Stay Updated on Developing StoriesView in AppBy Tami Luhby, CNN BusinessNew York(CNN Business) In yet another sign that the economic in a resurgence of coronavirus cases, the number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row.Some 1.4 million people filed for initialclaims last week, up 12,000 from the prior week's revised level, which was , according to the Department of Labor.The news came on the same day as a separate report showed that the from April through June, its worst drop on record. These both added to concerns that the economy is...…Stay Updated on Developing StoriesView in AppBy Tami Luhby, CNN BusinessNew York(CNN Business) In yet another sign that the economic in a resurgence of coronavirus cases, the number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row.Some 1.4 million people filed for initialclaims last week, up 12,000 from the prior week's revised level, which was , according to the Department of Labor.The news came on the same day as a separate report showed that the from April through June, its worst drop on record. These both added to concerns that the economy is...WW…

By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Senate Republicans formally unveiled a roughly this week, offering a starting point for negotiations with Democrats over what will likely become Congress’s last major economic response to the pandemic.The $600 federal boost to expires July 31, but millions of people are already receiving their last checks.Democrats, who control the House, are unified behind a far bigger and different proposal. They passed their own in May.Republicans will need support from Democrats to get a bill on the President’s desk and the two sides are starting far...…By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Senate Republicans formally unveiled a roughly this week, offering a starting point for negotiations with Democrats over what will likely become Congress’s last major economic response to the pandemic.The $600 federal boost to expires July 31, but millions of people are already receiving their last checks.Democrats, who control the House, are unified behind a far bigger and different proposal. They passed their own in May.Republicans will need support from Democrats to get a bill on the President’s desk and the two sides are starting far...WW…

By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — made a last-minute push Monday to persuade the administration to modify its position in the , arguing that the administration should pull back from its insistence that the entire law be struck down.With a Wednesday deadline to make any alterations to its argument looming, Barr made his case in a room with Vice President Mike Pence, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, members of the Domestic Policy Council, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and several other officials. The meeting ended without a decision and it was not immediately not clear...…By , , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — made a last-minute push Monday to persuade the administration to modify its position in the , arguing that the administration should pull back from its insistence that the entire law be struck down.With a Wednesday deadline to make any alterations to its argument looming, Barr made his case in a room with Vice President Mike Pence, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, members of the Domestic Policy Council, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and several other officials. The meeting ended without a decision and it was not immediately not clear...WW…

(CNN)President-elect Joe Biden is poised to nominate California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a Biden transition official tells CNN.Becerra, a former member of Congress, emerged as the leading contender for the critical role after other candidates with more health care expertise were ruled out.The was first to report the expected nomination. Becerra is the first Latino to serve as the attorney general of California and has been in the post since 2017. He has been a fierce opponent of President Donald Trump, and the state of California...…(CNN)President-elect Joe Biden is poised to nominate California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a Biden transition official tells CNN.Becerra, a former member of Congress, emerged as the leading contender for the critical role after other candidates with more health care expertise were ruled out.The was first to report the expected nomination. Becerra is the first Latino to serve as the attorney general of California and has been in the post since 2017. He has been a fierce opponent of President Donald Trump, and the state of California...WW…

By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Two months after his effort to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour ran into the Senate parliamentarian buzz saw, is set to use his executive powers to hike the pay of hundreds of thousands of federal contract workers.The President is expected to issue an executive order on Tuesday that increases contract workers’ in early 2022, up from the current $10.95. It eliminates the tipped minimum wage, now $7.65 an hour, by 2024 and ensures that federal contract workers with disabilities also receive a minimum of $15 an hour.Agencies will need to...…By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Two months after his effort to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour ran into the Senate parliamentarian buzz saw, is set to use his executive powers to hike the pay of hundreds of thousands of federal contract workers.The President is expected to issue an executive order on Tuesday that increases contract workers’ in early 2022, up from the current $10.95. It eliminates the tipped minimum wage, now $7.65 an hour, by 2024 and ensures that federal contract workers with disabilities also receive a minimum of $15 an hour.Agencies will need to...WW…

By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Faced with major blowback over its, the Biden administration is rolling out a campaign to justify why it needs to hike corporate taxes to fund the massive plan. But also left the door open Wednesday to negotiate one of the most contentious provisions – raising the corporate tax rate to 28%.“I’m wide open, but we’ve got to pay for this,” Biden told reporters following his remarks about the American Jobs Plan. “There are many other ways we can do it. I’ve come forward with the best, most rational way in my view, the fairest way to pay for it....…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — Faced with major blowback over its, the Biden administration is rolling out a campaign to justify why it needs to hike corporate taxes to fund the massive plan. But also left the door open Wednesday to negotiate one of the most contentious provisions – raising the corporate tax rate to 28%.“I’m wide open, but we’ve got to pay for this,” Biden told reporters following his remarks about the American Jobs Plan. “There are many other ways we can do it. I’ve come forward with the best, most rational way in my view, the fairest way to pay for it....WW…

(CNN)When the forced states to lock down last year, they suspended a long-standing requirement that the unemployed have to be looking for work in order to receive jobless benefits.Now, as , a growing number of states are resuming the mandate. North Carolina, South Carolina, Nevada and Idaho have all recently announced that many or all recipients will have to search for work or bolster their skills to remain on unemployment benefits. They join 19 other states that have brought back the requirement, according to UnemploymentPUA.com, a private website that provides information and assistance...…(CNN)When the forced states to lock down last year, they suspended a long-standing requirement that the unemployed have to be looking for work in order to receive jobless benefits.Now, as , a growing number of states are resuming the mandate. North Carolina, South Carolina, Nevada and Idaho have all recently announced that many or all recipients will have to search for work or bolster their skills to remain on unemployment benefits. They join 19 other states that have brought back the requirement, according to UnemploymentPUA.com, a private website that provides information and assistance...WW…

By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — An estimated 25 million people will get a boost in their food stamp benefits starting this month, the Biden administration announced Thursday evening.These Americans, who are among the lowest-income , were left out of a benefit increase last year because of how the Trump administration implemented an early federal coronavirus relief provision.The Biden administration has changed the guidance so households that had not received an increase of at least $95 in monthly benefits through emergency allotments will be eligible to get a boost from the...…By , CNNLink Copied!Ad Feedback — An estimated 25 million people will get a boost in their food stamp benefits starting this month, the Biden administration announced Thursday evening.These Americans, who are among the lowest-income , were left out of a benefit increase last year because of how the Trump administration implemented an early federal coronavirus relief provision.The Biden administration has changed the guidance so households that had not received an increase of at least $95 in monthly benefits through emergency allotments will be eligible to get a boost from the...WW…

By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad FeedbackEditor’s Note: This story originally ran on March 31 and has been updated with new developments. — Now that his massive coronavirus relief package is law, is laying out his next big proposal: A roughly $2 trillion plan for improving the nation’s infrastructure and shifting to greener energy over the next 8 years.The nation’s infrastructure is sorely in need of repair. It recently earned a C- score from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which said an is required over the next decade. But Biden is also pitching his plan as an investment to...…By , and , CNNLink Copied!Ad FeedbackEditor’s Note: This story originally ran on March 31 and has been updated with new developments. — Now that his massive coronavirus relief package is law, is laying out his next big proposal: A roughly $2 trillion plan for improving the nation’s infrastructure and shifting to greener energy over the next 8 years.The nation’s infrastructure is sorely in need of repair. It recently earned a C- score from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which said an is required over the next decade. But Biden is also pitching his plan as an investment to...WW…

(CNN)In the midst of a global pandemic with the presidential election just months away, the Justice Department asked on Thursday to invalidate , the landmark health care law that enabled millions of Americans to get insurance coverage and that remains in effect despite the pending legal challenge. In a late-night filing, said that once the law's individual coverage mandate and two key provisions are invalidated, "the remainder of the ACA should not be allowed to remain in effect."The justices will hear arguments in the case sometime next term, although it is unclear if they will occur...…(CNN)In the midst of a global pandemic with the presidential election just months away, the Justice Department asked on Thursday to invalidate , the landmark health care law that enabled millions of Americans to get insurance coverage and that remains in effect despite the pending legal challenge. In a late-night filing, said that once the law's individual coverage mandate and two key provisions are invalidated, "the remainder of the ACA should not be allowed to remain in effect."The justices will hear arguments in the case sometime next term, although it is unclear if they will occur...WW…