Republicans Push for More Military Spending in Debt Deal as They Decry Deficit
Republican lawmakers who oppose the debt-ceiling bill argue it doesn’t do enough to cut spending or reduce the
1970-01-01 08:00
House votes to back Biden-McCarthy debt ceiling deal despite Republican threats to derail it
The House of Representatives has voted to raise the debt limit, thereby ensuring the United States will avoid defaulting on its debt, despite vocal opposition from many Republicans in the House majority. The legislation had resulted from negotiations between lieutenants of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the White House. The passage of the legislation is the first major hurdle to be cleared for Mr McCarthy, who made a series of concessions on how to negotiate the debt limit during the marathon 15 votes it took for him to become speaker in January. The Senate will take up the legislation for a vote and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pledged it will pass before 5 June, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that the United States will run out of options to maintain its debt obligations. Multiple Republicans vehemently criticised the bill, saying it did not go far enough in its spending cuts as well as highlighting the fact it raised the debt limit until January 2025, rather than raising it a certain dollar amount. Rep Garret Graves (R-LA), one of the chief negotiators with the White House, said that conservative criticism ignored the fact that had it not been for the agreement, the White House would have likely raised the debt limit unilaterally or Democrats would have teamed up with moderate Republicans to raise the debt limit without spending cuts. “So by doing so all you're doing is playing into the hands of the White House,” he told The Independent. “Because if you keep going down this road, if you keep trying to sew this line, that's simply not true that there's some other option out there to save a gazillion dollars, all you're doing is you're moving towards default.” But several House conservatives criticised the bill for multiple provisions, including the fact it did not put in place work requirements for Medicaid. The agreement increases the age for work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, for able-bodied adults without dependent children from 50 to 54. That earned the criticism of many progressive Democrats and led to them opposing the bill. At the same time, the agreement would exempt youth in the foster care system, veterans and people experiencing homelessness from work requirements for SNAP and the Congressional Budget Office estimated that approximately 78,000 would gain benefits in an average month as a result of the deal. But Rep Byron Donalds (R-FL) criticised the legislation for not going far enough in work requirements such as including them for Medicaid. “And I think that's just a smart and prudent thing to do,” he told The Independent. “But when you expand eligibility for the program, at least the way CBO is putting it we're actually taking a step backwards.” Read More What’s in the cliffhanger deal struck by Biden and McCarthy to raise the debt limit? Anti-poverty groups and progressives blast work requirements for aid to poor Americans in debt ceiling deal
1970-01-01 08:00
Japan Seeks Security Clearance System in Line With US Allies
The Japanese government aims to set up an official clearance system for accessing classified information related to economic
1970-01-01 08:00
Peru May Issue Sol Bonds Again This Year After $2.5 Billion Deal
Peru could issue more local currency bonds as soon as this year after raising 9.2 billion soles ($2.5
1970-01-01 08:00
Fintech Brex’s Revenue Surges After Regional Bank Turmoil
Brex, a credit-card startup, has seen a surge in usage of its products following this year’s regional banking
1970-01-01 08:00
US passenger railroad Amtrak CEO to testify before House panel
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner will testify on June 6 before a
1970-01-01 08:00
Walmart Is Sticking With Pride Merch Despite Target Controversy
A top Walmart Inc. executive said the retailer remains committed to its Pride Month offerings, even after competitor
1970-01-01 08:00
The untold tale of America's first spelling bee victor
Marie Bolden, a black teenager, won the first US spelling bee in 1908. Her win was eclipsed by racism.
1970-01-01 08:00
How a Covert Relationship With the Taliban Backfired for US Ally Pakistan
About two weeks after the Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021, the then head of Pakistan’s spy agency arrived
1970-01-01 08:00
Oil Drops for a Third Session on Signs of Higher US Inventories
Oil fell for a third day as industry data pointed to rising US crude stockpiles with demand concerns
1970-01-01 08:00
Five teens arrested for beating three Marines in brutal video
Five teenagers were arrested in connection with the beating of three US Marines by a crowd of young people they had asked to stop lighting fireworks. The violent incident, which was captured on video, took place at Southern California‘s San Clemente Pier over Memorial Day weekend. The suspects, four of whom are boys and one girl, face felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The city also says that four other local students were identified and have been citied with misdemeanour assault charges. First responders gave medical aid to two Marines, who refused to go to the hospital, and investigators later found a third Marine who had also been attacked. The video seemingly shows that the incident started when a teenage male punched a man in the back of the head. The man then charged the teenager before being surrounded by a group of people who hit him until the fight was broken up by a man and woman. One of the Marines, Hunter Antonino, told KCAL that he and his two friends were at the pier when 30 teenagers arrived and began to set off fireworks He said that when he was hit in the face by debris he asked the group to leave. “They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent, they were being obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,” he said. San Clemente mayor Chris Duncan told The Los Angeles Times that the incident was unacceptable. “The barbaric assault on off-duty Marines at the San Clemente Pier goes against everything we stand for in San Clemente, and it’s no excuse that teenagers were involved,” he said. “I want to assure our community, especially our military and veteran community, that we take this matter with the utmost seriousness and will not tolerate this kind of behavior in our city. The fact that this incident occurred over Memorial Day weekend is particularly tragic.” Read More Video shows mob attack US marines who asked them to stop lighting fireworks Highly decorated Marine officer nominated to be next commandant Critics say Biden is lying about how his son Beau died in Iraq – they are ignoring the full story
1970-01-01 08:00
DeSantis Hits the Campaign Trail in Iowa as Alternative to Trump
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sought to court Iowa voters as the best alternative to Donald Trump, continuing the
1970-01-01 08:00
