Legislature

Legislature

• Lawmakers question progress on disability claims

  The Veterans Affairs Department is hoping the installation of a new computer system will eliminate the growing backlog of disability claims, but when ... 

• US budget deficit jumps in February by $204B

  The U.S. federal budget deficit jumped in February from January, though it is still running well below last year's pace. Higher taxes and an improving ... 

• US business bemoans India trade 'protectionism'

  American businesses complained to lawmakers Wednesday about Indian trade protectionism, contending that tariff and regulatory barriers are shutting ... 

• Senate rejects GOP effort to repeal 'Obamacare'

  The Democratic-controlled Senate has rejected a Republican effort to attach the repeal of President Barack Obama's health care law to a government ... 

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  Libya's militarized youth feed into economic woes

  More than 18 months since the end of Libya's civil war, the most attractive job for many of the young is still to join a militia. In fact, just under ... 

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  AP Analysis: Rival budgets seeking political goals

  First House Republicans, now Senate Democrats, are staking out positions at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum with rival federal budgets, an ... 

• Top House chairman optimistic about Afghanistan

  U.S. military leaders and the American ambassador favor a residual force of 13,600 in Afghanistan after combat troops leave at the end of 2014, the ... 

• Egypt: Morsi's government appeals vote suspension

  A government legal agency representing Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi appealed on Wednesday the court-ordered suspension of a controversial ... 

• EU lawmakers reject $1.3tn budget proposal

  The European Parliament overwhelmingly rejected a proposal for the European Union's €960 billion ($1.3 trillion) budget Wednesday, in the latest ... 

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  Fla lt gov quits; tied to firm under investigation

  Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll announced her resignation Wednesday, a day after she was questioned by authorities investigating possible illegal ... 

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  Grieving husband pushes bill for unproven remedies

  After the best-selling Irish novelist Josephine Hart died from ovarian cancer in 2011, her husband was so devastated he often went to her grave to ... 

• New Zealand gay marriage bill passes critical test

  New Zealand lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill allowing same-sex marriage Wednesday, all but assuring that it will soon become law. 

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  Mark Kelly's purchase of rifle draws criticism

  The husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords generated nearly 4,000 comments on Facebook from people on both sides of the gun debate after he ... 

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  FACT CHECK: Gun debate deals in moldy stats

  Some of the numbers being hurled around in the gun control debate passed their freshness date eons ago. Perhaps none is more prominent than the claim ... 

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  Colorado lawmakers OK civil unions for gay couples

  Colorado lawmakers took a historic vote to approve civil unions for gay couples Tuesday, delivering on a campaign promise from Democrats who have ... 

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  Erratic North Korea poses serious threat

  An erratic North Korea, with its nuclear weapons and increasingly belligerent tone, poses a serious threat to the United States and East Asia nations, ... 

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  Ryan's budget: GOP takes aim at Dem spending plans

  House Republicans redoubled their efforts to roll back signature accomplishments of President Barack Obama on Tuesday, offering a slashing budget plan ... 

• Labor board to appeal recess case to Supreme Court

  The National Labor Relations Board said Tuesday it plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a far-reaching decision that invalidated President Barack ... 

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  Victim calls decision in assault case shocking

  An advocacy group says the victim in an Air Force sexual assault case is shocked and disappointed by a general's decision to dismiss the charges ... 

• UK's Cameron may veto EU arms embargo on Syria

  Britain may consider vetoing an extension of the European Union's arms embargo on Syria if the situation does not improve there, Prime Minister David ... 

• Status of proposals for gun control legislation

  Status of proposals for curbing gun violence announced earlier this year by President Barack Obama: ___ NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL ACTION: —A divided Senate ... 

• Senate immigration group: National ID too costly

  Senators working on a sweeping immigration bill will likely abandon the idea of a new high-tech ID card for workers because it's too expensive, a key ... 

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  Egypt considers ban on sale of duty-free alcohol

  Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry is considering a ban on the sale of alcohol in airport duty-free stores after it received complaints that it goes ... 

• Obama meets with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill

  President Barack Obama is meeting with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill to get their help in passing a broad range of proposals that are part of his ... 

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  White promises "unrelenting" enforcement at SEC

  Mary Jo White vowed Tuesday to make "bold and unrelenting" enforcement of Wall Street a high priority if she is confirmed chairman of the Securities ...