Illinois governor rejects possibility of temporary budget
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner on Thursday rejected the possibility of a short-term spending plan to keep the state operating beyond the July 1 start of fiscal 2016 if there is no deal over a full-year budget.
House takes key step toward ‘fast-track’ vote on Friday
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s quest for “fast-track” negotiating authority on a Pacific Rim trade deal passed its first test in the House of Representatives on Thursday, with another day of voting to come on a contentious package of b…
House rejects measure to force vote on Islamic State fight
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The House of Representatives rejected an amendment to a defense bill on Thursday that would have forced lawmakers to vote on a formal authorization for the use of military force against Islamic State.
White House says will have details soon on hostage policy changes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Thursday said it would have details soon on policy changes for how the U.S. government handles efforts to secure the return of American hostages.
White House opposes Senate plan to link cyber, defense bills
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Thursday said it does not support an effort by U.S. Senate Republicans to pair cyber security legislation with a defense bill that President Barack Obama has indicated he opposes.
Pentagon watchdog reassigns audit chief after Reuters report
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. Defense Department Inspector General is reassigning one of his top deputies just weeks after Reuters reported that the deputy had forced staff to sign off on a disputed audit of the Marine Corps.
Former Rhode Island House speaker sentenced to three years for bribery
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) – A former speaker of Rhode Island’s House of Representatives who pleaded guilty in March to federal charges including accepting a $52,500 bribe was sentenced by a judge on Thursday to three years in prison and offered a tear…
Jeb Bush says U.S. needs to expand military presence in central Europe
WARSAW (Reuters) – The United States needs to increase its military presence in central Europe, likely U.S. presidential candidate Jeb Bush said on Thursday on a visit to Poland, staking out a tough position on the need to contain Russia.
Their state economies may lag, but Republican hopefuls still brag
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Various Republican governors with an eye on the White House can point to tax cuts and other business-friendly policies they spearheaded as they enter the crowded 2016 presidential contest. But many of them can’t highlight robust …
U.S. should ditch ‘outdated’ oil export ban: Harvard
BOSTON (Reuters) – The United States must lift an “outdated” ban on oil exports to take full economic and geopolitical advantage of its hydraulic fracturing boom, according to a study by Harvard Business School and Boston Consulting Group released on W…
