California has a staggering $75.7B budget surplus

California has a staggering $75.7B budget surplus-politico:  California expects a staggering $75.7 billion surplus despite a year of pandemic closures — an amount that surpasses most states' annual spending and prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday to propose sending cash back to residents as he faces a recall election.

Chuck Grassley is the 80-something everyone's waiting on

Chuck Grassley is the 80-something everyone's waiting on-politico:  Chuck Grassley still gets up at 4 a.m. every day and often goes for a 2-mile run. The 87-year-old does push-ups, too.  “You want me to do 35 for you?” he responded when asked about his regimen as he waited for a burger at Bambino’s, a haunt in this town of about 800 people.

Frontline, farm-state Democrats push back against Biden tax plan

Frontline, farm-state Democrats push back against Biden tax plan-rollcall: A group of 13 House Democrats, led by Iowa’s Cindy Axne and California’s Jim Costa, is pressing party leaders to exempt family farms from a tax increase President Joe Biden has proposed on inherited assets to help pay for new child care, education and other spending.

Biden urges at least 70 percent of US adults to get first shot by July 4

Biden urges at least 70 percent of US adults to get first shot by July 4-rollcall: President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he wants 70 percent of American adults to receive at least one COVID-19 vaccination and more than half of U.S. adults to be fully vaccinated by the Fourth of July.

GOP’s earmark schism evident in ‘earmark’ disclosures

GOP’s earmark schism evident in ‘earmark’ disclosures-rollcall:  Second-term Florida Rep. Greg Steube sums up Republicans’ soul-searching when it comes to earmarking federal dollars for their home states and districts.

Allies of GOP leader vow to oust Liz Cheney

Allies of GOP leader vow to oust Liz Cheney-politico:  Top allies of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are vowing to oust Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), one of the harshest critics of former President Trump in either party, from her leadership post by the end of the month.

Biden is talking to Republicans, but for only so long

Biden is talking to Republicans, but for only so long-politico:  As vice president, Joe Biden was among those repeatedly pushing President Barack Obama to negotiate with Republicans on everything from health care to fiscal crises — even if it led to delays, watered-down policies or nothing at all.