WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen notified Congress on Friday that the U.S. is projected to reach its debt limit on Thursday and will then resort to “extraordinary measures” to avoid default. In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Yellen said her actions will buy time until Congress can...
Senate Rushes to Avoid a Government Shutdown
After hours of back-and-forth over amendments, the Senate is racing to pass a one-week budget stopgap, together with annual defense policy legislation, which could pass as early as Thursday night. Leaders in the Senate had yet to reach agreement as of Thursday afternoon, although they are moving quickly to reach...
First Confirmed Candidate Emerges in GOP Bid to Hold Nunes’ House Seat
More names are emerging as possible contenders for the soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat currently occupied by Devin Nunes. On Monday, Nunes, R-Tulare, announced he is leaving the 22nd Congressional District seat at the end of the month. He accepted a position as CEO for the new media venture created by former...
Infrastructure Bill Has $20M for Deadly Stretch of Hwy 41
The Central Valley is set to benefit from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill being debated by Congress. While specifics are still being worked out, local leaders relish receiving tens of millions of dollars for road and highway projects. Leading the request list is $20 million to expand a dangerous stretch...
Amid Threats to Members, House to Vote on New Security
WASHINGTON — Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, says it took time for him to stop constantly scanning his environment for threats when he returned from war 15 years ago. But after the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on...
And the Census Says, Sorry California, You Lose a Congressional Seat
SACRAMENTO — California is losing a U.S. House seat for the first time, dropping its delegation from 53 to 52 members. That’s according to Census Bureau population data released Monday that determines how the nation’s 435 House seats are allocated. Adding seats in Congress: Texas, with two, and Colorado, Florida,...
Amid Stimulus Talks, Biden Signs Order to Help Factories
WASHINGTON — Taking whatever steps he can to galvanize the economy, President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order Monday to boost government buying from U.S. manufacturers as he begins the negotiation process with Congress over a $1.9 trillion stimulus package. The executive order is among a flurry of...
Biden Win Confirmed After Pro-Trump Mob Storms US Capitol
WASHINGTON — Congress confirmed Democrat Joe Biden as the presidential election winner early Thursday after a violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a stunning attempt to overturn America’s presidential election, undercut the nation’s democracy and keep Trump in the White House. Lawmakers were resolved...
Congress Set to Confirm Biden’s Electoral Win Over Trump
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s extraordinary effort to overturn the presidential election is going before Congress as lawmakers convene for a joint session to confirm the Electoral College vote won by Joe Biden. The typically routine proceeding Wednesday will be anything but, a political confrontation unseen to such intensity since the aftermath...
Trump Allies Scrambling for Strategy to Overturn Biden Win
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers who are orchestrating an unprecedented attempt to overturn Joe Biden's election win over President Donald Trump have not settled on a full strategy ahead of Wednesday's joint session of Congress to confirm the Electoral College vote. With mounting desperation, Trump declared at a campaign rally in Georgia Monday that he...