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Government shutdown nears: U.S. House GOP fails to pass one-month spending plan
By: Jennifer Shutt, Jacob Fischler, Ariana Figueroa and Ashley Murray - September 29, 2023
WASHINGTON — A sweeping government shutdown appeared inevitable on Friday, with the U.S. Senate stuck in a procedural holding pattern on its bipartisan stopgap bill and divided U.S. House Republicans unable to pass their short-term spending bill. Both chambers of Congress must approve and President Joe Biden must sign government funding legislation before midnight on […]
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California dies at 90
By: Ariana Figueroa - September 29, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein died Thursday night in her home in Washington, D.C. The California Democrat was 90 and had announced in February she would not run for reelection in 2024. “She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary,” her chief of staff, James Sauls, said in a statement. “Senator Feinstein was […]
GOP witnesses at Biden impeachment hearing see insufficient evidence of wrongdoing so far
By: Ariana Figueroa - September 28, 2023
WASHINGTON — With two days before a partial government shutdown, House Republicans held their first impeachment inquiry hearing Thursday over unproven allegations that President Joe Biden benefited from his son’s business dealings overseas. Witnesses tapped by Republicans for the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing acknowledged that there was no evidence showing that the president […]
Menendez urged to step down by a growing number of U.S. Senate Democrats
By: Ariana Figueroa and Samantha Dietel - September 26, 2023
WASHINGTON — More than two dozen U.S. Senate Democrats are calling on New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez to resign following his indictment on corruption charges for the second time. WASHINGTON — More than two dozen U.S. Senate Democrats are calling on New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez to resign following his indictment on corruption […]
Food benefits for low income families at risk in a government shutdown, White House says
By: Ariana Figueroa - September 25, 2023
WASHINGTON — As Congress barrels toward a partial government shutdown, the White House Monday warned that a program that helps millions of low income families afford healthy food could see substantial cuts. The White House released a state-by-state breakdown, estimating that nearly 7 million people who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, […]
‘If we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war’: Zelenskyy asks Congress to help Ukraine
By: Ariana Figueroa and Samantha Dietel - September 22, 2023
WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers to reiterate the need for continued aid to support his country’s fight against the Russian invasion, even as the U.S. faces a partial government shutdown as soon as the end of the month. “If we don’t get the aid, […]
U.S. attorney general defends Hunter Biden investigation under questioning by House GOP
By: Ariana Figueroa - September 20, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans led by Ohio’s Jim Jordan on Wednesday grilled U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland about how the Justice Department has handled its investigation and prosecution of Hunter Biden on felony gun charges. The questions about the president’s son came after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week asked several committees, including the […]
U.S. House GOP spending bills falter as Congress struggles to avoid a shutdown
By: Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa - September 19, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats said Tuesday they are preparing their own short-term spending bill that they believe will garner bipartisan support, a decision that could stave off a partial government shutdown — and as House Republicans failed to advance two spending bills. The Senate move would work as long as the House votes to […]
Menendez, other U.S. Senate Democrats vent frustrations after new ruling against DACA
By: Ariana Figueroa - September 14, 2023
WASHINGTON — A federal judge Wednesday declared illegal the Biden administration’s revised version of a program that protects hundreds of thousands of people brought into the country as children from deportation, and U.S. Senate Democrats, advocates and the White House on Thursday decried the decision. “I think that Congress should act, but it has been […]
U.S. House Speaker McCarthy tells committees to launch Biden impeachment probe
By: Ariana Figueroa - September 12, 2023
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday announced that he has directed several House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into unproven GOP allegations that President Joe Biden profited from his son’s business dealings when he was vice president in the Obama administration. “These allegations paint a picture, a picture of corruption,” […]
Battles over spending, farm bill, Ukraine and more loom over divided Congress
By: Jennifer Shutt, Jacob Fischler, Ariana Figueroa and Ashley Murray - September 12, 2023
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House and Senate are both back in D.C. on Tuesday following a long summer recess, facing an overwhelming agenda of unfinished work — funding the federal government and reauthorizing major programs set to expire at the end of the month. Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden have only a few weeks […]
Millions enrolled in new student loan repayment program
By: Ariana Figueroa - September 6, 2023
WASHINGTON — More than 4 million federal student loan borrowers are enrolled in the Biden administration’s new repayment program, according to figures released Tuesday by the Department of Education. Of that number, 170,200 borrowers are in Pennsylvania With the pause of more than three years on federal student loan repayments coming to an end in […]