• Wed, December 18, 2024

by: ktvq

Congress would get pay raise if lawmakers pass government funding bill

If the funding bill passes, members of Congress could receive a raise of up to 3.8%, or about $6,600 annually. Congress has to pass the bill, which also includes $100 billion for disaster relief, before Saturday to avoid a partial government shutdown.

by: Governing

Who Depends Most on Washington? Rural Counties That Voted Heavily for Trump

More than anything it's the simple result of Americans growing older, a fact of life we haven't come to grips with politically.

by: PBS

Senate defense bill to raise troop pay and bar trans care for minors to receive final vote

Lawmakers said those were key to improving the quality of life of service members at a time when many military families rely on food banks and other government assistance programs to make ends meet. "It includes major quality of life improvements ...

by: Mother Jones

Trump's Billionaire Cabinet Is Unprecedented

The president-elect has tapped five reported billionaires for cabinet posts: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for interior secretary, hedge funder Scott Bessent for treasury secretary, Cantor Fitzgerald chief Howard Lutnick for commerce secretary,

by: USA Today

Larry Bucshon says he's figured out his post-Congress career

It's a well-worn and not necessarily surprising path 8th District Rep. Larry Bucshon will follow when he leaves Congress next month after 14 years.

by: The Daily Telegraph

Scottish Labour leader attacks Starmer's 'deeply disappointing' Waspi women decision

Russell Findlay, the Scottish Tory leader, said: "Anas Sarwar thought he would stroll into Bute House in 2026, but Sir Keir Starmer is wrecking Scottish Labour's campaign by breaking every promise he made before the general election and betraying pensioners, farmers, businesses and workers."

by: BizPac Review

'This is an early test': Ramaswamy dissects 1,500 pg. spending bill, says it 'should fail'

DOGE is getting a test run as Vivek Ramaswamy read all 1,500+ pages of a spending bill and then gave his advice.

by: NBC News

Trump opposes funding bill, pushing government closer to a shutdown

Elon Musk joined a wave of right-wing fury against a bill to keep the government open. Now, the president-elect says he wants big changes too before this weekend's deadline.

by: The Daily Signal

Trump, Vance Throw Curveball Into Spending Fight as Hill Scrambles to Fund Government

The continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown by funding the government until March is not being received well on Capitol Hill.

by: Business Insider

Elon Musk bashes Congress' government funding bill

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he spoke with Musk about his displeasure Tuesday night, though the DOGE cohead said on X that the bill shouldn't pass.

by: News Tribune

Meet Simone Carter, McClatchy's new Washington state government reporter

Reporter Simone Carter, a Texas native who previously worked for the Dallas Observer and Newsweek, has joined The Olympian to cover Washington state government for the state capital's newspaper as well as McClatchy's three other sites in the state.

by: Modern Healthcare

Trump says he opposes stopgap government spending bill

President-elect Donald Trump — just days before federal funding is set to expire — said he wants lawmakers to also include an increase to the debt ceiling in the package

by: ABC

Social Security Fairness Act clears Senate procedural hurdle, on path for final passage

In a final lame-duck push, the Senate will attempt to pass legislation aimed at providing full Social Security benefits to millions of Americans this week.

by: ABC

Editorial Roundup: United States

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: Dec. 12 The Washington Post says Joe Biden shouldn't use preemptive pardons

by: Sydney Morning Herald

Why my bosses are both out of a job. But spa builders are doing OK

What's in a job title? Everything, if your job just happened to disappear as part of a major revamp by the bureau of statistics of the nation's thousands of occupations.

by: The New York Times

Trump's Criticism of Spending Deal Raises Fears of Government Shutdown

The president-elect weighed in against the mammoth spending package after Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy had spent the day attacking it and warning Republicans not to support it.

by: The New York Times

Inside a Huge Spending Deal: Disaster Money, a Football Stadium and More

The mammoth year-end federal funding measure congressional leaders agreed on does far more than just keep the government running. It is stuffed with all manner of policy and other changes.

by: MSN

Beware the 'fiscal cliff', Don's much-improved 'second honeymoon' and other commentary

Republican: Beware the 'Fiscal Cliff' "Republicans' election celebrations" soon must yield to facing the "fiscal cliff," warns ex-Rep. Jeb Hensarling at The Wall Street Journal. "Key" Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions expire next year as Uncle Sam hits the $26.

by: MSN

Tech giants, Wall Street, and corporate elite are pouring millions into to Donald Trump's inauguration

The president-elect's inaugural fund donors range from CEOs like Sam Altman and Ken Griffin, to Meta, Amazon, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs.

by: MSN

Trump vows to fire federal workers who won't return to office. What it could mean in Nevada

President-elect Donald Trump said he'd fire federal workers who won't return to the office and also challenge in court a Biden-era deal on the issue.

by: MSN

The winners and losers from Congress's funding bill to avert shutdown

by: MSN

Bipartisan government funding plan collapses as Trump makes new demands days before shutdown

President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan Wednesday to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown.

by: MSN

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are 'Very Hurt' After Prince William Met With Their Archenemy Donald Trump

Prince William's time with Donald Trump might have offended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as the Republican has been vocal about not liking the royal rebels. "Of course, William was fulfilling a professional role but Trump has been so vicious towards them,

by: MSN

Elon Musk Is Trying to Buy a Second Branch of Government

Elon Musk said Wednesday that every member of Congress who votes for the CR should be voted out in two years. That raises the question of how much power an unelected billionaire should have. Elon Musk

by: MSN

State lawmakers plan to tackle inflation and education as top priorities

At the top of the list for each party is addressing the impact inflation has had at a state level. The 2025 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 13.

by: MSN

Government cash to support more homeless housing

The government says the money, part of a £5 million programme of Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots, will "test innovative approaches and kickstart new initiatives". The scheme will work with 20 local councils,

by: MSN

US healthcare spending rose 7.5% in 2023, government report says

U.S. healthcare spending rose by 7.5% in 2023 from 4.6% the year prior to reach $4.9 trillion, driven by increased use of medical services and as enrollment climbed for private health plans, particularly in plans under the Affordable Care Act,

by: MSN

Gov.-elect Mike Braun's cabinet is full. Here's who will be running Indiana government

Republican Gov.-elect Mike Braun has finished filling out his restructured governor's cabinet. Whereas the cabinet under Gov. Eric Holcomb included agency heads from a few dozen state agencies, Braun has reorganized the executive branch so that the cabinet will consist of him,

by: MSN

Government funding plan collapses as Trump demands renegotiations

President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan Wednesday to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown, instead telling House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate — days before a deadline when federal funding runs out.

by: MSN

University Failed To Disclose Professor's Ties To Chinese Government While Accepting Federal Research Funds

The University of Delaware (UD) reached a settlement agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after allegedly failing to disclose a professor's ties to the Chinese government in violation of federal law.

by: MSN

Exclusive: New Jersey Mayor, Police Chief Shed Light On Increasing and 'Concerning' Drone Sightings, Lack of Answers From Government

Diana Falzone spoke with West Milford Mayor Michele Dale and Police Chief Shannon Sommerville this week to shed some light on mysterious drone sightings. The post Exclusive: New Jersey Mayor, Police Chief Shed Light On Increasing and 'Concerning' Drone Sightings,

by: MSN

Rutte and Zelenskyy say Ukraine's position and economy to be discussed in Brussels

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed ahead of talks in Brussels on Wednesday, 18 December, that they will focus on strengthening Ukraine's position and the economy.

by: MSN

Government funding plan collapses as Trump makes new demands

President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan Wednesday to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown, instead telling House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate — days before a deadline when federal funding runs out.

by: MSN

Trump Key Adviser Musk Comes Out Against Year-End Funding Bill

Elon Musk intensified his public criticism of the deal House Speaker Mike Johnson struck to temporarily fund the government, ratcheting up the likelihood of a shutdown and declaring any lawmaker who supports the bill should be voted out of office in two years.

by: MSN

Hawley blasts exclusion of RECA expansion from government funding bill

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) blasted the exclusion of an agreement to reauthorize the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) from a 1,500-page bill to fund the federal government, blaming Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.

by: MSN

We can't keep spending money we don't have, GOP lawmaker warns

Texas, discusses the continuing resolution wreaking havoc in Congress ahead of a potential government shutdown.

by: MSN

Donald Trump confirms he wants Canada to be 51st state

Several U.S. sports leagues feature Canadian teams, with the NBA and MLB each hosting one, while MLS and the NHL include multiple franchises based in Canada. The United States and Canada share a long history of peaceful collaboration and a strong partnership between the two sovereign nations that has gone on for decades.

by: MSN

Elon Musk's drug use and Putin ties has stopped SpaceX to avoid asking for higher security clearance: report

Elon Musk's drug use and Putin ties has stopped SpaceX to avoid asking for higher security clearance: report - Sources told The Wall Street Journal that Musk's drug use and contact with foreign nation

by: MSN

Starmer and Trump discuss support for Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the need for continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression during a telephone conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday,

by: MSN

US effort to curb China's and Russia's access to advanced computer chips 'inadequate,' report finds

The Commerce Department's efforts to curb China's and Russia's access to American-made advanced computer chips have been "inadequate" and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons,

by: MSN

UN calls for 'free and fair' elections in Syria

The UN envoy to Syria called on Wednesday for "free and fair" elections after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad, as he voiced hope for a political solution for Kurdish-held areas. "A new Syria

by: MSN

LIVE at 3PM: Gov. Pillen and local leaders to share updates on the 2025 summer EBT program

Gov. Jim Pillen is set to join local leaders to talk about the 2025 summer EBT program on Wednesday at 3 p.m. You can watch the news conference when it begins in the video player above. Department of Health and Human Services CEO Steve Corsi and Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher and others are joining Gov.

by: MSN

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport breaks ground on $4.1 million curbside canopy project

The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock is making upgrades to its site with a $4.1 million canopy project.

by: MSN

Anti-vax philanthropy and legal fees: How RFK Jr. makes his millions

by: MSN

'You're A Political Extremist, Aren't You?': John Kennedy Loses It On Witness During Senate Hearing

During the Senate hearing on the effects of climate change on increasing insurance prices, Senator John Kennedy lost it on a witness, stating "you're a political extremist, aren't you?"

by: MSN

North East Waspi women slam 'betrayal' as Labour Government refuses compensation

Labour announced on Tuesday that the Government would not be paying out compensation to millions of women born in the 1950s who were not properly informed about increases to their state pension age

by: MSN

SA and Mozambique in pact to 'mitigate disruption' at ports of entry after trade plummets

Ministers from South Africa and Mozambique said the post-election unrest in Mozambique has had a 'significant negative impact' on trade, warning of 'great danger' of food and energy insecurity if the crisis persists.

by: MSN

State Department 'censorship' office finds lifeline in 1,500 page spending bill

State Department 'censorship' office finds lifeline in 1,500 page spending bill

A State Department-housed office that conservatives say funded an unconstitutional "censorship scheme" would receive a one-year extension under a provision in a 1,547-page spending bill to prevent a government shutdown.
The article from MSN discusses how the State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC), which has been criticized for its role in domestic censorship, has secured its funding through a massive $1.5 trillion spending bill passed by Congress. Despite controversies, including allegations of overstepping its mandate by influencing domestic narratives, the GEC's budget was not only maintained but also saw an increase. This funding ensures the continuation of its operations, which include countering foreign disinformation but have been accused of targeting American citizens' speech. Critics argue that this represents an unconstitutional expansion of government censorship, with the GEC's activities now seemingly protected under the guise of national security and foreign policy. The spending bill, which was necessary to avoid a government shutdown, has thus inadvertently provided a lifeline to the GEC, allowing it to continue its controversial practices.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/state-department-censorship-office-finds-lifeline-in-1-500-page-spending-bill/ar-AA1w6soK

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