White House wants to extend unemployment insurance through 2014
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will push for an extension of emergency unemployment insurance benefits through the end of 2014, the White House said on Friday, saying the help is still warranted given stubbornly high unemployment.
Biden ready to discuss disposal of U.S. chemical arms on Panama trip
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden will be ready to discuss with Panamanian officials next week the disposal of American chemical weapons left on an island off Panama’s coast during the 1940s when he visits the Central American nation, U.S…
Senate inches toward Fannie, Freddie reform but deal elusive
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The leaders of the Senate Banking Committee appear unlikely to meet their goal of producing a bill by year-end that would wind down major mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, given the shrinking timeline and the…
Obama says ‘brainstorming’ with insurance CEOs on Obamacare plan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Friday that he and his top advisors were “brainstorming” with chief executives from top healthcare insurance companies about how to enroll Americans in health insurance before looming deadlines unde…
Obama to ask insurance companies to accept Obamacare ‘fix’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will urge insurance companies at a meeting on Friday to offer quickly to renew healthcare policies that were canceled because they did not meet standards in the new Obamacare program, the White House said.
Businesses push IRS to reduce data reporting under Obamacare
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Internal Revenue Service is under pressure from some businesses to reduce the information they may soon have to collect and report to the IRS under the health law known as Obamacare, including the birth dates and Social Secur…
Bid for more sanctions on Iran could reach Senate next week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Legislation to impose tough new sanctions on Iran could come to the Senate floor next week, just as diplomats head to Geneva for a third round of talks aimed at curbing Tehran’s suspected nuclear weapons work.
EU, U.S. say trade deal won’t pander to big business
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – U.S. and EU trade negotiators rejected accusations on Friday that they are pandering to multinational companies in their push to agree the world’s largest free-trade deal, saying food safety and the environment will not be put at r…
‘Quite possible’ Iran, powers can reach nuclear deal next week: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Major powers and Iran are getting closer to an initial agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program, a senior U.S. official said on Friday, adding it is “quite possible” a deal could be reached when negotiators meet November 21-22 in…
House passes Republican bill to let insurers offer old health plans
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The House of Representatives on Friday approved a Republican bill that would allow insurers to continue to offer for another year healthcare plans that do not comply with the higher standards of benefits under President Barack Ob…
