U.S. House pushes pay, purchasing reforms in annual defense bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed an annual defense policy bill on Friday that would authorize $604 billion in defense spending for the 2016 fiscal year and start reforms that could help curb costs over the long run.
Republicans have no easy answers in debate about debates
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Reuters) – Republican Party leaders are struggling to figure out who among their bounty of 2016 candidates deserve to take the stage when U.S. presidential debates kick off in August or, more importantly, who will not make the cut.
White House urges Senate to pass ‘compromise’ surveillance reform bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House on Friday urged the Senate to pass a bill to narrow U.S. spy agencies’ power to collect Americans’ electronic data and business records, calling it a “reasonable compromise.”
In U.S. cities, Republicans are looking for a few good losers for 2016
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When Republican Stefanie Linares ran for office in the deeply Democratic city of Chicago last year, she knew that her hard work wasn’t likely to end in victory.
Texas bill to hinder gay marriage dies in statehouse
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – Republican-backed legislation to put new blockades on same-sex marriage in Texas died in the statehouse on Friday after failing to win approval by a midnight deadline amid stalling tactics by the Democratic minority.
Obama vows to ‘stand by’ Gulf allies amid concern over Iran threat
CAMP DAVID, Md. (Reuters) – President Barack Obama vowed on Thursday to back Gulf allies against any “external attack,” seeking to reassure them of Washington’s iron-clad commitment to their security amid Arab anxiety over U.S.-led efforts to reach a n…
U.S. Congress better when political ‘extremists’ are weak: poll
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress is more effective when political “extremists” have less clout, most Americans said in a Reuters-Ipsos poll that also showed the public still has a dim view of Congress, despite a run of legislative achievements …
California Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez enters U.S. Senate race
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Ten-term California Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez on Thursday entered the race to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and will take on state Attorney General Kamala Harris, a fellow Democrat who was widely seen as the fr…
U.S. surveillance reform bill faces uncertain Senate fate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A bill to narrow spy agencies’ power to collect Americans’ electronic data and business records faced an uncertain fate in the Senate on Thursday, even though it passed the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming majorit…
Trade supporters breathe easier as U.S. trade bill clears Senate hurdle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A 12-nation Pacific trade agreement cleared a crucial test in the U.S. Senate on Thursday, giving a resounding thumbs-up to legislation that holds the key to President Barack Obama’s diplomatic pivot to Asia.
