Stopgap funding bill passes Senate

Stopgap funding bill passes Senate-rollcall:  The Senate passed a short-term spending measure Thursday, sending to the House a bill that would avoid a partial government shutdown next week and boost aid to Ukraine.

As Ian batters Florida, Puerto Ricans fear being forgotten

As Ian batters Florida, Puerto Ricans fear being forgotten-politico:  Puerto Ricans still trying to recover from Hurricane Fiona have a plea for the Biden administration: Don’t forget about us.

How One California Town Survived Covid Better Than the Rest

How One California Town Survived Covid Better Than the Rest-politico:  In the summer of 2020, this rural college town near Sacramento was on edge. Thousands of college students who had been sent home during the Covid-19 pandemic’s early days were about to return, flying in to the University of California, Davis campus from all over the world and potentially turning the reopening into a superspreader event.

After funding tech research, lawmakers look at risk of theft

After funding tech research, lawmakers look at risk of theft-After passing legislation that could pump almost $250 billion into cutting-edge scientific research and semiconductor manufacturing, lawmakers are turning their attention to protecting the fruits of that spending from theft by America’s rivals, particularly China.

Pollsters fear they’re blowing it again in 2022

Pollsters fear they’re blowing it again in 2022-politico:  Pollsters know they have a problem. But they aren’t sure they’ve fixed it in time for the November election.

Congress is about to lose its science guy

Congress is about to lose its science guy-rollcall:  Jerry McNerney likes to think about what’s next. The mathematics Ph.D. and former engineer co-chairs the Artificial Intelligence Caucus and has spent a lot of his 16 years in Congress focused on cutting-edge science topics.

The third rail Republicans can’t stop touching

The third rail Republicans can’t stop touching-politico:  For two decades, campaign after campaign, Republican politicians have floated the idea of privatizing government entitlement programs including Social Security and Medicare. And campaign after campaign — from Paul Ryan to George W. Bush — it’s been a loser.

Midterm elections could set another turnout record this year

Midterm elections could set another turnout record this year-rollcall: In a rare moment of unity, Republicans and Democrats are poised to come together to set yet another turnout record in the 2022 elections.

Fiona’s outages rekindle anger over Puerto Rico’s privatized electric grid

Fiona’s outages rekindle anger over Puerto Rico’s privatized electric grid-politico:  Puerto Rico residents’ anger and frustration at the state of their crumbling electric grid was building long before Hurricane Fiona triggered an island-wide blackout Sunday.

Surgery needs a new pay model, free from incentives to do more procedures

Surgery needs a new pay model, free from incentives to do more procedures-statopinion:  How will my surgeon get paid? That’s a question few people ask as they think about having surgery. But it is worth asking, and the answer should factor into decision-making.

Yellen defends IRS cash infusion, plugs customer service plans

Yellen defends IRS cash infusion, plugs customer service plans-rollcall:  The IRS will use part of its new $80 billion influx of cash to fully staff in-person help centers, increase phone and online services and assemble a team of experts to guide the agency’s customer service efforts, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen announced Thursday.

Rail unions, carriers reach compromise day of strike deadline

Rail unions, carriers reach compromise day of strike deadline-politico:  The heads of 13 rail unions and the nation’s largest freight rail carriers reached a tentative agreement early Thursday morning, less than 24 hours before workers would have gained the ability to walk off the job.

Senate Democrats say buy now, pay later products lack oversight

Senate Democrats say buy now, pay later products lack oversight-rollcall:  Senate Banking Democrats see the specter of the 2008 financial crisis in emerging technology-based lending products that lack the consumer protections applied to traditional forms of credit, including buy now, pay later services.

What to watch in the last primaries: A Senate GOP brawl and a Dem governor in peril

What to watch in the last primaries: A Senate GOP brawl and a Dem governor in peril-politico:  Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan’s reelection campaign could be one of November’s most competitive races — but that depends on who wins Tuesday’s Republican primary in New Hampshire, the last nominating contest left in the battle to swing the 50-50 Senate.

Regulatory oversight nominee made a career studying regulation

Regulatory oversight nominee made a career studying regulation-rollcall:  President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the White House’s regulatory office possesses a background in environmental law, has written extensively on federal regulations and has drawn support from peers who served under Democratic and Republican administrations.

Doctors lobby Congress for Medicare payment bump, again

Doctors lobby Congress for Medicare payment bump, again-rollcall:  Doctors are again ramping up what has become a perennial lobbying campaign to urge Congress to increase Medicare payments in order to offset cuts scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.

Senate leans toward Dec. 16 stopgap funding bill

Senate leans toward Dec. 16 stopgap funding bill-rollcall:  Senate leaders appear to be on board with an interim spending measure that will keep the government operating until Dec. 16, which is also the preferred expiration date for House Democrats as they prep a continuing resolution for a vote as soon as next week.

Stopgap funding bill set to dominate September agenda

Stopgap funding bill set to dominate September agenda-rollcall:  Lawmakers return to Washington this month to wrestle with a White House request for $47.1 billion in emergency supplemental funds and the need to pass a stopgap spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown starting October 1.

White House $47B supplemental request seeks COVID, Ukraine funding

White House $47B supplemental request seeks COVID, Ukraine funding-rollcall:  The Biden administration is seeking tens of billions of dollars in emergency funds as part of the upcoming short-term spending bill lawmakers will take up this month, ranging from more military aid to Ukraine to heating and cooling assistance for low-income households.