The former head of the US Federal Reserve on Monday cast doubt on the Trump administration promise to expand the economy by three percent to create jobs and room for tax cuts. “On a sustained basis, it’s certainly possible but probably not that likely,” Ben Bernanke during an appearance on CNBC. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, … Read more
Congressional negotiators have reached an agreement on a spending bill to keep the US government running until 30 September, media report. The bipartisan deal boosts military spending but does not include funding for President Donald Trump’s proposed wall on the Mexico border, they say. The reported $1 trillion deal (£770bn) needs to be approved by … Read more
US congressional leaders have reached a deal on a federal spending bill which if passed by lawmakers this week will avert a government shutdown, a top lawmaker and congressional aides said. The agreement would keep federal operations running through September 30, the end of the fiscal year. Congress is expected to vote in the coming … Read more
The top US Republican in Congress claimed progress Thursday on a new effort to repeal the Obamacare health law, but he signaled a vote was unlikely this week. President Donald Trump has been pressuring his party’s lawmakers for a major legislative victory to attach to his 100th day in office, which falls on Saturday. In … Read more
US congressional leaders have introduced a stop-gap spending measure that funds federal operations through the next week, easing the threat of a government shutdown as Donald Trump marks his 100th day as president. Congress has struggled to meet a midnight Friday deadline to strike a final deal on funding through September 30, the end of … Read more
US Republicans on Friday prepared to re-introduce legislation repealing Obamacare, potentially setting up a showdown vote next week as the White House seeks a major accomplishment before Donald Trump’s 100th day as president. After an embarrassing health care defeat last month, Trump has suddenly heaped pressure on congressional Republican leadership by saying he expects a … Read more
After a crushing defeat in the effort to repeal Obamacare, the Trump administration is hoping for smoother sailing on tax reform, expecting this will be less divisive among Republican party factions. “Health care is a very, very complicated issue. In a way (taxes are) a lot simpler,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday. And Vice … Read more
President Donald Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday to undo his predecessor Barack Obama’s plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fueled power plants, according to the new environmental chief. Speaking on ABC’s Sunday talk show “This Week,” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said rolling back Obama’s 2015 Clean Power Plan would bring … Read more
US President Donald Trump has blamed Democrats for the failure of his healthcare bill. Both houses of Congress are controlled by Mr Trump’s Republican party but the bill was withdrawn on Friday because it could not get the votes required. Speaking to the Washington Post, Mr Trump said “We couldn’t get one Democratic vote, and … Read more
Former president Barack Obama warned Thursday against approving a Republican bill that would repeal his signature health care reform law unless the measure improves coverage for Americans. “We should start from the baseline that any changes will make our health care system better, not worse for hardworking Americans. That should always be our priority,” Obama … Read more
US President Donald Trump’s much-vaunted negotiating skills were put to the test Wednesday as he held last-ditch talks to convince Republican lawmakers to vote for his health care reforms — but a victory was far from certain. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives votes Thursday on a key plank of Trump’s legislative agenda — his plan … Read more
The White House clashed with environmentalists over President Donald Trump’s retreat from tough future auto emission standards, with both sides predicting potentially big consequences for America’s car fleet. Appearing in Detroit, Trump ordered a review of the Obama administration’s decision in January to finalize stiff fuel economy standards for the 2022-2025 period. Trump cast his … Read more
President Donald Trump moved to freeze future vehicle emission targets Wednesday, during a trip to the faded US automotive hub in Michigan. Insisting higher environmental standards hurt trade, Trump announced that targets for 2022-2025 will be put on hold pending review. “We’re going to help the companies, and they’re going to help you,” Trump said … Read more
US Republican leaders grappled Wednesday with the possibility that their much-awaited Obamacare replacement bill goes down in flames, as rebels within the party demand sweeping changes before they get on board. Seven years after Barack Obama’s landmark health care reforms became law — a period when Republicans repeatedly tried and failed to yank Obamacare out … Read more
President Donald Trump is set to announce steps Wednesday to halt his predecessor Barack Obama’s future vehicle emissions limits for manufacturers, a senior administration official said. During a visit to auto manufacturing hub Detroit, Trump is set to announce that the Environmental Protection Agency’s objectives for 2022-2025 will be put on hold during a new … Read more
President Donald Trump’s administration has given new powers to the CIA to conduct drone strikes against extremist targets in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. The move would represent a change from Obama-era policies that limited the spy agency’s role in conducting paramilitary strikes, pushing responsibility for these to the Pentagon. Obama … Read more
An estimated 14 million people would lose insurance coverage in 2018 under the new Republican healthcare plan, according to a budget analysis. The long-awaited Republican plan was assessed by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a nonpartisan group of budget analysts and economists. The CBO said the added number uninsured would rise to 24 million by … Read more
About 14 million fewer Americans will have health insurance next year under the new Republican plan to replace the Obamacare reforms, Congress’s nonpartisan budget analysis office projected Monday. It also said that enacting the legislation currently before Congress — a measure backed by President Donald Trump — would reduce the federal deficit by some $337 … Read more
President Donald Trump, facing mounting concern that millions of Americans could lose their health insurance, met Monday with “victims of Obamacare” to highlight the Republican replacement for his Democratic predecessor’s plan. The White House has spent the past week grappling with maintaining party unity as conservatives and moderates alike bashed the new initiative, for likely … Read more
President Donald Trump is open to adapting a proposed replacement for Barack Obama’s health care law, his political allies said Sunday, insisting that the measure — which is facing serious Republican pushback — is merely a “framework.” Uprooting Obamacare — the Democratic president’s crowning domestic achievement — has been at the top of the agenda … Read more