David Sherfinski
Articles by David Sherfinski
IRS to issue tax refunds despite government shutdown, Trump administration says
The IRS will send out tax refunds during the government shutdown, the Trump administration said Monday. "Tax refunds will go out," said Russell Vought, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget. Published January 7, 2019
Donald Trump: ‘National emergency’ lets military build border wall
President Trump said Sunday that he is considering declaring border security a national emergency and triggering presidential powers that would allow him to assign the military to build his border wall, and he promised a decision based on how shutdown negotiations go. Published January 6, 2019
Shutdown stretches into third week; no end in sight
The White House and key lawmakers said Sunday that they don't foresee a quick end to a partial government shutdown that has now entered its third week, with both sides unwilling to budge in a standoff over money for President Trump's desired U.S.-Mexico border wall. Published January 6, 2019
Steny Hoyer dismisses Trump impeachment ‘distraction’: ‘That’s not what we’re focused on’
Top House Democrats said Sunday that impeaching President Trump isn't at the top of their priority list, even as some of their members say Congress needs to take a stand by formally bringing charges against the president. Published January 6, 2019
Lindsey Graham: Donald Trump firm on border wall money demand
Sen. Lindsey Graham said that after speaking with President Trump this weekend, it's clear Mr. Trump is holding firm in his demands for border wall money as part of a deal to end a partial government shutdown. Published January 6, 2019
Richard Durbin: Donald Trump ‘doesn’t care’ about government shutdown consequences
Sen. Richard Durbin, Illinois Democrat, said Sunday that he doesn't see a quick end to the partial government shutdown and that President Trump "doesn't care" about the consequences. Published January 6, 2019
Susan Collins supports taking up House-passed bills to end government shutdown
Sen. Susan Collins on Sunday said she would support taking up House-passed legislation that would reopen shuttered federal departments, saying government shutdowns are "never good policy." Published January 6, 2019
Adam Smith: Donald Trump border wall emergency declaration ‘wide open’ to court challenge
Rep. Adam Smith, the new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said that while President Trump could theoretically declare a national emergency to get a U.S.-Mexico border wall built, such a move would be a terrible use of federal money and be ripe for legal challenges. Published January 6, 2019
House Democrats to pass individual spending bills as next government shutdown gambit
House Democrats plan to start passing individual spending bills this week, starting with one that funds the IRS, to try to pressure congressional Republicans and the White House amid the ongoing partial government shutdown. Published January 6, 2019
Mick Mulvaney expects government shutdown to ‘drag on a lot longer’
Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney says he hopes more progress can be made Sunday in negotiations on how to end a partial government shutdown, but indicated that the two sides are still far apart on the issue of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. Published January 6, 2019
Republicans relinquish Congress with whimper: ‘More missed opportunities than anything’
Republicans closed out two years of control over the political branches of Washington on Thursday with a whimper, leaving a government still in partial shutdown and a long list of priorities left undone. Published January 3, 2019
House adopts Democrats’ new rules package for 116th Congress
The House on Thursday voted to adopt Democrats' new rules for the chamber in the 116th Congress, including provisions intended to head off thorny debt ceiling battles, repeal tax cut-friendly budgeting, and reinstate "pay-as-you-go" rules opposed by some liberals. Published January 3, 2019
Nancy Pelosi elected speaker of the House for 116th Congress
Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the reins of power again Thursday as House members elected her to lead them in the 116th Congress, ushering in an era of Democratic control and creating a new check on President Trump. Published January 3, 2019
‘Pay-go’ rule a ‘handcuff’ on Democrats’ House majority, liberals say
House Democratic leaders' plans to impose new budget rules as they take over the chamber Thursday already are running into trouble on Capitol Hill, where liberals say they fear the "pay-as-you-go" restrictions could sink their chances of government-run health care. Published January 2, 2019
House Democrats roll out rules package for new Congress
House leaders have announced a package of new chamber rules they plan to pass once the new Congress is sworn on Thursday that Democrats say are designed to boost transparency, promote input from rank-and-file members and help defuse perennial standoffs over issues like the debt ceiling. Published January 2, 2019
Virginia GOP grapples with state’s rapid shift to blue
They won all three top state offices in 2017, captured three House seats and held a Senate seat in 2018 -- and now Virginia Democrats say they're poised to gain control of the state legislature for the first time in two decades. Published January 1, 2019
Trump tax cut foiled by Virginia itemized deduction rule
States across the country are grappling with similar issues, as most saw a bump in their revenue in the first year under the new federal tax code. Published December 31, 2018
Unclear if security efforts, grant money helping student safety after Parkland tragedy
Ten months after the Parkland school shooting and nine months after Congress acted, federal money is flowing to states to boost school security and new records are pouring in to the national background check system. Published December 31, 2018
Stores increasing age requirement to buy guns raises legal questions
The last year saw a major surge in attempts to raise the minimum age for gun purchases, raising legal questions that have yet to be firmly answered. Published December 30, 2018
3D-printed gun plans’ restriction faces growing resistance
Blueprints for making plastic firearms using 3D-printers are testing the limits of gun control. Published December 25, 2018
