Feb 09 Kelly getting scrutiny after senior aide’s resignation By Jonathan Lemire, Catherine Lucey, Jill Colvin, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Pressure mounted on White House chief of staff John Kelly as questions swirled Friday about his defense of a senior aide he fought to keep in a highly sensitive West Wing job despite accusations of spousal abuse from… Continue reading
Feb 09 Congress votes to reopen government, passes budget deal By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The House moved swiftly early Friday to reopen the federal government and pass a $400 billion budget deal, overcoming opposition from both liberal Democrats and tea party conservatives to endorse enormous spending increases despite looming trillion-dollar deficits. Continue reading
Feb 08 Live Updates: House OKs budget deal, ending shutdown By Associated Press The House has narrowly passed a sweeping bipartisan budget accord, ending an hours-long government shutdown and clearing a path for huge spending increases for both the Pentagon and domestic programs. Continue reading
Feb 08 Watch 8:08 Why Congress’ budget solution might not avert a shutdown By PBS News Hour Senate leaders labored all day to move forward on a bipartisan funding bill to keep the government running, while the House of Representatives waited to cast its own vote. The 600-plus page bill provides more military spending, as well as… Continue watching
Feb 08 Watch 3:48 News Wrap: Pentagon rolls out new sexual harassment policy By PBS News Hour In our News Wrap Thursday, the Pentagon will permanently mark the records of service members accused of sexual harassment or bullying on the job or online. Also, former President George W. Bush said it is “pretty clear” Russians meddled in… Continue watching
Feb 08 Watch 6:30 How is John Kelly’s credibility hurt by Rob Porter abuse scandal? By PBS News Hour The White House is on the defensive after two ex-wives of a top aide said he physically assaulted them. Staff secretary Rob Porter also did not have a permanent security clearance. Why did chief of staff John Kelly initially defend… Continue watching
Feb 08 WATCH: Sen. Rand Paul holds up vote on Senate budget deal By Associated Press The Kentucky Republican says he came to Congress to fight deficits. But now, he says, Republicans and Democrats are "spending us into oblivion."… Continue reading
Feb 08 The House Intelligence Committee is planning to build a wall between Republican and Democratic staff By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press A senior Republican on the committee, Florida Rep. Tom Rooney, said Thursday that he thinks the committee is "poison" right now, characterizing partisan tensions as a total breakdown on committee that could have national security concerns. Continue reading
Feb 08 ‘Dreamers’ in the military won’t face deportation, Mattis says By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Previously, U.S. officials have said the military members' DACA status wasn't clear. But on Thursday Mattis said flatly it's not a problem. Continue reading
Feb 08 Lawmakers push for vote on budget deal to avoid government shutdown By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press House GOP leaders were working to shore up support among conservatives for the measure, which would shower the Pentagon with money but add hundreds of billions of dollars to the nation's $20 trillion-plus debt. Continue reading