David Sherfinski

Thomas Brandon, head of ATF, to retire at end of April

The head of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives will retire at the end of April, handing the long-beleaguered agency some fresh uncertainty after nearly four years as its acting director.

April 4, 2019

House Budget Committee approves Democrats’ plan to boost spending caps by more than $350 billion

Democrats overcame criticism from their left wing and pushed a new budget deal through committee Wednesday that would increase spending by $350 billion over what the law currently allows.

April 3, 2019

Democrats budget deal boosts spending caps by $350 billion

Democrats overcame criticism from their left wing and pushed a new budget deal through committee Wednesday that would increase spending by $350 billion over what the law currently allows.

April 3, 2019

Richard Shelby says disaster relief package from Senate Democrats likely to fail

Senate Democrats on Tuesday released a new $16.7 billion disaster relief package, after the Senate had blocked competing plans to assist victims of recent hurricanes, floods, and wildfires a day earlier amid a standoff over how much money to give Puerto Rico to recover from 2017 hurricanes.

April 2, 2019

House Democrats’ budget plan boosts spending caps by more than $350 billion over two years

House Democrats on Tuesday offered their opening bid in new spending talks, calling for a $350 billion increase in spending in 2020 and 2021 over the levels Congress imposed on itself earlier this decade.

April 2, 2019

John Yarmuth, House Democrats surrender on 2020 budget resolution

House Democrats on Monday officially pulled the plug on taking up a 2020 budget resolution, announcing that they'll instead consider legislation this week to increase discretionary spending caps that are set to ratchet back down in 2020.

April 1, 2019

Senate fails to advance disaster relief package

The Senate hit a stalemate Monday on legislation to speed disaster-relief money to victims of hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding, with lawmakers ending up in a partisan fight over how much money should be allocated to Puerto Rico.

April 1, 2019

Federal appeals court upholds Trump administration’s bump stock ban

A federal appeals court in D.C. on Monday ruled that a lower court was correct in denying a preliminary injunction that would have blocked the Trump administration's ban on bump stock-type devices.

April 1, 2019

Donald Trump flip-flops on 2 budget items baffle, vex experts

President Trump has now reversed his own budget team on two high-profile cuts, leaving budget experts scratching their heads over the disconnect between the chief executive and the blueprint he signed his name to.

March 31, 2019

Senate Budget Committee votes to advance 2020 budget plan

The Senate Budget Committee signed off Thursday on a plan to trim federal spending over the next five years, aiming to hold annual deficits to below $1 trillion.

March 28, 2019

Supreme Court won’t stop enforcement of bump stock ban

The Supreme Court left in place the Trump administration's new ban on bump-stock firearms devices, moving Thursday to reject attempts to halt the policy by gun-rights groups who said their Second Amendment rights were being prematurely stripped.

March 28, 2019

John Yarmuth: House Democrats unlikely to pass budget

It's looking increasingly unlikely House Democrats will be able to pass a budget this year, with leaders saying they're weighing other options to try to frame the 2020 spending debate.

March 27, 2019

Senate moves forward on disaster relief package

The Senate voted Tuesday to move forward on a relief package to aid states and territories ravaged by hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters over the past two years.

March 26, 2019

Ric Bradshaw, Florida sheriff: ‘Red flag’ law ‘absolutely’ would have made difference in Parkland

Key senators on Tuesday voiced support for legislation that would incentivize states to develop "red flag" laws that allow courts to suspend the gun rights of potentially dangerous people.

March 26, 2019

Jose Serrano announces he has Parkinson’s, won’t seek re-election in 2020

Rep. Jose Serrano on Monday announced he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and won't seek re-election in 2020.

March 25, 2019

Tom Udall won’t seek re-election in 2020

Sen. Tom Udall, New Mexico Democrat, on Monday announced that he won't seek re-election to a third term in the U.S. Senate next year.

March 25, 2019

Attorneys for gun groups ask appeals court to expand stay in bump stock case

Gun-rights advocates mounted a last-ditch effort Monday to block a federal ban on bump stock-type devices from going into effect Tuesday, saying owners of the devices should be given a temporary reprieve to avoid waking up in violation of federal law.

March 25, 2019

Mike Enzi’s 2020 budget plan attempts to tame federal deficits

The Senate Budget Committee will take up Chairman Mike Enzi's 2020 budget proposal this week, as lawmakers hunt for new ways to turn around a bleak U.S. fiscal picture that just saw the government post its worst monthly deficit ever.

March 24, 2019

William L. Akins, Akins Accelerator bump stock inventor, warns owners against waiving rights

One of the pioneers of bump stock devices is warning owners not to turn them over to the federal government thoughtlessly ahead of this week's deadline for doing so under new rules outlawing them.

March 24, 2019

Treasury Department expands penalty relief for tax underpayments

The Treasury Department on Friday announced it will expand relief for taxpayers who might be facing penalties for not paying enough in taxes this filing season.

March 22, 2019