Budget Battles
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Stimulus Deal Gains Steam as McConnell, Pelosi Talk
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Pelosi and Schumer Make a Big Concession on Stimulus
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Senators Float $908 Billion Stimulus Compromise
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What Biden’s New Economic Team Says About His Agenda
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What Biden’s Pick of Yellen Means for the Economy and Stimulus
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Trump Threatens Veto of Defense Bill
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Virus Surge Could Wallop the Economy Again
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Stimulus Deal Gains Steam as McConnell, Pelosi Talk
The prospects of a coronavirus relief bill of some sort passing before the end of the year picked up momentum on Thursday, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch...
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Trump Doubles Down on Veto Threat
By Michael RaineyDespite pushback from both sides of the aisle, President Trump on Thursday reiterated his threat to veto the annual National Defense Authorization Act if lawmakers fail to include in the bill a...
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Most Small Business Aid Went to Bigger Businesses: Report
By Michael RaineyThe Paycheck Protection Program was meant to help small businesses keep employees on the payroll for up to eight weeks at the height of the pandemic last spring and summer, but larger businesses...
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Congress Pushes Back on Trump’s Threat to Veto Defense Bill
By Michael RaineyIn a pair of tweets late Tuesday, President Trump threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act unless lawmakers repeal certain legal protections for social media companies. Trump claimed...
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Pelosi and Schumer Make a Big Concession on Stimulus
Coronavirus stimulus discussions saw some dramatic movement on Wednesday, but it’s not clear yet whether that will translate to real progress toward a deal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and...
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Centrist Senators Float $908 Billion Stimulus Deal
By Michael RaineyIn an effort to break the stalemate over the next coronavirus relief bill, a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday released the outline of an emergency spending package totaling $908 billion...
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Long Agenda, Little Time in Washington
By Michael RaineyLame-duck lawmakers returned to Washington this week with some major issues on their plate but just a few legislative days left to address them. Most pressingly, a short-term agreement to fund the...
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What Biden’s New Economic Team Signals About His Agenda
President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced his picks for top members of his economic team, with choices that signal a strong focus on providing relief for a Covid-stricken economy and help for the...
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What Biden’s Pick of Yellen for Treasury Means for the Economy and Stimulus
Janet Yellen has had a long and distinguished career as an economist, from the halls of academia to the White House to the Federal Reserve. Her next job, as Neil Irwin suggests at The Upshot , may be...
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Trump Threatens to Veto Defense Bill
By Michael RaineyDespite reports last week that the White House was looking to make a deal on the issue, President Donald Trump is threatening to veto the National Defense Authorization Act if it includes a provision...
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Layoffs Remain Stubbornly High as Covid Cases Hit New Daily Record
By Michael RaineyNo matter who wins the White House, they’ll be dealing with an economy that is still showing signs of serious stress. About 751,000 people filed initial state unemployment claims last week, the Labor...
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McConnell Will Have Major Leverage Over a Biden Administration
Votes are still being counted and the winner of the presidential race remains uncertain, but the election results are shaping up to give Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell significant leverage...
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Election Results Signal Less Stimulus, More Gridlock
By Michael RaineyAlthough the final numbers aren’t in yet, it looks like the 2020 election will deliver a divided Congress to whichever party claims the White House. Democratic hopes for a “blue wave” fell by the...
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Views of Deficit Depend on Framing: Analysis
By Michael RaineyA progressive group aligned with the Democratic Party released a report this week that explores Americans’ attitudes toward the budget deficit and the national debt. Analysts at Data for Progress...
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Post-Election Gridlock Could Scar the Economy
Even after the election, the nation could face a prolonged stretch of political gridlock that further delays another coronavirus relief package even as the economy faces additional pain. The...