http://www.mail.com/people/17274-chuck-grassley.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.29/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/people/17274-chuck-grassley.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2161308-irs-draws-criticism-70m-employee-bonuses.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Already reeling from a pair of scandals, the Internal Revenue Service is drawing new criticism over plans to hand out millions of dollars in employee bonuses. The Obama administration has ordered agencies to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic spending cuts, but the IRS says it's merely following legal obligations under a u... Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:40:24 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2161308-irs-draws-criticism-70m-employee-bonuses.html 2013-06-19T21:40:24Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2149374-senators-consensus-border-amendment.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Key Senate Republicans are working to develop a compromise on border security that would satisfy GOP demands for stronger enforcement language in a far-reaching immigration bill without costing Democratic support, lawmakers and aides said Thursday. To win over skeptical Republicans, senators are considering mandating specific requirement... Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:26:25 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2149374-senators-consensus-border-amendment.html 2013-06-13T21:26:25Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2147024-correction-military-sexual-assault-story.html WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story June 12, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was the only Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee who supported a measure to remove commanders from decision-making on whether to prosecute sexual assault cases in the military. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., also supported the proposal. A corrected version of ... Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:59:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2147024-correction-military-sexual-assault-story.html 2013-06-13T18:59:52Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2147654-bloomberg-pressures-donors-gun-control-votes.html NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Six months after the Newtown school shooting, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is stepping up his gun control campaign by asking donors not to support Democratic senators who opposed a bill to expand background checks on gun buyers, while a mayors' group he co-founded is embarking on a national bus tour to rally for efforts to curb gun violence. ... Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:41:24 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2147654-bloomberg-pressures-donors-gun-control-votes.html 2013-06-13T00:41:24Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2146018-border-security-issue-immigration-bill.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Bickering across a deep divide, supporters of immigration legislation pushed back hard Wednesday against Republican demands for tougher border security measures before millions living illegally in the country could take the first steps toward U.S. citizenship. Even modest changes were snared in the political crossfire that erupted on the... Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:11:19 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2146018-border-security-issue-immigration-bill.html 2013-06-12T22:11:19Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2143268-obamas-atf-nominee-senate-hearing.html WASHINGTON (AP) — It was remarkable enough that President Barack Obama's choice to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives got a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Only one other nominee to lead the ATF has had a hearing, and none has been confirmed. But then hardly any senators showed up to grill B. Todd Jones,... Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:39:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2143268-obamas-atf-nominee-senate-hearing.html 2013-06-11T20:39:37Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2133264-chinas-top-butcher-tries-to-sell-us-takeover.html LUOHE, China (AP) — At an age when most Chinese executives are long retired, the country's top hog butcher is taking on a daunting new job persuading Americans to allow him to complete China's biggest takeover of a U.S. company. Shuanghui International's $4.7 billion bid for Smithfield Foods Ltd. has the endorsement of the American company's board. But fa... Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:09:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2133264-chinas-top-butcher-tries-to-sell-us-takeover.html 2013-06-06T08:09:29Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2127056-ap-source-obama-nominating-3-to-us-appeals-court.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is simultaneously naming three nominees to the understaffed federal appeals court in Washington, setting up an aggressive push against Senate Republicans who are trying to keep him from naming any more judges to the influential circuit. A White House official said late Monday that Obama planned to announce his nomi... Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:16:41 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2127056-ap-source-obama-nominating-3-to-us-appeals-court.html 2013-06-04T13:16:41Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2120620-chinas-entrepreneurs-expand-global-presence.html BEIJING (AP) — The force behind China's biggest takeover of an American company is a 71-year-old meat-packing entrepreneur dubbed "China's Chief Butcher" by the press who built an empire on his country's voracious appetite for pork. The $4.7 billion bid for Smithfield Foods by Wan Long, chairman of Shuanghui International, is another big step up for Chine... Fri, 31 May 2013 06:46:27 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2120620-chinas-entrepreneurs-expand-global-presence.html 2013-05-31T06:46:27Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2119734-obamas-pick-to-head-fbi-widely-praised.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans said Thursday they see no major obstacles to Senate confirmation of James Comey, the former deputy attorney general in the Bush administration who is expected to be nominated by President Barack Obama as the next FBI director. Comey, who would replace Robert Mueller as head of the national security organization, is certain to... Thu, 30 May 2013 20:41:23 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2119734-obamas-pick-to-head-fbi-widely-praised.html 2013-05-30T20:41:23Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2118028-ap-sources-obama-to-ex-bush-aide-to-head-fbi.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is prepared to nominate James Comey, a former Bush administration official with bipartisan credentials, as the next FBI director. In a possible warning sign, the top Republican on the Senate committee that would review the nomination said Comey would face questions about his ties to Wall Street. Three people with k... Thu, 30 May 2013 13:43:53 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2118028-ap-sources-obama-to-ex-bush-aide-to-head-fbi.html 2013-05-30T13:43:53Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2115068-partisan-showdown-looms-dc-circuit-nominees.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A partisan showdown is looming over what is known as the nation's second-highest court, with President Barack Obama poised to nominate as many as three choices for the understaffed U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington in the face of a Republican proposal to distribute its vacancies to other parts of the country. The District of Columbia C... Tue, 28 May 2013 21:49:28 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2115068-partisan-showdown-looms-dc-circuit-nominees.html 2013-05-28T21:49:28Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2107408-irs-replaces-official-who-revealed-targeting.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service official who led the unit that targeted tea party groups and publicly disclosed the activity has been replaced, making her the third top IRS official moved aside since the episode was revealed two weeks ago. Lois Lerner was put on administrative leave on Thursday, said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and two c... Fri, 24 May 2013 14:38:07 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2107408-irs-replaces-official-who-revealed-targeting.html 2013-05-24T14:38:07Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2107072-gops-walker-touts-ties-trip-to-iowa.html WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Scott Walker tried to introduce himself to Iowa Republicans Thursday as so many would-be presidential candidates often do — one of their own. After all, the Wisconsin governor weighing a 2016 bid for president spent seven years as a young child living in Plainfield, a tiny town in northeast Iowa Walker referred to a half-dozen... Fri, 24 May 2013 03:48:19 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2107072-gops-walker-touts-ties-trip-to-iowa.html 2013-05-24T03:48:19Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104680-irs-replaces-official-tea-party-controversy.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Moving quickly to stem a raging controversy, the new acting head of the Internal Revenue Service started cleaning house Thursday by replacing the supervisor who oversaw agents involved in targeting tea party groups. A day after she refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing, Lois Lerner was placed on administrative leave, acc... Thu, 23 May 2013 23:18:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/2104680-irs-replaces-official-tea-party-controversy.html 2013-05-23T23:18:46Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2106196-senate-confirms-obama-nominee-to-key-appeals-court.html WASHINGTON (AP) — After five years of trying, President Barack Obama has placed his first nominee on a key appeals court in Washington. The Senate voted unanimously on Thursday, 97-0, to confirm Sri Srinivasan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The court is considered the most important in the country after the Supreme Cour... Thu, 23 May 2013 21:05:21 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2106196-senate-confirms-obama-nominee-to-key-appeals-court.html 2013-05-23T21:05:21Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2105890-smooth-confirmation-hearing-pritzker.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary was questioned briefly about her ties to a subprime mortgage lender that failed in 2001 and her role as a beneficiary of family offshore trusts in the Bahamas, but those were minor bumps in an otherwise smooth Senate confirmation hearing Thursday. Chicago billionaire business execut... Thu, 23 May 2013 20:54:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2105890-smooth-confirmation-hearing-pritzker.html 2013-05-23T20:54:29Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102278-amid-immigration-reform-calls-to-change-asylums.html SEATTLE (AP) — As Congress debates legalizing about 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, immigration advocates are pushing plans they say will open the asylum process for thousands of more people who flee persecution in their home countries. The Senate version of the immigration bill, which passed out of the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday n... Wed, 22 May 2013 18:27:15 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102278-amid-immigration-reform-calls-to-change-asylums.html 2013-05-22T18:27:15Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102168-gop-questions-irs-scrutiny-anti-abortion-groups.html IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — When a small anti-abortion group in Iowa sought nonprofit status, the Internal Revenue Service asked its board to promise not to organize protests outside Planned Parenthood and demanded to know how its prayer meetings and protest signs were educational. Although the Coalition for Life of Iowa's application was ultimately approved i... Wed, 22 May 2013 16:13:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2102168-gop-questions-irs-scrutiny-anti-abortion-groups.html 2013-05-22T16:13:38Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2099474-senate-panel-approves-immigration-bill.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Far-reaching legislation to grant a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses. The 13-5 vote cleared the way for an epic showdown on... Wed, 22 May 2013 00:36:12 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2099474-senate-panel-approves-immigration-bill.html 2013-05-22T00:36:12Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2097434-senators-require-fingerprinting-30-airports.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate supporters of far-reaching immigration legislation accepted minor changes in public while negotiating over more sweeping alterations in private Monday as they drove toward expected Judiciary Committee approval by mid-week. In a long day of drafting, the panel voted to begin phasing in a requirement for foreigners to undergo finger... Mon, 20 May 2013 22:23:23 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2097434-senators-require-fingerprinting-30-airports.html 2013-05-20T22:23:23Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2098276-ig-ex-us-attorney-retaliated-fast-furious.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Attorney in Arizona violated Justice Department policy by providing Fox News with information apparently aimed at undercutting the credibility of a federal agent who helped reveal the botched arms-trafficking probe called Operation Fast and Furious, the Justice Department's inspector general said Monday. There was substantial ev... Mon, 20 May 2013 21:55:35 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2098276-ig-ex-us-attorney-retaliated-fast-furious.html 2013-05-20T21:55:35Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2090950-house-immigration-group-reaches-deal.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of House members announced a deal Thursday on sweeping immigration legislation, a breakthrough that could boost chances for one of President Barack Obama's top second-term priorities. It came after months of secretive talks among the four Republican and four Democratic House members had seemed to stall in recent days e... Fri, 17 May 2013 00:27:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2090950-house-immigration-group-reaches-deal.html 2013-05-17T00:27:37Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2090656-senate-committee-approves-3-judicial-nominees.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved three of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees, including one for an influential appeals court, for a full Senate vote. Senators voted 18-0 to move forward with nomination of Sri Srinivasan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, considered the most impor... Thu, 16 May 2013 19:36:58 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2090656-senate-committee-approves-3-judicial-nominees.html 2013-05-16T19:36:58Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2084640-correction-immigration-story.html WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story May 14 about a Senate immigration bill, The Associated Press erroneously reported that two of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers entered the U.S. on student visas. In fact only one of them did. A corrected version of the story is below: Senators tackle student visas in immigration bill Senators move to strengthen student visa secur... Wed, 15 May 2013 19:01:41 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2084640-correction-immigration-story.html 2013-05-15T19:01:41Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2084204-irs-chief-agency-lacked-sensitivity-screenings.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS acting chief acknowledged Tuesday that the agency demonstrated "a lack of sensitivity" in its screenings of political groups seeking tax-exempt status, but he said those mistakes won't be repeated. In his first public comment on the case, Steven Miller said there was "a shortcut taken in our processes" for determining which group... Tue, 14 May 2013 18:14:32 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2084204-irs-chief-agency-lacked-sensitivity-screenings.html 2013-05-14T18:14:32Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2082632-high-tech-pushes-immigration-bill.html WASHINGTON (AP) — High-tech companies looking to bring more skilled workers to the U.S. pushed Monday for more concessions in an immigration bill pending in the Senate. Labor unions said the Silicon Valley had already gotten enough in the legislation and further changes risked chipping away at protections for U.S. workers. The clash is set to play out in ... Tue, 14 May 2013 02:50:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2082632-high-tech-pushes-immigration-bill.html 2013-05-14T02:50:29Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/2073412-coalition-immigration-bill-clears-tests.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The bipartisan coalition behind a contentious overhaul of immigration laws stuck together on a critical early series of test votes Thursday, turning back challenges from conservative critics as the Senate Judiciary Committee refined legislation to secure the borders and grant eventual citizenship to millions living in the United States illegally. ... Thu, 09 May 2013 21:26:40 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/2073412-coalition-immigration-bill-clears-tests.html 2013-05-09T21:26:40Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2073370-republicans-immigration-risky-subject.html FALLS CITY, Neb. (AP) — Rodney Vandenberg was the first to greet Republican Sen. Deb Fischer when she dropped by the Falls City's Chamber of Commerce office last week. He wasted no time bracing her about immigration, an issue that a Senate committee takes up Thursday in the form of sweeping overhaul legislation. "There can be no shortcuts to citizenship f... Thu, 09 May 2013 07:09:19 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2073370-republicans-immigration-risky-subject.html 2013-05-09T07:09:19Z