#OMB director knocks McCarthy claims he won’t take a salary during shutdown: ‘That is theater’

#OMB director knocks McCarthy claims he won’t take a salary during shutdown: ‘That is theater’

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young on Friday knocked reports that Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he won’t take a salary during a looming government shutdown. “Look, I’m glad that the Speaker’s made that statement. By the way, members of Congress have to get paid constitutionally, so maybe he’ll put it in a sock drawer. I…

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#House GOP approves Homeland Security funding bill

#House GOP approves Homeland Security funding bill

House Republicans late Thursday night approved legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2024. The legislation cleared the chamber in a 220-208 vote. Passing the bill will not help prevent a government shutdown Saturday night, but House GOP leaders are hoping that moving single-subject appropriations bills will help the conference…

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#Comer: there’s ‘overwhelming evidence’ Biden’s involved in Hunter’s business dealings

#Comer: there’s ‘overwhelming evidence’ Biden’s involved in Hunter’s business dealings

Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) said he thinks there is “overwhelming evidence” that President Biden is involved in his son Hunter Biden’s business schemes. Comer is the Chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, which held its first hearing Thursday to weigh evidence into impeaching Biden. “There’s overwhelming evidence that Joe Biden was involved in…

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#House overwhelmingly approves Ukraine aid

#House overwhelmingly approves Ukraine aid

The House late Thursday night overwhelmingly approved $300 million in new aid to Ukraine. The 311-117 vote came after House GOP leaders on Wednesday stripped the Ukraine assistance from a Pentagon funding bill. All “no” votes came from Republicans. Though it drew broad support, the funding has been a source of controversy for the past…

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#House GOP passes Pentagon funding bill after failed tries

#House GOP passes Pentagon funding bill after failed tries

House Republicans late Thursday night approved legislation to fund the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2024, a success for GOP leaders after they decided to strip Ukraine funding from the legislation following two failed procedural votes. The chamber cleared the measure in a 218-210 vote. Approving the measure will not help Congress avert a…

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#Home borrowing costs hit 23-year high 

#Home borrowing costs hit 23-year high 

Home mortgage rates have reached the highest figure since 2000, as the average borrowing rate for 30-year home loans topped 7.31 percent this week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The new figure is a slight increase from last week’s 7.19 percent. A year ago it was 6.70 percent. The rate continues to climb, in…

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#Virginia is building a national model to address teen mental health

#Virginia is building a national model to address teen mental health

This month is National Suicide Prevention Month, an important focus in the midst of a catastrophic mental health crisis in this country. The suicide rate, suicidal thinking and emergency room visits continue to rise, especially among vulnerable teen girls. Consider that according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, close to two-thirds of…

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