Puerto Rico’s House passes bill to increase crude oil tax
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters) – Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives passed a bill to increase a tax on crude oil by around 68 percent on Tuesday, in a move that helps facilitate a crucial bond sale of up to $2.9 billion.
U.S. expects some familiar faces among Syria rebel recruits
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is creating a vigorous vetting process to weed out undesirables among the Syrian rebels it will train to fight Islamic State, but some of the new recruits will be familiar faces requiring far more limited screen…
Top Senate Republican sees possible major healthcare legislation
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The senior Senate Republican on Tuesday raised the possibility of Congress writing comprehensive healthcare legislation if the Supreme Court next year strikes down a subsidy provision of Obamacare.
Obama expected to nominate Ashton Carter to lead Pentagon: sources
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former Pentagon official Ashton Carter emerged on Tuesday as the expected nominee to replace Chuck Hagel as U.S. defense secretary, sources familiar with the situation said.
Suspended North Miami mayor duped by partner in mortgage scheme: lawyer
MIAMI (Reuters) – A suspended Miami-area mayor and prominent Haitian activist was duped by her business partner into recruiting straw buyers to lend their names to fraudulent mortgage applications that netted at least $8 million in loans, her attorneys…
Portman rules out 2016 bid for White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican Senator Rob Portman, a former White House budget chief and trade representative who broke with fellow conservatives to back gay marriage, has ruled out a presidential run in 2016 and will seek a second term.
Chicago City Council votes to increase minimum wage
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Chicago City Council voted on Tuesday to gradually increase the minimum wage in the nation’s third largest city to $13 an hour by 2019, approving a proposal by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Obama administration could support short-term tax extender deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration could support “short-term alternatives” that extend expiring tax breaks if lawmakers don’t find a way to permanently lower business tax credits while also building in protections for middle-class families…
U.S. lawmaker sees easier road to Ex-Im shutdown in 2015
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Republican majority in the U.S. Congress next year will make it easier to shut down the Export-Import Bank when its charter comes up for renewal in June, a senior Republican lawmaker said on Tuesday.
House Speaker Boehner seeks to fund U.S. government through September 30: aide
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner will seek to fund most of the U.S. government through Sept. 30, 2015, a senior Republican aide said on Tuesday.
