Illinois governor orders special session to break budget impasse
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois’ Republican governor, Bruce Rauner, has ordered lawmakers to return to work starting next Wednesday to pass a budget as the clock ticks down to the July 1 start of a new fiscal year.
U.S. Senate votes near unanimously for Russia, Iran sanctions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate voted nearly unanimously on Thursday for legislation to impose new sanctions on Russia and force President Donald Trump to get Congress’ approval before easing any existing sanctions on Russia.
White House does not yet have plan on debt limit: budget chief
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House has not settled on a plan for working with Congress to raise the federal debt limit, U.S. budget director Mick Mulvaney said on Thursday, even as the deadline loomed for the government to increase its borrowing au…
Putin quips he’s ready to grant asylum to ex-FBI chief Comey
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin joked on Thursday that if former FBI director James Comey suffers persecution because of his falling-out with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russia is ready to grant him asylum.
U.S. congressman’s condition improves but still critical after shooting
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Representative Steve Scalise’s condition has improved but remained critical on Thursday, a day after a man who had expressed anger toward President Donald Trump opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a baseball practice.
Senate may keep some Obamacare taxes in U.S. healthcare overhaul
Washington (Reuters) – Republican senators trying to repeal Obamacare are forming consensus to keep some of the U.S. healthcare law’s taxes they long criticized, in hopes of delaying more drastic funding cuts, particularly to the Medicaid program for …
Trump visits U.S. Supreme Court as justices weigh travel ban
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump visited the Supreme Court on Thursday for the first time since taking office to attend a ceremony for Neil Gorsuch, the justice he appointed, as the court mulls what to do with his blocked ban on travelers …
Democrats must focus on swing suburbs to win elections, Chicago mayor says
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Democrats face years of work, focusing on “kitchen table” economic issues over several election cycles, if they want to regain ground lost to Republicans, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said on Wednesday.
Pence hires his own lawyer for Russia probes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has hired a lawyer known for defending government officials in high-profile investigations to help him with probes into whether there were ties between the election campaign of U.S. President Donald…
Trump to name Republican donor Kelly Craft as ambassador to Canada: official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump has decided to name Kelly Craft, a major Republican fundraiser, to be ambassador to Canada as his administration prepares to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, an administration official s…
