Arkansas Senate passes religion bill seen as targeting gays
(Reuters) – The Arkansas Senate overwhelmingly approved on Friday a Republican-backed bill whose authors say is intended to protect religious freedoms but critics contend could allow businesses to refuse service to gay people.
Senate Democrat Reid to retire; wants Schumer as next leader
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said on Friday he will retire next year and threw his weight behind New York Senator Chuck Schumer to replace him as leader after he leaves office.
Pentagon vows ‘demanding but fair’ in F-35 talks with Lockheed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Defense Department on Friday said it will be “demanding but fair” in negotiations with Lockheed Martin Corp for the next two batches of F-35 fighter jets, one of the Pentagon’s largest-ever sole-source contracts.
U.S. ethics panel probes Kentucky lawmaker over wife’s lobbying
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A special investigative panel will probe allegations that a Kentucky lawmaker helped his wife lobby on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States, the U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee said on Friday.
Exclusive: Upset by Warren, U.S. banks debate halting some campaign donations
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Big Wall Street banks are so upset with U.S. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren’s call for them to be broken up that some have discussed withholding campaign donations to Senate Democrats in symbolic protest, sources familiar with…
Kerry orders probe of U.S. State Department email procedures
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has asked the department’s inspector general to look into procedures for handling emails by State Department employees, the department said on Friday.
White House pans Senate-passed budget for ‘gimmicks,’ funding cuts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House criticized the budget passed by the Republican-led U.S. Senate on Friday for boosting military funding while cutting domestic spending on education, job training and manufacturing programs touted by President Bara…
Senate passes Republican budget with deep safety net cuts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate passed a Republican-authored budget plan early on Friday that seeks $5.1 trillion in domestic spending cuts over 10 years while boosting military funding.
Senate delays vote on Medicare payment fix for two weeks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate will wait more than two weeks before acting on a bill to permanently fix the flawed formula for reimbursing Medicare physicians, after an April 1 deadline to start a 21 percent cut in payment rates.
Japan PM Abe to address joint session of Congress
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will address a joint meeting of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on April 29, becoming the first Japanese leader to do so.
