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☆ FTC sues drug middlemen for allegedly inflating insulin prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Federal Trade Commission on Friday sued three large U.S. health companies that negotiate insulin prices, arguing the drug middlemen use practices that boost their profits while "artificially" inflating costs for patients. It comes three days after Express Scripts sued the FTC, demanding that the agency retract its allegedly "defamatory" July report that claimed that the PBM industry is hiking drug prices. It also alleges that PBMs favor those high-list-price insulins even when more affordable insulins with lower list prices become available. President Joe Biden's signature Inflation Reduction Act has capped insulin prices for Medicare beneficiaries at $35 per month. The FTC said it remains "deeply troubled" by the role insulin manufacturers play in higher list prices, arguing that they inflate prices in response to PBMs' demands for higher rebates.

Persons: Lina Khan, UnitedHealth, drugmakers Eli Lilly, Caremark, PBMs, Rahul Rao, Rao, Joe Biden's, Biden, Eli Lilly, Eli Lilly's Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, CVS, Cigna's, FTC, Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, Express, Competition Locations: Rayburn, Washington ,, U.S, drugmakers, FTC's

WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Wednesday are expected to derail their own plan to avert a government shutdown at the end of the month, with the party divided over the length of a short-term funding bill and what, if anything, should be attached to it. Democrats, who want a “clean” three-month funding patch with nothing attached, and nearly all plan to vote no. But the overwhelming majority of rank-and-file Republicans back Johnson’s move, saying holding the vote will put lawmakers on record. Everyone.”Davidson, who was ousted in July from the far-right House Freedom Caucus, lamented that Republicans have failed to unify behind a plan weeks before the election. That would buy time for bipartisan negotiators to strike a longer-term funding deal during the lame-duck session for fiscal year 2025 — if a short-term bill can pass the House.

Persons: Mike Johnson’s, Donald Trump, ’, —, noncitizens, Johnson, he’s, Mike Rogers, Warren Davidson, ” Davidson, “, ”, Trump, ” Johnson, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, John Duarte, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Tom Cole, Schumer, Cole, he's Organizations: WASHINGTON —, Republicans, Wednesday, SAVE, CRs, Armed, ”, Caucus, CNBC, Democrats, Democratic, GOP Locations: Ohio, Ky

☆ Senior Republicans urge Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraine hitting targets deep inside Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A group of key House Republicans have written to President Joe Biden urging him to lift the restrictions on the use of US-provided long-range weapons systems and allow Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russia. The UK is also considering whether to allow Ukraine to strike deeper inside Russia with its own long-range system, the Storm Shadow. “No change to policy,” one senior administration official said, adding that there is currently no openness to lifting restrictions. Last month, senior Ukrainians presented US officials with targets they would like to strike in Russia during a visit to Washington. But the Ukrainians say there are weapons productions facilities that would be within reach of the ATACMS inside Russia that are worthy military targets, a source familiar with the Ukrainians position told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Antony Blinken’s, Biden, Blinken, David Lammy, Keir Starmer, “, Michael McCaul, Michael Turner, Mike Rogers, Ken Calvert, Thomas Kean, Richard Hudson, “ Biden, Harris, Donald Trump, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, ”, ” Blinken, “ It’s, Zelensky, ” John Kirby, It’s, CNN’s MJ Lee Organizations: CNN, Republicans, British, UK, House Foreign, House Intelligence, House Armed Services, House, Helsinki, Republican, Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Ukraine “, Ukraine, Russian, US National Security Council Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Washington, London, U.S, Germany, Russia’s Kursk, Iranian, Crimea

WASHINGTON — The hard-right Freedom Caucus is pushing House Republican leaders to condition government funding on passage of new proof-of-citizenship requirements to vote and create a new deadline that faces broad Senate opposition. If GOP leaders attached it to government funding, it would spark a standoff with Democrats and President Joe Biden that risks a government shutdown. House and Senate Democrats favor a late 2024 deadline. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the Freedom Caucus demands amount to “outrageous partisan pills” that are a “nonstarter,” calling for a bipartisan approach. “The House will continue its successful effort to responsibly fund the government for FY25 when it returns from its district work period.”

Persons: WASHINGTON, —, Mike Johnson, President Trump, ”, Harris, Joe Biden, Sen, Susan Collins, Patty Murray, Donald Trump, ” Murray, Bob Good, Johnson, Athina Lawson Organizations: Republican, Caucus, Biden, Trump, Democratic, GOP, Democrats, Committee, NBC, Freedom Caucus, NBC News Locations: U.S, Maine

☆ Treasury, IRS announce 'major milestone' of $1 billion in past-due taxes collected from millionaires
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 7, 2024. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS on Thursday announced what they called a "major milestone" of collecting more than $1 billion in tax debt from high-income individuals over the past year. "The IRS has collected $1 billion from millionaires and shown that it can successfully launch strategic new initiatives and achieve the greatest return on investment," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told reporters during a press call. The infusion of IRS funding, enacted via the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, still has its critics, however, particularly among congressional Republicans. "During the past decade, the IRS didn't have the resources or staffing to pursue high-income earners who our compliance team knew owed taxes," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said during the press call.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Janet Yellen, Biden Organizations: Revenue, Capitol, U.S . Department of, Treasury, IRS, Finance Locations: Washington

☆ Federal Trade Commission to sue drug middlemen over prices of medications including insulin, source says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino Mary Catherine Wellons | Annika Kim Constantino | Mary Catherine Wellons | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesAn Express Scripts spokesperson said the "prices of insulin and other medicines are set by their manufacturers, who have raised list prices repeatedly." They also create lists of medications — or formularies — that are covered by insurance and reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions. The investigation into insulin prices also examines drugmakers, but it is unclear whether they will be named in the upcoming lawsuits, Politico reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Eli Lilly , French drugmaker Sanofi and Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk control roughly 90% of the U.S. insulin market. Pharmacist Thomas Jensen looks over a prescription drug at the Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on May 9, 2019.

Persons: Lina Khan, Tom Williams, Joe Raedle, PBMs, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Thomas Jensen, George Frey Organizations: Trade, Financial Services, General Government, CQ, Inc, Getty, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, UnitedHealth, CVS, FTC, Politico, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy Locations: Miami, U.S, Danish, Provo , Utah

Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesAn Express Scripts spokesperson said "the prices of insulin and other medicines are set by their manufacturers, who have raised list prices repeatedly." The FTC's investigation into insulin prices also examines drugmakers, but it is unclear whether they will be named in the upcoming lawsuits, Politico reported, citing sources. Eli Lilly , French drugmaker Sanofi and Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk control roughly 90% of the U.S. insulin market. They also create lists of medications – or formularies – that are covered by insurance and reimburse pharmacies for prescriptions. Pharmacist Thomas Jensen looks over a prescription drug at the Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, on May 9, 2019.

Persons: Lina Khan, Tom Williams, Joe Raedle, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Thomas Jensen, George Frey Organizations: Trade, Financial Services, General Government, CQ, Inc, Getty, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, UnitedHealth, CVS, Politico, Novo Nordisk, Pharmacy Locations: Miami , Florida, Danish, U.S, Provo , Utah

☆ House G.O.P. Pushes Deep Cuts to Federal Law Enforcement
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

House Republicans on Wednesday advanced legislation that would slash funding for the Department of Justice and U.S. attorneys’ offices across the country, the latest attempt by the G.O.P. to punish federal law enforcement agencies that they claim have been weaponized against conservatives, especially former President Donald J. Trump. The spending bill, approved along party lines by a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, would cut funding for salaries and other expenses at the Justice Department by 20 percent, and for U.S. attorneys’ offices by 11 percent. It is also an early example of how House Republicans are again trying to inject the annual government spending bills with partisan policy mandates aimed at amplifying political grievances and culture war issues. A similar process played out last year, but the most conservative measures were ultimately jettisoned in bipartisan negotiations with Senate Democrats and the White House.

Persons: Donald J, Trump Organizations: Republicans, Wednesday, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Republican, Senate Democrats, White

☆ Virginia GOP primary between House caucus chair and Trump-backed challenger too early to call
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Arit John | Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Republican primary race between Virginia Rep. Bob Good, the House Freedom Caucus chair who angered allies of former President Donald Trump and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and state Sen. John McGuire was too early to call Tuesday night. The congressman from Virginia’s 5th Congressional District has faced a fierce effort to knock him out from a broad swath of the GOP in what became the most expensive House Republican primary of the cycle. Vindman’s role in Trump’s impeachment likely made a difference in his campaign. After spending most of his career in Illinois, Bondar moved to Texas in 2020, living outside Dallas – where he voted in this March’s Republican primary. State voting records show Bondar’s early in-person ballot in his primary race is the first time he has voted in Oklahoma.

Persons: Bob Good, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Sen, John McGuire, McCarthy, Good, Ron DeSantis, McGuire, we’re, ”, Trump’s, Eugene Vindman, Abigail Spanberger, Alexander Vindman, Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, –, National Security Council –, Vindman’s, Cole, Tom Cole, Paul Bondar, Bondar, impeaching Trump, “, ” Trump, Dallas –, Paul Bonder, Cheyenne Stanley, he’d Organizations: CNN, Republican, Virginia Rep, Congressional, GOP, Florida Gov, Democratic, Eugene, Virginia’s, Congressional District, Trump, Ukrainian, National Security Council, CIA, Oklahoma, Cole Americans, Security, PAC, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas, State, Longhorn Locations: Virginia’s, Oklahoma, Illinois, Texas, Dallas, Caddo

☆ Treasury, IRS unveil plan to close ‘major tax loophole’ used by large partnerships
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2024. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS on Monday unveiled a plan to "close a major tax loophole" used by large, complex partnerships, which could raise more than an estimated $50 billion in tax revenue over the next 10 years. "These tax shelters allow wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying what they owe," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters on a press call Friday. They also released a revenue ruling on related-party partnership transactions involving basis shifting without "economic substance" for the parties or "substantial business purpose." The plan builds on ongoing IRS efforts to increase audits on the wealthiest taxpayers, large corporations and complex partnerships.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Biden, Janet Yellen Organizations: Washington , D.C, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Finance, Taxpayers, Democrats, Wall, IRS Locations: Washington ,

☆ IRS free tax filing program to be available nationwide starting in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel testifies before the House Appropriations Committee on May 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. The IRS will expand Direct File, its free tax filing program, nationwide starting in 2025, the agency and the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Thursday. "The Treasury Department and IRS look forward to working with states to expand Direct File to Americans across the country." Direct File was available to limited taxpayers in 12 states during the 2024 filing season. More than 140,000 users successfully filed returns using Direct File and the pilot saved an estimated $5.6 million in tax preparation fees, the agencies announced in April.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Janet Yellen Organizations: IRS, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Treasury Department Locations: Washington ,

☆ Meet the leaders of the Trump era's new conservative economic populism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Eamon Javers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Drew Angerer | Getty ImagesThis reported column is Part Two of Eamon Javers' two-part series on the new, conservative economic populism gaining ground among Republicans close to former President Donald Trump. In Part One, Javers introduces readers to the new, conservative economic populism gaining ground among Republicans close to former President Donald Trump. Senator Republican Marco Rubio gives a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, February 25, 2022. Cass counts among his allies several well respected conservative economic thinkers. "It's economic policy that emerges not from good economics, but from politics and the culture war and what your base wants," he said.

Persons: Vance, Sen, Josh Hawley, Drew Angerer, Eamon Javers, Donald Trump, Javers, WASHINGTON —, Trump, Sohrab Ahmari, Ahmari, Donald Trump's, –, We've, Oren Cass, —, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Republican Marco Rubio, Octavio Jones, Cass, Robert Lighthizer, Lighthizer, James Pethokoukis, Pethokoukis, Joe Biden —, Biden, Kahn, Lina Kahn, Lina Khan, Tom Williams Organizations: Republican, U.S, Senate, GOP, Wall Street Journal, Security, African American, Trump coalition, National Labor Relations, American, Conservative Political, Reuters, CNBC, United States Trade, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Democratic, Big Tech, Biden's Federal Trade Commission, Financial Services, General Government, Federal Trade Commission, Cq, Inc, Getty Locations: Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls , Ohio, America, Washington, Ukraine, Vance ( Ohio, Fla, Mo, Washington . U.S, Orlando , Florida, Biden's, Rayburn

☆ Rep. Henry Cuellar's indictment has the GOP comparing him to George Santos. Here's what to know about the Texas Democrat's bribery scandal.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The growing scandal is drawing some comparisons on the right to George Santos. AdvertisementRep. Henry Cuellar is in the midst of a growing bribery scandal involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. Cuellar is the third sitting lawmaker to be indicted this Congress, following former Republican Rep. George Santos of New York and Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New York. AdvertisementThe George Santos comparisonIt's only been a few days, but so far, Democrats have largely held off on calling for Cuellar to resign. Former Rep. George Santos at the State of the Union in March.

Persons: Henry Cuellar, George Santos, —, Cuellar, Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Santos, Cuellar's, Jessica Cisneros, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Bernie Sanders, That's, Hakeem Jeffries, Matt McClain, Getty Images Santos, don't, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Democratic, Service, Justice, Texas Democrat, Republican Rep, George Santos of New, New, State Oil Company, Banco Azteca, Democrat, National Rifle Association, Rep, FBI, Republicans, State, Union, Washington, Getty Images, Botox Locations: Henry Cuellar of Texas, Azerbaijan, Mexican, George Santos of, George Santos of New York, New York, Texas, Azerbaijan Republic, Alexandria

☆ NASA's chief says China is being 'very, very secretive' and pretending its space projects aren't linked to the military
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NASA chief Bill Nelson accused China on Wednesday of secretly working on military projects in space. Nelson told lawmakers that NASA believes Beijing is masking these projects as civilian efforts. "We believe that a lot of their, so-called civilian space programs is a military program," Nelson continued. Related storiesThe NASA chief alluded to the Spratly Islands, an archipelago in the South China Sea claimed by several nations. Meanwhile, China has repeatedly denied that it intends to establish any military presence in outer space.

Persons: Bill Nelson, Nelson, —, Artemis Organizations: NASA, China, Service, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, South China, Artemis Accords, Alxa League, Inner, Getty, UN, Embassy, Business Locations: Beijing, China, Spratly Islands, South, Russia, Alxa, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Washington , DC

☆ Student Aid Woes Stalk Cardona During Appearance on Capitol Hill
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Zach Montague | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As Miguel A. Cardona, the education secretary, appeared before lawmakers on Wednesday to make his agency’s case for funding next year, members of both parties had something else on their minds: this year’s chaotic college admissions process. Republicans peppered him with questions about the botched rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, which has derailed college admissions this year. Several of them asked whether the agency had diverted resources away from the project in its pursuit of canceling student debt. “There’s nothing more important right now at the Department of Education,” Mr. Cardona told the House Appropriations Committee of the aid form, saying that the agency was successfully juggling multiple priorities with the resources available. “We’re working on this around the clock.”While Mr. Cardona was testifying, the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a separate hearing where lawmakers from both parties said the problems with the aid form had harmed aspiring college students.

Persons: Miguel A . Cardona, ” Mr, Cardona Organizations: Federal, Department of Education, Higher Education, Workforce Development

Hogan's political ascendency resulted in large part from his criticism of tax increases that resonated with a tax-weary electorate in his upset victory in 2014. And Hogan, who was originally elected governor by railing against tax increases endorsed by the Maryland General Assembly, has already made the Maryland race unusually competitive in the heavily Democratic state. The Maryland Senate this month largely kept his budget plan intact, despite a drop in revenue estimates announced after the governor submitted his plan. The Senate has been mostly unreceptive to the House plan, with Ferguson ruling out the corporate tax component. He's also ruled out legalizing internet gambling this year, another part of the House plan.

Persons: Larry Hogan’s, Baltimore's, Francis Scott Key, Republican hasn’t, Hogan, Bill Ferguson, ” Hogan, Del, Ben Barnes, “ I’m, Larry Hogan, ” Barnes, “, ” Ferguson, David Trone, Angela Alsobrooks, Wes Moore, Ferguson, He's, Moore, haven't Organizations: Republican, Gov, U.S . Senate, Baltimore Democrat, Associated Press, Governor, Maryland General Assembly, Democratic, Washington Post, University of Maryland, Republicans, Maryland, Democratic U.S . Senate, U.S, Senate, Transportation Trust Fund, state's, ”, Maryland Democrats, GOP, Maryland Republican, U.S . Rep, Maryland Senate Locations: ANNAPOLIS, Md, Maryland, Baltimore, U.S, Senate, Prince George's

☆ Yellen warns China's surplus of solar panels, EVs could be dumped on global markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"China's overcapacity distorts global prices and production patterns and hurts American firms and workers, as well as firms and workers around the world." China has a surplus of solar power, electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries that it can ship out to other countries at cheaper prices. Yellen said she intends to put pressure on Chinese officials about these trade practices during her upcoming visit to China. Meanwhile, China has been pouring billions into clean energy for years, outpacing the rest of the world in the energy transition. Yellen added that the more China's clean energy glut interferes with global market prices, the worse off supply chains for these energy sectors will be.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, Biden Organizations: Treasury, Financial Services, General Government, Rayburn House, White House, Biden Administration, Embassy Locations: Washington , DC, China, U.S, Georgia, Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is expected to vote to keep money flowing to scores of federal agencies before a midnight Friday shutdown deadline even as many members of the Republican conference are expected to vote against it. A significant number of House Republicans oppose the measure, forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to use an expedited process to bring the bill up for a vote. That process requires two-thirds of the House to vote for the measure for it to pass. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesJohnson countered that House Republicans have just a two-vote majority in the House while Democrats control the Senate and White House. The GOP's effort was unsuccessful for now, but supporters say they'll try again in next year's spending bills.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, staved, they'll, ”, Rosa DeLauro, Gabrielle Giffords, Vanessa N, Gonzalez, Scott Perry, Lisa Mascaro Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Congress, Republicans, Environmental Protection Agency, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, FBI, Caucus, White, WIC, House Republicans, SNAP, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Department, Rep, Giffords, House GOP, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, Associated Press Locations: China

The Senate voted 31-22 to pass Senate Bill 189, sending it on to the House for more debate. Also Tuesday, Burns' committee approved a state constitutional amendment that says only U.S. citizens can vote in Georgia elections. Supporters, including Raffensperger, claim the measure is needed to make sure no one ever changes the current Georgia law that bars noncitizens from voting. Some lawmakers hope new optical scanners can be purchased and used to count ballots without QR codes this year. All Democrats, even one who voted to ban QR codes in committee, voted against the Senate bill Tuesday.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Bill, Brad Raffensperger's, it's, Max Burns, ” Burns, Donald Trump, Alex Halderman, Raffensperger, Burns, noncitizens, Matt Hatchett, Sen, Sally Harrell, Harrell Organizations: ATLANTA, —, Republican, Sylvania Republican, Fox News, Dominion, Board, Georgia, Dublin Republican, Atlanta Democrat Locations: — Georgia, Georgia, Atlanta

☆ House rejects Israel aid bill amid fight over bipartisan border package
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Summer Concepcion | Megan Lebowitz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The House failed to pass a standalone bill to provide aid to Israel amid congressional infighting over a bipartisan Senate border bill that also included foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The Senate released the text of the bipartisan border bill Sunday, which combines Israel and Ukraine with a package of stricter border security and asylum laws. The standalone Israel bill includes $17.6 billion in military aid to the country "as well as important funding for U.S. The Israel aid bill comes as Republican hard-liners try to thwart the $118 billion bipartisan Senate border bill. House Democratic leadership came out against the stand-alone Israel bill Tuesday morning.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Amir Ohana, Jim Himes, Donald Trump, Ken Calvert, Johnson, Kay Granger, Joe Biden, Biden, — Johnson, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Elise Stefanik, ", Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark of, Pete Aguilar, MAGA, Israel Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Minnesota Democrat, Democratic, House Intelligence, Intelligence, Republicans, Saturday, Senate, U.S . Forces, Israel, United States, Management, Republican, GOP, House Republicans, Freedom Caucus, Caucus Locations: Washington , U.S, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, R, Texas, United, Johnson's speakership, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, United States, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, Pete Aguilar of California, East

☆ US House Panel Recommends $17.6 Billion in Military Aid for Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Richard CowanWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation providing $17.6 billion in new military assistance to Israel as it wages war against Hamas was unveiled on Saturday in the U.S. House of Representatives. The funding bill, offered by a House Appropriations panel, could come to a vote in the full House sometime next week, Speaker Mike Johnson said in a letter to members. The Republican-controlled House had previously approved $14.3 billion in new military aid to Israel, but with the requirement that it be paid for by clawing back a chunk of money already targeted for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. It was unclear whether far-right House members might balk at the funding for Israel without an equal amount of savings elsewhere in the budget. Before new military aid to Israel or Ukraine can be delivered, the House and Senate must pass the same bill before sending it to President Joe Biden, a Democrat, for signing into law.

Persons: Richard Cowan WASHINGTON, Mike Johnson, clawing, Chuck Schumer, Johnson, Joe Biden, Jason Lange, Richard Cowan, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hamas, U.S . House, Representatives, Appropriations, Republican, U.S . Internal Revenue Service, Democratic, Ukraine, Israel, House Republicans, Democrat, Senate Locations: Israel, U.S, Russia, Gaza, Mexico, Ukraine, United States, Taiwan

☆ How Republicans rail against government spending on TV — only to brag about its benefits back home
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But most of it came from a must-pass spending bill that he and other Republicans voted against. AdvertisementIt was late December 2022, and Republicans were furious about the 2023 omnibus spending bill, a sprawling piece of legislation designed to avert a government shutdown and keep federal spending flowing for the next 9 months. In the end, just 9 Republicans voted for it, only 2 of whom remain in Congress. Rep. Mike Garcia of California, a member of the House Appropriations Committee that oversees government spending, was among those Republicans. Yet almost all of the funding that Garcia touted in the mailer came from the omnibus spending bill that he made a show of voting against the previous December.

Persons: Mike Garcia, —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Garcia of, Garcia, Kathy Norris, mailer, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, David Schweikert of, Maria Elvira Salazar, Spokespeople, Salazar, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Service, Republicans, Children's Hospital of Los, mailer, Industrial Association, College of, Canyons, Republican, Democratic, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Georgia, Mike Garcia of California, Los Angeles, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Lancaster, Alabama, David Schweikert of Arizona, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Alexandria, Cortez of New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March. House Republicans have fought bitterly over budget levels and policy since taking the majority at the start of 2023. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted by his caucus in October after striking an agreement with Democrats to extend current spending the first time. “We’re not going to get everything we want.”Most House Republicans have so far refrained from saying that Johnson’s job is in danger. In Thursday afternoon's vote, 107 House Republicans voted to keep federal agencies funded and 106 voted against the measure.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Jean, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Chip Roy, ” Roy, Johnson, Rosa DeLauro, ” DeLauro, Kevin McCarthy, ” Johnson, “ We’re, Bob Good, McCarthy, Schumer, ” Good, ”, Andy Barr, Biden, Russia, Farnoush Amiri, Lisa Mascaro, Darlene Superville Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican, Caucus, White, Republicans, “, Rep, House Republicans, . Virginia, Kentucky, GOP, Democratic, Associated Press Locations: Texas, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Mexico

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Texas congressman said Saturday that three migrants, including two children, drowned while trying to reach the U.S. near the border city of Eagle Pass, where the Biden administration says Texas has begun denying access to Border Patrol agents. An Abbott spokesperson referred questions to the Texas Military Department, which did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday. Cuellar, whose district include the Texas border, said Mexican authorities alerted Border Patrol of the distressed migrants struggling in the river late Friday. The 50-acre park is owned by the city, but it is used by the state Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department to patrol border crossings. On Saturday, Texas submitted a response to the court that disputed claims that Border Patrol agents were denied access to the park.

Persons: —, Biden, Henry Cuellar, Greg Abbott's, Abbott, Cuellar, ”, Julio Vasquez Organizations: Border Patrol, U.S . Rep, U.S, Justice Department, Supreme, Shelby, Border, Republican Gov, Lone Star, Migrants, Texas Military Department, Texas National Guard, Shelby Park, Guard, Homeland Security, . Customs, Protection, of Public Safety, Patrol, National Guard Locations: BROWNSVILLE , Texas, Texas, Eagle, Mexico, Rio Grande

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson enters into his big shutdown test
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Lauren Fox | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Johnson’s spending plan would fund government agencies through spending bills for the military, Veterans Affairs, transportation, housing and urban development and energy and water through mid-January. One of the first major tests for Johnson will be whether he can even pass a procedural vote for the spending bill known as the rule. McCarthy passed the last short-term spending bill under a suspension of the rules, a decision that ultimately cost him his job. Over the course of the last week, House Republicans have struggled just like they did under McCarthy to unify on spending. Congress must avoid a shutdown and pass a CR that facilitates enacting full-year spending bills and emergency assistance as soon as possible.”CNN’s Manu Raju contributed to this report.

Persons: Mike Johnson’s, Johnson, ”, Warren Davidson, Chip Roy, “, Pelosi, ‘, ’ ”, can’t, ” Sen, Chris Murphy, –, Kevin McCarthy’s, McCarthy, Republicans don’t, Rosa DeLauro, ” DeLauro, CNN’s Manu Raju Organizations: Republican, Caucus, GOP, CNN, Veterans Affairs, Press, Republicans, ” Locations: Ohio

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