Category: US House of Representatives

Trump assures CIA of support

President Donald Trump visits the CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., where he told members of the intelligence community, “I am so behind you.” President Donald Trump visited the CIA’s headquarters in northern Virginia on Saturday afternoon, his first full day in office, making a gesture of goodwill after he criticized the intelligence community in the run-up to his inauguration.

Repeal of Obamacare without a replacement would increase US debt

Here is the problem Republicans face with their opposition to the 2010 health-care law signed by President Barack Obama: Getting rid of it without approving a substitute would increase the federal debt, provide wealthy people with a tax cut and cause as many as 20 million Americans to lose their health care. Although Vice President Mike Pence told CNN last week that “step one is to repeal the taxes and the mandates” in the law known as Obamacare and “at the same time pass a replacement bill,” neither he nor congressional Republicans have provided specifics of a plan.

Dennis Hastert seeks repayment of $1.7 million from sex abuse accuser

Imprisoned former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has asked a judge not only to reject a sexual abuse victim’s breach-of-contract lawsuit, but to make the man repay $1.7 million in secret hush-money payments. In response to the lawsuit and in his counterclaim, made public Thursday and signed by Hastert, he denied the oral pact is akin to a valid and enforceable contract and, if so, it would be the plaintiff who breached it when he broke his silence and spoke to federal authorities.

Trump Visits CIA, Bristles Over Inauguration Crowd Count

On his first full day in office, President Donald Trump on Saturday berated the media over its coverage of his inauguration, and turned a bridge-building first visit to CIA headquarters into an airing of grievances about “dishonest” journalists. But it was Trump who spread inaccuracies about the size of the crowds at his swearing in.

Thousands of demonstrators protest Trump in Atlanta

Thousands of protesters gathered Saturday in Atlanta, joining their voices with others nationwide to tell the nation’s new president they oppose much of what he says he plans to do. As they began their march across town, U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta told the crowd, “don’t let anybody, anybody turn you around.

Obama CIA director slams Trump’s ‘self-aggrandizement’

Former CIA Director John Brennan criticized President Trump ‘s decision Saturday to address agency officials while standing in front of a wall memorializing fallen agents, arguing Trump “should be ashamed of himself” for choosing that location for a speech that included jokes about the media and about agents’ support for his campaign. “Former CIA Director Brennan is deeply saddened and angered at Donald Trump ‘s despicable display of self-aggrandizement in front of CIA’s Memorial Wall of Agency heroes,” the former Obama official said in a statement circulated to reporters.

Tom Cotton defends Trump’s CIA speech

Sen. Tom Cotton on Saturday defended President Trump against criticism that the campaign-style speech he delivered at CIA headquarters was inappropriate. The Arkansas Republican, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, dismissed critics who questioned whether the CIA, and an audience of agency professionals, was a proper setting for Trump to boast about his campaign victory, crowd sizes and the sales of magazines with his image on the cover, are missing the bond the president has developed with national security professionals.

Trump praises the CIA, bristles over inaugural crowd counts

President Donald Trump moved to repair his tumultuous relationship with America’s spy agencies on his first full day in office, but his bridge-building visit to CIA headquarters Saturday quickly morphed into a platform for the new commander in chief to complain about media coverage of his inauguration, misstating the size of his crowd. Standing in front of a memorial for fallen CIA agents, Trump assured intelligence officials, “I am so behind you.”

Trump praises CIA, bristles over crowd counts

On his first full day in office President Donald Trump on Saturday berated the media over its coverage of his inauguration, and turned a bridge-building first visit to CIA headquarters into an airing of grievances about “dishonest” journalists. But it was Trump who spread inaccuracies about the size of the crowds at his swearing in.

Indiana residents hope Pence keeps their interests in mind

When Fort Wayne needed expensive airport improvements, its mayor contacted an influential Indiana native – then-Vice President Dan Quayle – to help secure federal funding. Now that former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is the new vice president, residents are hopeful his home state could again reap some benefits.

President Trump’s ACA executive order appears to target Obamacare mandate

President Trump’s sweeping order against Obamacare late Friday appears to give the new administration enough leeway to target the most unpopular aspect of his predecessor’s law – a mandate requiring Americans to get covered or pay a fine, policy analysts said. The executive order, issued hours after Mr. Trump was sworn into office, also sets the stage for selling insurance across state lines and eyes “greater flexibility to states” in implementing health programs, which are key tenets for Republicans looking to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act alongside Mr. Trump.

A Huckabee lands West Wing job

President Donald Trump has tapped an Arkansan to work at the White House, hiring Sarah Huckabee Sanders as a key spokesman. The daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will serve as deputy assistant to the president and principal deputy press secretary.

Hastert wants accuser to repay $1.7M

Imprisoned former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has asked a Kendall County, Ill., judge to not only reject a sexual-abuse victim’s breach-of-contract lawsuit but also make the man pay back $1.7 million in secret hush-money payments. In response to the lawsuit and in his counterclaim, made public Thursday and signed by Hastert, he denied that the oral pact is akin to a valid and enforceable contract and, if so, it would be the plaintiff who breached it when he broke his silence and spoke to federal authorities.

Trump’s Pledge of Quick Action Stymied by Cabinet-in-Waiting

U.S. President Donald Trump formally signs his cabinet nominations into law during the 58th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20. President Donald Trump vowed to bring swift change to Washington in a fiery inaugural address, yet that promise is colliding with the reality that only two members of his Cabinet cleared the Senate by the end of his first day in office.  Unlike his successors Barack Obama and George W. Bush — who each had seven of their cabinet members confirmed on Inauguration Day — Trump saw votes only for Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.

Senate confirms Trump’s picks for defense, homeland security

The Republican-led Senate, taking little time to fill two critical national security posts, overwhelmingly confirmed a pair of retired Marine generals tapped by President Donald Trump to run the Pentagon and secure America’s borders. A little more than an hour later, Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office to James Mattis to be defense secretary and John Kelly to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump begins to set up his administration

President Donald Trump quickly assumed the mantle of the White House and began setting up his new administration on Friday, signing a bill that allows retired Gen. James Mattis to serve as his defense secretary, as well as the nomination papers for his other Cabinet choices.

Our Opinion: Different paths to poor choices

Federal cabinet positions are really no place for amateurs and/or those whose special interests may be counter to the best interests of the country at large. The Donald Trump cabinet contains examples of both, and the effort of friendly Republican congressmen to hasten them through hearings last week couldn’t disguise this.

Trump signs executive order to ease ‘burden’ of Obamacare

President Donald Trump is joined by the Congressional leadership and his family as he formally signs his cabinet nominations into law, in the President’s Room of the Senate, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. From left behind Trump are, Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, their son Barron Trump, Eric Trump, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, , Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, , and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, .

St. Lawrence Society celebrates Trump’s inauguration

Anthony DeVita, left, pats a President Donald Trump cut-out figure on the shoulder as Mark Longo holds it up during the President Trump Inauguration party at the St. Lawrence Club in the Cos Cob section of Greenwich, Conn., Friday night, Jan. 20, 2017. Both men are Greenwich residents and Longo is a vice president at the club.

Trump signs first bill and actions as president

Toby Keith performs at a pre-Inaugural “Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Toby Keith performs at a pre-Inaugural “Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017.

In opening act, Trump’s light side on display with lawmakers

Seated at a desk in an ornate room steps from the Senate floor, Trump the showman emerged, giving running commentary as he went. He joshed about his proposed repeal of President Barack Obama’s health care law as he signed legislation granting a special waiver so James Mattis can become Pentagon chief despite having recently served as a general in the Marines.

Pence promises ‘Hoosier common sense,’ thanks supporters

Incoming Vice President Mike Pence has thanked his Indiana supporters at the state’s inaugural ball, promising he will “bring Indiana’s example and Hoosier common sense” to Washington. The former Indiana governor addressed his home state’s inaugural ball on the eve of his swearing-in Friday as vice president.

Republican Governors Worried About Obamacare Repeal

On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, nearly a dozen Republican state executives traveled to Capitol Hill to share with GOP senators their concerns about the impact repealing the health care law would have on the poorest beneficiaries in their states. More than a dozen Republican governors accepted, to varying degrees, federal funds offered under the Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid coverage in their states.

Intern-al politics for Somerset woman

From September through the middle of December, Alexandria Murphy worked in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen four days a week and then on Fridays went to seminars with guest speakers about topics, such as running for office, ethics and networking.  Those activities were part of a fellowship that Murphy was chosen for by Running Start, a non-profit and non-partisan organization that offers multiple programs for young women in politics. Murphy was chosen for the Star Fellow program which chooses seven college-aged women from around the country each semester to intern for a female member of Congress.

President of Greenwich Reform Synagogue Marc Abrams to Continue On…

The United Jewish Appeal Greenwich, a local chapter of the world’s largest local philanthropy organization, tasked with fulfilling a mission to care for people in need, inspire a passion for Jewish life and learning, and strengthen Jewish communities in New York, in Israel, and around the world has appointed the current President of the Greenwich Reform Synagogue Marc Abrams to its 2017 Board of Directors. I am honored to serve as a representative of my Synagogue to the UJA Greenwich Board and look forward to continuing to assist the organization in its incredibly important work both locally and around the globe.

Company that HHS pick invested in faced criminal penalty

A medical device company in which Rep. Tom Price purchased stock last year has faced years of legal problems and agreed this month to a $17 million Justice Department criminal penalty in a foreign bribery case. Democrats this week challenged the Georgia Republican, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for health secretary, on his investments and potential conflict of interest.

La. supporters pour in for inauguration

La. supporters pour in for inauguration Many visitors from Louisiana said they traveled to Washington to witness history. Check out this story on dailyworld.com: Military personnel walk along the National Mall in Washington, Wednesday alongside vendors selling President-elect Donald Trump merchandise ahead of Friday’s presidential inauguration.

Dennis Hastert

A 47-year-old man has been killed by crocodile while trying to cross a flooded river in northern Australian wildern FILE – In this Oct. 28, 2015 file photo, former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert leaves the federal courthouse in Chicago. The 73-year-old Hastert pleaded guilty Oct. 28 to a felony count of evading bank reporting laws in a hush-money scheme.

Nason, former Treasury official, being vetted for Fed role -sources

David Nason, a General Electric executive and former Treasury Department official, is the front runner to become the Federal Reserve’s top Wall Street regulator under President-elect Donald Trump, sources familiar with the screening said on Thursday. In 2008, Nason was a deputy to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson as U.S. regulators tried to stabilize Wall Street and prevent an economic meltdown after the housing market collapsed.