The president is calling on Congress to provide $769 billion for non-defense programs and $753 billion in national defense funding for the upcoming fiscal year.President Joe Biden's budget request amounts to a 16 percent increase over current funding levels for domestic programs. | Evan Vucci/AP PhotoPresident Joe Biden’s first budget calls for massive boosts to low-income schools, public health programs and fighting climate change, plus a slight Pentagon funding bump that is unlikely to fly with many in Congress.The request asks Congress to provide non-defense programs with a total of $769...…The president is calling on Congress to provide $769 billion for non-defense programs and $753 billion in national defense funding for the upcoming fiscal year.President Joe Biden's budget request amounts to a 16 percent increase over current funding levels for domestic programs. | Evan Vucci/AP PhotoPresident Joe Biden’s first budget calls for massive boosts to low-income schools, public health programs and fighting climate change, plus a slight Pentagon funding bump that is unlikely to fly with many in Congress.The request asks Congress to provide non-defense programs with a total of $769...WW…

The interpretation of a new ruling could give Democrats significantly more opportunities to push their priorities past GOP opposition.The parliamentarian's opinion "is an important step forward," a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. | Jonathan Ernst/Getty ImagesDemocrats can pass another major piece of legislation — such as President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion-plus infrastructure plan — by revisiting the budget process they used to approve his coronavirus relief package without Republican support, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday.The...…The interpretation of a new ruling could give Democrats significantly more opportunities to push their priorities past GOP opposition.The parliamentarian's opinion "is an important step forward," a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. | Jonathan Ernst/Getty ImagesDemocrats can pass another major piece of legislation — such as President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion-plus infrastructure plan — by revisiting the budget process they used to approve his coronavirus relief package without Republican support, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday.The...WW…

Republicans are planning to make life as excruciating as possible ahead of passage.Senate Democrats required an appearance from Vice President Kamala Harris to cast a tie-breaking vote on the relief package. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesSenate Democrats muscled through the votes to begin consideration of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill on Thursday afternoon, putting the party on course to clinch a new stimulus law well before its official March 14 deadline.But Republicans are setting up a grueling debate that appears likely to carry the partisan battle into the...…Republicans are planning to make life as excruciating as possible ahead of passage.Senate Democrats required an appearance from Vice President Kamala Harris to cast a tie-breaking vote on the relief package. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesSenate Democrats muscled through the votes to begin consideration of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill on Thursday afternoon, putting the party on course to clinch a new stimulus law well before its official March 14 deadline.But Republicans are setting up a grueling debate that appears likely to carry the partisan battle into the...WW…

They're rebranding earmarks as “Community Project Funding,“ detailing a plan to tuck cash into annual spending bills that would benefit specific projects.Representative Rosa DeLauro speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill, June 4, 2020 in Washington, D.C. | Al Drago-Pool/Getty ImagesHouse Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) revealed a long-awaited proposal on Friday to restore earmarks, including major changes aimed at building bipartisan support.Democrats are rebranding earmarks as “Community Project Funding,“ detailing a plan to tuck cash into annual spending bills that would...…They're rebranding earmarks as “Community Project Funding,“ detailing a plan to tuck cash into annual spending bills that would benefit specific projects.Representative Rosa DeLauro speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill, June 4, 2020 in Washington, D.C. | Al Drago-Pool/Getty ImagesHouse Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) revealed a long-awaited proposal on Friday to restore earmarks, including major changes aimed at building bipartisan support.Democrats are rebranding earmarks as “Community Project Funding,“ detailing a plan to tuck cash into annual spending bills that would...WW…

Notably, some Republicans have backed a wage bump, but with extra strings that would divide Democrats.Senate Budget Chair Bernie Sanders and other progressives aren't yet ready to ditch the $15 figure. | Graeme Jennings/Pool via APDemocrats are scrambling to piece together a backup plan that could save their minimum wage hike from getting tossed out of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package and win over moderates wary of the proposal.The budget tool that Democrats are using to steer Biden’s plan through Congress without GOP support, known as reconciliation, is laden with thorny...…Notably, some Republicans have backed a wage bump, but with extra strings that would divide Democrats.Senate Budget Chair Bernie Sanders and other progressives aren't yet ready to ditch the $15 figure. | Graeme Jennings/Pool via APDemocrats are scrambling to piece together a backup plan that could save their minimum wage hike from getting tossed out of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package and win over moderates wary of the proposal.The budget tool that Democrats are using to steer Biden’s plan through Congress without GOP support, known as reconciliation, is laden with thorny...WW…

House Democrats aren't expecting to get a single GOP vote for their aid package, which they're taking up with the procedural maneuver known as reconciliation.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduces Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth after House Democratic leaders met with President Joe Biden to discuss coronavirus relief legislation on Feb. 5. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesThe House is on track to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package by the end of this week as Congress sprints to deliver aid to millions of Americans reeling from the pandemic and facing a...…House Democrats aren't expecting to get a single GOP vote for their aid package, which they're taking up with the procedural maneuver known as reconciliation.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduces Budget Committee Chair John Yarmuth after House Democratic leaders met with President Joe Biden to discuss coronavirus relief legislation on Feb. 5. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesThe House is on track to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package by the end of this week as Congress sprints to deliver aid to millions of Americans reeling from the pandemic and facing a...WW…

Senators in both parties dredged up her longtime beef with Sanders, a political nemesis during her 2016 push to get Hillary Clinton elected president.Neera Tanden’s ruthless tweets continued to haunt her confirmation process Wednesday as she faced the scorn of Senate Budget Chair Bernie Sanders, another target of her public criticism.In Tanden’s second confirmation hearing for her nomination to lead President Joe Biden’s Office of Management and Budget, senators in both parties dredged up her longtime beef with Sanders, a political nemesis during her 2016 push to get Hillary Clinton elected...…Senators in both parties dredged up her longtime beef with Sanders, a political nemesis during her 2016 push to get Hillary Clinton elected president.Neera Tanden’s ruthless tweets continued to haunt her confirmation process Wednesday as she faced the scorn of Senate Budget Chair Bernie Sanders, another target of her public criticism.In Tanden’s second confirmation hearing for her nomination to lead President Joe Biden’s Office of Management and Budget, senators in both parties dredged up her longtime beef with Sanders, a political nemesis during her 2016 push to get Hillary Clinton elected...WW…

The suffering has begun for Senate Democrats trying to muscle through Biden’s pandemic aid plan without a single Republican vote.Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) bemoaned the free-for-all amendment process as “the worst part of the United States Senate.” | Tom Williams-Pool/Getty ImagesThe self-inflicted suffering has begun for Senate Democrats trying to muscle through President Joe Biden’s pandemic aid plan without a single Republican vote.The procedural trick that shrinks the vote hurdle from 60 to 51 is often described as “a powerful budget tool.” But reconciliation is also painful to wield....…The suffering has begun for Senate Democrats trying to muscle through Biden’s pandemic aid plan without a single Republican vote.Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) bemoaned the free-for-all amendment process as “the worst part of the United States Senate.” | Tom Williams-Pool/Getty ImagesThe self-inflicted suffering has begun for Senate Democrats trying to muscle through President Joe Biden’s pandemic aid plan without a single Republican vote.The procedural trick that shrinks the vote hurdle from 60 to 51 is often described as “a powerful budget tool.” But reconciliation is also painful to wield....WW…

The House took the first step toward pushing Biden's relief package through Congress without GOP support.President Joe Biden makes brief remarks in the Oval Office at the White House. | Doug Mills-Pool/Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden met with Democrats on Wednesday as the House took its first step toward passing his sprawling $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package through Congress without any Republican help.The lower chamber approved a budget measure in 218-212 vote, directing a dozen committees to start drafting the pieces of Biden’s bill, including $1,400 stimulus checks, $350 billion...…The House took the first step toward pushing Biden's relief package through Congress without GOP support.President Joe Biden makes brief remarks in the Oval Office at the White House. | Doug Mills-Pool/Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden met with Democrats on Wednesday as the House took its first step toward passing his sprawling $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package through Congress without any Republican help.The lower chamber approved a budget measure in 218-212 vote, directing a dozen committees to start drafting the pieces of Biden’s bill, including $1,400 stimulus checks, $350 billion...WW…

It is unclear if forthcoming projections will be enough to sway moderate lawmakers.Sen. Bernie Sanders, the incoming Budget Committee chair, is building a cache of outside opinion to bolster his argument for muscling through a minimum wage increase. | Win McNamee/Getty ImagesThe Congressional Budget Office is expected to soon release a report at the behest of Sen. Bernie Sanders that will make a persuasive fiscal case for hiking the federal minimum wage within President Joe Biden’s pandemic aid package, according to a senior Democratic aide.The incoming Budget Committee chair is building a...…It is unclear if forthcoming projections will be enough to sway moderate lawmakers.Sen. Bernie Sanders, the incoming Budget Committee chair, is building a cache of outside opinion to bolster his argument for muscling through a minimum wage increase. | Win McNamee/Getty ImagesThe Congressional Budget Office is expected to soon release a report at the behest of Sen. Bernie Sanders that will make a persuasive fiscal case for hiking the federal minimum wage within President Joe Biden’s pandemic aid package, according to a senior Democratic aide.The incoming Budget Committee chair is building a...WW…