Briefs
White House, Pennsylvania senator urge Congress to pass emergency anti-opioid funding
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s top drug policy expert and Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey on Wednesday pressed Congress to approve billions in emergency funding to address opioid addiction. “We still have a ways to go to get it through the heads of people here in Washington about how important it is to vote […]
Biden launches ‘Investing in Rural America’ push with cabinet officials
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and administration officials are kicking off an “Investing in Rural America” event series, starting with a visit to a Minnesota farm Wednesday to announce nearly $5 billion for conservation, economic development and “climate smart” agriculture. Biden, who is running for reelection in 2024, has been highlighting what the administration calls […]
Biden pick for ambassador to Israel confirmed with all but two Republicans opposed
The U.S. Senate voted, 53-43, Tuesday to confirm Jacob. J. Lew as ambassador to Israel amid a recent escalation in the U.S. ally’s war with the militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Senators of both parties agreed the need to confirm an ambassador to Israel gained urgency after Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7 […]
Wesley Bell drops out of Senate race, jumps into primary against Democrat Cori Bush
St. Louis County Prosecutor Westley Bell has decided to abandon his run for the U.S. Senate and will instead challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Cori Bush in the Democratic primary. Bell, who shocked the Missouri political establishment in 2018 by defeating a seven-term incumbent to become St. Louis County prosecutor, announced his decision to challenge his […]
Lawsuit challenges summary, fiscal note of new Missouri abortion-rights petition
A group seeking to add exceptions to the state’s abortion ban for rape and incest filed a lawsuit Thursday arguing the ballot summary and fiscal note are unfair and inaccurate. Filed in August by Republican political operative Jamie Corley with assistance from Democratic attorney Chuck Hatfield, the initiative petitions are being pitched as a middle […]
Tuberville blockade on military nominees could be evaded by tweak in U.S. Senate rules
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats are mulling a strategy to bypass Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s months-long hold on hundreds of military promotions in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy that was authorized in the aftermath of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The Alabama Republican has been refusing to join other senators in the routine action of promoting large groups […]
White House calls for stronger gun policy reforms after Maine shooting
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called on Congress on Thursday to strengthen gun safety laws in the wake of the mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. Jean-Pierre opened Thursday’s press briefing with a statement on the shootings, saying President Joe Biden stepped out of a state dinner Wednesday night to receive an initial briefing on the […]
Women in Congress call for more action on breast cancer prevention, treatment
WASHINGTON — Members of Congress shared their experiences and called for bipartisan legislative action Thursday in recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Leaders of the congressional Bipartisan Women’s Caucus organized a press conference to highlight prevention and treatment of breast cancer. “Each one of us here today are tributes to our friends, our […]
U.S. Senate committee advances Biden pick for Israel ambassador
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Wednesday the nomination of Jacob J. Lew, President Joe Biden’s choice to be U.S. ambassador to Israel. The panel voted 12-9 to approve the nomination of Lew, a former Treasury secretary and White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul was the only […]
Feds pledge $2.3 billion to boost ag exports amid farm bill uncertainty
Federal agricultural officials plan to spend up to $2.3 billion to promote farm exports and to send U.S. grain to countries that are suffering food shortages. “This will complement existing trade promotion programs as we await Congress’s action on both the budget and the farm bill,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Tuesday. The […]
Missouri AG joins lawsuit against Meta, alleging social media platforms harm children
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey joined a coalition of 33 states in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday against Meta, alleging the parent company of Facebook and Instagram knowingly designed the platforms to addict children and teenagers. The complaint, filed by a bipartisan group of attorneys general in the U.S District Court for the Northern District […]
U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocks order in Missouri social media lawsuit
The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court’s order limiting executive branch officials’ discussions with social media companies about controversial online posts. The lawsuit was originally filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies like Twitter and Facebook to […]