Obama picks government trouble-shooter Koskinen to lead IRS
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated John Koskinen, known as a trouble-shooter of distressed organizations, to lead the Internal Revenue Service amid a controversy over the agency’s scrutiny of conservative political grou…
Activists mobilize for busy August on immigration, Obamacare
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – August might not be much of a recess for U.S. lawmakers weary from bruising budget fights and nomination showdowns: the break promises a frenzy of meetings in their home districts with activists trying to pressure them on immigra…
Same-state U.S. presidential contenders could vex donors
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As Texas Senator Ted Cruz charmed Republican activists and religious leaders in Iowa last week, he insisted that he was there to promote his party’s agenda and not to test conservative voters’ enthusiasm for him as a potential ca…
Senate Republicans block $54 billion transport spending bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the Senate blocked passage of a $54 billion bill to fund transportation and housing projects on Thursday, setting up a major clash over spending levels in September that risks a government shutdown.
Senator urges Obama to recommend moving G20 summit outside Russia
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senator Charles Schumer urged President Barack Obama to retaliate against Moscow for granting asylum to accused national security leaker Edward Snowden by recommending that the upcoming G20 economic summit be moved outside of Rus…
U.S. rethinking Putin summit after Snowden move
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – High-level talks between Russia and the United States scheduled for next week in Washington are “up in the air” and a September summit also is in doubt after Russia granted asylum to former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden,…
China condemns U.S. Senate over sea dispute resolution
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Thursday it had lodged a formal complaint with the United States after the U.S. Senate passed a resolution expressing concern about Chinese actions in the disputed East and South China Seas.
U.S. House passes Iran sanctions bill to slash oil exports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The House of Representatives easily passed a bill on Wednesday to tighten sanctions on Iran, showing a strong message to Tehran over its disputed nuclear program days before President-elect Hassan Rouhani is sworn in.
Pentagon review protects weapons for now, but uncertainty abounds
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s rollout Wednesday of a long-awaited strategic budget review left big weapons programs unscathed for now, focusing more on cuts to Pentagon overhead, compensation packages and troop levels.
Pentagon warns of tough trade-offs in face of looming cuts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Wednesday pledged $40 billion in new Pentagon spending reductions over the next decade, but warned that additional cuts required by law posed stark choices that could bend or break the president’s…
