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Congress approves a short-term funding bill to avoid a government shutdown
By: Deirdre Walsh | NPR
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Updated December 2, 2021 at 9:25 PM ET WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPR) — A day before the federal government is scheduled to run out of money, Congress on Thursday approved a short-term spending bill that will keep federal agencies running through Feb. 18, 2022. The legislation now goes to President Biden, who needs to sign it… Read More
The Postal Service Is Slowing The Mail To Save Money. Critics Say It’s A Death Spiral
By: Brian Naylor | NPR
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPR) — Maybe you’ve noticed the birthday card that arrived belatedly or the check in the mail that didn’t pay your credit card quite on time. It’s not your imagination. The mail has definitely gotten less speedy. The U.S. Postal Service began slowing deliveries of first-class mail nationwide on Oct. 1. The price… Read More
Portman Joins Most GOP Senators In Failed Attempt To Dismiss Impeachment Trial
By: Andy Chow | Statehouse News Bureau
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Statehouse News Bureau) — U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) says forgoing a run for re-election does not change his approach to the upcoming impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Some believe not running for another term takes political pressure off of Portman if he wanted to vote to convict Trump in the… Read More
New Law Creates 988 Hotline For Mental Health Emergencies
By: Rhitu Chatterjee | NPR
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President Trump has signed a bipartisan bill creating a three-digit hotline for mental health emergencies. Mental health advocates say it’ll bring mental health crisis response into the 21st century.
U.S. Senator Rob Portman Explains Why He Will Vote For COVID-19 Aid Package
By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Statehouse News Bureau) — Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman says he’ll vote for a COVID aid package when it comes to the Senate floor tomorrow even though it doesn’t contain everything he’d like. Portman said he wishes the package would include business tax credits and aid for them to purchase PPE, along with additional funding for state and… Read More
House Approves Bill That Blocks Changes At Postal Service Until After The Election
By: Jason Slotkin | NPR
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The bill, which provides $25 billion in aid, was passed in a rare Saturday session and requires the Postal Service to prioritize mail-in ballots this November. It’s unlikely to advance in the Senate.
Republicans’ Police Reform Bill Focuses On Transparency And Training
By: Claudia Grisales | Brian Naylor | NPR
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Led by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Republicans unveiled their legislative response to the national outcry for an overhaul of police practices. Democrats argue the plan does not go far enough.
Fauci Warns States Not to ‘Jump Over’ Guidelines to Reopening
By: Domenico Montanaro | NPR
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The nation’s top infectious disease expert spoke remotely during a unique Senate health committee hearing on the coronavirus pandemic.
For These Federal Employees, Telework Means Productivity Is Up, Their Backlog Is Down
By: Brian Naylor | NPR
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Some 53,000 of the Social Security Administration’s employees are working from home. And the agency’s backlog of pending cases has fallen by 11% since March 23.
Trump Signs Latest Coronavirus Economic Relief Package, Aimed At Small Businesses
By: Susan Davis | Claudia Grisales | Kelsey Snell | Alana Wise | NPR
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It is the fourth measure approved by Congress in less than two months to combat the pandemic. This one, totaling $484 billion, will supply fresh funding to a new small business lending program.
Bipartisan Deal Reached On $484 Billion More Coronavirus Aid
By: Kelsey Snell | NPR
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Both Republicans and Democrats agreed that a small business program that ran out of money needed a major infusion. Negotiators also added resources for hospitals and testing.
DeWine Calls For Federal Help With Testing Materials
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Governor Mike DeWine is calling on the federal government to help provide crucial materials that would allow a dramatic increase in testing for coronavirus in his state — and later reported a “very positive” response from the agency concerned. Gov. DeWine said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Ohio hospitals… Read More
Congress Won’t Return Until May, As Talks Appear To Stall On Small Business Aid
By: Deirdre Walsh | NPR
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The schedule change, which followed the advice of health experts, comes as talks stalled on Republicans’ push to boost funding for a small business program.
Brown, Portman Talk Next Steps in Federal COVID-19 Response
By: Andy Chow | Statehouse News Bureau
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Statehouse News Bureau) — The federal government is in the process of sending out checks to most Americans as part of the stimulus package responding to the economic fallout of the coronavirus. U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) talk about some of the next steps they’d like to see from Congress…. Read More
Health Experts Show Cautious Optimism As Economic Relief Debate Escalates
By: Philip Ewing | Barbara Sprunt | NPR
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President Trump and congressional Democrats are haggling over the size of the next bill designed to help Americans through the crisis.
Government Works To Begin Disbursing Loans And Payments Amid Record Unemployment
By: Philip Ewing | Barbara Sprunt | NPR
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At a White House briefing Thursday, officials vowed that some of the first systems for loans or payments would be up and running as soon as Friday.
House Votes To Revive Equal Rights Amendment, Removing Ratification Deadline
By: Danielle Kurtzleben | NPR
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Changing the deadline is one way ERA proponents are trying to make the amendment part of the Constitution, but there isn’t legal consensus on the tactic, and the Senate is expected to kill the bill.
Judge Blocks Justice Department’s Plan To Resume Federal Executions
By: Colin Dwyer | NPR
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Executions had been set to resume next month after a 16-year pause. A federal judge halted the sentences as inmates challenge the government’s lethal injection protocol.
Senate Will Discuss Gun Proposals In September, McConnell Says
By: Jessica Taylor | NPR
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“What we can’t do is fail to pass something,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told WHAS radio. “The urgency of this is not lost on any of us.”
House Retirement Tracker: GOP Exits Mount, Hurting Chances To Flip Control In 2020
By: Jessica Taylor | NPR
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Over the past two weeks alone, seven House Republicans have announced they won’t run again, including two of just 13 GOP women in the House and the chamber’s lone African American Republican.
Senate Passes 2-Year Budget Deal And Sends It To Trump
By: Claudia Grisales | NPR
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The compromise was negotiated between the administration and Hill leaders and avoids a fiscal fight around the 2020 election. The deal suspends the debt limit for 2 years, heading off a default.
U.S. Sen. Brown Blames Trump Administration For Denying Access To Border Facility
By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) says he was denied access to a Customs and Border Control detention facility that houses children over the weekend. Brown wanted to see the facilities holding children that some other lawmakers have described as cramped and smelly. Brown is telling reporters he blames top administration officials for wanting to keep… Read More
Senators: Feds’ American Flags Should be Made in America
By: Associated Press
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BANGOR, Maine (AP) – A pair of senators says the American flags the federal government purchases should have to be made in America. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, of Ohio, introduced legislation they call the “All-American Flag Act” that would require the government to buy flags produced entirely with… Read More
Fed Ponders When To Cut Interest Rates
By: Scott Horsley | NPR
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There’s an unusual air of suspense surrounding the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, with the possibility that the central bank could cut rates for the first time in nearly 11 years.
Sherrod Brown Pushes Trump Administration On Overtime Pay
By: Andy Chow | Statehouse News Bureau
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U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is proposing a bill that would require overtime pay for any salaried worker making less than $51,064, a more than $15,000 increase to the Trump Administration’s proposed threshold. The current overtime salary threshold is set at $23,660, Brown says his plan would make overtime pay available for more than 4.6 million… Read More