Illinois lawmakers could take up pension fix in December
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois’ most powerful legislative leader has told members to be prepared to return to the state capitol as soon as December 3, a notice that could signal an impending vote on pension reform after weeks of closed-door meetings, spo…
U.S. budget negotiators far from deal, move behind closed doors
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. budget negotiators said on Wednesday they were still far from an agreement and put off scheduling any other public meetings as talks to ease automatic spending cuts moved behind closed doors.
Pentagon cancels plans to buy Russian helicopters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon no longer will buy Russian helicopters for the Afghan Air Force from Rosoboronexport, a state-owned arms exporter that also sells weapons to the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, U.S. defense officials …
Problems mount for White House in push for Trans-Pacific trade pact
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A White House push for a freer hand to clinch trade deals ran into a roadblock on Wednesday as two-thirds of Democrats in the House of Representatives stated their opposition, complicating efforts to finalize a pact with 11 Pacif…
Hawaii becomes 15th U.S. state to legalize gay marriage
HONOLULU (Reuters) – Hawaii’s governor signed into law on Wednesday a bill extending marriage rights to same-sex couples, capping 20 years of legal and political rancor in a state regarded as a pioneer in advancing the cause of gay matrimony.
U.S. designates Nigeria militant groups as terrorists
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States formally designated the Nigerian Islamist militant groups Boko Haram and Ansaru as foreign terrorist organizations on Wednesday, making it a crime to provide them with material support.
GAO rules for BAE Systems in Navy contract protest
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Wednesday ruled in favor of BAE Systems PLC after the British company filed a formal protest against the U.S. Navy’s decision to award to Raytheon Co a contract for a next-generation …
U.S. looking into cybersecurity incidents targeting Obamacare website
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. authorities are investigating a series of cybersecurity incidents targeting the HealthCare.gov website at the center of President Obama’s healthcare law, a U.S. homeland security official told Congress on Wednesday.
Low Obamacare enrollment figures turns up heat on White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – About 106,000 people signed up for insurance coverage nationally under President Barack Obama’s healthcare law during October, the government said on Wednesday, a tiny fraction of the millions of people that had been expected to …
U.S. says over 106,000 sign up for Obamacare plans in October
(Reuters) – The U.S. government said on Wednesday that 106,185 people signed up for health coverage nationally under President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law during October, the first month of its troubled roll-out.
