Dec 19 Watch 8:15 U.S. needs to be a 'little bit patient' to see robust economic growth from the GOP tax plan, says Thune By PBS News Hour After a year in the majority marked by several legislative speed bumps and dead ends, Republicans are happy with the final tax bill that's poised to pass, according to Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. Judy Woodruff asks Thune about the long-term… Continue watching
Dec 19 Watch 5:41 Hurricane-blasted Puerto Rico fears GOP tax bill will be 'another storm' for economy By PBS News Hour Under the GOP tax plan, Puerto Rico is treated in some ways as a foreign entity, not a U.S. territory. Local officials warn that one provision could drive out drugmakers and manufacturers, at a time when a third of the… Continue watching
Dec 19 1-vote win puts Democrats closer to control of Virginia legislature By Associated Press Republican control of Virginia's House of Delegates may be in peril now that a Democratic challenger seems to have won a recount. Continue reading
Dec 19 House will be forced to revote on GOP tax bill Wednesday By Associated Press Democrats say three provisions in the Republican $1.5 trillion tax bill violate Senate rules and will likely be removed before that chamber votes on the measure. Continue reading
Dec 19 House member offices paid $342,000 in discrimination settlements over 4 years, report says By Juliet Linderman, Associated Press The new numbers were released Tuesday by the House Office of Compliance, the taxpayer-funded office that handles the often-secret payouts to House employees. The information reveals three previously undisclosed settlements for sexual harassment. Continue reading
Dec 19 WATCH: White House praises tax vote By Associated Press President Donald Trump also celebrated the victory on Twitter. Continue reading
Dec 19 Former Green Party presidential candidate cooperates in Russia probe into 2016 election By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press The request to Jill Stein is more evidence that the Senate panel will still have much work to do in 2018. While the investigation has largely focused on both the Russian interference and whether it was in any way connected… Continue reading
Dec 19 EPA chief Pruitt spent thousands in taxpayer dollars on anti-surveillance tech and sweeps for his office By Michael Biesecker, Associated Press An accounting of Scott Pruitt's spending for the bug sweep and pricey locks was provided to The Associated Press by an EPA employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing concerns of retaliation. Continue reading
Dec 19 Donald Trump's nominee for Export-Import Bank is rejected By Associated Press Former Republican Rep. Scott Garrett of New Jersey voted to shutter the bank when serving in Congress and didn't apologize for his opposition when testifying at his confirmation hearing. Continue reading
Dec 19 How the Trump administration is reshaping the EPA By Talia Buford, ProPublica Since Trump was elected, dozens of environmental rules have been either opened for reconsideration or overturned altogether. These regulations would have had far-ranging effects, from banning hazardous pesticides and offshore oil drilling to stopping coal-mining debris from being dumped into… Continue reading