Labor Department’s Perez defends proposed broker rules to Congress
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Labor Department secretary tried to drum up support from skeptical Republicans on Wednesday for a controversial plan to rein in conflicts by brokers who offer retirement advice, saying he believes consensus for new regulation…
City probe finds Washington state ex-NAACP official violated ethics rules
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Former Washington state NAACP leader Rachel Dolezal, who drew national attention after being accused of lying about her racial background, has violated ethics rules while heading a police oversight commission, a senior city official…
U.S. House defeats bid to withdraw troops from Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives rejected legislation on Wednesday that would have forced President Barack Obama to pull all U.S. troops from Iraq and Syria as soon as one month from now, but nearly one-third of the chamber vote…
Maine budget ‘far cry’ from original proposal, veto possible
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A spokesman for Maine Governor Paul LePage called the $6.7 billion two-year spending plan approved by the state legislature early Wednesday a “far cry” from the governor’s original proposal, setting the stage for a possible veto.
‘Me? Rich?’ U.S. presidential hopefuls play middle-class card
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Don’t call Chris Christie rich. The Clintons say they still have bills to pay. And Mike Huckabee? Despite his wealth, he was born “blue collar, not blue blood.”
Hillary Clinton to call for tax credits for hiring apprentices
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will call for tax credits for businesses that hire and train apprentices as a way to raise wages and boost youth employment during a campaign stop in South Carolina on Wednesday.
China rebuffs Trump comments on stealing U.S. jobs
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Wednesday rebuffed comments by U.S. real estate mogul and presidential contender Donald Trump that China is stealing U.S. jobs through crafty business practices, saying trade between the two countries was win-win.
Oregon lawmaker proposes raising state minimum wage to $13 an hour
PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) – A senior Oregon lawmaker is proposing that the Democratic-led state raise its minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2018 in a move that would give it the highest statewide minimum pay level in the United States, officials said on Tu…
With barbs and bluster, Trump barges into 2016 White House race
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump barged his way into the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Tuesday in a blitz of boasts, inflammatory comments and attacks on both fellow Republicans and President Barack Obama’s ad…
Clinton friend Blumenthal ‘shed no light’ before Benghazi panel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sidney Blumenthal, a longtime ally of Hillary Clinton, testified all day Tuesday behind closed doors before a congressional panel probing the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, but declared afterwards that he had “shed no li…
