HUD Secretary violated the Hatch Act, Office of Special Counsel concludes
By Liz Stark The US Office of Special Counsel has concluded that Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge violated the Hatch Act, the law that limits the political activities of all federal civilian executive branch employees, when she commented on Ohio politics from the White House podium earlier this year. Fudge, who joined White House press secretary Jen Psaki at a briefing in March, was asked about the special election to fill her vacant seat in Congress. Though Fudge declined to weigh in on the House race, she told reporters she thought Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and US
Congress is up against the clock on key Biden priorities. Here’s what to watch.
By Paul LeBlanc Congress has just two weeks to ramp up negotiations on a number of key Biden administration agenda items before the end of the current work period threatens to halt any meaningful progress. Legislation addressing the infrastructure, voting rights and police reform will all be top of mind on Capitol Hill this week — though infighting in both parties could imperil, or even unravel, progress on all fronts. House lawmakers specifically will have a chance to cement a significant bipartisan breakthrough on legislation establishing an independent panel to investigate the US Capitol insurrection. Here’s what to watch:
Republicans draw ‘red line’ on increasing taxes to fund Biden’s infrastructure plan
By Maegan Vazquez, Phil Mattingly and Jeremy Diamond Republican leaders say they told President Joe Biden on Wednesday that they’re drawing a “red line” on hiking certain taxes to fund the President’s infrastructure spending proposal, an anticipated hurdle that has arisen during a crucial week for the White House’s infrastructure priorities. The discussion between the GOP leaders and Biden took place during the President’s first bipartisan meeting with the top four members of congressional leadership at the White House. Meeting attendees included Vice President Kamala Harris; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New
House Republicans expected to vote to make Elise Stefanik conference chair after Cheney ouster
By Clare Foran House Republicans are expected to vote on Friday to elevate Rep. Elise Stefanik to the No. 3 leadership position of conference chair after ousting Rep. Liz Cheney from the role following her repeatedly calling out former President Donald Trump’s “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen. Stefanik, a high-profile Trump defender, faces a conservative challenger — GOP Rep. Chip Roy — but his candidacy is viewed as a long-shot and she is widely anticipated to win. The New York congresswoman has the backing of House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, Whip Steve Scalise and Trump. The former
Nearly 2 million Americans will lose pandemic unemployment benefits early as more Republican states drop relief
By Tami Luhby Nearly 2 million jobless Americans are set to lose their pandemic unemployment benefits early, with Georgia, Arizona and Ohio becoming the latest Republican-led states to announce they would cease providing enhanced federal jobless payments. Thursday’s announcements bring the total to 16 states that have said since last week that they would terminate the $300 weekly federal boost to state benefits, as well as the federal expansion of jobless benefits to those who previously didn’t qualify and those who have run out of their regular state benefits. Governors are citing workforce shortages and the improving economy as the
Biden has a ‘core conviction’ to hike taxes on corporations and the rich. It could cost him.
By Phil Mattingly President Joe Biden’s steadfast belief in taxing corporations and the rich has become a central plank in his legislative agenda, even as he’s warned of political peril and red lines from Republicans. GOP senators, some of whom Biden will host in the Oval Office on Thursday as he seeks a bipartisan infrastructure deal, have rejected them outright. Some Democrats, cognizant of the political backlash past increases have wrought, have quietly warned of their unease. Top business lobbying groups are already laying the groundwork to attack the proposals and considering the kind of moneyed opposition that simply didn’t
Biden announces third slate of judicial nominees
By Kate Sullivan, CNN President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced his intent to nominate three new US Court of Appeals nominees and three new District Court nominees, marking his third slate of judicial nominations. Altogether, the President has now put forward 20 names for federal judge vacancies. The White House described many of the nominees as “groundbreaking choices,” and said in a statement: “These individuals embody President Biden’s commitment to ensure that his judicial nominees represent not only the excellence but the diversity of our nation with respect to both personal and professional backgrounds.” Biden announced he would nominate Gustavo
Justice Department intervenes to help resolve key sticking point in talks over policing bill to ease path for Hill deal
By Manu Raju, Jessica Dean and Paula Reid A bipartisan group of negotiators is stymied over a key issue in talks on overhauling policing practices nationwide: The standard for charging police officers with crimes. And now, the Justice Department is directly engaged in the talks to help resolve the stalemate and ease the path for a sweeping policing deal to be reached on Capitol Hill, according to several people familiar with the matter. As lawmakers see if they can find consensus before a self-imposed May 25 deadline, the issue continues to be a key point of contention, with Democrats pushing
More GOP states drop federal pandemic unemployment benefits early
By Tami Luhby Five more Republican governors are joining their peers in terminating federal pandemic unemployment benefits early, citing workforce shortages in their states. Jobless residents in Missouri, Iowa, Idaho, Tennessee and Wyoming join those in several other states who will soon lose the $300 weekly federal boost to their state benefits, though Congress has made it available until early September to those in states that continue to participate. The moves will also end the federal expansion of jobless benefits to freelancers, independent contractors, certain people affected by the virus and those who have run out of their regular state
Biden’s Build Back Better plan will improve nearly every community in America
Opinion by Mark Zandi There is a lot to like in the President’s Build Back Better plan. It is big — with a total of $4.5 trillion in increased government spending and tax credits over the next decade — but we have big economic problems. One major issue in the American economy is that underlying growth has been disappointing for a long time. Moreover, the benefits of the growth we have seen in recent decades has mostly gone to high-income and wealthy Americans. Build Back Better is focused on addressing these problems. Of the $4.5 trillion in proposed spending and