Republicans are closing in on their first legislative victory of the year, after two GOP Senators previously opposed to the tax plan got on board this weekend. But Democrats still have concerns.
U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), who joined Cheddar before the most recent concessions were made, said the policies may benefit companies in his home district in the heart of Silicon Valley, but do little for Middle America.
“We should create technology opportunity zones across America,” he said. “I think that the federal government in partnership with the private industry could do so much to bring the new industry to many of these communities.”
Heading into the weekend, the future of tax reform seemed uncertain. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was calling for a tax cut for working families. On Friday, though, he tweeted his support after the child tax credit was increased.
Senator Bob Corker also changed his position after the tax on real estate earnings was reduced, a move that could benefit his own wallet. The Tennessee Republican reportedly made $7 million off his property investments last year.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/rep-ro-khanna-d-ca-congress-needs-to-step-up-to-spread-tech-development-across-the-u-s).
The Senate on Thursday narrowly confirmed the nomination of Christopher Waller for the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, placing another of President Donald Trump’s picks on the Fed’s influential board after a string of high-profile rejections.
IBM security researchers say they have detected a cyberespionage effort that used targeted phishing emails to try to collect vital information associated with a U.N. initiative for distributing coronavirus vaccine to developing countries.
President-elect Joe Biden has swung behind a bipartisan COVID-19 relief effort. That comes as his top Capitol Hill allies cut their demands for a $2 trillion-plus measure by more than half.
Peter Rawlinson, CEO of electric vehicle maker Lucid Motors, joined Cheddar to discuss its new plant in Arizona and hopes for a more supportive policy on EVs from the incoming Biden administration.
The health agency also announced new guidelines that shorten recommended quarantines after close contact with someone infected with coronavirus. Now people can resume normal activity after 10 days, or seven days if they receive a negative test result.
The Transportation Department issued a final rule Wednesday covering service animals. The rule says only dogs can qualify, and they have to be specially trained to help a person with disabilities.
The head of the United Nations is calling on countries to end what he calls a war on nature and instead embrace a future without carbon pollution triggering global warming.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, discusses a wide range of current topics regarding the COVID-19 pandemic with Cheddar.
An influential government advisory panel says health care workers and nursing home residents should be at the front of the line when the first coronavirus vaccine shots become available.
Attorney General William Barr said Tuesday that the Justice Department has not uncovered evidence of widespread voter fraud and has seen nothing that would change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
