Governing

Chart of White House salary distribution

Politics & Government

Trump White House Staff Payroll Nearly $36 Million And Top-Heavy

8:38pm June 30, 2017

by Tamara Keith

Among those making the maximum salary are chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Steve Bannon, press secretary Sean Spicer and former Apprentice contestant Omarosa Manigault.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, seen earlier this month, says he is among the state officials who isn't able to provide all the voter identification details the national commission he vice-chairs is seeking.

National

State Officials Of Both Parties Reject Requests For Voters' Identification Details

8:01pm June 30, 2017

by Pam Fessler

More than a dozen states say that they won't comply with a White House commission request for the personal data. Even a commission leader isn't able to turn over all of his state's records.

In this episode of Ron's Office Hours: Who's in charge of U.S. foreign policy?

As Trump Travels To Summit, Congress May Be Reasserting Itself On Foreign Affairs

7:29pm June 30, 2017

by Ron Elving

Congress has generally followed a pattern of deferring to the executive on foreign policy. For decades Congress has usually let the president take the lead — and take the heat when things go wrong.

A 2015 protest by advocates for victims of domestic abuse takes place outside state offices in downtown Chicago. The protests were sparked by a lack of funding for domestic violence shelters due to the state's budget crisis.

After 2 Years Without A Budget, Debt And Pain Are Mounting In Illinois

10:49am June 30, 2017

by Brian Mackey

The state has nearly $15 billion in unpaid bills due to a standoff between Republicans and Democrats. The most vulnerable people in Illinois are feeling the pain of the standoff.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks during a Stop 'Trumpcare' rally in front of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. in May.

How Democrats Are Fighting The GOP Health Care Bill

9:47am June 30, 2017

by Scott Detrow

Appealing to the public is Democrats' only card to play as Senate Republicans try to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — since Democrats don't have the votes to stop the bill.

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been answering questions about the Senate health care bill ever since it was released.

How The Senate GOP Health Care Bill Could Affect The Midterms And Beyond

8:21am June 30, 2017

by Danielle Kurtzleben

The Senate's bill puts off provisions that could push people off of insurance and out of Medicaid until well past the 2018 midterms and even past the 2020 presidential election.

Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin speaks at a news conference in Honolulu in March. His office has asked a federal court to review the Trump administration's definition of close family, in the context of the travel ban.

National

Hawaii Asks Federal Court For Clarification As Travel Ban Goes Into Effect

9:29pm June 29, 2017

by Richard Gonzales

Critics of the new limits on entry into the U.S. from six mostly Muslim countries challenge the administration's definition of "close familial relationship."

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions delivers remarks during the daily White House press briefing on March 27.

Politics & Government

Too Close For Comfort: Insiders Worry About DOJ Lawyers Speaking At White House

3:31pm June 29, 2017

by Carrie Johnson

Recent appearances by the attorney general and a U.S. attorney at the White House podium have some current and former Justice Department officials worrying about law enforcement independence.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. — shown with Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (left) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2015 — represents the state with the highest per-capita death rate from opioids.

GOP Senators From Opioid-Ravaged States Uneasy About Health Care Bill

12:48pm June 29, 2017

by Tamara Keith

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has announced that she opposes the health care bill in its current form. She cited cuts to Medicaid and what the bill would mean for people with opioid addiction.

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Should It Be Easier To Vote? Americans Are Deeply Divided By Party

10:36am June 28, 2017

by Pam Fessler

Most Democrats say that "everything possible" should be done to make it easy for citizens to vote. Most Republicans don't agree.