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Maine Medicaid expansion passes but governor sets veto

May 23, 2013 17:32
By Dave Sherwood BOWDOINHAM, Maine (Reuters) - Maine's Democratic-controlled legislature on Thursday passed a bill to expand access to its Medicaid program as outlined by the Affordable Care Act, setting up a showdown with the state's Republican governor, who immediately began veto procedures. At issue is lawmakers' effort to link expanded access to the health insurance program for low-income residents to a plan to pay the state's share of $484 million in debt owed to Maine's hospitals.

Immigration bill gets Senate boost; House effort teetering

May 21, 2013 20:32
By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Supporters of U.S. immigration reform are hoping that the smooth and drama-free passage of their legislation through a Senate committee - a departure from almost everything that has happened in Congress over the past four years - will boost the likelihood of the bill winning full Senate approval.

High-tech guns would allow users to track and disable their weapons remotely

The Canadian PressMay 21, 2013 12:30
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A high-tech startup is wading into the gun control debate with a wireless controller that would allow gun owners to know when their weapon is being moved — and disable it remotely. The technology, but not an actual gun, was demonstrated Tuesday at a wireless technology conference in Las Vegas and was shown to The Associated Press in advance. It comes at a time when lawmakers around the U.S. are considering contentious smart gun laws that would require new guns to include high-tech devices that limit who can fire them.

Scandals risk tainting Obama's second term

Agence France-PresseMay 19, 2013 15:31
With time ticking down to get things done in his final term, President Barack Obama risks suffering long-term consequences from a series of scandals that have hit the White House in recent days. After wavering initially, the US leader launched an all-out offensive to contain fallout from the trio of controversies. Senior Obama advisor Dan Pfeiffer, doing the rounds of weekly television talk shows Sunday, went into damage control mode on the scandals, including one related to alleged abuses by the tax-collecting Internal Revenue Service as it targeted conservative groups.

Obama agenda withstanding IRS focus on tea party groups, Benghazi fallout, other controversies

The Canadian PressMay 18, 2013 04:01
WASHINGTON - Despite Democratic fears, predictions of the demise of President Barack Obama's agenda appear exaggerated after a week of cascading controversies, political triage by the administration and party leaders in Congress and lack of evidence to date of wrongdoing close to the Oval Office. "Absolutely not," Steven Miller, the recently resigned acting head of the Internal Revenue Service, responded Friday when asked if he had any contact with the White House about targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status for special treatment.

House GOP pushes full repeal of Obama's health care law - 37th vote to scale back or kill it

The Canadian PressMay 16, 2013 18:46
WASHINGTON - One more time, with feeling! The Republican-led House voted yet again Thursday to repeal President Barack Obama's health care law, knowing full well that won't stop it. Only months away from the rollout of coverage for uninsured Americans, it was the 37th attempt in a little more than two years by House Republicans to eliminate, defund or partly scale back the Affordable Care Act. The Democratic-led Senate and the president will simply ignore the House action, which came on a virtual party line vote, 229-195.

Senate unanimously confirms Energy nominee Ernest Moniz

The Canadian PressMay 16, 2013 14:00
WASHINGTON - Physicist Ernest Moniz won unanimous Senate confirmation Thursday to be the nation's new energy secretary. Moniz, 68, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, replaces Steven Chu, who served as Energy secretary in President Barack Obama's first term. Moniz served as an energy undersecretary in the Clinton administration. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, called Moniz "solution-oriented" and said he is "smart about energy policy and savvy about Energy Department operations."

Conservative groups, big and small, talk of IRS 'nightmare' of delays, demands for information

The Canadian PressMay 16, 2013 05:00
WASHINGTON - Anger over President Barack Obama's policies drove businessman Tom Zawistowski to file paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service nearly three years ago to create the Ohio Liberty Coalition.

New Jersey trooper's killer is first woman on FBI most wanted terror list

May 15, 2013 14:57
By David Jones NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - A convicted killer and former Black Liberation Army member who fled to Cuba became the first woman to be put on the FBI's most wanted terrorists list on Thursday, and the reward for her capture was doubled to $2 million. Joanne Chesimard, 65, still lives in Cuba following her escape from a New Jersey prison in 1979, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation said on the 40th anniversary of the crime.

Texas House approves bill that would allow guns on college campuses

May 15, 2013 14:52
By Corrie MacLaggan AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The Texas House of Representatives on Monday gave final approval to a proposal to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry guns into buildings on college campuses. The proposal, which was approved on a vote of 102-41, would allow public colleges and universities to opt out of allowing guns in buildings after consulting with students, faculty and staff. Private colleges and universities could opt in.
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