Mar 26 WATCH: Harris discusses child poverty and education with Secretary Miguel Cardona By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The expansion of the child tax credit, along with other measures, will cut childhood poverty in half this year, according to an analysis done by the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University. Continue reading
Mar 26 Biden taps Sen. Manchin’s wife to co-chair Appalachian board By Josh Boak, Associated Press Biden is nominating Gayle Manchin, the wife of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, to be the co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. The commission is an economic development partnership involving the federal government and 13 states. Continue reading
Mar 25 Watch 8:07 ‘First affected’ and ‘hit the hardest:’ Minority-owned businesses struggle for PPP funds The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to extend the application period for the Paycheck Protection Program until the end of May. Since the program began, over $700 billion have been distributed to small businesses to help cover losses during the… Continue watching
Mar 25 Gas drilling firms defeat Pennsylvania’s antitrust lawsuit By Marc Levy, Associated Press The state Supreme Court said in a 6-1 decision late Wednesday that state consumer protection law doesn't allow sellers to take action against buyers. Continue reading
Mar 25 WATCH: Buttigieg testifies before House about transportation infrastructure By Kevin Freking, Hope Yen, Associated Press The hearing exposed deep fault lines by party, testing Biden’s campaign promise to reach across the political aisle to address national problems. Continue reading
Mar 25 WATCH: Senate votes to extend small business loan program for 2 months By News Desk and Kevin Freking, Associated Press The bill had already passed the House, so it now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Congress started the loan program last year to help businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading
Mar 25 U.S. jobless claims fall to 684,000, fewest since pandemic By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week to 684,000, the fewest since the pandemic erupted a year ago and a sign that the economy is improving. Continue reading
Mar 24 Watch 8:50 Labor Secretary Walsh to prioritize American Rescue Plan, focus on ‘building back better’ President Biden regularly touts the promise of his COVID relief legislation, but there are significant problems in the job market that may not be easily solved as more than 9 million Americans remain out of work, and the unemployment numbers… Continue watching
Mar 24 WATCH: Senate small business committee holds hearing on COVID-19 relief programs By Chris Rugaber, Associated Press The Biden administration is considering a bump in the corporate tax rate to 28 percent, up from the current 21 percent, after the Trump administration cut it from 35 percent. Tax increases on higher-income Americans are also being considered. Continue reading
Mar 23 WATCH: Yellen, Powell say more needed to promote pandemic recovery By Martin Crutsinger, Associated Press The two officials struck upbeat notes on the future of the economy in their prepared testimony Tuesday before the House Financial Services Committee while cautioning that the economy still needs help. Continue reading