Costco to raise starting hourly wage to $16, end hazard pay
The starting wage scale puts Costco above competitors, including Amazon, Target and Best Buy, which have $15 minimum wages.
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GOP rallies solidly against Democrats’ $1.9T virus relief package
The hardening opposition suggested that President Joe Biden’s first major legislative initiative could encounter unanimous GOP opposition.
Biden to order a review of U.S. supply chains for vital goods
The executive order will cover U.S. supply chains for large-capacity batteries, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals and semiconductors that power cars, phones, military equipment and other goods.
Tech firms say there’s little doubt Russia behind major hack
In the first congressional hearing on the breach, representatives of technology companies involved in the response described a hack of almost breathtaking precision, ambition and scope.
EPA changes stand, sides with ethanol industry in court case
The federal government announced Monday that it will support the ethanol industry in a lawsuit over biofuel waivers granted to oil refineries under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Activists fear Biden’s commitment to higher minimum wage
The president has seemingly undermined the push to raise the minimum wage by acknowledging its dim prospects in Congress, where it faces political opposition and procedural hurdles.
Obamacare sign-ups reopen as Democrats push for more aid
HealthCare.gov’s market for subsidized health plans reopens Monday for a special three-month sign-up window as the Democratic-led Congress seeks a boost in financial help that could cut premiums by double digits.
Senate votes to acquit Trump in historic impeachment trial
The vote was 57-43, short of the two-thirds needed for conviction. Seven Republicans broke for their party to find Trump guilty.
Biden: Governors, mayors need $350B to fight COVID-19 impact
Republican lawmakers have stressed that some past aid to state and local governments remains unspent and revenues have rebounded after slumping when the coronavirus first hit.
Memory Bank: Crowd gathers on the Circle for FDR’s first run in 1932
In his first presidential campaign, Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was governor of New York at the time, made a stop in Indianapolis on Oct. 20, just days before the 1932 election, which was taking place in the middle of the Great Depression.
Taft builds new lobby group with Ice Miller transplants
The former Ice Miller employees—including Lacy Johnson and John Hammond III—will form the core of Taft’s new 14-member Public Affairs Strategies Group, 11 professionals plus three support staffers.
Democrats pushing Biden’s COVID-19 bill through House committees
The Ways and Means Committee approved its $940 billion chunk of Biden’s proposal on a 25-18 party-line vote, highlighting a frenzied week that’s seeing a dozen House panels fashion contributions to the sprawling measure.
Biden backs off on TikTok ban in review of Trump China moves
Separately, the Biden administration has “indefinitely” shelved a proposed U.S. takeover of TikTok, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Federal workers could get more paid leave if COVID-19 prevents them from working
Employees who meet certain eligibility criteria could receive as much as 600 hours—15 work weeks—of extra leave time to be paid from a $570 million fund that the bill would create.
Dems attempt to push through school funding, wage increase
Democrats hope to rush the bill to Biden for his signature by mid-March, using a special budget-related process allowing certain legislation to be approved by a simple majority.
Election of Democratic chair portends change at struggling post office
A former labor leader and Obama administration official was elected Tuesday to serve as chair of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors, marking the first step in a potential shakeup under President Joe Biden.
Biden treads carefully around Trump’s combative trade policy
In his first weeks in office, President Joe Biden has wasted no time in dumping a batch of major Trump administration policies, but his administration seems intent on approaching trade with caution and deliberation.
House Democrats reject plan to curtail $1,400 stimulus payments
Senior House Democrats on Monday night proposed sending $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with up to $75,000 in annual income, rejecting an earlier plan under consideration to sharply curtail the benefits.
Buttigieg to quarantine after security agent gets COVID-19
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said late Monday he was feeling fine with no symptoms and that the agent had no signs of COVID-19 other than testing positive for the virus.
Here’s the latest on the plan for pandemic stimulus checks
There’s conflicting debate about the effectiveness of the direct payments. Most economists support giving more relief to Americans who are struggling to put food on the table or keep their small business from closing.