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"WASHINGTON — House Republicans reached a tentative deal with the White House on Saturday night to address the nation’s borrowing limit and avoid a catastrophic default on U.S. sovereign debt."

President Trump on Friday sought to defend his decision earlier that day to end the ongoing partial government shutdown without getting funding for his long-desired border wall. “I wish people would read or listen to my words on the Border Wall. This was in no way a concession," Trump tweeted. "It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it’s off to the races!” Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump I wish people would read or listen to my words on the Border...

Whispers of "payback" are being directed at Hillary Clinton after she decried as "unprecedented" the surprise FBI revival of its probe of her email scandal. That's because 24 years ago, as former President George H.W. Bush was surging back against challenger Bill Clinton, a special prosecutor raised new charges against Bush in the Iran-Contra probe, prompting Clinton to claim he was running against a "culture of corruption."

<p>LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder and lawmakers will be forced to consider yet another alternative to address Michigan's deteriorating roads after voters' resounding rejection of a ballot measure that would have increased taxes to pump $1.2 billion a year more into transportation infrastructure.</p>

Americans deserve better. The Tea Party heads to Washington this week to make our voices heard and to submit the 150,000+ petitions to conservative leaders in Congress, demanding that there be no tax increases as a part of the fiscal cliff negotiations.

2008: “I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” --Candidate Barack Obama, Sept. 12, 2008 “No one making less than $250,000 under Barack Obama’s plan will see one single penny of their tax raised whether it’s their capital gains tax, their income tax, investment tax, any tax.” --Joe Biden, Vice-Presidential debate in St. Louis, Oct. 3, 2008 2012: “So if your family makes under $250,000 --...

The people of Berkeley have spoken loud and clear to city leaders: No new taxes. Even the famously left-leaning city has its limits, apparently. A recent poll of 430 residents likely to vote in the November election told city leaders they won't get the necessary two-thirds approval to raise property taxes to fund any of the $500 million needed to upgrade the city's infrastructure such as roads, swimming pools, storm drains and buildings. Residents' attitudes about the direction of the local economy weighed heavily on their answers to the $24,000 poll conducted in March, a pollster told City Council members...

In November of 2010 in Don’t be VAT stupid Herman Cain writes: ``A national retail sales tax on top of all the confusing and unfair taxes we have today is insane! It gives the out-of-control bureaucrats and politicians in denial one more tool to lie, deceive, manipulate and destroy this country.`` The fact is, Herman is now proposing a new tax, a national retail sales tax, in addition to taxing corporate profits and incomes, and also would tax the wages working people earn. Herman Cain essentially admitted in the above mentioned article his existing plan is ``insane!`` So, why do...

Indiana ends budget year with $1.2B surplus July 14, 2011, 6:47 pm EDT INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- After a year of spending cuts to state agencies and school districts, during which state workers were asked to do more than ever, Indiana released its final budget numbers for the fiscal year that showed it sitting on a $1.2 billion surplus. State Auditor Tim Berry called the state workers who bore most of those budget cuts via greater workloads, "heroes." "The surplus was built on the backs of state employees," said Berry, after he thanked them for tightening their belts. Republican Gov. Mitch...

"... It’s important that we not restrict the review or the recommendations that this commission comes up with in any way. Everything has to be on the table. And I just met briefly with the commission and said the same thing to them. Of course this means that all of you, our friends in the media, will ask me and others once a week, or once a day, about what we are willing to rule out or rule in when it comes to the recommendations of the commission. That’s an old Washington game…"

One more small detail they forgot to tell you about in the health care bill: Taxpayers earning less than $200,000 a year will pay roughly $3.9 billion more in taxes — in 2019 alone — because of healthcare reform, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, Congress’ official scorekeeper for legislation. The new law raises $15.2 billion over 10 years by limiting the medical expense deduction, a provision widely used by taxpayers who either have a serious illness or are older.

Gramps got an email that his annuity income will have a 3.8% tax added. The Health Care "Reform" Bill will have a 3.8% Medicare contribution on income received from annuities.

(CNSNews.com) – Californians have been paying increased taxes since February, but Tuesday they spoke out clearly they don’t want those temporary tax hikes to last longer than planned. Voters in the Golden State overwhelmingly rejected five of six ballot measures in a special election Tuesday – saying no to tax increases, increased state borrowing and earmarks for education. “No” votes exceeded 65 percent in all but one measure, which passed. It prevents lawmakers and public officials from receiving pay raises in years when the state is running a deficit.

In perhaps one of the most brazen political moves in California history, Democrat leadership yesterday unveiled a budget proposal that would shred the California Constitution by raising billions of new taxes without the required two-thirds vote. The tax hikes in the proposal would include a 2.5% surcharge on anyone paying personal income tax, an additional three quarter of one percent sales tax, an oil severance tax and replacement of current taxes on gas with even higher “fees.” We have no idea who is providing legal advice to the Semocrats, but they should have been informed before launching this silly proposal...

Mr. Villines opposes that sales-tax increase or any other tax boost. His reasoning is that higher taxes will weaken the economy further, because people will have less money to spend on goods and other services. The problem, he says, is spending. As an example, he cites the states' public schools, which keep getting more money each year, even as enrollment is declining in K-12 grades. "There is not a revenue problem in California," he says. "There is a spending problem." Mr. Villines's views are crucial because he has emerged as perhaps the most influential Republican legislator. Unlike his counterpart in...

Don't read their lips when California's Republican lawmakers say 'no new taxes' – they've put it in writing, signed their names, essentially inviting their own party to oust them if they renege. Every GOP lawmaker except Fair Oaks Assemblyman Roger Niello has signed the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" this year, casting a shadow on budget talks by making any vote to raise taxes a potential career killer. "If you break the pledge, the people who voted for you will say, 'Excuse me, not only did you raise my taxes but you lied to me,' " said Grover Norquist, president of Americans...

<p>1. Russians Suspected in Shooting of Kremlin Critic Near D.C.</p> <p>One year ago, Kremlin critic Paul Joyal was gunned down in the driveway of his suburban Maryland home. The case remains unsolved — but some see the hand of Russia in the shooting.</p>

State Republican lawmakers have a long history of resisting taxes, and this year is no different. Even before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls a planned special session to deal with the state's "fiscal emergency," GOP legislators say they have ruled out revenue increases as a potential remedy. They're not joking: All but one GOP member in the Capitol has signed a no-tax pledge. It's said "an elephant never forgets," and the Republicans whose party is symbolized by that pachyderm remember tax increases as hurting the economy – and their own political fortunes. "It's such a strong plank of the Republican platform...

The State Senate must approve the measure next, which isn't a sure thing. Senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland, wants to know first whether the gargantuan health care package would adversely affect the state's budget, which already is projected to be $14 billion in the red for fiscal 2008-09. Sen. Perata, on a Bay Area radio station Tuesday, said "I think [the plan is]DOA. I haven't found anybody yet … that can make any sense of it." He said he will not allow a vote until 2008. The saving grace is that the legislation amounts only to political grandstanding if voters...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez are probably still in the Governor's cigar tent this morning, puffing away on stogies to celebrate the Assembly's 45-31 vote yesterday in favor of their compromise health insurance “reform” bill. It was by far the pair's top goal for 2007. Schwarzenegger desperately wants another fix of national media attention after taking a yearlong victory lap for the state's landmark greenhouse gas emissions law in 2006. Núñez was deeply envious and wants his turn in the spotlight. The result of this desperation has been a farce masquerading as a public debate. No hearings...