State and Local

Budget Battles

  • Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) arrives at Democratic Party caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/ File Photo

    Factbox: What happens in a U.S. government shutdown?

    By Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker, Reuters

    In shutdowns, nonessential government employees are furloughed, or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety and national security, keep...

  • FILE PHOTO: A pharmacist holds prescription painkiller OxyContin at a local pharmacy in Provo

    Delaware Sues Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors Over Epidemic

    By Nate Raymond, Reuters

    (Reuters) - Delaware on Friday became the latest state to file a lawsuit accusing corporations of helping fuel the national opioid epidemic, suing a wide range of companies involved in making,...

  • FILE PHOTO - Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin listens as U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a tax reform industry meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

    Trump Tries to Sell Tax Reform to Democrats

    By David Morgan, Reuters

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump intensified his efforts to sell Democrats on his tax reform plan on Wednesday even as Senate Republicans edged closer to passing a budget measure that...

  • FILE PHOTO: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson (L) listens to Representative Tom Marino (R-PA) (R) before a House Judiciary committee hearing on the 'Oversight of the US Department of Homeland Security' on Capitol Hill in Washington July 14, 20

    Trump's drug czar nominee withdraws from consideration

    By Sarah N. Lynch and Makini Brice, Reuters

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. lawmaker who was President Donald Trump's pick for drug czar withdrew on Tuesday after a report he spearheaded a bill that hurt the government's ability to crack down...

  • U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran nuclear deal in the Diplomatic Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., October 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

    Senate Republicans Gain Crucial Support for Budget Vital to Tax Reform

    By David Morgan, Reuters

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans on Monday gained crucial support for a vote on a budget resolution that is vital to President Donald Trump's hopes of signing sweeping tax reform...

  • Extreme Weather Exposes Serious City Flaws

    By John Rennie Short, The Conversation

    Despite the Patriots winning the Super Bowl, January and February were not kind months for the people of Boston and New England. By February 10th, more than 60 inches of snow in 30 days fell on the...

  • Cost to Postal Service of Its ‘Rude’ Workers: $300 Million

    By Eric Katz, Government Executive

    “Rude” employees at U.S. Postal Service locations could cost the cash-strapped agency nearly $300 million in fiscal 2015, according to a report. The USPS inspector general said in an audit released...

  • Kansas Weighs Risky Bet to Cover Its Pension Needs

    By Rob Garver

    Struggling with lower-than-expected revenues after Gov. Sam Brownback pushed for sharp tax cuts, Kansas has been having trouble meeting its funding needs. Its new plan to shore up the employee...

  • Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush speaks during a conference on education at Intercontinental hotel in Tegucigalpa August 22, 2011.

    Why Jeb Bush Spent 30 Hours a Week Answering Emails

    By Bill Cotterell, Reuters

    Republican Jeb Bush on Tuesday released emails from his time as Florida governor ahead of a visit to the state capital to raise money and showcase education reforms he started in an effort to burnish...

  • Preparing for an audit? Don't panic. The news might not be as bad as you think.

    Desperate IRS Rehires 300 Poor Performers

    By Charles Clark, Government Executive

    In its quest for tax expertise, the Internal Revenue Service in recent years has rehired more than 300 past employees who had been forced out or left while under investigation for performance or...