WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ failure to pass a 2011 defense budget bill is jeopardizing the military’s effort to send more surveillance and attack drones into Afghanistan, as well as stymieing plans to buy a new Navy submarine, Army combat helicopters and other major weapons systems, defense leaders say. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Employers could face higher taxes in 2014 under an Obama administration budget proposal designed to help states hard hit by the recession and the weak recovery to refill their unemployment insurance funds and repay money borrowed from the federal government. (more)
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — There’s more bad news in the cards for Romania’s beleaguered witches. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Barack Obama asked businesses for advice on creating jobs, he might have anticipated that more than 200 responses would quickly be headed his way courtesy of Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican who once called him corrupt. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — After two years of vociferous conflict over health care and financial regulations, President Barack Obama and the nation’s top business lobby — the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — have entered into something of a detente. (more)
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — America is on a “road to ruin” because of misguided policies in Washington and needs to get back in step with the values of Ronald Reagan, Sarah Palin said at an event honoring the former president’s legacy. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are eyeing reclaiming hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. contributions to the United Nations in a vote slated for next week. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Buoyed by a federal court ruling, Senate Republicans maneuvered for a vote to repeal the year-old health care law on Tuesday while the party’s potential White House contenders took turns urging them on. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a striking statistic. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Far from slowing, the government’s deficit spending will surge to a record $1.5 trillion this year, congressional budget experts estimated, blaming the slow economic recovery and last month’s extension of Bush-era tax cuts. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer confidence hit an eight-month high in January. The increase suggests the rising spirits that fueled a holiday shopping boom are carrying over into the new year as people feel better about the job market. (more)
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature on Thursday authorized Republican Gov. Jan Brewer to seek a federal waiver allowing the cash-short state to temporarily remove nearly 300,000 people from its Medicaid rolls in the first such request by a state. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., is retiring and his party has a big problem in 2012 — and beyond. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eager to honor their campaign pledge, Republicans pushed legislation to repeal the nation’s year-old health care law toward House passage Wednesday despite implacable opposition in the Senate and a veto threat from President Barack Obama. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House’s major investigative committee will explore financial bailouts and the foreclosure crisis on Jan. 26, in the panel’s initial hearing this year. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a rare concession on a highly sensitive issue, Chinese President Hu Jintao used his White House visit on Wednesday to acknowledge “a lot still needs to be done” to improve human rights in his nation accused of repressing its people. President Barack Obama pushed China to adopt fundamental freedoms but assured Hu the U.S. considers the communist nation a friend and vital economic partner. (more)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a potential GOP presidential candidate in 2012, says he opposes raising the nation’s debt ceiling and is urging Republicans in Congress to do the same. (more)
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Doctors on Saturday removed Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ breathing tube and could soon know if she can speak. (more)
ATLANTA (AP) — The nation’s biggest farm lobbying group supports a balanced budget. It’s against tax increases and says the federal government needs to tighten its belt. (more)
NEW YORK (AP) — Low-income taxpayers who don’t have bank accounts will be able to get their tax refunds this year on prepaid debit cards supplied by the government, the Treasury Department said Thursday. (more)
