Economy
U.S. House Democrats and advocates push for additional federal child care funding
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democratic leaders on Wednesday called on Congress to pass President Joe Biden’s $16 billion supplemental child care funding request. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts gathered with child care activists and other House Democrats at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Child […]
Sibayne-Stillwater lays off 100 miners in the wake of slumping metal prices
Citing a 50% drop in the market price of palladium, Sibanye-Stillwater Mining, which has large operations near Columbus, said this week it’s cutting more than 100 jobs. A union representative confirmed that 88 jobs were being eliminated by the mine and that the U.S. Steelworkers as well as the AFL-CIO were on site, helping to […]
Montana Freedom Caucus asks for poll of Legislature for special session on taxes
The Montana Freedom Caucus on Monday asked the Secretary of State to poll legislators in an attempt to force a special session of the Legislature – in part to address the statewide increase in property taxes that lawmakers failed to address this past spring. But the ongoing spat about who is responsible for the steep […]
Montana reaches two years of unemployment rates below 3%
With an unemployment rate of 2.8% in October, up from 2.7% last month, Montana has now seen two straight years of rates under 3%. The governor’s office and Department of Labor and Industry continue to laud the low seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, as it had only been below 3% on three occasions beforehand since the […]
Congress sends stopgap spending bill to Biden’s desk, averting shutdown for now
WASHINGTON — U.S. senators voted 87-11 to approve legislation Wednesday that would fund the government into next year, clearing the measure for President Joe Biden’s signature. The stopgap spending bill, sometimes called a continuing resolution or CR, would fund part of the government until mid-January and the rest of the programs within the annual appropriations […]
Attempt to kill Biden student debt relief plan tied to income fails in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday night failed to garner enough votes to block a new Biden administration rule on an income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans. The resolution did not pass, 49-50. Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia was the sole Democrat who joined Republicans in backing the resolution. Sen. Tim […]
U.S. House passes stopgap spending bill in bipartisan vote, in crucial test for new speaker
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House took a broadly bipartisan vote Tuesday to fund the government into the new year, though the measure must pass the Senate by the end of the week if Congress is going to avoid a partial government shutdown. The 336-95 House vote was the first major legislative test for Speaker Mike […]
Judge temporarily blocks cumulative fee hike for Montana marijuana dispensaries
A district court judge last week granted a 60-day preliminary injunction blocking the State of Montana from assessing and collecting increased fees from businesses that operate multiple marijuana dispensaries across the state – changes passed by the legislature this year in the final days of the session. The state and attorneys for three Montana marijuana […]
Congress nears another government shutdown deadline on Friday at midnight
WASHINGTON — Congress on Monday appeared to be on the edge of approving another short-term government funding bill this week, though several hurdles remain if lawmakers want to stave off a partial government shutdown when the current funding law expires at the end of the week. Democratic leaders and President Joe Biden expressed some skepticism […]
Smaller employer weigh a big-company fix for scare primary care — their own clinics
With his company’s health costs soaring and his workers struggling with high blood pressure and other medical conditions, Winston Griffin, CEO of Laurel Grocery Co., knew his company had to do something. So the London, Kentucky, wholesaler opened a health clinic. “Our margins are tiny, so every expense is important,” Griffin said. The clinic, he […]
Residents of Midwest, Mountain West see biggest pay bumps
Residents of some Midwestern and Mountain states gained the most income per capita during the past four years, a Stateline analysis shows, as competition for workers drove up wages in relatively affordable places to live. With the COVID-19 pandemic now in the nation’s rearview mirror, Stateline’s analysis offers a more complete understanding of how some […]
Spending mess in Congress could arch over into pivotal 2024 election year
WASHINGTON — Congress will need to pass a second stopgap funding measure before Thanksgiving if lawmakers want to avoid a government shutdown, though pushing off final decisions on full-year spending bills until next year would put lawmakers smack dab in the middle of what’s expected to be a contentious 2024 primary season. During election years, […]