Senators want a briefing as Trump touts Iran ‘deal’
President Donald Trump used a press conference at the end of the G7 summit Wednesday in France to laud a war-ending pact with Iran, as senators back home criticized a lack of information about the deal and questioned his declaration the previous day that U.S. relations with Iran are “normalized.” The administration’s preliminary pact with […]
Rating changes: 11 House races move toward Democrats
ANALYSIS — Another month, and another batch of rating changes that benefit Democrats. But the House Republican majority is not lost yet, according to a district-by-district analysis of the House battleground. With less than five months to go, the fundamentals of midterm elections continue to favor Democrats. President Donald Trump’s job rating is underwater at […]
Senate committee approves public land reauthorization fund
Congress is hopeful that the popularity of U.S. national parks and other public lands can translate into bipartisan support for a deferred maintenance fund whose reauthorization expired last year. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday approved a bill to reauthorize a fund providing $1.9 billion annually over the next five fiscal years […]
Secret Service disbursements raise questions on ballroom funding
The White House budget office released $351.6 million to the Secret Service on Friday for “White House Security Measures,” amid mounting criticism that taxpayer dollars may be tapped to help pay for President Donald Trump’s planned East Wing ballroom. A database that tracks “apportionments” made by the Office of Management and Budget, which releases appropriated […]
Trump upends Senate path on surveillance authority
President Donald Trump on Wednesday complicated Senate Republican plans to quickly revive a key surveillance authority, delaying a scheduled confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton and pressing for the inclusion of a controversial voter ID measure. Trump, in an early morning social media post, said he was “cancelling” the hearing for Clayton to become Director of […]
Senate clashes over fate of ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
Senate Democrats sought to pass legislation to abolish the White House’s supposedly defunct “anti-weaponization” fund Tuesday, in a floor move blocked by Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., attempted to pass via unanimous consent the measure to stop the $1.8 billion fund from the Department of Justice and nullify the […]
Robert White wins Democratic primary for DC delegate
Robert White is poised to become the District of Columbia’s next nonvoting delegate to Congress, replacing retiring Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and bringing a fresh voice to the role for the first time in 36 years. A current at-large D.C. councilmember, White emerged as the victor in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the District, all but […]
Trump’s picks win Senate runoffs in Georgia and Alabama
A pair of Republicans endorsed by Donald Trump won their Senate primary runoffs Tuesday, but the president suffered a setback in a Republican gubernatorial contest for the second time this month. In Georgia, Rep. Mike Collins claimed the GOP Senate nomination, two days after picking up Trump’s support, while the president’s pick in neighboring Alabama, […]
‘Time’s a-ticking’ on highway bill, senators acknowledge
With just over three months left to act, two key senators say movement on reauthorizing the nation’s surface transportation programs remains slow in their chamber, where four committees still have to weigh in. In the House, a bill that was marked up last month by three committees still requires input from Ways and Means before […]
Housing deal in hand, revised bill cruising toward passage
Senate and House leaders agreed Tuesday to a final version of comprehensive housing legislation that they believe will pass the Senate this week and the House next week, landing on the president’s desk for his expected signature. The deal puts the chambers within reach of concluding almost a year of work on a major package […]