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☆ A student-loan company's 'history of mismanagement' is putting millions of borrowers in public service at risk with payments about to resume, 2 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Reps. Katie Porter and Joe Courtney sent a letter to student-loan company MOHELA on Tuesday. They asked how the company is using its resources to manage the Public Service Loan Forgiveness portfolio. Borrowers have reported difficulty getting help from MOHELA during the payment pause. On Tuesday, Reps. Katie Porter and Joe Courtney sent a letter to Scott Giles, the CEO of student-loan company MOHELA, which manages the Public Service Loan Forgiveness portfolio. Nelnet, another student-loan company, announced in March that it was cutting its call center hours and laying off 550 employees likely due to budget constraints.

Persons: Katie Porter, Joe Courtney, MOHELA, haven't, Scott Giles, Joe Biden's, Porter, Courtney, Giles, Nelnet, — Organizations: Public, Service, Democratic, MOHELA, Joe Biden's Education Department, Department, —, Education Department Locations: MOHELA, Wall, Silicon, PSLF

☆ Democrats are increasingly optimistic about the IRS' plan to offer free tax prep software and break TurboTax and H&R Block's stranglehold
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A small part of the Inflation Reduction Act instructed the IRS to look into developing a free tax filing program. According to a Bloomberg Second Measure report, TurboTax is by far the most popular tax filing service with a 73 percent market share in May 2021. "The Free File program, which was created in partnership with tax preparation companies, clearly has not been successful in over two decades." Intuit, which makes TurboTax, and H&R Block both pulled out of the Free File Alliance during the pandemic. "Americans will be powerless when the IRS completely controls the tax filing process from start to finish."

Persons: It's, Joe Biden, Don Beyer, Beyer, Katie Porter, it's, Porter, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Jason Smith Organizations: IRS, Service, Privacy, Democratic, Internal, Bloomberg, Coalition For Free, Rep, Alliance, Intuit, Office, Republican, Biden Administration Locations: Wall, Silicon, California

☆ Lawmakers pressure McCarthy once again on stock trading ban: 'You have not acted on your promise'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said last year that he wanted to tackle the issue of stock trading in Congress. In a letter exclusively shared with Insider, several lawmakers are pressing for answers from him. But since becoming House Speaker, he's declined to raise the issue, other than comments he made on Donald Trump Jr.'s podcast in January. And though some Freedom Caucus members are supportive of banning stock trading in Congress, they're likely to object to a hastily-scheduled vote on the matter. "Then it would be appropriate to go to Speaker McCarthy and say we've passed both tests."

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Nancy Pelosi's, he's, Donald Trump Jr, —, Pelosi, Angie Craig, Andy Kim of, Joe Neguse, Katie Porter, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Abigail Spanberger, Craig, they're, Ken Buck, we've, Buck Organizations: Service, Democratic, Republican, Caucus, House Administration Locations: Wall, Silicon, Minnesota, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Colorado, Katie Porter of California, Illinois, Virginia, Ken Buck of Colorado, House

☆ Some House Republicans want to hold up a major tax bill until it includes a big break for wealthy blue state residents
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some House Republicans are pushing yet again to revisit the SALT deduction. That State and Local Tax deduction — known as SALT — has proven to be a bipartisan scourge, with Republicans and Democrats alike from impacted areas rallying to restore the tax break to a more generous level. "I remain adamantly opposed to the SALT cap," Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who spoke out and voted against the legislation that created the SALT cap in 2017, told Insider in a statement. "I promised Long Islanders I would fight tooth and nail to restore our SALT deduction. He added: "There is bipartisan support for restoring the SALT deduction which will put direct pressure on Republican leadership to listen to the millions of struggling middle-class families and take action to restore SALT."

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Chris Smith, Smith, Long, New York Republican Nick LaLota, Marc Goldwein, Goldwein, Joe Biden's, Howard Gleckman, Gleckman, Josh Gottheimer, Katie Porter, Andrew Garbarino, California's Young Kim, Gottheimer Organizations: Republicans, GOP, Service, Politico, Washington Post, Long Islanders, New York Republican, Federal Budget, Democrats, Center, Democratic, Tax Locations: Wall, Silicon, it's, New York , New Jersey, California, New Jersey, Washington, California , New York, New York, Katie Porter of California, Jersey

☆ Rep. Adam Schiff's Senate campaign is sitting on more money than any presidential campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff's Senate campaign is sitting on more cash than any presidential candidate. The campaign reported having about $29,800,864 in cash on hand at the end of Q2. The haul can in part be attributed to a massive fundraising push by his campaign after the House of Representatives censured him. Schiff's campaign also has millions more cash on hand than any other presidential candidate. The money that Schiff's Senate campaign is sitting on will become increasingly useful in the coming months as he runs a competitive campaign against Rep. Katie Porter and longtime Rep. Barbara Lee to replace outgoing Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Persons: Adam Schiff's, Adam Schiff, it's, That's, Rob Byers, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Trump, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Insider's Bryan Metzger, Schiff, Porter Organizations: Democratic, Adam Schiff's Senate, Service, Democratic National Committee, California, FEC, Republican, Florida Gov, Schiff's Senate, Save America PAC, PAC, Federal, Commission, NBC, Senate, Representatives, Public, Institute of Locations: Wall, Silicon, Schiff's, Institute of California

☆ Google and Meta got customer data from tax prep firms, and lawmakers want a probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A group of lawmakers led by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren are calling on the Biden administration to investigate how tax prep software companies may have illegally shared customer data with tech platforms Google and Meta . Some statements the tax prep companies provided to the publications at the time seemed to indicate the data sharing was done accidentally. Our system is designed to filter out potentially sensitive data it is able to detect." Among their findings released Wednesday, the lawmakers said that millions of taxpayers' information had been shared with Big Tech firms through the tax prep software and that both the tax prep companies and tech firms were "reckless" in how they handled sensitive information. Although Meta and Google both said they have filters to catch sensitive data that's inadvertently collected, they seemed to be "ineffective," the lawmakers wrote.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democratic Sen, Biden, General Merrick Garland, Lina Khan, Daniel Werfel, J, Russell George, TaxAct, Block, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, Tammy Duckworth, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Katie Porter, Warren, Meta Organizations: Capitol, Massachusetts Democratic, Google, Federal Trade, Tax, Facebook, Meta, CNBC, Big Tech, YouTube, Apple Locations: Washington ,, Sens, D

☆ Tax prep companies shared private taxpayer data with Google and Meta for years, congressional probe finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Some of the tax-prep companies still do not know whether the data they shared continues to be held by the tech platforms, the report said. The Warren aide told CNN it was unclear whether Meta knew it was inappropriately using taxpayer data at the time. The investigation found that all three tax-prep companies had discontinued their use of Meta’s pixel after The Markup’s report last November. “The scope of ‘taxpayer information’ is broad by design,” Rosenthal said, adding that tax-prep companies can be sued for “knowingly” or “recklessly” leaking that information. Depending on the strength of the allegations, the tax-prep companies could quickly be forced into a binding settlement, said a former FTC official who requested anonymity in order to speak more freely.

Persons: “, ”, David Vladeck, Vladeck, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Meta, Warren, ‘, Sens, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Katie Porter, TIGTA didn’t, Block, TaxSlayer didn’t, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, TurboTax, Steven Rosenthal, ” Rosenthal Organizations: CNN, Meta, Google, Georgetown University, Federal Trade Commission, Democratic, FTC, Internal Revenue Service, Justice Department, Tax Administration, Intuit, IRS, Urban, Brookings Tax Locations: United States, Google’s

CNN —Longtime California Rep. Grace Napolitano announced Saturday that she is retiring from Congress at the end of her current term. Napolitano has made mental health care a priority over her tenure in Washington and serves as a co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus. We have made it acceptable for people to talk about their mental health and get treatment,” she said Saturday. Napolitano is the ninth Democrat and 12th House member so far to announce they won’t run for reelection in 2024. And she’s not the only California Democrat leaving the chamber at the end of the term.

Persons: CNN —, Grace Napolitano, Napolitano, . New Jersey Democrat Bill Pascrell, Joe Biden, ”, –, Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee –, Democratic Sen, Dianne Feinstein Organizations: CNN, CNN — Longtime California Rep, California State Assembly, . New, . New Jersey Democrat, Congressional, Republicans, Congressional Mental Health Caucus, Natural Resources Committee, House Transportation, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, California Democrat, Democratic Locations: San Gabriel Valley, Southeastern Los Angeles County, Texas, Los Angeles, California, Norwalk , California, ., . New Jersey, Washington

☆ The GOP push to censure Adam Schiff may only help his Senate campaign in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But with Schiff running for Senate as a #Resistance hero, the censure is only likely to help him. His Senate campaign fundraised heavily on it, and he thanked his GOP colleagues in a floor speech. In a floor speech earlier on Wednesday, Schiff thanked his Republican colleagues for bringing the censure resolution, saying he stood "proudly" before them. The censure resolution alleges that Schiff "misled the American people and brought disrepute upon the House of Representatives" for his handling of the Trump-Russia investigation. Schiff has also led Porter in recent fundraising, though the congresswoman has amassed a large war chest from her House campaign account.

Persons: Adam Schiff, Schiff, fundraised, —, Paul Gosar of, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Anna Paulina Luna, MAGA, we've, Donald Trump, Trump's, he's, Doug LaMalfa, John Duarte, Trump, Kevin Kiley, I'm, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia excoriated Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Porter Organizations: Senate, GOP, Service, Republicans, Representatives, Republican Rep, Democratic Rep, MAGA Republicans, Trump, House Intelligence, Republican, Democratic Locations: California, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, California's, Russia, cahoots

☆ Steve Garvey, All-Star for the Dodgers and Padres, Explores Senate Run in California
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Neil Vigdor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Steve Garvey, a perennial baseball All-Star in the 1970s and 1980s for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, said on Friday that he was weighing a run for the United States Senate in California as a Republican. a celebrity name in the high-profile race to replace Senator Dianne Feinstein, 89, a Democrat, who is the chamber’s oldest member and is retiring at the end of her term. She has recently struggled with health problems that have prompted calls from some fellow Democrats for her to retire sooner. In heavily Democratic California, the race has drawn tepid interest from Republicans. California hasn’t elected a Republican to the Senate since 1988, and a host of prominent Democrats are waiting in the wings, including Representatives Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee.

Persons: Steve Garvey, Dianne Feinstein, Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee Organizations: Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, United States, Republican, Democrat, Republicans, California hasn’t Locations: California, Democratic California

☆ California Rep. Ro Khanna again calls on Dianne Feinstein to resign over health concerns: 'It's painful to watch.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Ro Khanna said it was "painfully obvious" that Sen. Feinstein should no longer serve in office. "I think they should have a loving conversation about it being time," Khanna said of Feinstein's confidantes. "First, let me say, I admire her career," Khanna told Wagner. Upon her return to the Senate, Feinstein appeared disoriented as an aide whisked her through the Capitol, according to The Times. "While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties.

☆ With Feinstein Ailing, Newsom’s Vow Looms Over Senate Race
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Thomas Fuller | Shane Goldmacher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two years ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California vowed on national television that if Senator Dianne Feinstein stepped down early, he would appoint a Black woman to replace her. It was a promise that was only theoretical at the time even though questions were already emerging about the fitness of Ms. Feinstein, who turns 90 next month, to serve out her term. But after Ms. Feinstein contracted shingles earlier this year, was homebound and then returned to Washington frailer than ever, the contingency plan has become far more pressing — and more politically complicated. Now, if a vacancy comes, Mr. Newsom would have to decide whether to elevate Ms. Lee over her white rivals or find a caretaker who would agree not to seek a full term in 2024, presuming he keeps his pledge.

☆ Pelosi's daughter is Dianne Feinstein's primary caregiver at the Capitol, but the former speaker denies using the relationship to help her protégé replace the aging senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Since Dianne Feinstein returned to office in May, Nancy Pelosi's daughter has been alongside her. A recent report from Politico suggested Pelosi could be using her daughter to keep Feinstein from retiring, possibly helping Rep. Adam Schiff's chances of replacing her. Pelosi's office denied any political motives for aiding Feinstein. Feinstein, 89, missed several months of votes in the Senate due to her diagnosis in February before returning in May. And earlier this week, Feinstein denied ever missing time away from the Senate due to shingles.

☆ Dianne Feinstein claimed she hasn't 'been gone' when asked about her lengthy absence from the Senate: 'No, I've been here. I've been voting'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Feinstein insisted to reporters on Tuesday that she hasn't been absent from the Senate. I've been voting," she told LA Times' Ben Oreskes at the Capitol on Tuesday. The 89-year-old senator returned to Washington last week after a nearly 3-month-long absence. "No, I haven't been gone," she told the Times' Ben Oreskes on Tuesday when asked how her Senate colleagues have responded to her return. Feinstein then reportedly deflected a question about lawmakers calling for her to resign before an aide wheeled her away.

☆ Dianne Feinstein once mistook GOP Sen. Tim Scott for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, book says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein once mistook two different Black senators, according to a story relayed in a new book. She confused GOP Sen. Tim Scott for Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, saying she'd been rooting for him. Scott reportedly played along, telling Feinstein that her "support means a lot." Scott, a Republican who's served in the Senate since 2013, is said to have played along with Feinstein's apparent confusion. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 🟧 (@RepDeanPhillips) April 12, 2023But on Wednesday, Feinstein finally returned to the Capitol, continuing to suffer balance and vision impairments.

☆ Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate following a nearly 3-month absence and calls for her resignation from fellow Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein returned to the US Senate on Wednesday. Several fellow Democrats called for her to resign, arguing her absence imperiled their party's agenda. The 89-year-old California Democrat returned this week after spending nearly 3 months away from Washington due to complications from a shingles infection. But her prolonged absence created a deadlock on the Senate Judiciary Committee, preventing Democrats from swiftly advancing nominees to the floor that lacked Republican support. Feinstein arrived at the Capitol just before 3pm on Wednesday and was greeted by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

CNN —Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has been away from the Senate since February while recovering from shingles, will return to Washington on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson. Feinstein sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and without her vote on the panel, Democrats said that they would have to delay some of President Biden’s key judicial nominees. In April, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California became the first member of Congress to call on Feinstein to resign. In April, the California senator asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee, and he proposed that Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin take her spot. She needs to get well so she can get back to work,” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is also 89, said.

☆ Photo of Chuck Schumer's notes show he's 'hopeful' Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein are "hopeful" she'll return to the Senate next week, per a photograph of Schumer's notes. Feinstein hasn't voted in the Senate since mid-February, around the time of her shingles diagnosis. In her absence, Senate Democrats have faced difficulties confirming judges. With Feinstein absent from the Senate, Senate Republicans — along with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin — voted 50-49 to roll back a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency rule regarding pollution from trucks. Several prominent California Democrats have already declared to run for her seat, including Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter.

☆ These are the top Senate races to watch in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

They have reason to be hopeful: Democrats face a daunting 2024 Senate map that puts them on defense in 23 of the cycle's 34 races, including multiple seats considered ripe for GOP challenges. The grim outlook has some Senate Democrats considering retirement, even after the caucus expanded to a 51-49 majority following a better-than-expected showing in the midterms. Jim Justice, reportedly the state's richest man and one of its favored contenders for the Senate race. But the 2024 Senate race in Ohio is currently considered a toss-up, as Republicans have made significant gains in the state in the last two election cycles. Sabato's Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report both say the Michigan Senate race leans Democratic.

☆ Rep. Katie Porter recounts her frustration at having to explain housing policy to onetime HUD secretary Ben Carson during a congressional hearing: 'I was tutoring a neurosurgeon'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Katie Porter detailed an odd 2019 exchange she had with Ben Carson over housing policy. Carson was unaware of the term REO and thought she said Oreo, as in the cookie sandwich. But Carson thought she was talking about a cookie — an Oreo to be specific. Porter detailed how she asked Carson if he knew the meaning of an REO during the hearing. "Secretary Ben Carson, the man in charge of housing for our nation, asked me if I meant 'Oreo.'

☆ House Dems start to call on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two Democratic members of Congress just called on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to retire. "I agree with @RoKhanna," Phillips wrote, "Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. Feinstein, who's 89 years old, hasn't cast a vote since mid-February, around the time of her shingles diagnosis. Feinstein currently sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Democrats hold 11 votes to the Republican Party's 10. Without Feinstein present, committee chair Sen. Dick Durbin has for delay committee meetings on multiple occasions when Feinstein would be the pivotal 11th vote, according to NBC News.

☆ High egg prices send profits at largest US producer soaring more than 700%
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the United States, reported revenue doubled and profit surged 718% last quarter because of sharply higher egg prices. Despite the higher prices, the total number of eggs it sold edged up 1%, so its overall revenue rose 109% to $997.5 million. A deadly and highly infectious avian flu has forced US farmers to kill millions of egg-laying hens, reducing the country’s egg supply and driving up prices. Egg producers’ pricing decisions have been criticized by some politicians, who accuse them of profiteering and price gouging. Egg prices did start to retreat slightly in the government’s most recent inflation reading for February, but are still up more than 55% from a year earlier.

The first test in the race to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is a year away, but the top three contenders are already furiously raising money, crisscrossing the state and amassing endorsements in what could become one of the most expensive statewide contests in recent memory. Reps. Barbara Lee , Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have been hitting the campaign trail hard, shoring up support and introducing themselves to new voters since Mrs. Feinstein announced in February that she would retire at the end of her term. The trio are some of the biggest names in Democratic politics but the field appears wide open, with no candidate drawing more than a quarter of the vote in an early poll.

☆ California Rep. Ro Khanna passes on Senate run and backs liberal icon Barbara Lee over Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff: 'She stood up so strongly against the war in Iraq'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ro Khanna on Sunday announced that he's backing Rep. Barbara Lee in the 2024 California Senate race. The progressive congressman is endorsing Lee over fellow Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. Khanna during his announcement said that Lee would bring a "unique voice" to the upper chamber. Rep. Barbara Lee of California. Scott Applewhite, File"Barbara Lee is a unique voice," Khanna said.

☆ Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the SVB collapse is 'very different' from the 2008 crisis and that the financial system is 'significantly stronger than it was 15 years ago'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In prepared remarks, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the SVB situation is very different from 2008. "Our financial system is also significantly stronger than it was 15 years ago," she said. Dean Baker, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research who predicted the 2008 housing bubble crash, told Insider that "this is not a 2008, 2009 story at all." "To this day I always argue with people, the problem was the housing bubble. "But the real problem was that the housing market was driving the economy — a housing bubble, and it collapsed, and there was no easy replacement for that.

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