Apr 18 Watch 7:16 IRS commissioner: Funding cuts hinder security, efficiency By PBS News Hour The IRS is facing tougher scrutiny than ever from Congress. Last week, lawmakers repeatedly pressed IRS Commissioner John Koskinen on why the agency wasn't moving faster to improve cybersecurity, after hackers were able to breach its computers last year. Koskinen… Continue watching
Apr 14 Puerto Rico faces defaults as Congress stalls on way to help By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Puerto Rico is facing a deadline for a multimillion-dollar bond payment next month as House Republicans struggle to find a way to help the island deal with its $70 billion debt. Continue reading
Apr 04 4 issues that remain in limbo in Congress By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Congress increasingly is being defined by what it's not doing this election year. The Senate returns this week with a strong majority of Republicans saying no to any consideration of President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. No hearings,… Continue reading
Apr 03 Top issues in congressional limbo include spending, Garland nomination By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press The Senate returns this week with a strong majority of Republicans saying no to any consideration of President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. And in the House, where lawmakers return from their break April 12, conservative opposition could… Continue reading
Apr 01 How getting women involved can combat extremism and save lives By Jamille Bigio, Council on Foreign Relations As increasingly costly, disruptive and deadly conflicts unfold around the world, a House hearing last week highlighted that when women participate in negotiations, the resulting agreement is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years. Continue reading
Mar 25 As Congress bickers, Flint suffers, Michigan lawmakers say By Matthew Daly, Associated Press Rep. Dan Kildee, a Michigan Democrat who represents Flint, says his hometown is struggling while Congress bickers. Continue reading
Mar 17 For some, Supreme Court nod is a ‘wasted opportunity’ for diversity By Kenya Downs President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court Wednesday left some scratching their heads. Considering his historic election as the first African-American president, some pundits expected that Mr. Obama's presumably last opportunity to affect the highest… Continue reading
Mar 15 Ex-officials point fingers at hearing on Flint water crisis By Richard Lardner and Matthew Daly, Associated Press Former city and federal officials pointed fingers at one another for failing to protect the 100,000 citizens of Flint, Michigan, from lead-laced water at a congressional hearing Tuesday. Continue reading
Mar 13 Poll: Are ‘ridiculous’ airline fees grounding your travel plans? By Andrew Mach The Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act — yes, that’s really what it’s called — aims to limit the fees airlines can charge for checked baggage, ticket changes and cancellations. Continue reading
Mar 13 Watch 3:15 Congress considers cracking down on ‘soaring’ airline fees By PBS News Hour Congress is considering regulating airline fees for reservation changes, checked luggage and leg room, under a bill introduced this week called the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act. Bloomberg Media aviaiton and travel associate editor Justin Bachman joins Alison… Continue watching