.
Reality Check Quick Takes: Did premiums rise 116% in Arizona?
President Donald Trump on Tuesday delivered a sweeping speech to Congress outlining his legislative priorities and vision for the country. He chose his words carefully and largely stuck to the script, avoiding the freewheeling style that has defined many of his public appearances and stump speeches.
Trumps highlights early actions, gives his vision for nation
In a wide-ranging speech covering his accomplishments since taking office, President Donald Trump delievered his his first address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, laying out the agenda for his presidency and, in broad terms, his vision for the country. He touted “billions” in new investments by American companies in the weeks since his inauguration, seeking to highlight the actions his administration has taken to keep his campaign promises.
Twitter mocks Democrat response
Twitter lit up late Tuesday night to mock former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who delivered a stilted response to President Trump’s speech from a coffeehouse. Beshear appeared to be picked to respond because he’s from a working-class state that Democrats are now desperately looking to win back.
Tennessee lawmakers respond to Trumpa s speech to Congress
The storms could produce damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes in the northwest area of the region in Tuesday and all across the mid-state on President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, as Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., listen. “An effective speech.
Watch: Wife of Navy SEAL Ryan Owens applauded for more than 2 minutes during Trump speech
In the most emotional moment during his speech to Congress on Tuesday, President Trump recognized the widow of Navy SEAL William “Ryan” Owens, provoking a standing ovation that lasted longer than two minutes. “Ryan’s legacy is etched into eternity,” Trump said as the chamber stood up and applauded Carryn Owens, whose husband was the first American combat death during the Trump administration.
Here are all 53 standing ovation lines from Trump’s speech to Congress
“Tonight, as we mark the conclusion of our celebration of Black History Month, we are reminded of our nation’s path toward civil rights and the work that still remains.” “Recent threats targeting Jewish community centers and vandalism of Jewish cemeteries, as well as last week’s shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms.”
Trump hits media just once in joint session address
Speaking Tuesday to both houses of Congress, Trump touched on the news media and his mostly negative view of it just once. “I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American Victims,” he said while discussing immigration policy.
Civil and Human Rights Coalition Denounces Justice Departments Backtracking on Texas Voter ID Law
Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Department of Justice announced on Monday that it was dropping the government’s claim that a Texas voter ID law under legal challenge is intentionally racially discriminatory: “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. When a concerned and active citizenry is unfairly denied the right to vote, it undermines our system of government.
The Latest: Five justices to attend speech
The Supreme Court says five justices are expected at President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress, but sometime Trump critic Ruth Bader Ginsburg won’t be among them. Ginsburg apologized in July for negative remarks she made about Trump to The Associated Press and other news organizations.
Here We Go Again: Politifact Rates Trump’s Obvious Truths About…
On Saturday, President Donald Trump tweeted that “The media has not reported that the National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion vs a $200 billion increase in Obama first mo.” Demonstrating that “fact checking” by the partisan press is a sick joke which has instead turned into a vehicle to make cheap political points, Politifact rated Trump’s utterly true statement “Mostly False.”
Jon Stewart ‘Hijacks’ CBS’s ‘Late Show,’ Rips Donald Trump
Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show on the Comedy Central cable television channel, returned to the TV spotlight by “hijacking” Monday night’s edition of The Late Show on CBS, which is hosted by Stewart protege Stephen Colbert. While he spent most of the segment claiming Donald Trump uses the phrase “Believe me” when the Republican president is lying, Stewart also reminded everyone of his own hatred for the CNN, then turned his fire on the media.
Obamacare plans’ drug spending rose faster than other plans in 2016: Express Scripts
Spending on prescription drugs for health plans created under the Affordable Care Act increased last year at a rate more than three times that of other commercial plans and most government-run plans managed by Express Scripts Holding Co. Express Scripts, the largest manager of prescription drug plans for U.S. employers, on Tuesday said year-over-year spending per person for individual insurance plans sold on the Obamacare exchanges where it manages the pharmacy benefit rose 14 percent in 2016, driven by higher drug prices and utilization.
Chicago cardinal takes stand on immigration enforcement
The Roman Catholic archdiocese in Chicago told its schools this week not to let federal immigration agents into their buildings without a warrant, in step with guidance given to hundreds of Chicago public schools last week in response to President Donald Trump’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Marking what may be the first such guidance issued by a Roman Catholic church leader, Cardinal Blase Cupich sent the directive in a letter Monday to principals of more than 200 schools and other officials in the nation’s third largest archdiocese.
Judge Steven Haddock appointed to state Court of the Judiciary
Morgan County Circuit Court Judge Steven Haddock has been appointed to the Alabama Court of the Judiciary, which has the power to remove, suspend or censure other state judges. The court hears evidence filed by the Judicial Inquiry Commission charging state judges with violating judicial ethics, misconduct, dereliction of duty, or with a physical or mental inability to perform duties.
Trump speech guests chosen to help highlight priorities
President Donald Trump is following the playbook for speeches to Congress and packing his guest box with individuals whose personal stories the administration hopes will put a face on the proposals he planned to highlight in Tuesday night’s address, namely illegal immigration. The lives of three of the eight people the White House invited to join first lady Melania Trump in a guest box high above the House floor for Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress were affected when loved ones’ crossed paths with people who were living in the U.S. illegally.
Diplomats told Ottawa trade deal was dead, ministers insisted otherwise: docs
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland take part in a meeting at the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. In the days following Donald Trump’s surprise victory, Canadian diplomats in Washington repeatedly warned Ottawa that the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership was dead ??? even as federal ministers insisted it might survive.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA – In the days following Donald Trump’s surprise victory, Canadian diplomats in Washington repeatedly warned Ottawa that the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership was dead – even as federal ministers insisted it might survive.
Administration Source: Trump Envisions Bill Allowing Many Immigrants to Stay in US
President Donald Trump wants to pass an immigration reform bill that could grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants living in the US, a senior administration official said Tuesday. The President is eager to pass a compromise immigration bill in his first term that would stop short of granting a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, but would allow undocumented immigrants who aren’t serious or violent criminals to live, work and pay taxes in the US without fear of deportation, the senior official told reporters Tuesday at the White House.
Protesters force Rubio out of his Tampa office
The owner of an office building in Tampa, Fla., is evicting Republican Sen. Marco Rubio this Friday as a result of continued protests outside the facility. Jude Williams, president of America’s Capital Partners, which owns the nine-story Bridgeport Center at 5201 Kennedy Boulevard, said it contacted Rubio’s office on Feb. 1 to say it would not renew its month-to-month lease due to the demonstrators’ disruptiveness.
California water bills are starting to trickle out on Capitol Hill
The lead author in the House of Representatives of a big and controversial California water bill that passed last year is back for more. With a Republican in the White House and the GOP controlling Congress, Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., said Tuesday that he was hoping to build on last year’s legislation that was loved by farmers and loathed by environmentalists.
Sessions to ‘pull back’ on suing police over civil rights
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Tuesday his Justice Department will “pull back” on suing police departments over civil rights violations. “We need, so far as we can, to help police departments get better, not diminish their effectiveness.
Obamas’ book deal bidding war hits $60M
The bidding war over a book deal with Barack and Michelle Obama has skyrocketed to more than $60 million – more than any presidential memoir in history. Penguin Random House has so far made the highest bid for global rights to the deal in which the former president and first lady are writing separate books but selling them together, the Financial Times reported Tuesday .
Trump orders review of Obama rule protecting small streams
President Trump signed an executive order mandating the review of a rule aimed at protecting small streams and wetlands from development and pollution. Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that the rule is one of the “worst examples of federal regulation” and that “it has truly run amok.”
Mount Paran alumni Colton Cannon is a baseball standout at Coast Guard Academy
Colton Cannon is one of the many alumni that Mount Paran Christian is proud to call one of its community.
Democrats don’t learn from history
Last Saturday, the Democratic National Committee’s 447 members gathered in Atlanta to elect a new national chairman from a field of seven candidates. Tom Perez, secretary of labor under President Obama, also has ties to the Clinton organization and had the backing of such political luminaries as Joe Biden and Eric Holder.
Harvard president explicitly criticizes Trump: ‘This administration seems unpredictable in many ways’
Harvard President Drew Faust explicitly criticized President Donald Trump in a media roundtable at Bloomberg News on Tuesday, The Harvard Crimson reported. “This administration seems unpredictable in many ways,” Faust told journalists, according to The Crimson.
Obama Memoir Bidding Hits $60 Million
Bidding for books by former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama has topped $60 million, according to a report in the Financial Times . The figure is for one memoir from each, written separately.
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The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation is working on a case of a 40-year-old Lincoln County man who died in the town of Corning Monday evening. Official information is very scarce in the case, but there are strong suggestions that deadly force was used by a law enforcement officer at the scene, which is in the far southwestern area of the county on Highway FF near the Marathon County line.