US Economy Added 2 Million Jobs in 2017 Under Trump
U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in December amid a decline in retail employment, but a pick-up in monthly wage gains pointed to labor market strength that could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates in March. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 148,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. Retail payrolls fell by 20,300 in December, the largest drop since March, despite a strong holiday shopping season. Employment data for October and November data were revised to show 9,000 fewer jobs created than previously reported. Job growth surged in October and November after being held back ... Read More
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FBI Opens New Clinton Foundation Investigation
The Justice Department has begun a new probe into whether the Clinton Foundation engaged in pay-to-play politics or other illegal activities while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, The Hill reported Thursday. Lead FBI agents in Little Rock, Arkansas, where the Foundation is headquartered, have already interviewed at least one witness in the last month, according to the report. The officials told The Hill agents are examining whether the Clintons promised or performed any policy favors in return for donations to their charitable efforts — or whether donors made commitments of donations in hopes of securing government outcomes. The probe might also examine whether ... Read More
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More Businesses Raise Wages, Give Bonuses in Wake of Tax Cuts
More businesses are announcing bonuses, higher minimum wages, and new benefits for employees after passage by Congress of Republicans’ tax reform bill. An email from House Speaker Paul Ryan’s press office highlights 33 businesses—including Aflac, Associated Bank, and PNC Bank—that have announced raises, bonuses, and other improvements for employees. In moves that may defuse efforts to mandate higher minimum wages across the nation, at least nine of the 33 businesses announced they are boosting their minimum wage for thousands of workers to $15 or more an hour. “Happy New Year and welcome to 2018, where Americans are waking up across the country with a ... Read More
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Trump Wants $18 Billion For Border Wall Expansion
The Trump administration is seeking $18 billion to construct about 700 miles of border wall and fencing over the next decade, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The funding would go towards adding to or replacing the existing 654 miles of border barrier, bringing the total to nearly 1,000 miles, or about about half of the entire southwest border. Part of a border security package totaling $33 billion, the wall funds include $9 billion over the first five years and $8.7 billion over the next five years, according to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) memo described to WSJ. The administration envisions using the funds to construct ... Read More
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White House Wants to Open up Nearly All Federal Waters for Offshore Drilling
The White House on Thursday rolled out a preliminary plan to ramp up offshore drilling, potentially opening up nearly all of American’s federal waters to energy development — and in the process picked a fight with a key Republican ally. Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he’s vehemently opposed to the Interior Department’s proposal to dramatically expand oil drilling off U.S. coasts, including Florida. The state is one of nearly a dozen that has said it objects to the plan, which constitutes one of the most sweeping reversals to date of an Obama-era energy policy. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said the blueprint would open ... Read More
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