Former CIA director, Cabinet member Schlesinger dies at 85
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – James Schlesinger, who served three U.S. presidents, Republican and Democrat alike, in the top posts at the Central Intelligence Agency, Pentagon and Energy Department in the 1970s, died on Thursday at age 85.
U.S. Senator Warner leads in Virginia poll, but Obamacare weighs
RICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Mark Warner holds a 15-point lead among Virginia voters over Republican challenger Ed Gillespie, but the Democrat’s support for Obamacare could cost him votes in the November election, according to a poll rel…
Obama says NATO defense spending needs upward trajectory
ROME (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama urged NATO allies on Thursday to get their defense budgets on an upward trajectory with “everybody pitching in” as he wounded up a day of meetings with Vatican and Italian officials.
Connecticut Governor expected to sign minimum wage hike
MILFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) – Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy plans to sign into law on Thursday a measure that will phase in the highest minimum wage of any U.S. state, in line with a national Democratic push to raise the entry-level wage.
Fractious Republicans struggle over defense spending, Medicare
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House of Representatives Republicans will unveil a 10-year budget blueprint in the next few weeks that will champion fiscal austerity, a theme party leaders hope will energize conservative voters ahead of the November congre…
Connecticut legislature approves bill to raise minimum wage
MILFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) – Connecticut’s legislature on Wednesday approved a bill that would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, the highest statewide rate in the nation, following a call to action last month by Governor Dannel Malloy.
U.S. Navy plans competition for next-generation missile
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy on Wednesday said it planned to launch an open competition around fiscal 2017 for a next-generation missile, seeking to reassure weapons makers they still have prospects after a separate deal with Lockheed Martin Co…
California state senator arrested in FBI sweep
SAN FRANCISCO/SACRAMENTO (Reuters) – A prominent California lawmaker was arrested on Wednesday in an FBI sweep that netted 26 people, a high-profile case that could affect statewide elections and brings to three the number of Democratic state senators …
U.S. extends Obamacare sign-up deadline in case of tech troubles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Americans in most states who tried to apply for medical coverage under President Barack Obama’s healthcare law by a March 31 deadline but met with technical difficulties will get an automatic extension to enroll, officials said o…
Lawmakers bash Obama administration’s ‘delusional’ Syria policy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers lashed out at the Obama administration’s handling of Syria’s civil war on Wednesday, demanding a stronger American response to the conflict and better communication from the White House about its plans.