Feb 28 Wilbur Ross sworn in as Commerce secretary By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press Ross, 79, will promote American business interests in the U.S. and abroad. He'll oversee agencies that manage fisheries, weather forecasting and the Census. Continue reading
Feb 27 Watch 4:45 Trump’s budget blueprint boosts defense spending, cuts billions from domestic programs By PBS News Hour President Trump outlined a spending plan on Monday to fulfill his campaign promise to dramatically beef up defense spending by 10 percent, and to cut spending by federal agencies by $54 billion. Budget officials said proposals for taxes and programs… Continue watching
Feb 27 These tax breaks could be affected by the GOP’s tax overhaul By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press President Trump has said he will make public a tax proposal in the coming weeks. Republicans in Congress are also working on plans. Here's what to expect. Continue reading
Feb 26 Watch 3:38 The struggle of rebuilding America’s infrastructure By PBS News Hour In his first address to Congress this Tuesday, President Donald Trump is likely to talk about his vision for rebuilding America's infrastructure with a $1 trillion plan. The nation's top funding source for transportation projects is the federal gas tax,… Continue watching
Feb 23 Watch 8:24 How the feeling of falling behind fuels deadly distress for white Americans By PBS News Hour Why have middle aged, white Americans experienced a stunning rise in premature deaths due to alcoholism, suicide and drug abuse? Economists who have documented the dramatic decrease in life expectancy say an obvious place to look is the loss of… Continue watching
Feb 23 Factory jobs exist, CEOs tell Trump. Skills don’t. By Christopher S. Rugaber, Associated Press In a meeting at the White House, CEOs asked President Donald Trump to support vocational training for the high-tech skills that today's manufacturers require. Continue reading
Feb 23 Is it worth keeping Medicare if I’m covered by my new employer? By Philip Moeller When you returned to work and reacquired group employer health insurance, you effectively got a "do over" on your Medicare sign-up rights. Continue reading
Feb 23 As Trump eyes infrastructure, local leaders say save ‘muni bonds’ By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline COLUMBIA, S.C. — Structures built with municipal bonds stand out in this city. There is the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, and new parking garages for a revitalized restaurant and apartment district. Sleek, futuristic water towers loom on the edge of… Continue reading
Feb 22 Watch 15:18 Erie longs for its manufacturing past, but what’s the future? By PBS News Hour Erie County, Pennsylvania, has long been a manufacturing center, but jobs have been declining since the 1970s. In collaboration with the NewsHour and Marketplace, Frontline offers a look at the hopes and hardships in regions that voted for President Trump. Continue watching
Feb 22 Why Medicare beneficiaries should pay attention to ‘repeal and replace’ debate By Philip Moeller As actual GOP plans come into sharper focus, sharp Medicare battle lines will form for politicians and the public alike. It will be crucial to look inside the packages to get an understanding of whether the Medicare program that would… Continue reading