Obama to lift minimum wage for federal contractors: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will announce on Tuesday he is issuing an executive order to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour for federal contract workers with new contracts, the White House said.
The ‘fearless’ speech writer behind Obama’s State of Union address
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Six days before the State of the Union address, Cody Keenan posted on the photo-sharing site Instagram a blurred image of a speech draft with President Barack Obama’s notes in the margins. He ended the post with “#SpoilerAlert #I…
U.S. senators urge nominee for Beijing ambassador to be tough on China
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers expressed concern about China’s territorial ambitions at a confirmation hearing on Tuesday for the next American ambassador to China, and they urged him to take a tough line with Beijing.
U.S. Republican leaders to outline immigration framework: Boehner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Republican leaders will outline their principles for immigration reform at a party meeting this week, House Speaker John Boehner said on Tuesday.
U.S. senators propose bill to prevent chemical spills after West Virginia leak
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three U.S. senators introduced legislation on Tuesday aimed at preventing chemical spills like the one that left 300,000 West Virginians without drinking water this month.
Republicans, Democrats unite in bid to save California beach bonfires
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) – It may be January, but Southern California beach-goers could be forgiven for breaking out the marshmallows early, as lawmakers moved to protect a classic rite of summer – the seaside bonfire.
U.S. Senate subcommittee sets hearing on consumer data security
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate banking panel has scheduled a subcommittee hearing for next week on safeguarding consumers’ financial information following the theft of data at retailers such as Target Corp and Neiman Marcus, the committee said …
Ice skater Michelle Kwan’s husband to run for Rhode Island governor
(Reuters) – Clay Pell, the grandson of a former U.S. senator and husband of retired U.S. Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, indicated on Monday he intends to run as a Democrat for governor of Rhode Island.
Pentagon notifies Congress of possible F-16 upgrades for UAE
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon has notified Congress of a possible sale of weapons and other equipment valued at $270 million that would be part of a larger, multibillion-dollar deal for 30 more F-16s that is still under discussion by Lockheed Mar…
U.S. moves forward with attack helicopter sale to Iraq
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration notified Congress on Monday of plans to sell 24 Apache attack helicopters to Iraq, part of an effort to bolster the military against al Qaeda-linked militants, after addressing lawmakers’ concerns that he…
