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Collins, Dems spar over whether VA needs key fixes or full overhaul
Congressional fights over plans to cut tens of thousands of VA staffers hinge on lawmakers' views on just how dysfunctional the department is.
Corker touts ‘progress’ to replace war authorizations
Republicans and Democrats have argued for years that the war authorizations Congress passed after 9/11 have since been overstretched by successive presidents and that Congress must reassert its war-making powers.
By Joe Gould
Russia dismisses Democratic US Senate report as unfounded
The 200-page report is the first from Congress to detail alleged Russian efforts to undermine democracies since the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said “the accusations of alleged meddling leveled against our country are absolutely unfounded.”
By Angela Charlton, The Associated Press
Short term budget fixes are bad government
As a recovering politician, I get it. You must play the cards you are dealt to leverage your best position in a budget negotiation. Threatening a federal government shutdown is considered the nuclear option by both parties in Congress. However, the reality is that government by continuing resolution is bad for just about everyone.
By Chris Cummiskey
GOP’s Senate majority shrinks with Jones sworn into office
Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office to Doug Jones from Alabama and Tina Smith from Minnesota.
Lawmakers move to limit Trump authority to launch nuke after ‘nuclear button’ size tweet
Two Democratic lawmakers are sponsoring legislation that would require the president to receive congressional approval before initiating a first-use nuclear strike from the United States.
By Joe Gould
2 new faces and old partisan standoffs as Congress returns
There will be two fresh Senate faces and some familiar but stubborn clashes facing lawmakers Wednesday as Congress begins its 2018 session staring at the year’s first potential calamity — an election-year government shutdown unless there’s a bipartisan spending pact by Jan. 19.
ICYMI: Regulatory rollbacks, prickly tweets, reorgs and more didn’t take a holiday
Though the year-end holidays generally indicate a massive slowdown in government activity, a few things of note slipped in under the wire.
By Jessie Bur
Congress in for messy start to 2018
Although lawmakers managed to avert a government shutdown before skipping town for the holidays, they will face a mess when they return in January.
By Joe Gould