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Congress was full of postponements in 2023. Now 2024 could be even less productive.
WASHINGTON — Congress got next to nothing done during the past year and could accomplish even less in 2024 as attention shifts to the November elections. House Republican and Senate Democratic leaders reached agreement on bills and resolutions they sent to the president’s desk just 34 times during the first year of the 118th Congress […]
US Supreme Court won’t yet rule on presidential immunity question in Trump case
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday declined to quickly decide if former President Donald Trump holds immunity from federal prosecution in the case linked to his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith had asked the justices to determine if “a former […]
A ‘chaotic’ January? Congress faces two shutdown deadlines with no action yet on spending
WASHINGTON — Congress is staring down a funding cliff in mid-January and a second one in early February, but neither of those deadlines have inspired House and Senate leaders to broker agreement on the dozen bills that were supposed to become law by Oct. 1. Appropriators are concerned the upcoming election year and competing legislative […]
US Senate negotiators see progress in immigration talks, but no deal likely until 2024
WASHINGTON — Senators attempting to clinch a bipartisan agreement on immigration and border policy gave the clearest indication yet Tuesday they’ll work into the new year, further delaying aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. “We are closer than ever before to an agreement, but … we need to get this right,” said Connecticut Sen. Chris […]
US Senate postpones winter break as lawmakers try to craft an immigration deal
WASHINGTON — Members of the U.S. House headed home Thursday for a three-week winter break without completing work on several must-pass bills, but senators are now scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on Monday as leaders in the upper chamber and the White House look for an agreement on immigration policy. The last-minute scheduling change […]
White House says funding for Ukraine is running out, with no deal in sight in Congress
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said Wednesday there’s roughly $1 billion left in military aid for Ukraine and predicted that funding will last less than a month if Congress doesn’t approve another supplemental spending bill. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during the daily briefing that “the money is running out” and called on […]
US Supreme Court to decide fate of medication abortion access nationwide
WASHINGTON —? The U.S. Supreme Court announced Wednesday it will hear oral arguments and decide whether broad access to the abortion pill can remain legal across the United States. The justices’ decision to hear the case this term will put abortion access and the politics that comes with it back in front of the nation’s […]
Zelenskyy pitches Congress on Ukraine military aid, but it’s tied to stalled border talks
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struggled Tuesday to convince members of Congress to approve billions in additional aid to his country at a crucial moment in the nearly two-year war with Russia. But the outlook was grim as lawmakers remained deadlocked on another piece of a supplemental spending bill under debate in the Senate […]
With time growing short, U.S. Senate talks extend on immigration overhaul
WASHINGTON — Members of Congress left the Capitol on Thursday without a deal on sought-after changes to immigration policy that’s tied to aid for Ukraine and Israel — leaving just one week to resolve the dispute before lawmakers depart for a three-week holiday break. Negotiations among a small group of senators are expected to continue […]
CNN to host GOP presidential debates ahead of Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary
WASHINGTON — Republicans hoping to become their party’s presidential nominee will have two more chances to debate next month, following an announcement Thursday that CNN will host one debate in Iowa and another in New Hampshire. The first debate is scheduled for Jan. 10 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and the second debate […]
Divided over immigration, U.S. Senate blocks advancing aid for Ukraine, Israel?
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed to move forward Wednesday with a $111 billion spending package that would have bolstered aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the Southern border amid deep disagreement about immigration policy. The 49-51 procedural vote, which needed at least 60 senators to advance the bill toward final passage, represents a significant […]
U.S. House Oversight leader demands probe into ‘political interference’ in FBI HQ move
WASHINGTON — The chair of the House Oversight Committee is calling on a government watchdog to investigate any “political interference” in the site selection process for the new FBI headquarters. In addition, as House Republicans step up their interest in the growing dispute between Maryland and Virginia over where the headquarters should be moved from […]