David Sherfinski

Mike Enzi, Senate Budget Committee chair, unveils 2020 budget blueprint

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi on Friday unveiled a federal budget for 2020 that includes some of President Trump's entitlement spending trims but ditches his defense spending gimmicks and rosy economic assumptions.

Federal gun background checks fall to lowest monthly level in four years

The number of federal gun background checks fell 12 percent in February to their lowest level for the month in four years, surprising industry analysts who said the numbers indicate the market hasn't completely shaken its "Trump slump."

Upcoming bump stock ban alarms gun groups

Gun-rights advocates are mounting a last-gasp push to block the Trump administration's bump-stock ban from taking effect Tuesday, saying hundreds of thousands of Americans could suddenly find themselves violating federal law absent action from the courts.

Trump administration’s budget calls for deeper spending cuts

Their proposed spending cuts last year didn't make much headway but the Trump administration remains unbowed, delivering details Monday of the new budget that calls for even deeper cuts to what they characterized as government fat.

In House, the budget becomes a battleground for Democrats

Democratic leaders say adopting an annual budget resolution is one of the most basic functions of government — yet they could well fail that test during their first year back in control of one of the chambers of Congress.

Court rules Sandy Hook lawsuit against Remington can proceed

The Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday said a lawsuit challenging how Remington marketed the rifle used in the December 2012 Newtown school shooting can proceed, overturning a lower court's outright dismissal of the case.

Steve Mnuchin endorses raising debt ceiling when Congress approves new spending

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday said Congress should agree to increase the nation's debt ceiling whenever lawmakers approve new spending.

Steven Mnuchin: ‘I will follow the law’ on any request for presidential tax returns

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday he will "follow the law" if Congress issues a request for any of President Trump's personal or business tax returns.

Thomas Brandon, ATF deputy director: Trump budget to strain agency further

The deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives broke with the White House on Wednesday over the administration's 2020 budget proposal, saying it would further hollow out an agency already straining for resources.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans happy with Donald Trump’s 2020 budget cuts

President Trump's budget has done the nearly unthinkable — it has united Republicans and Democrats in Congress, who said Tuesday that the $4.7 trillion plan is already in the dustbin and they're looking past it toward another two-year deal to increase spending caps.

Trump 2020 budget plan includes funding boost for military and border wall, cuts elsewhere

President Trump's $4.7 trillion budget proposal for fiscal 2020 aims to get the federal government toward balance over 15 years through major spending cuts and sustained economic growth while employing some gimmickry and markedly optimistic assumptions.

Donald Trump’s 2020 budget request to seek $8.6 billion for border wall

President Trump's 2020 budget request out Monday is set to include at least $8.6 billion in new money for border wall construction, as the White House and congressional Democrats gear up for another battle over the issue that helped precipitate the recent five-week government shutdown.

Donald Trump’s federal budget arriving without much fanfare

The president's budget no longer plays much of a practical role in the federal spending process, but all sides are still looking forward to Monday's release of his 2020 blueprint as an important political statement.

Larry Kudlow, White House economic adviser, foresees another budget fight over border wall

Larry Kudlow said President Trump's "tough" 2020 budget blueprint, due out Monday, could trigger a new fight over the his desired U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren: ‘Just wrong’ to label me a socialist

Democratic contenders for the party's 2020 presidential nomination are being forced to defend themselves as capitalists, amid calls from the far left for expansive government policies like Medicare-for-all and a Green New Deal.

Rep. Adam Schiff: Erik Prince not telling the truth about testimony to House intel committee

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff says that former Blackwater CEO Erik Prince did not disclose a meeting he attended at Trump Tower during the presidential campaign in his testimony to the committee -- contrary to recent comments from Mr. Prince.

Rep. Liz Cheney: Democratic leaders protecting Ilhan Omar with anti-hate resolution

Larry Kudlow, White House economic adviser, on widening trade deficit: ‘Neither good nor bad’

Larry Kudlow, a top economic adviser to President Trump, on Sunday characterized a widening U.S. trade deficit -- which included a record trade gap in goods of $891 billion last year -- as neither good nor bad.

IRS phone level of service drops below 50 percent so far in 2019 filing season

The IRS is answering fewer than half of taxpayers' phone calls so far this filing season and those who do get through are waiting longer to get answers at a time when taxpayers need them the most, the agency's national taxpayer advocate said Thursday.

Gene Dodaro, U.S. comptroller general: Congress should rethink approach to debt ceiling

The U.S. comptroller general told lawmakers Wednesday they should rethink how they deal with the nation's debt ceiling, suggesting that repeated fights and brinkmanship on the issue threaten the full faith and credit of the federal government.