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What lawmakers slipped into the $460 billion spending package

Mar 12, 2024
Earmarks promise to spend money on specific projects requested by individual members of Congress.
In this latest funding package, there are more than 6,000 earmarks totaling more than $12 billion, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Government.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Economic issues at the annual CPAC meeting

Feb 19, 2024
At the annual meeting of right-wing thinkers, economic issues such as tariffs and government spending are expected to be discussed.
Former President Donald Trump is slate to speak at this year's CPAC and has already said he wants another round of tariffs.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

As student loan repayments are set to restart, the Education Department looks to ease the transition

Jul 3, 2023
For one thing: the first year after payments restart, borrowers who fall behind won’t be penalized.
Student loan borrowers demand President Biden use "Plan B" to cancel student debt Immediately at a rally outside of the Supreme Court on June 30, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
Paul Morigi/Getty Images for We The 45 Million

Some prominent Republicans pivot on the economy

Jun 22, 2023
The group of GOP members, including Marco Rubio, announced a new stance on free market capitalism.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told the audience the GOP should be more skeptical of the free market — especially when corporations do things like move their factories to China.
Nancy Marshall-Genzer

Why Republican consumers are glum and Democrats upbeat

Aug 31, 2022
Consumer sentiment increasingly splits along party lines, with partisans of whoever holds the White House far more optimistic.
Data shows consumer sentiment is increasingly split along party lines. Right now, the gap between political tribes is nearly 35 points, according to the University of Michigan's survey.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Congress returns to funding, Build Back Better attempt

Jan 31, 2022
Talk of a Supreme Court nomination is on everyone's lips these days, but Congress has an economic laundry list to address.
With Congress back in session, Democrats will want another try at passing at least portions of the Build Back Better agenda.
Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for MoveOn

Nearly half of states will cut short federal jobless benefits

May 27, 2021
The economy is steadily improving, but we're not back to "normal."
Conservatives have argued that enhanced unemployment benefits were meant to buffer workers from the worst of the pandemic, which has now passed.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

3 states will exit federal pandemic unemployment programs. More are likely to follow.

May 10, 2021
The Republican governors of Arkansas, Montana and South Carolina say the benefits keep people out of the workforce.
Arkansas, Montana and South Carolina are opting out, but the U.S. economy is down more than 8 million jobs since the pandemic hit.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

Consumer confidence shows wide partisan divide

Feb 4, 2021
Republicans are bumming and Democrats are buoyant after the Biden inauguration, according to Morning Consult, a reverse of the Trump years.
Political victory or defeat can translate into economic hope or despair.
Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images

Republicans propose funding cuts to OSHA during pandemic

Nov 11, 2020
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says it has received more than 10,000 COVID-related complaints.
Loren Sweatt, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, responds to questions during a House subcommittee hearing on the federal government's actions to protect workers during COVID-19 on May 28, 2020 in Washington.
Rod Lamkey/Pool/AFP via Getty Images