Tom Coburn, an ultraconservative Oklahoma Republican and family physician who in 16 years in Congress crusaded for limited government, using a rule-book technicality to block so many bills that frustrated legislators called him “Dr. No,” died on Saturday. He was 72. His death was announced on Twitter by his former communications director, John Hart. He […]
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A Texas man, ranting on social media about the congressional response to the coronavirus outbreak, has been charged with making death threats to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday. Gavin Weslee Blake Perry, 27, of Wichita Falls, Texas, wrote on his personal Facebook page on Monday that Ms. Pelosi was […]
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WASHINGTON — As Senator Chuck Schumer walked the two miles from his apartment to the Capitol early Sunday morning, getting his steps in since the Senate gym had been shut down to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, he knew he and his fellow Democrats had a momentous decision to make. After 48 hours […]
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The $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package that the Senate passed on Wednesday will fundamentally transform the U.S. government by placing thousands of businesses and millions of workers on federally funded life support. The government will pay the wages of some workers who remain on their companies’ payrolls. It will sustain other workers who have lost […]
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Listen and subscribe to our podcast from your mobile device:Via Apple Podcasts | Via Spotify | Via Stitcher To rescue the American economy in the coronavirus crisis, Congress is on the verge of adopting the most expensive stimulus bill in U.S. history. But how much is the battle over this measure being influenced by the […]
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Here’s what you need to know: The Senate unanimously passed a $2 trillion stimulus plan. ImageSenator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, at a news conference after the vote on Wednesday.Credit…Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times The Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve a sweeping, $2 trillion fiscal measure to shore up the […]
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WASHINGTON — Trump administration officials and top Democrats finalized an agreement early Wednesday morning on a roughly $2 trillion rescue package to confront the coronavirus pandemic, the largest economic stimulus measure in modern history. After days of partisan bickering and closed-door haggling, negotiators emerged from their final huddle and announced that they had struck a […]
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Listen and subscribe to our podcast from your mobile device:Via Apple Podcasts | Via Spotify | Via Stitcher Last week, President Trump called himself a “wartime president” as he faced up to the threat caused by the coronavirus. But only days later — and with the crisis escalating — he has abandoned that message. What […]
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WASHINGTON — Senators and Trump administration officials reached an agreement early Wednesday on a sweeping, roughly $2 trillion stimulus measure to send direct payments and jobless benefits to individuals as well as money to states and businesses devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation, which is expected to be enacted within days, is the biggest […]
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WASHINGTON — The Treasury secretary and the top Senate Democrat said late Monday that they were on the brink of a deal on a nearly $2 trillion emergency economic aid measure to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, after a marathon day of talks as Democrats demanded stronger protections for workers and restrictions for bailed-out businesses. […]
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This article has been updated. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky failed to do his job this weekend. As the economy spiraled downward, Mr. McConnell, the Senate majority leader, said he would produce a bipartisan bailout bill authorizing an infusion of desperately needed aid. Instead, Mr. McConnell emerged on Sunday evening with a bill that would […]
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Here we go again. With business activity having declined precipitously, bailouts of troubled companies are appropriately back on the table. Distasteful as they may be, we need rescue plans urgently, for both small and large business, and we need to apply them prudently and wisely. Having experienced the Great Recession as head of President Barack […]
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WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans were struggling to salvage a more than $1 trillion economic rescue package to respond to the coronavirus crisis when they got the message on Sunday afternoon: One of their own had been walking around the Capitol with Covid-19 for days as they debated how best to confront the rapidly spreading pandemic. […]
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U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) takes an elevator at the U.S. Capitol for a vote on March 18, 2020 in Washington, DC. as members of the Senate were urged to pass as soon as possible a second COVID-19 funding bill already passed by the House. Photo: Win McNamee (Getty Images) Malcolm X ain’t never lie; […]
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WASHINGTON — The idea to funnel cash directly to millions of Americans to help them weather the economic disaster ravaging the globe amid the coronavirus pandemic got its jump-start not from the liberal left, but from a more unlikely source: the most conservative reaches of the Republican Party. Recognizing a looming calamity for anxious people […]
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Crisis often brings out the best in a people. As the coronavirus spreads its devastation, countless Americans are stepping up to perform acts of heroism and compassion, both great and small, to aid their neighbors and their nation. Then there are certain not-so-inspiring members of the United States Senate. Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina, […]
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WASHINGTON — Senators and White House officials began negotiations on Friday to bridge considerable differences over a sweeping $1 trillion economic stabilization plan to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, pressing for a swift agreement that would allow it to be enacted in days. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, said he […]
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WASHINGTON — Senator Richard M. Burr, Republican of North Carolina, said on Friday that he had asked the Senate Ethics Committee to scrutinize sales he made of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of stock just before the coronavirus ravaged the stock market, in an attempt to clear himself of accusations that he traded on […]
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All happy times are the same; all crises are different. Except one lesson is always the same: There always are two crises. In all governmental responses to crises, leaders have to focus both on ending the immediate crisis and also on adopting ethical, practical methods of addressing the effects. This is the crisis for leaders. […]
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WASHINGTON — Senator Richard M. Burr sold hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of stock in major companies last month, as President Trump and others in his party were still playing down the threat presented by the coronavirus outbreak and before the stock market’s precipitous plunge. The stocks were sold in mid-February, days after Mr. […]
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WASHINGTON — The White House and lawmakers scrambled on Thursday to flesh out details of a $1 trillion economic stabilization plan to help workers and businesses weather a potentially deep recession, negotiating over the size and scope of direct payments to millions of people and aid for companies facing devastation in the coronavirus pandemic. Senate […]
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WASHINGTON — Senator Richard M. Burr sold hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of stock in major companies last month, as President Trump and others in his party were still playing down the threat presented by the coronavirus outbreak and before the stock market’s precipitous plunge. The stocks were sold in mid-February, days after Mr. […]
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Photo: Mandel Ngan (Getty Images) The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t just a threat to our personal health, it has also presented a massive challenge to our economic well being. Many companies have already laid off workers, and those who are still working face shorter hours and possible exposure to the virus. Those who have been given […]
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