Biden: Infrastructure plan gives $1B for Great Lakes cleanup
Long-delayed cleanup of Great Lakes harbors and tributary rivers fouled with industrial toxins will accelerate dramatically with the $1 billion boost, senior administration officials say.
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Indiana Rep. Banks facing ‘insurrection’ ballot challenge
The challenge was filed by a long-shot Democratic candidate for Banks’ congressional seat and likely has little chance of success when it goes before the state election commission on Friday, a former longtime commission member said.
White House, Dems eye pause of gas tax as prices soar, election looms
The early deliberations come days after a group of vulnerable Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would suspend the gas tax of roughly 18 cents per gallon for the rest of the year.
White House seeks another $30 billion for COVID-19 battle
According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Congress has already approved $5.8 trillion to battle the pandemic in a series of major bills spanning the Trump and Biden administrations.
Landlords finding ways to evict after getting rental aid
The National Housing Law Project, in a survey last fall of nearly 120 legal aid attorneys and civil rights advocates, found that 86% of respondents reported cases in which landlords either refused to take assistance or accepted the money and still moved to evict tenants.
Lilly to supply 600K doses of new COVID-19 antibody to U.S., if OK’d by FDA
The deal calls for the federal government to pay Eli Lilly and Co. more than $720 million for the antibody, which the company said is effective against all COVID-19 variants.
Senate passes bill to end forced arbitration in sexual assault, harassment cases
The bill would nullify agreements between employees and their employers in which the employees waive their rights to sue in the case of sexual assault or harassment.
Biden puts focus on drug prices as he tries to revive agenda
Efforts to lower prescription drug costs have long been popular with voters, but bipartisan consensus has proved elusive. It’s unclear if there’s a political path forward for Biden’s plans in Congress.
House OKs bill easing budget strains on Postal Service
Congress would lift onerous budget requirements that have helped push the Postal Service deeply into debt and would require it to continue delivering mail six days per week under bipartisan legislation the House approved Tuesday.
White House: File your taxes to get full child tax credit
Workers without children could also get additional help this tax season if they file. The relief package nearly tripled the earned income tax credit for workers without dependent children, meaning that 17 million people could receive credits worth $1,500.
Inflation has Fed critics pointing to spike in money supply
The persistence of inflation, now running at an annual rate of 7%, has provided ammunition to conservative critics of the central bank known as “monetarists” for their adherence to the writings of economist Milton Friedman.
House passes bill to boost U.S. computer chip production
Democrats muscled through legislation in the House on Friday that they say positions the United States to better compete with China economically and on the global stage
Brian Flores’ allegations against NFL lead to call for congressional hearing
Flores said in a televised interview earlier Wednesday that he is trying to “create some change” to the league’s minority hiring practices.
Dems, GOP set to huddle on deal to fund government, avert shutdown
The upcoming discussions mark the second consecutive day of private meetings on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers who oversee the federal purse increasingly express a measure of confidence that they can act before a Feb. 18 deadline.
Biden begins crackdown on power plant pollution
The White House is aiming to shift the nation’s electricity supply to cleaner energy in the face of congressional resistance and a Supreme Court that could limit the federal government’s ability to tighten public health standards.
U.S. job openings rose in December amid worker shortages
About 4.3 million people quit their jobs in December, down from a record of 4.5 million in November. Still, far more Americans are leaving their jobs than before the pandemic.
Guidebook aims to help communities tap $1T in infrastructure funds
The book from the Biden administration is meant to level the playing field by making it easier for smaller cities, tribal leaders, not-for-profits and faith-based groups to compete for money that usually only lobbyists know how to access.
GOP Indiana legislator quits to focus on congressional race
A campaign spokesman confirmed Sen. Erin Houchin of Salem was stepping down to focus on her bid for the GOP nomination in the May 3 primary to replace Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, who isn’t seeking reelection this year.
As car fatalities accelerate, Buttigieg promises federal support
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is pledging to tackle rising traffic fatalities through a national strategy aimed at reducing speed, redesigning roads and enhancing car safety features such as automatic emergency braking.
U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth says he won’t run for reelection. What’s next?
U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth announced Wednesday that he won’t run for re-election in southern Indiana’s 9th District, raising speculation about what the three-term Republican congressman might do next.