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White House threatens veto of House farm bill over cuts to food stamp program

The Canadian PressJune 17, 2013 19:01
WASHINGTON - The White House is threatening to veto the House version of a massive, five-year farm bill, saying food stamp cuts included in the legislation could leave some Americans hungry. The House is preparing to consider the bill this week. The legislation would cut $2 billion annually, or around 3 per cent, from food stamps and make it harder for some people to qualify for the program. Food stamps, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, cost almost $80 billion last year, twice the amount it cost five years ago.

Boehner says he will support farm bill, giving legislation a major boost

The Canadian PressJune 12, 2013 13:31
WASHINGTON - House Speaker John Boehner says he will vote for a wide-ranging farm bill headed to the House floor this month, a major boost for the five year, half-trillion dollar legislation that stalled in the House last year. The Ohio Republican voted against the last farm bill in 2008 and said Wednesday that he still has concerns. But doing nothing, Boehner says, means "that we get no changes in the farm program, no changes in the nutrition program."

Immigration bill clears early test vote; Obama calls for action

June 11, 2013 07:35
By Richard Cowan and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to begin consideration of a White House-backed bill to overhaul the U.S. immigration system, burying a procedural roadblock that opponents regularly use to delay or kill legislation. With last November's election indicating broad support for the landmark measure, even some senators who have expressed opposition voted to allow the debate and amendment process to commence.

White House sidesteps Snowden 'traitor' debate

Agence France-PresseJune 11, 2013 16:41
The White House on Tuesday stopped short of branding Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old American who leaked details of a vast US telephone and Internet surveillance program, a "traitor." President Barack Obama's spokesman Jay Carney fended off all questions about Snowden, who was last known to be in Hong Kong, on the grounds that a legal investigation was under way. "I won't characterize him or his status. We believe it is the appropriate posture to take to let the investigation move forward," he said.

Senate passes half-trillion dollar farm bill, moving debate to House on food stamp cost

The Canadian PressJune 10, 2013 20:37
WASHINGTON - The last time Congress passed a farm bill, Democrats had control of the House and the food stamp program was about half the size it is today. That was five years ago.

Boehner sees U.S. immigration bill by year's end

June 11, 2013 10:32
By Susan Heavey WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said he expects an overhaul of immigration rules to become law by the end of the year, but that the Senate's version "doesn't go far enough" to secure the U.S. border with Mexico or enforce the proposed new system.

House immigration group sees resolution on disagreements as lawmakers return home to voters

The Canadian PressMay 23, 2013 15:30
WASHINGTON - House members writing a bipartisan immigration bill said Thursday they had patched over a dispute that threatened their efforts, even as they and the rest of Congress prepared to return home for a weeklong recess where many could confront voters' questions on the issue. The eight lawmakers in the House immigration group have struggled for months to come to agreement on a sweeping bill that would have a chance in the GOP-controlled House while satisfying Democrats' objectives.

Obama approval ratings remain steady, riding through the ups and downs of economy, controversy

The Canadian PressMay 23, 2013 03:30
WASHINGTON - The economy is recovering, the White House is dealing with multiple controversies, and President Barack Obama appears generally unaffected either way. He's getting no significant uptick in approval from gains in housing, jobs and the stock market. Likewise, he has so far seen no downtick from the recent storms over the terror attack in Benghazi, Libya, the targeting of conservative groups by the IRS and a leak investigation that has swept up the phone records of Associated Press journalists.

Debt limit resets at higher level, budget impasse grinds on

May 20, 2013 22:15
By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The government added $306 billion in new debt during a four-month suspension of the federal borrowing limit, the Treasury Department said on Monday, but there was no sign on Capitol Hill of any movement toward a budget compromise. As of Friday, the last business day before the debt limit was officially reset on Sunday, the Treasury said in its daily statement that U.S. debt subject to the limit was $16.7 trillion, compared to $16.394 trillion prior to the suspension in February.

US Treasury: no impact from debt cap before Sept

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 14:01
US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said on Friday that the government would not feel the pinch from a cap on debt before September, as net new borrowings were to halt this weekend. "Extraordinary measures" to sustain the government without being forced to slash spending or default on the debt due to the borrowing limit "will not be exhausted until after Labor Day," or September 2, Lew told Congress.
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