David Sherfinski

Fauci says data on vaccine efficacy in kids ages 12-17 likely coming in the fall

Dr. Anthony Fauci said Friday that there should be data available on the safety and efficacy of coronavirus vaccines on 12-to-17-year-old children by the fall, which coincides with the start of the 2021-2022 school year.

February 19, 2021

Joe Biden plans to issue major disaster declaration for Texas

President Biden said Friday he plans to issue a major disaster declaration for Texas and potentially visit the state, which is struggling with massive power outages from severe winter weather.

February 19, 2021

Unspent billions fuel frustration over closed schools, Biden’s pricey relief package

Just $6 billion of the nearly $130 billion earmarked for K-12 schools in President Biden's coronavirus relief package is slated to go out the door before October, according to Congress' official budget scorekeeper. And most of the $113 billion for schools from previous relief packages hasn't been spent yet.

February 18, 2021

Andy Biggs urges Joe Biden to ‘follow the science,’ revise guidance on school openings

Rep. Andy Biggs, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, urged President Biden on Thursday to "follow the science" and encourage the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to revise its guidelines so schools can reopen for in-person learning immediately.

February 18, 2021

Biden set to announce $4 billion for global vaccine distribution efforts

President Biden plans to announce on Friday that the United States will commit to $4 billion in funding for global efforts to distribute coronavirus vaccines to poorer countries.

February 18, 2021

White House dismisses GOP messaging on reopening schools

White House press secretary Jen Psaki tried to shrug off Republicans' fingering the Biden administration as a prime culprit for schools struggling with reopening plans during the coronavirus pandemic.

February 18, 2021

Joe Biden pushes Michigan trip to Pfizer facility to Friday

President Biden is pushing a planned Thursday trip to a Pfizer facility in Michigan back a day with an expected winter storm brewing in the Washington, D.C., region.

February 17, 2021

Small businesses seek alternatives to $15 minimum wage hike

Small business owners nervous about President Biden's push to hike the minimum wage are pitching their own market-driven alternatives to a one-size-fits-all federal mandate.

February 17, 2021

Biden talks with Israel’s Netanyahu for first time as president

President Biden on Wednesday spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since Mr. Biden was sworn into office last month.

February 17, 2021

Joe Biden on canceling student loan debt: ‘I will not make that happen’

President Biden said Tuesday he won't take executive action to cancel $50,000 worth of student debt per borrower but suggested he would consider doing so for a lesser amount.

February 16, 2021

Joe Biden touts inspectors general as key for small business relief

President Biden said Tuesday that small businesses looking for additional relief need more watchdogs to ensure that the money is going to the people who actually need it.

February 16, 2021

Joe Biden coronavirus relief package is overkill, strong state finances suggest

States' finances are roaring back compared to the dire forecasts in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic, lending ammunition to critics who say the $350 billion-plus for states and localities in President Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package is overkill.

February 16, 2021

Steven Mnuchin: ‘We need to spend what we need to spend’ on COVID-19 relief

Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday that the coronavirus pandemic is so unique that he adopted a "spend whatever it takes" attitude on combating the worst of the public health crisis and associated economic fallout.

February 16, 2021

Biden administration extends ban on foreclosures for federally-backed mortgages

The White House on Tuesday said the Biden administration is extending a moratorium on foreclosures for people with federally-backed mortgages through June 30.

February 16, 2021

Biden stimulus plan transforms tipped workers wage

President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package would completely overhaul how tipped workers are paid with a restaurant industry struggling to claw its way back from COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns.

February 14, 2021

White House spokesman TJ Ducklo resigns after threatening reporter

TJ Ducklo, a deputy press secretary at the White House, resigned on Saturday over an incident in which he threatened a Politico reporter.

February 13, 2021

Joe Biden on Trump acquittal: ‘Substance of the charge is not in dispute’

President Biden said Saturday evening that the "substance" of the charge against former President Donald Trump isn't in dispute even though the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Mr. Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

February 13, 2021

Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas gov: ‘Poor precedent’ to pass $1.9T relief package on ‘partisan vote’

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson emerged from a meeting with President Biden at the White House Friday to say Mr. Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package is too expensive and that Democrats are erring by pushing forward without Republican support.

February 12, 2021

Kyrsten Sinema opposes raising minimum wage in reconciliation bill

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona Democrat, said in a new interview that she opposes including a hike in the federal minimum wage to $15-per-hour under the fast-track budget process Democrats are using to pass President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

February 12, 2021