Federal COVID relief will be less than some cities expected
Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville are among roughly 50 cities nationwide that are now projected to receive less than half of the federal COVID-19 relief money they originally expected.
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Senators eye $579B in new infrastructure spending as part of $1T plan
Lawmakers say the group’s tentative agreement represents important progress in fashioning a bill that can pass such an evenly divided Congress this year, but they are also aware that it could easily unravel.
New federal COVID-19 safety rules exempt most employers
The Biden administration has exempted most employers from long-awaited rules for protecting workers from the coronavirus, angering labor advocates who had spent more than a year lobbying for the protections.
Another big jump in prices tightens squeeze on U.S. consumers
American consumers absorbed another surge in prices in May—a 0.6% increase over April and 5% over the past year, the biggest 12-month inflation spike since 2008.
Senators chide NCAA for not solving athlete-pay issue, as fast federal help looks unlikely
Warning of a looming threat to amateur sports, college athletics leaders urged Congress on Wednesday to take bipartisan action as states prepare to allow athletes to earn money from their names and personal brands.
Biden ends GOP infrastructure talks, but new group emerges
Shortly after the Biden-Capito talks collapsed, 10 senators huddled late Thursday over pizza—five Republicans, five Democrats—emerging after three hours with some optimism their new effort could create a viable path forward.
Senate passes $250B effort to boost U.S. tech industry, counter rivals
The bill sponsored by Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., includes $10 billion to fund regional technology hubs—one of which Indiana officials are hoping to land—for five years.
Sen. Todd Young’s bill could lead to innovation hub in Indiana
Government and business leaders are preparing to bid to host one of the regional tech hubs that would be created by the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, even though the bill has yet to pass.
House Dems unveil $547B infrastructure bill amid Biden talks
The bill would boost investment in roads and bridges by about 54% with an emphasis on fixing existing infrastructure. It would dedicate about $4 billion to electric vehicle charging stations and would provide record levels of investment for pedestrian and cyclist pathways.
Sources: U.S. report makes no definitive finding about UFOs
The report due to Congress later this month examines multiple unexplained sightings from recent years that in some cases have been captured on videos of pilots exclaiming about objects flying in front of them.
Biden offers tax changes to Republicans in infrastructure talks
President Joe Biden is trying to break a logjam with Republicans on how to pay for infrastructure improvements, proposing a 15% minimum tax on corporations and the possibility of revenues from increased IRS enforcement as a possible compromise.
Biden, GOP senator talk as time drags on infrastructure deal
Privately, the president has sized up the GOP’s latest $928 billion offer as unworkable, in large part because it taps unused COVID-19 funds. Instead, Biden wants to hike the corporate tax rate—a nonstarter for Senate Republicans—to generate revenue for his $1.7 trillion package.
White House gives GOP one week to reach deal on infrastructure
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said time is running short for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, indicating that President Joe Biden will look to act without Republican support if there is no consensus when Congress returns from its Memorial Day break.
Senate eyes R&D bill to counter China, bolster chip manufacturing
What started as a pragmatic effort to boost scientific research has morphed into sweeping bill aimed at making the U.S. more competitive, including $50 billion in emergency funds to shore up domestic computer chip manufacturing.
Bank CEOs tell Congress they’ll work to avoid foreclosures
The chief executives of the nation’s largest banks went in front of Congress for a second day Thursday, facing questions ranging from inflation to their efforts to keep Americans in their homes after pandemic aid expires this summer.
GOP offers $928B proposal on infrastructure, funded with unused COVID aid
Republicans have rejected Biden’s proposed corporate tax increase to pay for new investments, and instead want to shift unspent COVID-19 relief dollars to help cover the costs.
GOP senators ready $1T infrastructure counteroffer to Biden
The Republicans said their new $1 trillion offer, spread over eight years, would be aligned with what they discussed with President Biden in their first Oval Office meeting almost two weeks ago.
White House ‘eager’ for GOP counteroffer on infrastructure
The White House said Monday that President Joe Biden is awaiting an infrastructure counteroffer from Senate Republicans after a core group of GOP negotiators rejected his latest $1.7 trillion proposal, leaving the talks at a standstill before a Memorial Day deadline.
IBJ Podcast: Sen. Todd Young on how his Endless Frontier Act could boost innovation in Indiana
David Johnson, the president and CEO of the Central Indiana Community Partnership, also joins the podcast talk about how Indiana should prepare for the act’s passage.
White House, GOP infrastructure talks hit crucial stage
Securing a vast infrastructure plan is Biden’s top priority, but Republicans are refusing Biden’s idea of a corporate tax hike to pay for the spending.