DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress were moving forward with a $1.66 trillion government funding bill, scrambling to pass a measure, which includes record military spending, before temporary funding runs out on Friday. The total funding proposed by the sweeping bill, released early on Tuesday, is up from the approximately $1.5 trillion the previous year. This money would be on top of the record $858 billion in military spending for the year, which is up from last year's $740 billion and also exceeds Biden's request. On the non-defense side of the ledger, the bill's negotiators have set funding at $800 billion, a $68 billion increase over the previous year. This was the second year in a row Congress included funding for hundreds of largely unrelated projects requested by individual lawmakers.

☆ Factbox: What's in the U.S. Congress's Electoral Count Reform Act?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are details on the Electoral Count Reform Act, which lawmakers included in a year-end government funding bill:AIMS TO PREVENT ANOTHER JAN. 6The bipartisan effort would rewrite the 1887 Electoral Count Act, which lays out the process by which Congress tallies the state-by-state results from a presidential election and formally certifies the winner. Trump and his advisers had cited provisions of the 1887 law as they pressed Republican allies to overturn his loss. BIPARTISAN SUPPORTWhile other election-law reforms have foundered in Congress this year due to Republican opposition, the Electoral Count Reform Act has solid bipartisan support, at least in the Senate. Trump had urged his vice president, Mike Pence, to prevent lawmakers from certifying Biden's victory. Current law requires Congress to consider a challenge if only one lawmaker from each chamber raises an objection.

☆ U.S. House Democrats to decide whether to release Trump's tax information
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - A Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives committee on Tuesday is due to decide whether to release details of former President Donald Trump's tax returns, after a years-long court fight and just two weeks before their party surrenders power to Republicans. Candidates are not required by law to release their tax returns, but previous presidential hopefuls of both parties have voluntarily done so for several decades. Trump's tax returns are still subject to confidentiality restrictions, but Democrats who control the committee could vote to make some details public. Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee have said they need to see those records to assess whether the Internal Revenue Service is properly auditing presidential tax returns, and to gauge whether new legislation is needed. Another House committee on Monday asked federal prosecutors to charge Trump with obstruction and insurrection for sparking the deadly Capitol attack.

☆ Factbox: Jan. 6 riot panel urges prosecution of Trump, allies over U.S. Capitol riot
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The request is non-binding, but may increase pressure on prosecutors to bring a criminal case against Trump and some of his allies. The committee also said several House Republican lawmakers should face an ethics investigation. The committee also referred lawyers John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro, who provided legal justification for Trump's efforts to overturn the election, for possible prosecution under this law. The committee also referred Eastman for possible prosecution under this law. HOUSE ETHICS VIOLATIONSThe Committee also referred several fellow House members, all Republicans, to the House Ethics Committee for possible sanction, for defying a subpoena and refusing to cooperate with their investigation.

"If all goes well, we should be able to finish an omnibus appropriations package by Dec. 23," Shelby said in a statement. The full-year "omnibus" bill is also expected to contain new emergency funds to aid Ukraine in its battle against Russian forces. It also is expected to fold in an unrelated bill reforming the way Congress certifies U.S. presidential elections. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had said his Republicans want work on the omnibus bill wrapped up by Dec. 22. Any negotiations on the funding bill would get more complicated next year, when Republicans take majority control of the House.

☆ Georgia runoff: Democratic U.S. Senator Warnock beats Trump-backed rival
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With 99% of the estimated vote counted, he led Walker by 50.8% to 49.2%, according to Edison Research. The result cements Georgia as a battleground state certain to play a prominent role in the 2024 presidential election. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) speaks during an election night party after a projected win in the U.S. midterm runoff election between Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. It is his second runoff victory in two years, after he won the seat in January 2021. Venkayla Haynes, 28, said Warnock's win was especially meaningful after months of organizing get-out-the-vote efforts for both the general election and then the runoff.

☆ Democratic U.S. Senator Warnock wins Georgia runoff, Edison Research projects
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Senator Raphael Warnock won re-election in a hard-fought Georgia runoff on Tuesday, expanding his party's razor-thin majority as he turned back a challenge by Republican former football star Herschel Walker, Edison Research projected. With 97% of the expected vote counted and Warnock commanding a lead of 50.6% to 49.4%, Edison projected that Warnock had won reelection. Warnock's victory cements Georgia as a battleground state certain to play a prominent role in the 2024 presidential election. [1/17] Reverend Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senator for Georgia, delivers remarks during a visit at a campaign office during the midterm Senate runoff elections in Norcross, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. It is the second runoff victory in two years for Warnock, who first won his seat in January 2021.

☆ Georgia runoff: Warnock and Walker neck and neck as results come in
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

With 72% of the estimated vote tallied, Warnock led Walker by 50.4% to 49.6%, according to Edison Research. The race was the most expensive of the 2022 U.S. midterm election season, with more than $400 million spent. [1/10] Reverend Raphael Warnock, Democratic Senator for Georgia, delivers remarks during a visit at a campaign office during the midterm Senate runoff elections in Norcross, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ Democratic Senator Warnock faces challenge by Trump-backed Walker in Georgia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

ATLANTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Polls closed on Tuesday in a hard-fought runoff election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican former football star Herschel Walker that will determine whether Democrats can expand their razor-thin Senate majority. With 10% of the estimated vote tallied, Warnock led Walker by 65% to 35%, according to Edison Research. [1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. "I feel that Herschel Walker is unsuitable for the job, to say the least," he said.

☆ Polls close as Senator Warnock seeks to hold off Walker in Georgia runoff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

ATLANTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Polls closed on Tuesday in a hard-fought runoff election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican former football star Herschel Walker that will determine whether Democrats can expand their razor-thin Senate majority. [1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021. While Biden did not campaign for Warnock, former President Barack Obama rallied for him in Atlanta last week.

☆ Trump-backed Walker challenges U.S. Senator Warnock in Georgia runoff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. At a diner in Marietta, Walker deflected questions about his character, which Warnock has made a centerpiece of his campaign. "Right now I put my character up against Raphael Warnock any day," Walker said on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ Warnock-Walker runoff in Georgia key to Democrats in U.S. Senate, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. On a wider scale, a Warnock victory could solidify Georgia as more of a battleground for Democrats in presidential elections. Turnout was steady, with wait times averaging one minute across the state, said Gabe Sterling, a state election official. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia, on Tuesday. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ Georgia Senate runoff pits Democrat Warnock against Trump-backed Walker
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. "We had historic turnout during the early vote voting period. The truth is my opponent could still win this election," Warnock told a crowd in Norcross, Georgia on Tuesday. Guri Ben-Hashal, 60, who works in real estate, said his vote for Warnock was actually a vote against Walker. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the closely divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021.

☆ Democrat Warnock, Trump-backed Walker in tight U.S. Senate runoff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaATLANTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A Tuesday runoff election in Georgia between Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican former football star Herschel Walker will determine whether President Joe Biden's party can expand its razor-thin majority in the Senate. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the closely divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021. Warnock, meanwhile, drew former President Barack Obama to a rally last week but Biden has not been to Georgia to campaign for Warnock.

☆ Democrat Warnock hopes to boost party's U.S. Senate margin in Georgia runoff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/6] Local residents wait in line to cast their ballot during the runoff U.S. Senate election between Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaATLANTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A Tuesday runoff election in Georgia between Democratic U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican former football star Herschel Walker will determine whether President Joe Biden's party can expand its razor-thin majority in the Senate. This is the third Senate runoff in two years in the closely divided state - and the second for Warnock, who first won the seat in a runoff in January 2021. Warnock, meanwhile, drew former President Barack Obama to a rally last week but Biden has not been to Georgia to campaign for Warnock.

☆ Heavy turnout in Georgia runoff election as early voting wraps up
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Andy Sullivan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Voters attend to cast their ballots in the runoff election for the Senate position, between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican candidate Herschel Walker, at the Metropolitan Library, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., November 29, 2022. REUTERS/Megan Varner/File PhotoDec 2 (Reuters) - Election officials on Friday reported heavy turnout in Georgia on the last day of early voting ahead of the Dec. 6 runoff election that will determine whether Democrats can add to their razor-thin majority in the U.S. Senate. As of Friday morning, at least 1,473,00 voters had cast early ballots in person or via mail, according to Raffensperger's office. Voters will be able to cast ballots in person on Tuesday and return mail ballots through that day as well. Warnock narrowly edged Walker in the Nov. 8 election by 49.44% to 48.49%, even as Republican candidates won other statewide races.

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski and Democratic Representative Mary Peltola of Alaska both won reelection against opponents backed by Donald Trump on Wednesday, the latest high-profile defeats of candidates supported by the former president. Murkowski, 65, has represented Alaska in the Senate since 2002 and built an independent profile as one of the chamber's few centrists. Peltola, the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, beat two Republicans: former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and businessman Nick Begich. Tea Party era of politics and helped pave the way for Trump to win the White House. Murkowski and Peltola would have won even under Alaska's old election rules, as they had each won a plurality of votes.

☆ Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski wins re-election to U.S. Senate
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has won reelection, defeating Kelly Tshibaka, a former Republican state official who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, a tabulation carried out by state officials showed on Wednesday. Murkowski, 65, has represented Alaska in the Senate since 2002 and has built an independent profile as one of the chamber's few centrists. Murkowski defeated Tshibaka after Alaska finished tabulating all ballots in a publicly broadcast session using its new "ranked choice" system, which allows voters to list candidates in order of preference. The candidate with a majority of votes after all ballots have been counted wins. She won reelection as a write-in candidate in 2010 after her party nominated a more right-wing contender.

He is the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, which U.S. officials have described as an anti-government group. According to the indictment, Rhodes began encouraging his Oath Keepers followers in November 2020 to "oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power." Caldwell has denied he was a member of the Oath Keepers, but prosecutors have said he has strong ties to the group. KENNETH HARRELSONHarrelson, 41, of Titusville, Florida, helped Meggs organize the Florida Oath Keepers and was part of the militia group that stormed into the Capitol building, according to the indictment. JESSICA WATKINSWatkins, 40, of Woodstock, Ohio, led the Ohio team of Oath Keepers at the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to the indictment.

☆ Republicans identify 42 Biden administration officials they want to testify
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday identified 42 employees from Democratic President Joe Biden's White House and administration, who they expect to testify next year after their party takes control of the chamber. There was no immediate response from the White House. The letters represent the House Judiciary Committee's first request for testimony and documents since Republicans won a narrower-than-expected House majority on Wednesday. Angered by the FBI seizure of classified documents from Trump's Florida home in August, Republicans accuse the Biden administration of politicizing the FBI and Justice Department. The Judiciary and Oversight probes are expected to be among a raft of Republican investigations into Biden and his administration next year.

☆ Rising star Hakeem Jeffries announces bid to lead U.S. House Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Richard Cowan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

He would build on Pelosi's historic accomplishments as the first female House speaker and the first woman to lead a party in either chamber of Congress. Jeffries satisfies the demand of many House Democrats that younger blood replace the 82-year-old Pelosi, who has had a grip on leadership for the past two decades. 2 position of Democratic whip and moderate Representative Pete Aguilar was expected to seek the job heading the Democratic caucus, which Jeffries now holds. If Jeffries wins the Nov. 30 leadership election, Democrats will be placing party power squarely with New Yorkers. While he is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Jeffries at times has had strained relations with some progressives, who have questioned his ties to corporate America.

☆ U.S. Justice Dept. names war crimes expert as special counsel for Trump probes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Trump called the special counsel appointment a "rigged deal." Biden did not respond to shouted questions from reporters about the special counsel during his only public appearance of the day. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein 1 2 3This marks the second time in five years that the Justice Department has appointed a special counsel to probe Trump's conduct. Smith is the Justice Department's third special counsel to be appointed since 2017 to handle a politically sensitive case. In 2019, Barr appointed John Durham as special counsel to investigate the origins of the FBI's probe into Trump's 2016 campaign.

[1/3] U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wields the gavel as she presides over the House of Representatives approving two counts of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will announce on Thursday whether she will step down as Democratic leader of the chamber, a day after Republicans were projected to have won control of the House in the midterm elections. Pelosi, an 82-year-old liberal from California who is the first woman to hold the powerful job of speaker, has been under pressure during the past few years from younger House Democrats to yield power. House Democrats are set to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30. She became speaker again in 2019 when Democrats rode a wave of opposition to then-President Donald Trump to win control of the House and was re-elected as speaker in November 2021.

☆ Same-sex marriage protection bill clears initial hurdle in U.S. Senate
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It would serve as a legal backstop against any future Supreme Court action by requiring the federal government to recognize any marriage that was legal in the state it was performed. It would not block states from banning same-sex or interracial marriages if the Supreme Court allows them to do so. All 50 Democrats and 12 Republican senators voted to advance the bill in the 100-member Senate. Speaking before Wednesday's vote, Republican Senator Thom Tillis, another key negotiator, called the bill "a good compromise... based on mutual respect for our fellow Americans." In a mark of how far the country has moved on the issue, the Mormon church - once a virulent opponent of legalizing same-sex marriage - came out in support of the bill.

☆ U.S. Senate to hold initial vote on bill protecting same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday will hold an initial vote on legislation to protect the right to same-sex marriage, spurred by concerns that a conservative Supreme Court could reverse its earlier decision that made it legal nationwide. The bill, which is expected to pass the Senate, would serve as a legal backstop against any future Supreme Court action by requiring the federal government recognize any marriage that was legal in the state it was performed. However, it would not block states from banning same-sex or interracial marriages if the Supreme Court allows them to do so. Supporters of same-sex marriage were spurred to act when Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court should also reconsider the legality of same-sex marriage, in a concurring opinion to the court's overturning of federal protections for abortion in June. The bill will have to jump through several more procedural hoops in the Senate before going back to the House for final approval.

Search resuls for: "Andy Sullivan"

25 mentions found