Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Rep. Karen Bass is undergoing vetting to be former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate, according to two people familiar with the process.Bass, 66, who has represented Los Angeles in the House for five terms, joins a slate of prominent women of color who are in the mix to stand with Biden on the Democratic ticket. She would be the second Californian in the mix, joining Sen. Kamala Harris, who is .Biden has said he expects to decide on a running mate around the beginning of August. He has committed to picking a woman and is being...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Rep. Karen Bass is undergoing vetting to be former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate, according to two people familiar with the process.Bass, 66, who has represented Los Angeles in the House for five terms, joins a slate of prominent women of color who are in the mix to stand with Biden on the Democratic ticket. She would be the second Californian in the mix, joining Sen. Kamala Harris, who is .Biden has said he expects to decide on a running mate around the beginning of August. He has committed to picking a woman and is being...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Oversight systems are still largely dormant for the last month, leaving gaping holes in accountability just as the Treasury Department prepares to give hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to corporations.The coronavirus response package was the largest in U.S. history, and lawmakers wanted to ensure adequate checks and supervision of the massive funding. But with no less than four oversight bodies now struggling to get up and running, and because of the pandemic, lawmakers acknowledge the deficiency. “Oversight is occurring; it’s...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Oversight systems are still largely dormant for the last month, leaving gaping holes in accountability just as the Treasury Department prepares to give hundreds of billions of dollars in aid to corporations.The coronavirus response package was the largest in U.S. history, and lawmakers wanted to ensure adequate checks and supervision of the massive funding. But with no less than four oversight bodies now struggling to get up and running, and because of the pandemic, lawmakers acknowledge the deficiency. “Oversight is occurring; it’s...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Federal agents seized a cellphone belonging to a prominent Republican senator on Wednesday night as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into controversial stock trades he made as the novel coronavirus first struck the U.S., a law enforcement official said.Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, turned over his phone to agents after they served a search warrant on the lawmaker at his residence in the Washington area, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Federal agents seized a cellphone belonging to a prominent Republican senator on Wednesday night as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into controversial stock trades he made as the novel coronavirus first struck the U.S., a law enforcement official said.Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, turned over his phone to agents after they served a search warrant on the lawmaker at his residence in the Washington area, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Congressional leaders and the White House were close to a deal Monday over an emergency coronavirus package to replenish a small-business assistance program that ran out of funds last week, even as critics said misuse of the popular loan program by large companies had squeezed out smaller businesses.The now-depleted Paycheck Protection Program was designed to provide forgivable loans to small businesses if they kept workers on the payroll during the economic shutdown caused by the pandemic. It would receive an additional $310 billion...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Congressional leaders and the White House were close to a deal Monday over an emergency coronavirus package to replenish a small-business assistance program that ran out of funds last week, even as critics said misuse of the popular loan program by large companies had squeezed out smaller businesses.The now-depleted Paycheck Protection Program was designed to provide forgivable loans to small businesses if they kept workers on the payroll during the economic shutdown caused by the pandemic. It would receive an additional $310 billion...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement The Senate Intelligence Committee has sent a bipartisan letter to the Justice Department asking federal prosecutors to investigate Stephen K. Bannon, a former Trump confidant, for potentially lying to lawmakers during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.The letter, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, was signed by the panel’s then-chairman, Republican Sen. Richard M. Burr, and its ranking Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner.For the record:It also raised concerns about testimony provided by family...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement The Senate Intelligence Committee has sent a bipartisan letter to the Justice Department asking federal prosecutors to investigate Stephen K. Bannon, a former Trump confidant, for potentially lying to lawmakers during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.The letter, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times, was signed by the panel’s then-chairman, Republican Sen. Richard M. Burr, and its ranking Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner.For the record:It also raised concerns about testimony provided by family...WW…

Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Another round of stimulus checks for Americans and renewal of expired unemployment benefits for the millions left jobless by the coronavirus-induced recession aren’t likely to be approved until at least after Labor Day as lawmakers leave Washington for a summer break without agreement on a relief package.And even after that, prospects for a deal look grim as each side blamed the other for the breakdown in negotiations. There haven’t been talks between congressional Democratic leaders and the White House since last...…Copyright © 2022, The San Diego Union-Tribune | | AdvertisementAdvertisement Another round of stimulus checks for Americans and renewal of expired unemployment benefits for the millions left jobless by the coronavirus-induced recession aren’t likely to be approved until at least after Labor Day as lawmakers leave Washington for a summer break without agreement on a relief package.And even after that, prospects for a deal look grim as each side blamed the other for the breakdown in negotiations. There haven’t been talks between congressional Democratic leaders and the White House since last...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Abortion providers in Texas on Saturday to lift a state order that banned nearly all abortions in the state during the The court’s decision could prove a pivotal test case for the openness of the bench, newly reshaped with two of President Trump’s appointees, to eroding abortion rights. If they decide to weigh in, the justices will determine whether the access to abortion outlined as a constitutional right in the Roe v. Wade decision can be suspended during a public health emergency. “It is vital that the Supreme Court step in and...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Abortion providers in Texas on Saturday to lift a state order that banned nearly all abortions in the state during the The court’s decision could prove a pivotal test case for the openness of the bench, newly reshaped with two of President Trump’s appointees, to eroding abortion rights. If they decide to weigh in, the justices will determine whether the access to abortion outlined as a constitutional right in the Roe v. Wade decision can be suspended during a public health emergency. “It is vital that the Supreme Court step in and...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Democrats loved watching Orange County Rep. Katie Porter skewer Trump administration appointees and corporate executives in congressional hearings.But it felt different when Porter’s progressive passion and impatience for convention turned to them.For the record:Just as she wielded a whiteboard and sharp questioning to expose the flaws and outdated thinking she saw in Postal Service management or the nation’s COVID-19 testing system, Porter recently took aim at House Democrats’ rules and traditions for what is usually a...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Democrats loved watching Orange County Rep. Katie Porter skewer Trump administration appointees and corporate executives in congressional hearings.But it felt different when Porter’s progressive passion and impatience for convention turned to them.For the record:Just as she wielded a whiteboard and sharp questioning to expose the flaws and outdated thinking she saw in Postal Service management or the nation’s COVID-19 testing system, Porter recently took aim at House Democrats’ rules and traditions for what is usually a...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement President Biden withdrew the nomination of longtime Democratic policy advisor Neera Tanden to be his budget director, an acknowledgment that she could not win the 50 Senate votes needed to secure confirmation.“I have accepted Neera Tanden’s request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget,” Biden said in a statement Tuesday night. “I have the utmost respect for her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve in a role in my...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement President Biden withdrew the nomination of longtime Democratic policy advisor Neera Tanden to be his budget director, an acknowledgment that she could not win the 50 Senate votes needed to secure confirmation.“I have accepted Neera Tanden’s request to withdraw her name from nomination for Director of the Office of Management and Budget,” Biden said in a statement Tuesday night. “I have the utmost respect for her record of accomplishment, her experience and her counsel, and I look forward to having her serve in a role in my...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement House Democrats will send the article of impeachment against former President Trump to the Senate on Monday and the trial will start no sooner than Feb. 9 to allow time for the House and the former president to prepare, under a framework announced Friday.The timeline, announced by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and agreed to by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), calls for the House to formally walk over the article to the Senate on Monday. On Tuesday, senators will be sworn in for their impeachment duties...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement House Democrats will send the article of impeachment against former President Trump to the Senate on Monday and the trial will start no sooner than Feb. 9 to allow time for the House and the former president to prepare, under a framework announced Friday.The timeline, announced by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and agreed to by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), calls for the House to formally walk over the article to the Senate on Monday. On Tuesday, senators will be sworn in for their impeachment duties...WW…