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WASHINGTON — The House has approved a bill to fund the Treasury Department, the IRS, and other agencies for the next year as part of a Democratic strategy to reopen the government on a piecemeal basis. The Democratic-controlled House voted 240-188 on Wednesday to approve the funding bill, which also would reopen the Federal Communications Commission, the Small Business Administration and the federal judiciary, among other agencies. Eight Republicans joined 232 Democrats to support the bill. House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey says taxpayers rely on the IRS to assist them in fi

SCOT LEHIGH In the absences of leadership, US senators have to take matters into their own hands.  Michael A.

SCOT LEHIGH In the absences of leadership, US senators have to take matters into their own hands.  Michael A.

SCOT LEHIGH In the absences of leadership, US senators have to take matters into their own hands.  Michael A.

SCOT LEHIGH In the absences of leadership, US senators have to take matters into their own hands.  Michael A.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was absent from the Supreme Court bench for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, raising concerns about whether her recent health scares will keep her off the bench for a prolonged period of time. Chief Justice John Roberts noted Ginsburg’s absence when the justices took their seats for oral arguments, repeating his remarks from Monday in which he said Ginsburg is “unable to be present” for the court’s sitting but will participate in the decisions using transcripts of the arguments and court briefs. The 85-year-old justice missed her first oral argument this week in

Trump previewed his remarks to a group of broadcast and cable-news anchors over a lunch of Caesar salad and chicken in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, but aides said he did not reveal any plans to take the controversial step of declaring a national emergency. Lawmakers have questioned the legality of such a move.

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MORE delivered the first Oval Office address of his White House tenure on Tuesday evening, amid an ongoing shutdown battle with Democrats over his proposed border wall. What were the main takeaways?   Trump did not shift the debate Some people close to the president had argued that a primetime televised address would be one way — perhaps the only way — to change the contours of the debate over the shutdown. That view implicitly recognizes that the White House is on the back foot, with little leverage and wi

MORE on Tuesday argued the U.S.