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☆ Republican Demands and Divisions Drive Impasse Toward a Shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The spending showdown that has brought the government to the brink of a partial shutdown this week is being fueled by Republicans in Congress, who, after failing in their efforts to slash federal funding, are still insisting on right-wing policy dictates. House Republicans loaded up their spending bills with hundreds of partisan policy mandates, a vast majority of which had no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate or being signed by President Biden. Republicans also are still seeking to cut federal programs aimed at providing nutrition assistance for low-income families as well as for women and infants. Complicating the picture for Speaker Mike Johnson, who met at the White House on Tuesday with President Biden and the other top congressional leaders, Republicans themselves have been divided over what to push for in spending talks. Ultraconservative lawmakers who rarely support spending legislation have been the loudest voices in favor of cuts and hard-line policy provisions, but more mainstream and politically endangered Republicans have refused to back them.

Persons: Biden, Mike Johnson Organizations: Republicans, Democratic, of Veterans Affairs, White

☆ A Century Later, 17 Wrongly Executed Black Soldiers Are Honored at Gravesites
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Michael Levenson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

More than a century ago, 110 Black soldiers were convicted of murder, mutiny and other crimes at three military trials held at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Nineteen were hanged, including 13 on a single day, Dec. 11, 1917, in the largest mass execution of American soldiers by the Army. The soldiers’ families spent decades fighting to show that the men had been betrayed by the military. In November, they won a measure of justice when the Army secretary, Christine E. Wormuth, overturned the convictions and acknowledged that the soldiers “were wrongly treated because of their race and were not given fair trials.”On Thursday, several descendants of the soldiers gathered at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery as the Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated new headstones for 17 of the executed servicemen.

Persons: Fort Sam Houston, Christine E, “ Organizations: Fort, Army, Fort Sam, National Cemetery, Department of Veterans Affairs Locations: Fort Sam, San Antonio

☆ Nearly 153,000 people will be notified that their student loan debt is canceled
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington CNN —Nearly 153,000 student loan borrowers currently enrolled in a new repayment plan launched by the Biden administration are expected to get an email Wednesday notifying them that their remaining federal student loan debt will be canceled, totaling about $1.2 billion. Biden’s plans to provide student debt relief were dealt a significant blow when the Supreme Court rejected his signature student loan forgiveness program last year. Nearly $138 billion of federal student loan debt has been canceled for almost 3.9 million borrowers since Biden took office. Most of the federal student loan debt cancellations that have taken place under Biden have come through programs that existed before he took office. The PSLF program cancels outstanding federal student loan debt for public-sector workers who have made 120 qualifying monthly student loan payments, or about 10 years’ worth of payments.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Biden’s, “, ” Biden, he’s, Trump, Betsy DeVos, CNN’s Nikki Carvajal, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, Department of Education, SAVE, of Education, Office, PSLF, Corinthian Colleges, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department, Education, Social Security Locations: Culver City , California

☆ Biden has forgiven $136 billion in student debt. More relief is on the way
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty ImagesIt's never been a better time to get rid of your student debt. Paul Morigi | Getty ImagesThe Biden administration has tried to reverse the trend of borrowers being excluded from the relief on technicalities. Some 790,000 public servants have gotten their debt erased as a result, amounting to more than $56 billion in relief. Total and Permanent Disability DischargeThe Biden administration has also forgiven the student debt of more than 510,000 disabled borrowers. Borrower defenseAnother 1.3 million borrowers have walked away from their debt over the past few years thanks to the Borrower Defense Loan Discharge.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Joe Biden's, James Clyburn, he's, George W, Bush, Paul Morigi, Biden, Kantrowitz Organizations: Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, AFP, Getty, Supreme, CNBC, U.S . Department of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Studentaid.gov, of Education, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Department Locations: Maryland

A group of transgender veterans filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to force the Department of Veteran Affairs to begin providing and paying for gender-affirming surgeries. A spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs said it does not comment on ongoing litigation. But he pointed to 2021 statements from Veteran Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, who said the VA was beginning a years long rulemaking process that would result in providing gender-affirming surgeries. McDonough said the VA would use the time to “develop capacity to meet the surgical needs” of transgender veterans. Natalie Kastner, a 39-year-old disabled veteran from Texas, said she went to the VA in 2022 seeking surgery.

Persons: Rebekka Eshler, Denis McDonough, McDonough, “, ” Eshler, Natalie Kastner, ” Organizations: Department of Veteran Affairs, Transgender American Veterans Association, United States, Appeals, Federal Circuit, Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Locations: Washington, Texas

☆ Native American communities have the highest suicide rates, yet interventions are scarce
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Cheryl Platzman Weinstock | Kff Health News | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

He spent more than a week in an inpatient mental health unit, but once home, he was offered sparse mental health resources. Despite decades of research into suicide prevention, suicide rates among Indigenous people have remained stubbornly high, especially among Indigenous people ages 10 to 24, according to the CDC. Experts say that’s because the national strategy for suicide prevention isn’t culturally relevant or sensitive to Native American communities’ unique values. Several tribal communities are attempting to implement a similar system in their communities, said Cwik. Pamela End of Horn, a social worker and national suicide prevention consultant at IHS, said the Department of Veterans Affairs “has a suicide coordinator in every medical center across the U.S., plus case managers, and they have an entire office dedicated to suicide prevention.

Persons: Amanda MorningStar, “, ”, MorningStar, Ben, Ben MorningStar, Mary Cwik, ” Cwik, Joseph P, Gros, Stephen O’Connor, Teresa Brockie, Brockie, Fort Belknap, It’s, Cwik, Pamela, Department of Veterans Affairs “, Robert Coberly, Coberly, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” Ben MorningStar Organizations: Health, Blackfeet, Centers for Disease Control, Montana Budget, Policy, . Montana, CDC, Indian Health Service, IHS, Center, Indigenous Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard University, Division of Services, Intervention, National Institute of Mental Health, ”, NIMH, National Institutes of Health, Mental Health Services Administration, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, American Public Health Association, Department of Veterans Affairs, Oglala Lakota, Rural Behavioral Health Institute, CNN, CNN Health, Kaiser Health, KFF Locations: Heart Butte , Montana, United States, Heart Butte, Baltimore, Montana, Fort, Aaniiih, Fort Peck, Peck, Arizona, U.S, South Dakota, Tulalip, Washington

☆ Alan Garber is Harvard's interim president after Claudine Gay's resignation. Here's what we know about him.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewFollowing Harvard President Claudine Gay's resignation Tuesday, the prestigious university announced its current provost will take on the role of interim president as the search begins for a new leader. Alan M. Garber, an economist and physician, has served as Harvard's provost and professor of economics, public policy, and healthcare policy for over 12 years. AdvertisementSince joining Harvard's faculty in 2011, Garber has been involved in Jewish clubs and events on campus, including Harvard Chabad and Hillel. Garber's interim stint as Harvard President comes after weeks of controversy surrounding the school's now-former president, Claudine Gay. "It is with a heavy heart but a deep love for Harvard that I write to share that I will be stepping down as president," Gay wrote in her resignation letter.

Persons: —, Claudine Gay's, Alan M, Garber, Alan Garber, Anne Yahanda, Brigham, Harvard Chabad, Hillel, I've, we've, Claudine Gay, Gay, Elizabeth Magill, Sally Kornbluth, Magill, Elise Stefanik, Bill Ackman Organizations: Service, Gay, Business, Harvard, Stanford, Boston's Harvard, Women's, Harvard Gazette, Hamas, Harvard Crimson, University, Harvard Corporation, Harvard Medical School, Harvard's, of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, of Public Health, Stanford University, Department of Veterans Affairs, Health, System, Center for Health, Center for Primary Care, Research, of Pennsylvania, MIT, New York, Corporation Locations: Illinois, Chan

VA loan borrowers were given the option to put their mortgages in forbearance, meaning they could temporarily pause their mortgage payments. So on November 17, the VA announced a stopgap for distressed VA borrowers. Advertisement"This is good news for VA borrowers, especially those who may be struggling with their mortgage payments," says Christy Bunce, president of New American Funding. How to take advantage of the Refund Modification programDuring the pause, the VA is also offering its Refund Modification program. The VA says that borrowers struggling to make mortgage payments should visit the VA Housing Assistance website or call 877-827-3702 for help.

Persons: servicers, —, who's, it's, Christy Bunce, Bunce Organizations: Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, NPR, Veterans, New Locations: forbearance

☆ GOP lawmakers call for VA to slash reliance on China for medical supplies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —A pair of Republicans leading powerful House committees are calling for the Department of Veterans Affairs to speed up efforts to decrease the agency’s reliance on China for medical supplies, CNN has learned. The Covid-19 pandemic laid bare a dangerous vulnerability in America’s medical supply chains that resulted in shortages of masks, respirators and other life-saving gear. “The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the national security and public health risks of failing to guarantee adequate medical supplies. As the biggest buyer of medical supplies among federal agencies, it has considerable influence. Congress has attempted to take steps to boost the resilience of the nation’s medical supply chain by easing dependence on goods from less friendly nations like China.

Persons: Mike Gallagher, Mike Bost, Denis McDonough, Bost, Gallagher, “, ” Terrence Hayes, Joe Biden, Health Richard Stone, ” Bost, McDonough, Democratic Sen, Tom Carper, Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Department of Veterans Affairs, CNN, Veterans ’, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Department of Veteran Affairs, Defense Department, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health, Human Services, Republicans, Health, World Trade Organization, Congress, Democratic, Republican Locations: New York, China, United States, America, Covid, Mexico, Malaysia

☆ Where are the 12 US gov't funding bills to avert shutdown?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But first, the House and Senate would have to agree upon the overall dollar amount of spending for the 12 bills combined. The Senate passed its version as part of a three-bill package on Nov. 1 with strong bipartisan support. DEFENSEOne of the largest of the 12 bills funds the Department of Defense - the Army, Navy, Air Force and the CIA. The Senate's version passed out of committee on July 27. The Senate's version passed out of committee on July 27.

Persons: Jon Cherry, shutdowns, Joe Biden, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Moira Warburton, Aurora Ellis Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, Senate, of Veterans Affairs, Army, Navy, Air Force, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Housing, Urban, House Republicans, Amtrak, Department of Defense, CIA, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory, of, of Indian Affairs, Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, The, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of State, Agency for International Development, Peace Corps, Congress, Capitol Police, of Congress, Office, Treasury, of Columbia, Federal Trade Commission, COMMERCE, of Commerce, U.S . Census, U.S . Patent, Department of Justice, Republicans, HUMAN, of Education, Department of Health, Human Services, Department of Labor, Social Security Administration, National Labor Relations Board, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, New York, U.S, Washington

☆ Biden administration has forgiven $127 billion in student debt. What to know about the relief options
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on new efforts to cancel student loan debt at the White House on Oct. 4, 2023. watch nowThe Biden administration has evaluated millions of borrowers' loan accounts to see if they should have had their debt cleared. Paul Morigi | Getty ImagesThe Biden administration has tried to reverse the trend of borrowers being excluded from the relief on technicalities. Total and Permanent Disability dischargeThe Biden administration has also forgiven the student debt of more than 500,000 disabled borrowers. The $11.7 billion in aid was delivered under the Total and Permanent Disability discharge.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Dietsch, Mark Kantrowitz, Kantrowitz, Biden, George W, Bush, Paul Morigi Organizations: White, Getty, Public, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Studentaid.gov, U.S . Department of Education, Social Security Administration, The Department of Veterans Affairs

☆ After Shooting, Maine Senators in the Spotlight on Guns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | More About Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, coupled with a conservative Democratic congressman’s reversal on an assault weapons ban, has turned the spotlight on the state’s two senators, Susan Collins, a moderate Republican, and Angus King, a Democrat-leaning independent, both of whom are skeptical about banning military-style rifles. Representative Jared Golden, among the most conservative Democrats in the House, rushed back to his Lewiston district on Thursday, as a gunman who killed 18 people in his hometown remained at large. He then stunned constituents in his traditionally pro-gun district by declaring that it was time for him “to take responsibility” for his “failure” to back a ban on assault weapons, “like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing.”Mr. Golden’s reversal is likely to put pressure on Maine’s senators, both of whom boast of occupying the political center and have used that position to forge significant bipartisan compromises in the past, including gun safety legislation passed last year after the murder of children in Uvalde, Texas. Ms. Collins, in particular, has taken heat from Democrats who say her professions of moderation have faltered at crucial times. Mr. King, who is standing for re-election in 2024, joined Republicans — including Ms. Collins — on Wednesday to back an amendment to a spending bill that would prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs from automatically sending veterans’ personal information to the federal firearms background check system if they are deemed mentally unfit to manage their benefits.

Persons: Susan Collins, Angus King, Jared Golden, “, ”, ” Mr, Collins, . King, Collins — Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Democrat, Republicans —, Department of Veterans Affairs Locations: Lewiston , Maine, Lewiston, Uvalde , Texas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The COVID-19 treatments millions of Americans have taken for free from the federal government will enter the private market next week with a hefty price tag. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is setting the price for a five-day treatment of Paxlovid at $1,390, but Americans can still access the pills at no cost -- for now. The less commonly used COVID-19 treatment Lagevrio, manufactured by Merck, also will hit the market next week. People on private insurance may start to notice copays for the treatments once their pharmacy or doctor's office runs out of the COVID-19 treatments they received from the government. Full-year revenue for Paxlovid and Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, is expected to be approximately $12.5 billion.

Persons: “ Pfizer, Paxlovid, coronavirus, Pfizer's, “, Tom Murphy Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Merck, Health, Human Services, The Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Indian Health Service, U.S, Associated Press, and Drug Administration, Paxlovid Locations: U.S, Indianapolis

☆ Student loan forgiveness: How Biden continues to cancel debt after Supreme Court ruling
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Katie Lobosco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington CNN —Although the Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden’s signature student loan forgiveness program in late June, his administration has found ways to cancel more than $48 billion in debt since then. That’s more student loan forgiveness than was granted under any other administration – in part due to the Biden administration’s efforts to temporarily expand some debt relief programs and to correct past administrative errors made to borrowers’ student loan accounts. Expanding debt relief program for public-sector workersNearly $51 billion of student loan debt has been canceled for 715,000 borrowers through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program since Biden took office. The PSLF program cancels outstanding federal student loan debt for public-sector workers who have made 120 qualifying monthly student loan payments, or about 10 years’ worth of payments. Nearly 513,000 borrowers with a total and permanent disability have received $11.7 billion in student loan forgiveness since 2021.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, Trump, they’d, –, “, Virginia Foxx, ”, Abby Shafroth, Shafroth, Betsy DeVos Organizations: Washington CNN, of Education, Office, Congress, ”, CNN, Department of Education, Republican, Education, White, New Civil Liberties Alliance, Cato Institute, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, National Consumer Law Center, Loan, Public, PSLF, University of Phoenix, Corinthian Colleges, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department, Social Security Locations: Michigan

☆ 5 successful real-estate investors who started with as little as $5,000 in savings explain how they leveraged FHA loans to buy their first properties
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Before writing off real estate as too expensive to invest in, you'll want to consider all of your options. Here's how it works and how you can use one to buy real estate and start building long-term wealth. How everyday people have leveraged FHA loans to buy property and build wealthBoston-based investor Karina Mejia used an FHA loan to buy her first property at age 22 . It's a joke but it is solid advice: Before you actually get married, you should each use your own FHA loan." You can get your foot in the door without too much upfront cash by using an FHA loan."

Persons: Ludomir Wanot, witxh, Wanot, Karina Mejia, Sasha, It's, Mejia, Avery Heilbron, Heilbron, Jervais, Jim Resonable, That's Organizations: Federal Housing Association, Evergreen Housing, Ludomir, Seattle, Department of Veterans Affairs Locations: Seattle, Boston, Georgia, North Carolina, North Carolina , California

☆ Would you pay hundreds of dollars for an app your doctor prescribed? Buzzy digital therapeutics could make you healthier — but your insurer probably won't cover them.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Natalie Rahhal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Apps such as Somryst — known as prescription digital therapeutics — aim to raise the bar for personal healthcare delivered via smartphone. Digital therapeutics show promise for treating IBS and insomniaFunding for digital therapeutics surged by 133% between 2020 and 2021, and the sector's global value is estimated to grow from roughly $7 billion to about $28 billion from now to 2030, Fortune Business Insights reported. In fact, many insurance companies want years of data on real-world use before covering digital therapeutics, Insider previously reported. While there are free nonprescription DTxs available from sources such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, those aren't cleared by the FDA, and privately made prescription digital therapeutics often cost hundreds of dollars. "Digital therapeutics are meant to increase access to care.

Persons: Charlotte Jee, Jee, Corey McCann, John Torous, Beth Israel, they're, Torous, They're, AspyreRx, Mark Berman, hadn't Organizations: Healthcare, Morning, MIT Technology, National Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, Pear Therapeutics, Harvard Medical, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, Fortune Business, FDA, Better Therapeutics, Disease Control, Department of Health, Human Services, of Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Aetna

☆ Zillow offers a 1% down payment loan program
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Zillow Home Loans pays an additional 2%, bringing the total down payment to 3%, which is typically the minimum payment required for a conventional home loan. Currently the program is only available to buyers in Arizona, according to Zillow, with plans to expand. With mortgage rates crossing over 7% in recent weeks and home prices rising, home sales have plummeted over the past year. Offering a low down payment program is in line with Zillow’s return to its core business after a short-lived expansion into the ibuying business. Zillow also offers a down payment assistance tool to see if you are eligible for other programs.

Persons: Zillow, Rich Barton, haven’t, Orphe Divounguy, ” Organizations: DC CNN, Mortgage, Association, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, Consumer Financial Locations: Washington, Arizona, homeownership, Phoenix

☆ GOP congressman who voted twice against veterans health bill is now urging his constituents to enroll in its benefits
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. David Schweikert voted twice last year against a bill to provide health benefits to veterans. But now, he's urging his constituents to sign up to receive benefits from the program. Now, the Arizona Republican is urging his constituents to sign up for the benefits created by that same legislation. In both instances, Schweikert was among the Republicans who voted against the bill. It's the latest example of Republican lawmakers touting programs created by legislation that they voted against.

Persons: David Schweikert, he's, Schweikert, Joe Biden —, —, Biden, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville Organizations: Service, Arizona Republican, Arizona, Twitter, Facebook, —, Department of Veterans Affairs, Infrastructure Law Locations: Wall, Silicon, Arizona, Schweikert's Scottsdale, Alabama

☆ Getting just 2 bills signed into law is enough to make Sen. Jon Tester the most effective legislator so far this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Jon Tester has had two of his bills signed into law after passing both chambers of Congress. Congress has passed far fewer bills this year due to divided government. Yet that's enough to make Tester the single most effective lawmaker in Congress this year, if getting bills signed into law is the sole metric. Just 12 bills have been signed into law by President Joe Biden this Congress. Of course, the reason so few bills have been signed into law is because Congress is now divided.

Persons: Sen, Jon Tester, Democratic Sen, he's, Joe Biden, Biden, Tester, Tim Sheehy, Matt Rosendale Organizations: Congress, Service, Privacy, Democratic, Republican, Veterans Affairs, Veterans, Major, Department of Veterans Affairs, Republicans, US Senate, Caucus Locations: Wall, Silicon, Montana

☆ These 8 daily habits could add up to 24 years to your life, new study says: 'Even adding only one' may lead to 4 extra years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's clear now more than ever that living longer is heavily influenced by lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, but a recent unpublished study found that certain habits can add more than 20 additional years to your life. The research, presented last month at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, found that practicing eight healthy habits at age 40 was associated with an additional 24 years of life for men. Women saw similar benefits from incorporating the practices in their lives at age 40, with 21 extra years added to their lives. "We were really surprised by just how much could be gained with the adoption of one, two, three, or all eight lifestyle factors," said Xuan-Mai Nguyen, lead study author and health science specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs, in a press release. "The earlier the better, but even if you only make a small change in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, it still is beneficial."

Persons: Xuan, Mai Nguyen Organizations: American Society, Department of Veterans Affairs

☆ Some U.S. government agencies are testing out A.I. to help fulfill public records requests
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Lewis Kamb | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Still, some open government and civil rights advocates are already raising concerns that the government's move toward using AI to help address FOIA problems may create new ones. So far, government agencies haven't widely disclosed to the public what kinds of AI tools are being used, and in what fashion, Marshall said. But experts widely agree the FOIA process must be modernized and fixed, as requests can sometimes take months, even years, to fulfill. An increasing number of requesters have turned to the courts for help in prying records loose in a timely manner. The state department is now testing two AI models to help process FOIA requests, Stein said.

Persons: —, Jason R, Adam Marshall, Marshall, they're, Michael Sarich, Eric F, Stein, that's, There's, Bradford Brown, Brown, Mitre, Baron, Clinton, Brett Max Kaufman Organizations: State Department, Justice Department, Centers for Disease Control, NBC News, University of Maryland, Freedom, Press, Justice Department's, Information, Department of Veterans Affairs, Justice, CDC, NBC, Mitre Corp, National Archives, Records Administration, Mitre Locations: —

☆ Shopping for a home? There’s a lot working against you right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In recent weeks, as mortgage rates closed in on 7%, affordability has worsened. Nationally, it takes about 36% of the median household income to make the average mortgage payment — more than the recommended 30% allowance for housing. The Mortgage Credit Availability Index fell by 3.1% to 96.5 in May, the lowest level since January 2013, and was essentially unchanged in June. The MBA index that tracks jumbo loans — loans that are larger than conforming loan limits — saw its second monthly contraction, as some financial institutions reduce their appetite for larger loans that aren’t backed by the government. Mortgage rates are expected to drop the second half of this year as inflation continues to cool, with economists and housing analysts forecasting rates to end the year around 6%.

Persons: Nick Gaylord, “ I’ve, ” Gaylord, it’s, “ I’m, ”, Gaylord, “, Black Knight, Knight, ” Joel Kan, Department of Veterans Affairs —, — Organizations: DC CNN, CNN, Mortgage Bankers Association, ICE Mortgage Technology, Federal Housing Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Association of Realtors Locations: Washington, Minneapolis

[1/2] A general view of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden would veto Republican-backed defense, health and agriculture spending bills if he were presented with them, the White House said on Monday, alleging House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy was backing away from spending levels agreed to in a debt-limit deal. McCarthy and House Republicans were pushing cuts the Biden administration could not accept, the White House said in a statement on Monday. This year's bipartisan debt ceiling deal keeps fiscal 2024 spending flat at this year's levels, allowing a 1% increase for fiscal 2025. The deal was approved by 149 House Republicans - a strong party majority - along with 165 Democrats.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Biden, H.R, Kanishka Singh, Jon Boyle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, House Republicans, Department of Veterans Affairs, House, Democratic, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, H.R, United States, Washington

☆ Remote work has made downtown DC a ghost town as federal office buildings sit mostly empty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But unlike many other US cities, much of DC's downtown office space is controlled by a single landlord: the federal government. There are three major issues when it comes to empty federal building space, Marroni said. Many congressional Republicans have also demanded that the Biden administration both restrict telework and get rid of unused office space. The White House Office of Management and Budget asked federal agencies in April to "substantially increase meaningful in-person work" by limiting telework. But there are concerns — including from employee unions — that restricting remote work could hurt the recruitment and retention of federal workers.

Persons: Muriel Bowser, hasn't, —, David Marroni, Marroni, She's, Biden, Scott Perry, they've Organizations: Office, DC, Service, Republicans, Transportation, Infrastructure, GAO, Pennsylvania Republican, White, Office of Management, Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs, Post, Trump International Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington, DC's, Pennsylvania

☆ Former Disney, Marvel exec Ike Perlmutter plans major donation to back Trump for president
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Donald Trump shakes Ike Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment, hand before signing an executive order at the US Department of Veterans Affairs April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Ike Perlmutter, the former chairman of Marvel Entertainment at Disney , is planning a key donation to back former President Donald Trump's 2024 run for president, according to his spokesman. His wife gave over $2 million to the same pro-DeSantis PAC, according to the records. Disney doesn't have the right to get involved with politics," Perlmutter reportedly told DeSantis in a phone call. Perlmutter told the publication he doesn't remember such a call taking place.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ike Perlmutter, Donald Trump's, Perlmutter, Trump, Perlmutter's, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron, DeSantis, Bob Iger, Iger Organizations: Marvel Entertainment, US Department of Veterans, Disney, Trump, PAC, Commission, Department of Veterans Affairs, Marvel, Republican, Florida Republican Gov, DeSantis PAC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Star Wars Locations: Washington , DC, Florida

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