Obama asks high court to review contraception mandate ruling
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to review the legality of a politically volatile provision of the 2010 federal healthcare law requiring employers to provide health insurance that covers birth control….
New FBI chief warns budget cuts may put agents on furlough
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – FBI Director James Comey said on Thursday that the U.S. budget stalemate may force him to put agents on furlough, leaving the agency, which investigates major crimes and national security threats, potentially short-handed.
Budget uncertainty crippling military, Pentagon officials say
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With lawmakers spoiling for another fight over federal spending ahead of the new fiscal year next month, senior Pentagon officials are trekking to Congress with a sobering message: budget uncertainty is wreaking havoc with the ar…
Analysis: Tech firms, medical research, get helium reprieve in U.S.
LONDON (Reuters) – Producers of high-tech products from MRI scanners to semiconductors are breathing a sigh of relief after U.S. lawmakers acted on Thursday to prevent the shutdown of a 90-year-old helium reservoir in Texas.
Prospects dimming for Obama’s energy regulator nominee
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The prospects of Ron Binz taking the reins at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dimmed on Thursday when Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he would “work to defeat” the former Colorado regulator.
Energy regulator nominee criticized for non-mainstream view
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans and some Democrats criticized Ron Binz in a hearing on Tuesday on his nomination to lead a key U.S. energy regulatory agency as being non mainstream because his views on the nation’s energy future support renewable so…
Temporary funding bill stopping Obamacare clears first House hurdle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A stop-gap federal spending bill that also would deny funding for President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law cleared its first hurdle in the House of Representatives on Thursday, paving the way for passage of the measure o…
Senate approves measure to avoid ‘helium cliff’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate on Thursday easily passed a measure that would prevent a shutdown of the U.S. helium reserve program in early October.
Ex-House leader DeLay’s convictions overturned by Texas court
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) – A Texas appeals court on Thursday overturned the 2010 convictions of former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay for money laundering and conspiracy, citing insufficient evidence.
IMF urges U.S. to bury budget hatchet, back fund reforms
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund on Thursday urged U.S. policymakers to support major reforms at the global lender and bury political differences over the budget to ease one source of risk to the economy and markets.
