Budget deal reached amid conservative opposition
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Budget negotiators in the Congress have reached an agreement on Tuesday that, if approved by the House and Senate, could restore some order to the nation’s chaotic budget process and avoid another government shutdown on January 1…
Regulators seek to curb Wall St. trades with Volcker rule
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. banks will no longer be able to make big trading bets with their own money after regulators on Tuesday finalized the Volcker rule and shut down what was a hugely profitable business for Wall Street before the credit crisis.
Two Obama nominees lead Senate confirmation parade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic-led U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed the first two of President Barack Obama’s stalled nominees since it stripped Republicans last month of their power to block the approvals with procedural hurdles known as filibu…
U.S. Senate banking chairman inclined to hold off on Iran sanctions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration’s appeal to Congress to hold off on imposing more sanctions on Iran won key support on Tuesday when the chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee said he would not back new legislation at this time.
Kerry asks skeptical U.S. Congress not to impose new sanctions on Iran
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry appealed to skeptical U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday not to impose new sanctions on Tehran while the United States seeks to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program.
U.S. Congress could OK trade promotion bill in early 2014, lawmaker says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration could secure “fast-track” trade promotion authority from Congress early next year, a leading lawmaker said on Tuesday, handing it the means to secure two big new trade deals.
U.S. ‘nowhere near’ decision to pull all troops out of Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration is ‘nowhere near’ deciding to pull out all troops from Afghanistan at the end of 2014, a top U.S. official said on Tuesday, despite mounting frustration President Hamid Karzai has not signed a security de…
Obamas, Bushes dine together on Air Force One on way back to U.S.
ON BOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) – Members of a uniquely exclusive club had dinner together at a uniquely exclusive venue on Tuesday: President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, hosted former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, for a meal …
Washington state congressional delegates pitch for Boeing plant
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) – Washington’s full congressional delegation pleaded with Boeing Co on Tuesday to keep its next-generation jetliner in the state as rival states made their own pitches to lure the 777X in a contest worth billions of dollars.
U.S. Senate vote on confirming Yellen as Fed chief likely next week: aide
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate is likely to vote next week on President Barack Obama’s choice of Janet Yellen to be the next chief of the Federal Reserve, a senior Senate Democratic aide said on Tuesday.
