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☆ Moody's changes US ratings outlook to negative, affirms AAA
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 10 (Reuters) - Moody's on Friday changed the outlook on the government of United States of America's ratings to "negative" from "stable". Moody's affirmed the long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings at "Aaa". COMMENTS:REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE ANDY HARRIS, ON X SOCIAL MEDIA“Moody’s just downgraded our credit rating outlook to negative because of our out-of-control government spending and deficits. "I don't think that there is a significant consequence. WALLY ADEYEMO, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY"While the statement by Moody’s maintains the United States’ Aaa rating, we disagree with the shift to a negative outlook.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Moody's, ANDY HARRIS, JOHN CORNYN, ” STEVEN RICCHIUTO, you've, ” THIERRY WIZMAN, MACQUARIE, “ Moody’s, ” MICHAEL GREEN, JACK ABLIN, CHICAGO “, it's, ”, ” QUINCY KROSBY, CAROL SCHLEIF, We've, CHRISTOPHER HODGE, KARINE JEAN, PIERRE, Moody’s, WALLY ADEYEMO, Biden Organizations: REUTERS, Aaa, Moody’s Investors Service, Capitol, FX, NEW, Republicans, Democrats, BMO, KARINE, Republican, Congressional Republicans, States ’ Aaa, Biden Administration, Global Finance, Markets, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, United States, MIZUHO, Japan, CHICAGO, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, MINNEAPOLIS , MN, American

☆ 2.9 million student-loan borrowers are making $0 monthly payments through a new program Republicans are trying to repeal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Education Department released data showing 5.5 million borrowers have enrolled in the new SAVE plan. Of those borrowers, 2.9 million of them are making $0 monthly payments. AdvertisementAdvertisementMillions of student-loan borrowers are not paying anything toward their balances right now thanks to President Joe Biden's new repayment plan — but Republicans and one Democrat are seeking to block it. On Wednesday, the Education Department announced that 5.5 million student-loan borrowers are now enrolled in the new SAVE income-driven repayment plan intended to lower monthly payments to borrowers. The latest SAVE data from the Education Department comes just over a month after federal student-loan payments resumed following an over three-year pause.

Persons: Joe Manchin, —, Joe Biden's, Education James Kvaal, Pell Grant, Democratic Sen, Bill Cassidy, John Thune, John Cornyn, Biden, servicers Organizations: Education Department, Republican, Service, Education, SAVE, Democratic, GOP, Federal Student Aid, Federal Locations: Sens, Biden's

☆ A leading backer of Tim Scott's White House campaign says the senator's team 'fundamentally miscalculated what it means to run for president' amid sagging polls and Nikki Haley's gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Tim Scott's presidential campaign, once seen as emerging force, has faltered in recent weeks. Scott has sought to offer an optimistic message to voters, but Trump remains on top in the GOP race. The rise of fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley has also complicated Scott's path to the nomination. Over the course of Scott's campaign, his campaign has so far focused heavily on winning the Iowa caucuses, and during the summer he was seemingly clipping at Florida Gov. A leading Scott backer, who spoke to Politico anonymously, remarked that the senator's campaign team "fundamentally miscalculated what it means to run for president and generate news coverage."

Persons: Sen, Tim Scott's, Scott, Trump, Nikki Haley, —, Tim Scott, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, Scott's, Politico, Reagan, Cornyn, Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, they've, Hawkeye, DeSantis, Nathan Brand Organizations: GOP, South, Service, Main Street Republicans, Florida Gov, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Politico, Senate, Hawkeye State, Republican National Committee Locations: South Carolina, Iowa, Texas, New Hampshire, Miami

“The border has never been a money issue,” said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas. It also suggests $1.4 billion to add 375 immigration judges and their teams in addition to money for 1,300 new border patrol agents. “But it’s got to be designed to secure the border, not to facilitate travel through the border,” he said. “No more money should be spent simply to facilitate current border policy.”It's unclear if compromise is possible on the issue. The border is not about money; there’s some money that needs to be spent on certain things, but it is way more about policy.

Persons: Joe Biden, It's, ”, Dan Crenshaw, Biden, “, Colleen Putzel, there's, Eric Adams, Alex Gough, J.B . Pritzker, Maura Healey, Kevin McCarthy, Sen, Kevin Cramer, he’d, it’s, Texas Republican Sen, John Cornyn, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, ” Crenshaw, Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Claire Savage, Mike Casey, Patrick Whittle, Lisa Rathke, Holly Ramer Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, White, Democratic, Homeland Security, Migration Policy Institute, Central America, New York, ”, O’Hare, Illinois Gov, GOP, Texas Republican, Connecticut Democrat, Department of Homeland Security, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Mexico, Israel, Texas, U.S, South, Central, York City, New, implore, New York City, Chicago, ” Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, Boston, Portland , Maine, Montpelier , Vt, Concord, N.H

☆ Kari Lake, previously a fire-breathing, hard-charging, far-right candidate for Arizona governor, may attempt to pivot to normie for her Senate bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Kari Lake on Tuesday launched her bid for the Republican Senate nomination in Arizona. But during her kickoff, Lake didn't focus on grievances and instead framed election integrity as a bipartisan issue. (The move likely dooms the prospects of Blake Masters, the unsuccessful 2022 Senate nominee who The Wall Street Journal previously reported had been set to jump into the 2024 Senate race.) AdvertisementAdvertisementLake defeated Karrin Taylor Robson in last year's Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary. In last year's gubernatorial election, Lake earned 49.6% of the vote, losing by about 17,000 votes out of nearly 2.6 million ballots cast.

Persons: Kari Lake, Trump's, —, Donald Trump, Katie Hobbs, Lake, Trump, Blake Masters, Mario Tama, It's, Doug Ducey, Sen, Jon Kyl, John McCain, Karrin Taylor Robson, Justin Sullivan, John Barrasso of, John Cornyn of, Steve Daines, Mitch McConnell, Kyrsten Sinema —, Ruben Gallego, Gallego, Sinema, she'll, Kyrsten Sinema, Chip Somodevilla, Republican Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who's Organizations: Republican, Service, Democratic, Lake, Trump, Street, Democrat, GOP, Arizona, Regents, Arizona Republican, Washington Republicans, Politico, Capitol, Senate Republican Conference, National Republican Senatorial, Democratic Party, Democratic Rep, Emerson College, Republican Pinal County Sheriff, Republicans, Democrats Locations: Arizona, Mexico, Washington, John Barrasso of Wyoming, John Cornyn of Texas, Montana, Kentucky, Republican Pinal County

The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel is reprehensible. Israel is under heavy attack right now by Hamas and taking action to defend itself and its people. Israel has every right to defend itself.”Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against our ally Israel. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Democrat“Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel is nothing short of horrifying. Israel has every right to defend itself from this unjust war.”Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat“The terrorist attack on Israel is appalling.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, “, Steve Scalise, ” Kevin McCarthy, ” Chuck Schumer, –, Herzog –, ” Mitch McConnell, ” Tom Emmer, ” Katherine Clarke, ” Dick Durbin, ” John Thune, ” Sen, Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat “, Israel, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat “, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat “, Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat “, Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat “, Gary Peters, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat “, Catherine Cortez Masto, Brian Schatz, Hawaii Democrat “, Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat “, John Barrasso, Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican “, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Republican “, Steve Daines, Montana Republican “, Mike Lee, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Kyrsten, Mark Kelly, John Boozman, Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican “, Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler, California Democrat “, today’s, Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat “, John Hickenlooper, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat “, Chris Murphy, Tom Carper, Delaware Democrat “, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Jon Ossoff, Georgia Democrat “, Anat Sultan, Raphael Warnock, “ I’m, Mazie, Tammy Duckworth, Todd Young, Mike Braun, Jerry Moran, Kansas Republican “, Hamas’s, Roger Marshall, Netanyahu, Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican “, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Maine Republican “, Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat “, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Tina Smith, Minnesota Democrat “, Roger Wicker ,, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican “, Cindy Hyde, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, Jon Tester, Montana Democrat “, Deb Fischer, Nebraska Republican “, Pete Ricketts, Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat “, Jeanne Shaheen, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat “, Maggie Hassan, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat “, Bob Menendez, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat “, Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat “, Biden, Ben Ray Lujan, Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat “ I'm, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, North Carolina Republican “, John Hoeven, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican “, Kevin Cramer, Sherrod Brown, Ohio Democrat “, J.D, ”, Vance, James Lankford, Markwayne Mullin, Israel –, Ron Wyden, Bob Casey, John Fetterman, craven, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican “ I’m, Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican “ Shocked, Marsha Blackburn, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican “ Israel, Bill Haggerty, Tennessee Republican “, John Cornyn, John Cornyn , Texas Republican “, Ted Cruz, Mitt, Vile, Peter Welch, Vermont Democrat “, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, Washington Democrat “, Maria Cantwell, Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican “ Israel, Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Republican “, Jim Jordan, Jared Moskowitz, Abigail Spanberger, Elissa Slotkin, Don Bacon, perpetrating, Cori Bush, Missouri Democrat “, Kevin Hern, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican “, ” Rep, Ritchie Torres, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat “, Michael McCaul, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican “ I, Ilhan Omar Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Biden, House, Michigan Democrat, Minnesota Democrat, Virginia Democrat “, Senate Intelligence, Massachusetts Democrat, Islamic, Cory Booker , New, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat, West Virginia Democrat, Wisconsin Democrat, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat, Nevada Democrat, Hawaii Democrat, State, Oregon Democrat, John Barrasso , Wyoming Republican, Iowa Republican, West Virginia Republican, Montana Republican, Utah Republican, Idaho Republican, Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, Alaska Republican “, Arizona Democrat, John Boozman , Arkansas Republican “, Jewish, Arkansas Republican, California Democrat, Colorado Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Delaware Democrat, Israel, Florida Republican, Georgia Democrat, Hawaii Democrat “, Indiana Republican, Indiana Republican “, Kansas Republican, Kentucky Republican, Louisiana Republican, Maine Republican, Maryland Democrat, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican, Smith , Mississippi Republican, Josh Hawley , Missouri Republican, Missouri Republican, Montana Democrat, Nebraska Republican, Jeanne Shaheen , New, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat, Bob Menendez , New, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat, New Mexico Democrat, New, New York Democrat, United, North Carolina Republican, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican, Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Republican “, Ohio Democrat, Vance , Ohio Republican, James Lankford , Oklahoma Republican, Oklahoma Republican, “ Hamas, Rhode, Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican, Tennessee Republican, John Cornyn , Texas Republican, Ted Cruz , Texas Republican, Vermont Democrat, Washington Democrat, Wisconsin Republican, Wyoming Republican, ”, Ohio Republican “, Missouri Democrat, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican, Ritchie Torres , New, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat, Jewish State, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican Locations: Israel, United States, Tehran, The United States, Iran, Michigan, U.S, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont, Cory Booker ,, Cory Booker , New Jersey, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Gary Peters , Michigan, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, John Barrasso , Wyoming, America, Iowa, West, Montana, Iranian, Utah, Idaho, Alabama, Alaska, Alaska Republican “ America, @Israel, Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona, John Boozman , Arkansas, Jewish State, Arkansas, Saudi Arabia, California, Gaza, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mazie Hirono, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Palestine, Roger Wicker , Mississippi, Smith , Mississippi, Josh Hawley , Missouri, Missouri, Nebraska, Jeanne Shaheen ,, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire, Bob Menendez ,, Bob Menendez , New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North, John Hoeven , North, Kevin Cramer , North, Ohio, Vance , Ohio, James Lankford , Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Lindsey Graham , South, South, States, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee, Tennessee, John Cornyn , Texas, Ted Cruz , Texas, Mitt Romney, Virginia, “ Hamas, Washington, Wyoming, Ohio Republican “ America, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma, Ritchie Torres ,, Ritchie Torres , New York, Michael McCaul , Texas

“They’re working as a uniparty up there,” said GOP Rep. Max Miller of Ohio, referring to Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. Their split was also on full display last week when McConnell and Schumer publicly appeared together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Capitol, while McCarthy opted not to. “If you make a deal, you’ve got to stick to the deal,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, a member of Senate GOP leadership, told CNN. “I’m comfortable with the way we put together the Senate bill,” McConnell said. “I don’t see the support in the House,” McCarthy told reporters, referring to the bipartisan stopgap bill.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy, wouldn’t, McConnell, Chuck Schumer, –, GOP Sen, John Cornyn of, McConnell’s, ” McCarthy, you’ve, Schumer, Hakeem, Jeffries, Cory Mills, “, Republicans couldn’t, ”, Max Miller of Ohio, Joe Biden, Donald Trump –, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, ” Capito, Schumer –, “ Mitch, “ He’s, Sen, ” McConnell, they’re, it’s, Kevin Cramer, Cramer, ‘, ’ ” Cramer Organizations: CNN —, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, Florida Republican, CNN, ”, Senate, Biden, Capitol, Republican, North Dakota Republican, House Republicans Locations: Washington, John Cornyn of Texas, Ukraine, Russia, Florida, West Virginia

CNN —House Republicans are not only facing resistance from within their own ranks to impeach President Joe Biden, they’re also getting a cool reception from another key constituency: Senate Republicans. Moreover, a number of Senate Republicans liken the Biden impeachment efforts to the two impeachments of then-President Donald Trump that they sharply criticized, even though the situations are markedly different. The issue is just the latest divide between House and Senate Republicans, who are deeply split over spending and their posture toward Ukraine. “I don’t think that Speaker McCarthy’s position,” Cornyn said when asked about his personal view about a potential impeachment inquiry. “I don’t think the House particularly cares what members of the Senate think,” he told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, they’re, –, impeaching Biden, Biden, Republicans liken, Donald Trump, Hunter, “, ” Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, Trump, “ I’m, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, GOP Sen, Kevin Cramer of North, ” Cramer, Marco Rubio, Rubio, ” Rubio, clamoring, —, Kevin McCarthy, he’s, It’s, holdouts, Mitch McConnell, Republicans inching, ” McConnell, John Cornyn, ” Cornyn, ”, Cornyn, I’m Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Republicans, Capitol, West Virginia Republican, Alabama Republican, CNN, GOP, Florida Republican, Republican, Senate Republicans, Congress, Texas Republican Locations: Alabama, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Florida, House, Ukraine

☆ Senate Republicans try to blame Chuck Schumer for Tommy Tuberville’s military blockade
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Frank Thorp V | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., is seen in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. WASHINGTON — As Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., keeps hundreds of military promotions in limbo for a sixth straight month, his Republican colleagues are trying to deflect criticism by pointing the finger at a familiar GOP foe: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. "Sen. Tuberville has created a problem that pervades our entire military, and trying to glue one hole closed does not fix that problem." "Sen. Tuberville has created a problem that pervades our entire military, and trying to glue one hole closed does not fix that problem." As he digs in on his tactic, the number of promotions that have not been approved by the Senate only grows.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, WASHINGTON —, Chuck Schumer, Roger Wicker of, John Cornyn, Cornyn, Schumer, CQ Brown, Tuberville, Brown, Mark Milley, McConnell, Thune, It's, Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Elizabeth Warren, Jack Reed, Kate Santaliz Organizations: U.S, Capitol, WASHINGTON, Joint Chiefs, Republican, Armed Services Committee, Air Force, Republicans, Republican Party, Defense Department, Senate, Services Locations: Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Texas, Sen, Ky

☆ Republican lawmakers launch an effort to block student-loan borrowers from enrolling in Biden's new plan intended to lower monthly payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP lawmakers introduced a bill to overturn Biden's new SAVE income-driven repayment plan. Borrowers can now apply for the SAVE plan before bills become due next month. It also estimated that an additional 1 million low-income borrowers would experience that benefit, and the plan would save all other borrowers at $1,000 a year compared to other income-driven repayment plans. However, the Republican lawmakers seeking to overturn that plan argued it's an overreach of authority and would cost taxpayers. While Republicans opposed that relief, as well, Biden is moving forward with implementing the new repayment plan as borrowers begin to face another monthly bill.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Bill Cassidy, Sen, John Thune, John Cornyn, Cassidy, Biden, Lisa McClain, Miguel Cardona, we're Organizations: Service, Republican, GOP, Education Department Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington

☆ After Mitch McConnell's 2nd freezing episode, a Kentucky GOP county chair says he's 'disappointed' that the senator didn't relinquish his leadership role in 2022: 'That would've been a wise decision'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

After Mitch McConnell froze again, a Kentucky GOP leader said the senator should have left last year. Bob Barney, the GOP chair in Jessamine County, told The Post he was "disappointed" in the situation. But McConnell's Republican Senate colleagues have, by and large, rallied around him. Barney told the newspaper he feels as though McConnell won't be selected as the GOP leader once again, which will eventually push him to leave office. "We're all very disappointed that he didn't let someone else take over as leader in 2022," Barney told The Post.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Bob Barney, Sen, John Cornyn of, McConnell, Cornyn, didn't, Barney, Rick Scott of, Barney —, Joe Biden, —, Mitch, he'd, Scott Jennings, Jim Banks, Jennings Organizations: Kentucky GOP, GOP, Republican, Service, Kentucky Republican, Washington Post, Safer Communities, Post, Kentucky Republicans, Indiana Rep, Democratic, Bluegrass State Locations: Kentucky, Jessamine County, Wall, Silicon, John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida

☆ What Trump thinks of Mitch McConnell's potential replacements
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —It would be a mistake to presuppose these are the final days of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s record-setting run as the Republican leader in the Senate. In January, Trump referred to Barrasso as McConnell’s “flunky” during a radio interview in Barrasso’s home state of Wyoming. Trump views McConnell as an enemyNo Senate leader will be able to maintain a flawless relationship with Trump, but McConnell’s has been particularly fraught. McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who served in Trump’s administration as transportation secretary, has more recently been the subject of racial insults from Trump. Any successor would have to navigate Trump’s control of the party – and the very real potential that Trump could return to the White House.

Persons: Sen, Mitch McConnell’s, Donald Trump’s, Trump, McConnell, Rich Lowry, “, ”, CNN’s Manu Raju, Raju, It’s, George W, Bush, Lowry, ” Lowry, Johns ” – Sen, John Thune of, John Cornyn of, John Barrasso of, Thune, ’, Tom Daschle, – “, Kristi Noem, Tim Scott of, Cornyn, “ He’s, ” Cornyn, Utah’s Sen, Mitt Romney, Barrasso, McConnell’s, Elaine Chao, Trump’s Organizations: CNN, Republican, Republicans, National Review, Capitol, GOP, New York Times, today’s GOP, Senate, South Dakota Gov, Trump, Republicans ’ Locations: John Thune of South Dakota, John Cornyn of Texas, John Barrasso of Wyoming, today’s, Trump, Thune, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Cornyn, Wyoming

☆ Capitol physician medically clears McConnell after health scares prompt new questions over his leadership position
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Washington CNN —Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is medically cleared to continue his schedule, the US Capitol physician said Thursday, after he froze for the second time in as many months in public. “I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. Even if they have a meeting, there’s no mechanism to force a vote on the party’s leadership. “The leader sounded like his usual self and was in good spirits,” said Ryan Wrasse, a spokesman for Senate GOP Whip John Thune, who spoke to the GOP leader. “Obviously his first responsibility is to the voters of Kentucky,” GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota told CNN in July.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, “, Dr, Brian Monahan, ”, Monahan, –, hasn’t, McConnell’s, Sen, John Barrasso, Jim Banks, McConnell didn’t, Banks, Joe Biden, neurosurgeons, ” Biden, Ryan Wrasse, John Thune, Kelley Moore, Shelley Moore Capito, “ Sen, Capito, ” Capito’s, GOP Sen, Kevin Cramer of North, ” Cramer, John Cornyn, Cornyn Organizations: Washington CNN, GOP, Capitol, CNN, Republican, West Virginia Republican, Senate, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota Locations: Covington , Kentucky, Indiana, Kentucky, “

☆ How Mexican narcos use remittances to wire U.S. drug profits home
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Reuters Graphic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +28 min

Now the news agency is the first to detail how Mexican drug gangs have harnessed legitimate remittance networks to repatriate their U.S. drug profits, and the factors that make this activity so difficult for authorities to detect and thwart. But authorities say Mexican drug cartels are piggybacking on this legal network to repatriate earnings from U.S. narcotics sales. A Reuters search of Mexican court records dating back to 2012 turned up no cases involving money laundering through remittances. Still, prosecutors in those cases mentioned several of those firms in court documents because they said the defendants had used their platforms to wire drug money. His office did not respond to requests for comment about law enforcement allegations that Mexican cartels are using remittances to launder drug money.

Persons: Money, ”, “, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ” Jorge Godínez, ” Godínez, John Cornyn of, Chuck Grassley, ” Grassley, pocketing, John Horn, remitters ”, Horn, – Oscar Gustavo Perez, Bernal, Itzayana Guadalupe Perez, Susan Fiorella Ayala, Chavez –, Los, –, Jose Luis Rosales, Ocampo, Josue Gama, Perez, Thania Rosales, Dulce Rosales, – Ana Lilia Leal, Martinez, Ana Paola Banda, Maria de Lourdes Carbajal, Henri Watson, Carbajal, Sigue, Sangita Bricker, Transfast –, ” Sigue, Transfast, fanny, Juan de Dios Gámez, Rubén Rocha, BanCoppel, Banorte, hadn’t, El, López Obrador, ” López Obrador, Signos, Signos Vitales, Oquitoa, Enrique Cardenas, Tim Walz, Keith Ellison Organizations: Sinaloa Cartel, Reuters, Jalisco New, Mexican, WorldRemit, ., National Intelligence, narcos, U.S, Republican U.S, Treasury, U.S . Department of, U.S ., Financial Intelligence Unit, “, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Los Rosales, Kansas City, ”, Leal, IDT Corporation, IDT, Mastercard, Express Cellular, Prosecutors, IRS, Western Union, U.S . Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, ‘, Banco Azteca, Elektra, World Bank, Minnesota, Caborca Locations: CULIACÁN, Mexico, Mexican, Culiacán, Sinaloa, United States, Jalisco, U.S, Colorado, Union, Americas, London, John Cornyn of Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado , Georgia , Ohio , Oklahoma , Texas, Virginia, Washington, Georgia, Atlanta, Columbus, Rosales, Nayarit, Michoacan, Missouri, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Miami, , New Jersey, Ria, Kansas, California, New York, Western, Sinaloan, Costa Rica, BanCoppel, India, China, Mexico City, Minnesota, Arizona , Colorado , Florida , Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Oquitoa, Sonora

☆ Senators aim to protect small businesses from foreign IP theft with new bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If passed, the IDEA Act will reauthorize a state and local law enforcement intellectual property enforcement program at $25 million per year from 2024-29. They include China, Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia — areas where IP theft against U.S. small businesses is particularly rampant. Bipartisan lawmakers from both houses of Congress have often highlighted the urgent need for targeted solutions toward IP theft. Other IDEA Act initiatives include:An IP Protection Legal Aid program to counsel and protect small business owners. "Intellectual property crimes cost American businesses hundreds of billions of dollars each year, and small businesses often lack the resources to protect themselves against foreign bad actors," said Cornyn, R-Texas.

Persons: –, Mike Gallagher, Tammy Baldwin, John Cornyn Organizations: WASHINGTON, American IP Defense, IDEA, American Intellectual, U.S . Trade Representative, U.S, Republican, Rep, Chinese Communist Party, Justice Department, Government, Office, Joint, IDEA Act's, Texans Locations: Austin , Texas, Jackson , Mississippi, Chicago, China, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Sens, America, Texas

☆ McCarthy again marches to Trump’s tune by invoking Biden impeachment inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Most importantly for Trump and the House Republicans doing his bidding, it could distract from the legal storm around the former president. After only one presidential impeachment in the first two centuries of US history, Biden’s would be the fourth impeachment in around 25 years if House Republicans follow through. The document contained no proof of the allegations or any evidence Biden took part in his son’s work for the firm. McCarthy had for months deflected calls for the impeachment of Biden from the most radical members of his conference. McCarthy insisted on Tuesday that he was only contemplating an impeachment inquiry – rather than a full-scale drive to an impeachment vote – in the House.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, –, Biden, Trump, McCarthy, Hunter Biden, GOP Sen, Chuck Grassley, “, Christopher Wray, General Merrick Garland, Alejandro Mayorkas, David Weiss, Weiss, we’ve, Don Bacon, it’s, James Comer, South Dakota Sen, John Thune, ”, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, ” Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ” Cornyn, CNN’s Manu Raju, South Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Trump’s, Biden’s, Volodymyr Zelensky, – Biden Organizations: CNN, The, Republican, Fox News, California Republican, GOP, Republicans, Trump, House Republicans, Justice Department, National Defense, Democratic, Homeland, Biden, of Justice, Hunter, White, ”, Kentucky Republican, House, South, ” Republicans, Ukrainian, Capitol Locations: Washington, California, Iowa, Ukrainian, Ukraine, ” Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, ” Texas, South Carolina

July 26 (Reuters) - Mastercard (MA.N) has told financial institutions to stop allowing marijuana transactions on its debit cards, dealing a blow to an industry already on the fringes of the financial system in the United States. Most banks in the country do not service cannabis companies as marijuana remains illegal at the federal level despite several states legalizing its medicinal and recreational use. "The federal government considers cannabis sales illegal, so these purchases are not allowed on our systems," the spokesperson added. Sunburn Cannabis CEO Brady Cobb said in a statement that "this move is another blow to the state-legal cannabis industry and patients/consumers who want to access this budding category." The SAFE Banking Act is a crucial legislation that would make it easier for the cannabis industry to access banking services.

Persons: Brady Cobb, Darren Weiss, John Cornyn, Chuck Schumer's, Niket Nishant, Arun Koyyur, Krishna Chandra Eluri Organizations: Mastercard, Republican, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: United States, Washington, Bengaluru

The 100-member Senate backed the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by 91 to 6. The NDAA sets policy for the Department of Defense and is expected to become law later this year. "We need this type of outbound investment notification to understand just how much... critical technology we are transferring to our adversaries via these capital flows. The Senate bill must then be reconciled with a bill passed in the House of Representatives earlier this month. That compromise measure must pass both chambers and be signed by President Joe Biden to become law.

Persons: Bob Casey, Republican John Cornyn, Casey, Joe Biden, Patricia Zengerle, Jamie Freed Organizations: U.S, Senate, National Defense, Department of Defense, Congress, Democratic, Republican, Thomson Locations: China

July 14 (Reuters) - Two U.S. senators are pursuing a legislative plan to track U.S. investments in China, as the White House works to complete long-awaited action that would also restrict investment in certain, highly targeted sectors. The Biden administration, meanwhile, is finalizing an executive order that would also restrict certain investment in sectors including advanced semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the aim was to wrap up legal and other reviews of the outbound investment order by Labor Day. Reuters reported in February that the proposed order was likely to track restrictions on artificial intelligence chips, chipmaking tools and supercomputers, among other technologies, imposed on exports to China in October. The senators' proposed legislation was filed as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

Persons: Bob Casey, Republican John Cornyn, Casey, Biden, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Karen Freifeld, Andrea Shalal, Susan Heavey Organizations: White, Democratic, Republican, Labor, Treasury, Reuters, National Defense, U.S . House, Republicans, Thomson Locations: China

CNN —President Joe Biden said Thursday that Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is being “irresponsible” and jeopardizing national security by blocking military promotions over his objections to the Defense Department’s reproductive health policies. He’s jeopardizing US security with what he’s doing,” Biden said during a news conference in Helsinki, Finland, when asked by CNN about Tuberville’s position. A defense official told CNN Austin and Tuberville eventually spoke at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. I’m doing it for Republicans and Democrats and citizens of this country. I’m doing it for the Constitution.”CNN reported in June that some of Tuberville’s colleagues have tried to talk with him behind the scenes about alternatives.

Persons: Joe Biden, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, “ I’d, ” Biden, Lloyd Austin’s, Tuberville, Austin, Brig, Pat Ryder, ” Tuberville, CNN’s Manu Raju, Biden’s, I’m, We’ll, “, Republican Party …, they’ve, ”, Raju, I’ve, that’s, Republican Roger Wicker, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, Sen, Joni Ernst, CNN’s Wolf, ” Austin, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Organizations: CNN, Republican, Defense, Alabama, CNN Austin, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Marine Corps, Republican Party, Republicans, Democrats, ” CNN, Armed Services Committee, Iowa, Senate Armed Services Committee, NATO Locations: Helsinki, Finland, Texas, Vilnius, Lithuania, “

☆ Ambitious plans for US-India technology sharing face hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Standing in the way are strict U.S. rules governing export of defense technology, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific affairs, has stressed the need to break down barriers to technology sharing with allies and partners, including India. But one congressional aide said efforts to speed technology sharing with India would face "an uphill battle" both in the U.S. Congress and at the U.S. State Department, where officials have a specific obligation to protect U.S. technology. "There are concerns about (technology sharing) in the Australia context and there would be more concerns in the India context," he said. Rick Rossow, an India expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies, said approval processes for advanced defense technology transfer were "onerous but not impossible."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Elizabeth Frantz WASHINGTON, Biden, Ely Ratner, Democrat Mark Warner, Republican John Cornyn, Bill Greenwalt, Greenwalt, ITAR, Rick Rossow, David Brunnstrom, Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Deepa Babington Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, United, Indian, General Electric Co, Center, New, New American Security, TECH, U.S . Senate India Caucus, Democrat, Republican, U.S . Congress, U.S . State Department, Pentagon, GE, State Department, U.S . Missile Technology Control, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, India, New Delhi, Asia, U.S, Britain, Australia, New American, Russia, Ukraine, Delhi

Ambassador and South Carolina Republican Gov. Nikki Haley has walked a long and windy road when it comes to her one-time boss, former President Donald Trump. DeSantis’ announcement nears: NBC News’ Dasha Burns reports that Florida Republican Gov. And the New York Times reports DeSantis has been telling donors that out of the three “credible” candidates for president (Trump, himself and President Biden), only he and Biden can win. Raising eyebrows: Virginia GOP Gov.

"That combination of overclassification and then too many people having clearances has led us to this problem," Warner told a news conference. He said more than 4 million people in the United States now have security clearance. Attorney General Merrick Garland has also appointed special counsels to investigate the handling of classified records by Republican former President Donald Trump and the handling of classified records from his time as vice president by current Democratic President Joe Biden. The path forward for the bills was not immediately clear but the senators said they hoped the recent attention on the clearance issue would help. "This is a piece of legislation that can become law and it is desperately needed for that to happen," Moran said.

☆ Millions of student-loan borrowers would be forced into 'abrupt and unplanned repayment' if Republicans' plan to overturn Biden's debt cancellation gets passed, 261 advocacy groups tell Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The House could likely take a first vote this week on a bill that would overturn student-debt relief. 261 advocacy groups urged congressional leaders on Monday to ensure that doesn't happen. They said the bill could force borrowers into an "abrupt" return to repayment and block targeted relief. "It will also force the Department of Education to unwind loans forgiven under Public Service Loan Forgiveness for first responders, nurses, educators, servicemembers, and hundreds of thousands of other public service workers across the country," they continued. Along with the CRA, McCarthy's bill to raise the debt ceiling — which passed the House two weeks ago — had spending cuts attached that included banning student-loan forgiveness.

☆ House Republicans are planning the first vote to overturn Biden's student-loan forgiveness next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In March, Republican lawmakers introduced a resolution to overturn Biden's student-debt relief. The House education committee is planning to vote on the bill next week, a spokesperson confirmed to Insider. Even if the resolution passes the House, it likely won't progress in a Democratic-controlled Senate. That hasn't stopped Republicans from coming up with their own plans to block debt relief from happening. Along with the CRA, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's bill to raise the debt ceiling — which passed the House last week — including banning Biden's student-loan forgiveness and blocking any future relief.

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