David Sherfinski

Andrew Cuomo demands wealthy pay more, less in taxes in coronavirus relief

As Congress signed off on means-testing coronavirus relief, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo demanded Thursday that lawmakers restore a tax break that primarily benefits middle- and upper-income residents in New York and other blue, high-tax jurisdictions.

February 4, 2021

White House: Minimum wage hike is in the hands of Congress

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Congress will ultimately determine whether lawmakers can increase the federal minimum wage to $15-per-hour through the budget process.

February 4, 2021

Jared Bernstein: Congress could pass relief package before Senate takes up impeachment

Jared Bernstein, a top economic adviser to President Biden, said Thursday that he believes Congress can pass Mr. Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus package before the Senate takes up former President Trump's impeachment.

February 4, 2021

Joe Biden tells National Prayer Breakfast in video: Americans can turn to faith in ‘dark, dark time’

President Biden said Thursday that Americans can turn to faith in these troubled times and also vowed to tackle "political extremism" and "white supremacy" after the recent attack on the U.S. Capitol.

February 4, 2021

Joe Biden $1,400 checks demand defies economists, boosts Democrats

President Biden held firm Wednesday on his demand for direct payments of up to $1,400 to millions of Americans in any coronavirus package, bolstering Democrats' negotiating hand on Capitol Hill but defying economists who said the cash isn't the best way to stimulate the economy.

February 3, 2021

Space Force has full support of Biden administration: White House

The Space Force "absolutely" has the full support of President Biden's administration, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday.

February 3, 2021

Joe Biden predicts Republican support for coronavirus relief package

President Biden said Wednesday that he thinks at least a few congressional Republicans will support the next round of coronavirus relief legislation as negotiations continue on Capitol Hill.

February 3, 2021

Joe Biden: No family members will be involved in ‘any government undertaking’

President Biden said in a new interview that no members of his family or extended family will get a White House office or be involved in government business.

February 3, 2021

White House tries to clean up after scoffing at Space Force question

White House press secretary Jen Psaki tried to play clean up and affirmed the White House's support for the Space Force on Tuesday after shrugging off a question about it earlier in the day.

February 3, 2021

Racial justice dominates Joe Biden presidency’s first days

President Biden on Wednesday said "environmental justice" for people of color will be a central feature of his efforts to combat climate change, again putting skin color and racial justice front and center in his early policy and personnel decisions.

January 27, 2021

Joe Biden has first call with Vladimir Putin since taking office

President Biden spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, marking the first time the two leaders have spoken since Mr. Biden took office last week.

January 26, 2021

Joe Biden to wind down federal contracts with private prisons as part of ‘racial equity agenda’

President Biden took executive action Tuesday to end federal contracts with privately run prisons as part of several moves to advance his government-wide agenda of promoting "racial equity."

January 26, 2021

Bernie Sanders: We’re not going to negotiate against ourselves on $1.9T plan

Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont, the soon-to-be chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, says Democrats aren't going to negotiate against themselves in talks over President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal.

January 26, 2021

Joe Biden coronavirus relief package meets Democrats criticism

The White House insisted Monday that negotiations over President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package are proceeding as planned, even as prospects for bipartisan support dwindled and critics raised concerns about the price tag.

January 25, 2021

Janet Yellen confirmed by Senate as treasury secretary

The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Janet Yellen as the next treasury secretary on Monday, which will give President Biden another member of his team he says he needs in place right away.

January 25, 2021

Biden says he doesn’t want to ‘cherry-pick’ individual items in $1.9 trillion package

President Biden said Monday he doesn't want to pick and choose individual items to prioritize in his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal, saying that everything in it adds up to a cohesive package.

January 25, 2021

Biden signs executive order intended to promote ‘Buy American’ in federal procurement

President Biden signed an executive order on Monday intended to strengthen and codify existing "Buy American" requirements in the federal procurement process.

January 25, 2021

Tim Kaine eyes 14th Amendment as impeachment alternative

Republicans are presenting a largely unified front as the Senate prepares to kick off a second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, with a growing number saying they don't believe the Constitution envisioned pursuing conviction of someone already out of office.

January 24, 2021

Two NLRB leaders get fired, Joe Biden promotes union organizing

President Biden is quickly making good on his vow to be the most "pro-union" president in U.S. history, firing Trump appointees perceived as hostile to labor and making it official U.S. policy to promote union organizing and collective bargaining.

January 24, 2021

Joe Biden to impose travel ban on people coming from South Africa, Europe, Brazil

President Biden plans to impose new restrictions Monday on people traveling to the U.S. from South Africa and reimpose travel restrictions covering much of Europe and Brazil that former President Donald Trump had moved to lift.

January 24, 2021