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☆ Biden's asking Congress for a budget Band-Aid. It'll make student loan repayment easier, secure Social Security and food benefits — and avoid a government shutdown.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Without the cash infusion, the admin says, Social Security could get bogged down. Without that temporary budget fix, Social Security could get bogged down, low-income babies and seniors might not receive their benefits, and student loan repayment could get even thornier. The agency noted that the Education Department requires $2.3 billion to ensure it can effectively disburse student aid. It would also allocate $1.8 billion for student aid administration, which is $265 million below its current level. Are you worried about losing WIC or other food assistance, or struggling to repay student loans?

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, Schumer Organizations: Biden, Social Security, Service, Security, Management, OMB, SNAP, Social Security Administration, Women, Federal Student Aid, Education Department, Federal, Aid, Labor, Republicans, MSNBC, Republican, jkaplan Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington

☆ McConnell’s frozen moment renews questions about America’s aged leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Also in the Senate, California’s Dianne Feinstein, 90, has been ill and displayed apparent cognitive decline in public in recent months. But given that Biden, McConnell and Feinstein are public officials, voters are entitled to a high level of transparency. Biden, for instance, would be 86 by the time his second term ends, which represents his biggest vulnerability in the 2024 election. Remarkably, in an age where major questions divide on party lines, 69% of Democrats shared that view. Should Biden, if he wins a second term, experience a similar moment to McConnell, questions about the continuity of US leadership would reverberate around the world and offer openings for US adversaries.

Persons: Mitch, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, California’s Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, –, Strom Thurmond, Robert Byrd of, Biden, McConnell, Jonathan Reiner, CNN’s Erica Hill, ”, Reiner, Trump, Karine Jean, Pierre, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Tapper, Jean, Nikki Haley, – Trump, Haley, Kamala Harris, Harris, ” Haley, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, they’ve, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, CNN’s Manu Raju, John Thune, McConnell “, Jim Banks, CNN’s Raju, Sprightly Iowa GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, who’s Organizations: CNN, Kentucky Republican, Senate, George Washington University, United States Senate, Associated Press, White, White House, Former South Carolina Gov, GOP, Republicans, Biden, Fox News, Democratic, Supreme, Labor, West Virginia Republican, Republican, prudential, Indiana, Sprightly Iowa GOP, California Democrat, Capitol Locations: Kentucky, South Carolina, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, Ukraine, Washington, Dakota, Sprightly Iowa, California, It’s

☆ White House asks Congress for short-term funding to avoid government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Capitol Building is seen in Washington, D.C., Aug. 16, 2023. WASHINGTON — The White House on Thursday asked Congress to pass a short-term measure to fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown at the end of September. Funding for the federal government is set to run out on Sept. 30 unless action is taken by Congress. With a month to go until the deadline, the Republican-led House of Representatives has only managed to pass one of the 12 bills needed to fund the government, according to Reuters. Deep divisions remain between the parties with Republicans looking to implement large spending cuts unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Persons: WASHINGTON — Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Washington , D.C, WASHINGTON, U.S . Office, Management, Budget, Republican, Reuters, Democratic Locations: Washington ,

A new accounting shows that at least 523 institutions were part of the sprawling network of boarding schools for Native American children. ‘War Against the Children’ The Native American boarding school system — a decades-long effort to assimilate Indigenous people before they ever reached adulthood — robbed children of their culture, family bonds and sometimes their lives. “The government was not done with war, so the next phase involved war against the children,” said Mr. Sherman, 83, a former aerospace engineer. Now 76, his voice grows shaky when he recounts the punishments children received — and how children were turned into punishers. Library of Congress, Chronicling AmericaA precise accounting of how many children died at Native American boarding schools remains elusive.

Analysts see this as an emerging new trend of trade regionalisation in the eastern and western hemispheres - each dominated by one of the superpower - that could pose risks to global growth. This "will likely contribute to increased regionalisation of international trade, which would raise inflation and hamper growth for other countries caught in the crossfire." China has also applied to join the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, one of the world's largest free trade agreements. To join this Pacific trade axis, though, China needs the approval from all member countries, including U.S. allies. "And both of those countries value trade with the U.S. under their North American framework more than they value trade with China."

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Elizabeth Frantz, Neil Thomas, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Raimondo, Trump, William Hurst, Joe Cash, Kripa Jayaram, Marius Zaharia, William Mallard Organizations: . Commerce, Capitol, REUTERS, Southeast Asia, Analysts, Asia Society Policy Institute, Higher, Census, Reuters, Canada Agreement, Comprehensive, Pacific, U.S, University of Cambridge, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, China, Washington, Canada, Mexico, Beijing, Southeast, decouple, U.S, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific

☆ In Opposing Gun Program, Lawmaker Omitted His Store Was Subject to It
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Glenn Thrush | More About Glenn Thrush | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Representative Andrew Clyde has been in Congress only since 2021, but he has quickly emerged as a vocal opponent of gun control, handing out dozens of AR-15 pins to exemplify his wide-ranging push to roll back federal firearms regulation. At a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing in April, Mr. Clyde, Republican of Georgia, grilled the director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Steven M. Dettelbach, about a little-known program to monitor gun dealers found selling large numbers of weapons later traced to crimes. Mr. Clyde suggested the program, known as Demand 2, was unfair, questioned whether all crimes linked to such guns were “bona fide,” and exhibited a detailed knowledge of its inner workings — even though it applies to only a tiny percentage of gun dealers nationwide. What Mr. Clyde did not disclose was that one of two gun stores he owns in Georgia, Clyde Armory in Athens, was placed in the monitoring program in 2020 and 2021, according to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the gun safety group Brady. inspectors made the designation after they found that more than 25 guns sold there had been used in crimes within three years of their purchase.

Persons: Andrew Clyde, Clyde, Steven M, Brady, A.T.F Organizations: Republican, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, Clyde Armory Locations: Georgia, Athens

☆ US wildland firefighter pay threatened by Republican feud in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Firefighters cannot be held hostage to congressional infighting," said Lucas Mayfield, president of the advocacy group Grassroots Wildland Firefighters. More than 10 million acres were affected in 2015 and 2017. Last year, the cost of suppressing wildfires across 7.6 million acres surpassed $3.5 billion, according to the center. "Now is not the time ... to be engaging in this kind of the political gamesmanship around something as important as the livelihood of our wildland firefighters," he told Reuters. Neguse and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an independent from Arizona, have introduced legislation in their respective chambers that would avoid the pay cliff and authorize future pay increases for wildland firefighters.

Persons: Matthew A, Foster, Handout, Mike Simpson, Joe Biden, Lucas Mayfield, Mayfield, Joe Neguse, Kyrsten Sinema, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell Organizations: Force, U.S . Army National Guard, Staff, REUTERS, Rights, Interagency Fire, Idaho Republican, Reuters, Republicans, Democrats, Democratic, Biden, Grassroots, Firefighters, Republican, National Interagency Fire Center, Colorado Democrat, House, Thomson Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S, Washington, West, British Columbia, Idaho, United States, Neguse, Arizona

☆ US commerce secretary to visit China next week for talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Elizabeth Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo will travel to China next week for meetings with senior Chinese government officials and U.S. business leaders, the department said on Tuesday. Last month, Raimondo vowed to go forward with the visit despite the reported Chinese hacking of her department's emails. The talks would cover issues related to the U.S.- China commercial relationship, challenges faced by U.S. businesses, and areas for potential cooperation, it added. Last week, China said it welcomed Raimondo's expected visit. Her trip follows a four-day visit last month by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who held more than 10 hours of meetings with senior officials in Beijing.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, Raimondo, Raimondo's, Janet Yellen, Biden, Wang Wentao, David Shepardson, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Commerce, . Security, Competitiveness, U.S ., REUTERS, Elizabeth, . Commerce, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: China, Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Beijing, Shanghai, U.S, United States, Washington

☆ Republican feud over 'root canal' spending cuts raises US government shutdown risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The result is a major headache for centrist Republicans from swing districts that Biden won in 2020 and others with constituents in the firing line of hardline spending targets. One significant source of frustration is hardline demands for cuts to bills that have already been vetted by the 61-member House Appropriations Committee. SHUTDOWN RISKHouse Freedom Caucus members say a shutdown could be necessary to achieve their objectives. This time, the slim 222-212 House Republican majority could pay a political price. Would the House Freedom Caucus end McCarthy's reign over a CR?

Persons: Scott Perry, Andy Biggs, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Goldman Sachs, Centrists, McCarthy, Biden, Don Bacon, Ben Cline, We're, willy, nilly, David Joyce, William Hoagland, Donald Trump's, Dusty Johnson, Chuck Schumer, McCarthy's, Perry, Kevin, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republicans, U.S . House, Caucus, Monday, White, Republican, Social Security, Freedom Caucus, Committee, Republican Governance Group, Center, Senate, Justice Department, Ukraine, Main Street Caucus, Reuters, Office, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Nebraska, Washington

☆ Republican feud over 'root canal' spending cuts raises US gov't shutdown risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The result is a major headache for centrist Republicans from swing districts that Biden won in 2020 and others with constituents in the firing line of hardline spending targets. "I do not know how they get themselves out of this jam," said William Hoagland, a former Senate Republican budget director now at the Bipartisan Policy Center think tank. SHUTDOWN RISKHouse Freedom Caucus members say a shutdown could be necessary to achieve their objectives. This time, the slim 222-212 House Republican majority could pay a political price. Would the House Freedom Caucus end McCarthy's reign over a CR?

Persons: Scott Perry, Andy Biggs, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Biden, Don Bacon, Ben Cline, We're, willy, nilly, David Joyce, William Hoagland, Donald Trump's, Dusty Johnson, Chuck Schumer, McCarthy's, Perry, Kevin, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republicans, U.S . House, Caucus, White, Republican, Social Security, Freedom Caucus, Committee, Republican Governance Group, Center, Senate, Main Street Caucus, Reuters, Office, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Nebraska, Washington

☆ A $49,000 monthly student-loan bill and incomplete debt relief: Borrowers are facing confusion as repayment looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Some student-loan borrowers are running into hurdles leading up to the payment resumption. Insider spoke to borrowers with inaccurate monthly statements and incomplete debt relief. Jess's incorrect monthly payment statement is just one of the challenges borrowers are facing as President Joe Biden's Education Department and federal student-loan companies work to transition millions of borrowers back into repayment. This announcement was part of the department's one-time account adjustment to get relief to borrowers who have reached the repayment threshold. "Right now, House Republicans are pursuing an appropriations bill that cuts $22.5 BILLION from education," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona wrote on X last month.

Persons: Jess, couldn't, Jess —, —, she's, there's, Joe Biden's, Scott Buchanan, servicers —, Buchanan, we've, Karin Smith, Smith, I'm, It's, haven't, Miguel Cardona Organizations: Service, Joe Biden's Education Department, Student Loan, —, Education Department, The Education Department, House Republicans, Republican Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Schumer: Gov't funding resolution agreement with McCarthy is 'good sign'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), holds a press conference after the weekly Democratic caucus policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. July 19, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Aug 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday said he met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy a few weeks ago and agreed to a resolution that could extend current federal government spending for a few months. Current government funding is due to expire Sept. 30 with the fiscal year beginning Oct 1, and no action to fund the federal government could trigger a shutdown. Any spending measures would have to pass both the Democratic-led Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Jack Reed, Tim Kaine, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jonathan Ernst, Kevin McCarthy, Schumer, McCarthy, Susan Heavey, Christina Fincher Organizations: Democratic, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, MSNBC, Republican, Senate, ., Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine

☆ The White House blasts Republicans' budget plans, saying they want to slash Social Security and Medicare and 'force seniors to pay even higher drug costs so Big Pharma can fill more swimming pools wit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They said the GOP wants to slash earned benefits and hand out tax cuts for the wealthy. For instance, the Republican Study Committee released a report on spending priorities and reforms that would, among other measures, adjust the Social Security retirement age. "We will not now or ever support cutting or delaying retirement benefits for any senior in or near retirement," it said. "While the GOP tries to cut its funding, Democrats are committed to protecting Social Security for all Americans." "It's Medicare, Social Security, interest on the debt."

Persons: Biden, Andrew Bates, Bates, reconvenes, that's, California Sen, Alex Padilla, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Sen, Ron Wyden Organizations: House, Republicans, GOP, Service, Privacy, White, Republican, Security, Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, Social Security, Big, Democratic, Social, Fox News, Senate Finance, AP News Locations: Wall, Silicon, California

☆ GOP Senate candidate plans to steer book sale money to a group that lobbies for his industry, teeing up potential conflict of interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tim Sheehy is releasing a memoir in the middle of his campaign for US Senate in Montana. He plans to steer some of the revenue from the book to an industry lobbying group he helped found. It's the latest conflict-of-interest question for Sheehy, whose company relies on government contracts. But Sheehy's book release poses unique conflict-of-interest questions, given his apparent plans for the revenue. If Sheehy's campaign chooses to promote the book when it's released, that would mean using campaign resources to raise money for a lobbying organization that benefits Sheehy's bottom line.

Persons: Tim Sheehy, Sheehy, Simon, Schuster, Matt Rosendale, Democratic Sen, Jon Tester, Tester, it's, Phil Hardy, Hardy, who's, Joe Biden's Organizations: US, Service, Navy SEAL, Bridger Aerospace, Caucus, Democratic, United Aerial Firefighters Association, Bloomberg, Department of Interior, US Forest Service, Senate, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Montana, Wall, Silicon, America, Washington, DC

☆ Dianne Feinstein hospitalized after tripping at home
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein was hospitalized Tuesday evening after falling at her home. Feinstein previously missed months of votes after contracting shingles. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyDemocratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein was hospitalized after tripping and falling in her San Francisco home. Feinstein went to the hospital as a precaution and quickly returned home, Feinstein spokesperson Adam Russell told the San Francisco Chronicle"Senator Feinstein briefly went to the hospital yesterday afternoon as a precaution after a minor fall in her home," a Feinstein spokesperson said in a statement shared with Insider. It has also come to light that her daughter, Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge, holds power of attorney over her legal affairs.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Adam Russell, " Feinstein, Joe Biden's, Katherine Feinstein Organizations: Service, Privacy, Democratic, TMZ, San Francisco Chronicle, California Democrat, GOP, Judiciary Locations: Wall, Silicon, San, Washington, San Francisco

The letter written to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reflects rising partisan tensions in Congress over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Democrats, all members of the House Agriculture Committee, told McCarthy that continuing Republican talk of SNAP cuts could jeopardize progress on this year's farm bill. Democrats now are seeking to protect the program from further cuts in the farm bill, which comes up every five years and funds farm commodity and conservation programs as well as SNAP and other food aid. Thompson, has said it will complete a farm bill draft by the end of August. The current farm bill expires on Sept. 30.

Persons: Mary F, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, David Scott, Joe Biden, Garret Graves, G.T, Thompson, Leah Douglas, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Democratic, Monday, U.S . House, Assistance, Agriculture, Republicans, SNAP, Republican, Senate, Thomson Locations: Washington ,

☆ Trump Indictment Presents New Obstacle in Spending Fight as Shutdown Looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

House Democrats already uniformly oppose the emerging spending bills since they are below the spending levels agreed to by Mr. Biden and Mr. McCarthy in their deal to suspend the federal debt limit and contain numerous conservative policy riders they find objectionable. Should conservatives prevail in their insistence on even deeper cuts and other restrictions on federal law enforcement, it could drive off more mainstream Republican votes. is a stark break with the traditional Republican orthodoxy of strong support for law enforcement. It has little traction in the Senate, where Democrats and Republicans have been working in a bipartisan fashion to advance spending bills for consideration when the Senate returns next month. Most senators of both parties would be opposed to entertaining the sort of spending reductions for law enforcement sought by the House conservatives.

Persons: Biden, McCarthy, Greene, “, ”, Susan Collins of, Trump Organizations: Republican, Senate, Republicans, of Justice, Freedom Caucus Locations: Susan Collins of Maine, Russia, “

☆ Dianne Feinstein has surrendered decision-making on legal matters to her daughter, but the 90-year-old is still one of the most powerful lawmakers in the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein has reportedly granted her daughter power of attorney over her legal affairs. It's unclear the extent to which Feinstein's agreement extends. The New York Times reported Thursday that Feinstein has granted power of attorney to Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge, over her legal affairs. During a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Feinstein appeared confused during a roll call vote. Feinstein also serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Katherine, Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, It's, Bryan Metzger, Sen, Patty Murray, Amy Coney Barrett's Organizations: Senate, Service, Privacy, Democratic, New York Times, GOP, Committee, Intelligence, CIA, NSA, Senate Armed Services Committee, panel's, Water, Army Corps of Engineers Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Francisco

☆ Manchin warns government to step up after Fitch credit rating downgrade
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) arrives prior to Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address to a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, July 19, 2023. WASHINGTON — Sen. Joe Manchin on Thursday called on his colleagues to take sorely needed budgetary steps to strengthen the economy after Fitch credit analysts' recent decision to downgrade the United States' long-held foreign issuer default rating. Fitch downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AA+ to AAA on Tuesday, months after having placed the nation's rating on negative watch in May. The credit rating firm cited the U.S. government's lengthy debt ceiling debate, along with the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, in its decision. Manchin's warning comes a day after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called the Fitch downgrade decision "entirely unwarranted" based on a "flawed assessment."

Persons: Joe Manchin, Isaac Herzog's, WASHINGTON — Sen, Fitch, Manchin, CNBC's, we're, Janet Yellen Organizations: U.S, Capitol, AAA, U.S . Capitol, West Virginia Democrat Locations: Washington, States

☆ US IRS to allow full digital document submissions for 2024 tax season
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Internal Revenue Service plans to allow taxpayers to submit all documents and correspondence to the agency digitally for the 2024 tax filing season and will convert all paper tax returns to digital documents by the 2025 season, the Treasury Department said on Wednesday. The initiative, part of a decade-long, $60 billion program to modernize systems and improve tax enforcement, will allow taxpayers to digitally submit all correspondence, non-tax forms and responses to IRS notices, the Treasury said. Most U.S. tax returns are already filed digitally, which results in faster refunds. But the COVID-19 pandemic and associated filing delays and staffing shortages saddled the IRS with a massive backlog of 22.5 million unprocessed paper tax returns by February 2022 that needed some form of manual processing. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in excerpts of remarks at an IRS facility in McLean, Virginia, that taxpayers will always have the choice to submit documents by paper.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, David Lawder, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, Treasury, U.S, IRS, Congress, Thomson Locations: McLean , Virginia

☆ US House Republicans rally around Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks with reporters after a Republican conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. July 18, 2023. Republicans, who have recently intensified their investigations of Biden's family, claimed that Trump's latest indictment showed the United States lapsing into the condition of a "banana republic." House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Republican leaders have said that an impeachment inquiry is possible but have stopped short of announcing one. Republican hardliner Matt Gaetz took direct aim at Smith, tweeting that the special counsel "shouldn't be in any position to charge Trump with anything. Greene and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik have recently introduced measures to expunge both impeachments.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Ernst, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Jack Smith, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden, Hunter, Republican hardliner Matt Gaetz, Smith, tweeting, shouldn't, Greene, Gaetz, Elise Stefanik, David Morgan, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, U.S . House, Democratic, Republicans, Twitter, White, Republican, Trump, Committee, U.S . Capitol, House Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, United States, Ukraine

☆ New IRS paperless system will help reduce deficit significantly over 10 years, Yellen says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen praised a new initiative by the IRS that she said will help reduce the federal deficit by $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years — an extension of the Biden administration's pledged $1 trillion in deficit reduction from the Inflation Reduction Act. The initiative is a "key" to unlocking other system improvements, said Yellen, including error reductions in tax processing and secure data access for taxpayers. "I urge Congress to provide stable and sufficient annual appropriations for the IRS in order to sustain and build on this progress," Yellen said. The agency has already recovered roughly $38 million from about 175 delinquent tax cases for millionaires, said Yellen. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to say that the IRS paperless system will help with the Biden administration's effort to cut into the federal deficit by $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Johns, Biden administration's, Yellen, Biden Organizations: Johns Hopkins University’s School, International, WASHINGTON —, IRS, Biden Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Former Hunter Biden associate interviewed by Republican-led US House panel
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Devon Archer, a former Hunter Biden business associate, arrives for a deposition before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee at the O'Neill House Office Building in Washington, U.S., July 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin WurmWASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - A former associate of Hunter Biden appeared before a congressional panel on Monday for an interview that Republican lawmakers hope will shed light on unproven allegations against Democratic President Joe Biden and his family. Devon Archer, who was subpoenaed by the House of Representatives Oversight Committee in June, appeared for an interview behind closed doors led by committee staff. House Republicans allege that Hunter Biden used his father's status as vice president in an influence peddling scheme while sitting on the board of Ukraine energy company Burisma nearly a decade ago. "We know that Devon Archer has met and communicated many, many times with Joe Biden about Burisma and other things," House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer told Fox News on Sunday.

Persons: Devon Archer, Hunter Biden, Kevin Wurm WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Archer, Burisma, Trump, Jamie Raskin, Biden, Lev Parnas, Rudy Giuliani, James Comer, Biden's, Kevin McCarthy, David Morgan, Jonathan Ernst, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Hunter, O'Neill, REUTERS, Democratic, House Republicans, Republican, Trump, New, New York City Mayor, Fox News, Revenue, U.S . Justice Department, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, New York

☆ Republicans want to cut food assistance for 5 million low-income babies and parents
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Low-income parents and babies are eligible to receive the benefit, which subsidizes food and care. If the GOP bill were passed, millions would see a benefit cut, especially to fruit and vegetable budgets. In total, according to CBPP's analysis, the $6 billion the GOP bill allocates to WIC would lead to 5.3 million children and pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding parents seeing their food assistance cut, or completely gone. Per the USDA, 6,260,000 people participated in WIC in fiscal year 2022; as of April 2023, there were over 6.6 million Americans participating, including nearly 1.5 million infants and 3.6 million children. The proposed cuts to WIC come after an already-precarious time for low-income Americans receiving food subsidies.

Persons: Catherine Rampell, Tonyia Canales, Canales Organizations: GOP, Service, Women, Budget, WIC, Budget Management, OMB, Washington, Congress Locations: Wall, Silicon, Texas

☆ US House votes to approve first 2024 spending bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a fiscal 2024 appropriations bill for military construction and veterans affairs on Thursday, the first of 12 spending measures that Congress must enact by Oct. 1 or risk a government shutdown. The House voted 219-211 to approve the $155.7 billion military construction and veterans affairs bill, forwarding it on to the Democratic-led Senate where it is unlikely to succeed. House Republican leaders chose to delay consideration of a second spending bill on agriculture, rural development and the Food and Drug Administration until September, amid party infighting over spending between hardline conservatives and moderates. House passage of appropriations legislation represents only a first step toward funding the government from Oct. 1. As lawmakers headed into a lengthy August recess, the two chambers appeared to be at least $120 billion apart on spending.

Persons: Joe Biden, David Morgan, Jonathan Oatis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Republican, House, Democratic, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson

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