FILE PHOTO - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting to vote on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 28, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Bourg WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic U.S. senator said on Thursday she will ask Facebook Inc (FB.O) and the Justice Department about a media report that the company hired an outside firm to attack critics, warning that such action could raise campaign finance issues. Senator Amy Klobuchar told the Senate Judiciary Committee she would send a letter seeking details about a New York Times article that named the Minnesota Democrat as a target of an aggressive Facebook lobbying campaign. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The article said Facebook conducted an aggressive campaign to combat critics, shift public anger toward rival companies and fend off new regulations contained in … [Read more...] about U.S. senator to query Facebook about report on treatment of critics
Senate
Senate confirms Kansas bank regulator Bowman for Fed board
WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Michelle Bowman, a Kansas banking regulator, as a member of the Federal Reserve board. Bowman was approved on a 64-34 vote to fill the spot on the seven-member board reserved for someone with community banking experience. With her confirmation, President Donald Trump has now filled three vacant seats on the Fed board as well as nominating Jerome Powell to be Fed chairman. Trump in recent weeks has leveled pointed attacks on the Fed's effort to raise interest rates to keep the economy from overheating, calling it his "biggest threat." It has hiked rates three times this year and is expected to do so again in December. … [Read more...] about Senate confirms Kansas bank regulator Bowman for Fed board
Florida races to complete recount in U.S. Senate, governor races
By Letitia SteinTAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Florida election officials on Thursday were racing toward a deadline to finish a recount of ballots in close races for the U.S. Senate and governor's seat, and a federal judge expressed frustration with an election system he called "the laughing stock of the world."gi U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, Florida, cleared the way to include ballots from as many as 5,000 people across the state who submitted ballots by mail that were rejected by election officials. A Georgia federal judge issued a similar ruling as that state worked to resolve a close governor's race.In Florida, the recount of close races from the Nov. 6 elections and attendant legal disputes over the validity of votes have stirred memories of the 2000 U.S. presidential election, when the U.S. Supreme Court stopped an ongoing recount in the state and sent George W. Bush to the White House.Walker grew testy during a series of Thursday hearings about lawsuits over the … [Read more...] about Florida races to complete recount in U.S. Senate, governor races
Senators warn FERC nominee of need for impartiality
By James Osborne Published 9:03 am CST, Thursday, November 15, 2018 Bernard McNamee, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, testified before the Senate in July. Bernard McNamee, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, testified before the Senate in July. Photo: (Photo: Senate Photo Studio), Official Senate Photographer / U.S. Senate Photographic Studio- Photo: (Photo: Senate Photo Studio), Official Senate Photographer / U.S. Senate Photographic Studio- Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 Bernard McNamee, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, testified before the Senate in July. Bernard McNamee, President Donald Trump’s nominee for … [Read more...] about Senators warn FERC nominee of need for impartiality
Late vote counts: Two new results, plus 10 House and Senate seats that remain undecided
By Bay Area News Group | PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 10:23 am | UPDATED: November 15, 2018 at 5:02 am After decisions for Democrats in two tight races, 10 congressional seats remain undecided across the country. First-time candidate Josh Harder, a Democrat, defeated four-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham in the 10th Congressional District, in California’s northern San Joaquin Valley. Harder, a 32-year-old venture capitalist, was declared the winner Tuesday as updated vote totals showed that his lead was insurmountable. It’s the fourth Republican-held House seat in California picked up by Democrats in last week’s midterm election. Two other House races in California — both in Orange County — remain too close to call: In the 45th District, Democrat Katie Porter jumped to a 261-vote lead over Republican Mimi Walters, after trailing the incumbent since Election Day. In the 39th District, Democrat Gil Cisneros tightened the gap with Republican Young … [Read more...] about Late vote counts: Two new results, plus 10 House and Senate seats that remain undecided