David Sherfinski
Articles by David Sherfinski
Budget writers blame lawmaker apathy for delays
They're already six weeks behind the legal deadline and congressional budget writers are not much closer to getting a 2019 budget written, saying their colleagues are apathetic about the process. Published May 28, 2018
Kim Jong-un commits to North Korea denuclearization as U.S. delegation arrives
Amid renewed hope Sunday that a summit next month between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will actually happen, South Korea's president said that Mr. Kim committed over the weekend to a denuclearization of the peninsula and said he wants to work toward peace. Published May 27, 2018
Josh Holt return to U.S. from Venezuelan prison hailed by U.S. lawmakers
U.S. lawmakers are hailing the return of Josh Holt, who arrived back in the United States over the weekend after being held in a Venezuelan prison for nearly two years without a trial. Published May 27, 2018
Chris Coons: Trump must pressure China ahead of N. Korea talks
Sen. Chris Coons on Sunday said President Trump needs to be using "every ounce of leverage" the U.S. has over China amid talk that a planned summit with Mr. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could proceed next month. Published May 27, 2018
Roy Blunt, Missouri senator, on North Korea: Visible results before U.S. creates any ‘benefits’
Sen. Roy Blunt said Sunday that potential talks with North Korea can produce results, but all sides need to be on the same page before a meeting takes place between President Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. Published May 27, 2018
Rep. Mark Meadows, N.C. Republican: ‘No question’ a ‘spy’ collected info during 2016 campaign
Rep. Mark Meadows said Sunday there's "no question" there was a "spy" collecting information during the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. Published May 27, 2018
Jeff Flake, Arizona Republican senator, doesn’t rule out 2020 primary challenge to President Trump
Sen. Jeff Flake on Sunday did not rule out launching a Republican primary challenge to President Trump in 2020. Published May 27, 2018
Rudy Giuliani: Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation is ‘rigged,’ no longer legitimate
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, the public face of President Trump's legal team, said Sunday that Robert Mueller's probe into Russian ties to the president's 2016 campaign is "rigged" and that he no longer sees it as legitimate. Published May 27, 2018
Marco Rubio, Florida Republican senator: I don’t think Kim Jong-un will denuclearize
Sen. Marco Rubio doesn't think North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will ultimately agree to get rid of his country's nuclear capabilities. Published May 27, 2018
Treasury Department warns states over tax law workarounds
The Treasury Department warned states Wednesday to tread carefully as they consider gimmicks to try to let their wealthier taxpayers avoid higher bills under the new federal tax law. Published May 23, 2018
Spending bill showdown in Congress looms despite promises
Congress is already signaling it may miss this year's deadline for getting all of its spending bills done, setting up the possibility of a shutdown showdown at the height of the midterm election campaign. Published May 22, 2018
Students safer in school than out despite shootings, statistics show
President Obama's education secretary urged parents Monday to pull their children out of school to demand increased safety, but statistics show children are far safer in the classroom than out of it. Published May 21, 2018
Farm bill, immigration in limbo after GOP link
House conservatives flexed their legislative muscle last week in helping defeat the farm bill that Republican leaders had been desperate to pass -- but even leading members of the right-wing rebellion said they are not sure what happens now. Published May 20, 2018
House votes down $868 billion farm bill
The House on Friday voted down Republicans' $868 billion farm bill, dealing GOP leaders a notable defeat after negotiations over a separate immigration issue hit an impasse. Published May 18, 2018
House conservatives believe they have numbers to delay farm-bill vote
House Republicans hit major obstacles Thursday in their push to pass an $868 billion farm bill as conservatives threatened to derail the legislation unless leaders agreed to hold a vote on an enforcement-heavy immigration bill. Published May 17, 2018
Mike Conaway, House ag committee chairman: We’re ‘close’ on rounding up votes for farm bill
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway said Wednesday he was still rounding up votes for the 2018 farm bill and that he told his fellow Republicans they'll need to carry the bulk of the load amid near-unified Democratic opposition. Published May 16, 2018
GOP senators pitch working through August recess on nominees, spending bills
Sixteen Republican senators are petitioning their leaders to work longer hours, over weekends and even through this year's planned August recess to clear a backlog of presidential nominations and head off potential spending battles ahead of the next funding deadline at the end of September. Published May 15, 2018
Record number of gun purchase checks ran last month
The government processed more than 2.2 million gun purchase background checks last month, setting an all-time record for April, as the consumer response to the Florida school shooting and subsequent push for new gun controls takes hold. Published May 14, 2018
Nancy Pelosi: Republicans are losing public relations battle on tax law
Voters are ready to punish Republicans for the new tax cut package, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi predicted Thursday, doubling down on her suggestion earlier this week that Democrats will try to roll back some of the tax cuts if they win a congressional majority in November's elections. Published May 10, 2018
Jeff Flake: I would not support ‘show vote’ to make individual tax cuts permanent
Sen. Jeff Flake said Thursday that Congress doesn't have the votes to permanently extend the individual tax cuts in the GOP's $1.5 trillion tax law and that he would not support such a "show vote" he sees as "an election maneuver." Published May 10, 2018