Pot backers oppose U.S. bill banning legal marijuana in Washington
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Marijuana advocates on Wednesday urged Congress not to use a spending bill to overturn a local referendum that overwhelmingly backed legalizing pot in the District of Columbia.
Republicans mount late bid to make charity tax breaks permanent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – At the 11th hour of a scramble by the U.S. Congress to keep the federal government funded and open, Republicans in the House of Representatives on Wednesday called for making a handful of temporary tax breaks for charitable givin…
U.S. House tweaks Dodd-Frank capital rules for insurers
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill giving big insurance companies such as American International Group Inc and Prudential Financial Inc relief from part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank oversight law.
U.S. Congress closes out year without passing IMF reforms
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress is preparing to leave town for the holidays without passing reforms to give emerging markets greater say at the International Monetary Fund, a step the Obama administration has warned could undermine Washington’…
U.S. Congress passes sanctions on Venezuelan officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday to impose sanctions on Venezuelan government officials found to have violated protesters’ rights during demonstrations earlier this year.
House passes six-year extension of terrorism insurance program
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to extend a federal terrorism insurance program that was created after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, overcoming criticism from Democrats of a provision that would retool part of …
For CIA, fallout from Senate report looks far from over
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As outcry grows over its now-defunct brutal interrogation program, America’s spy agency appears caught in the crossfire of debate over its methods in the ongoing U.S. battle against Islamic militants and whether it has changed it…
Illinois Supreme Court speeds up pension reform law appeal
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday fast-tracked the state’s appeal of a trial court ruling that found a new law aimed at easing the state’s huge pension burden unconstitutional.
U.S. spending bill blocks potential protections for sage-grouse
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In a victory for oil and gas industry advocates, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the U.S. government most of next year would block the Obama administration from protecting several species of birds found in western states.Th…
Kerry, Israel’s Netanyahu to meet in Rome for Middle East talks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Rome on Sunday for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on developments in Israel and the West Bank, the State Department said on Wednesday.
