BLOOMBERG News, Jun 29, 2011

California lawmakers OK first bill in budget package
Tue,28 Jun 2011 07:01 PM PDT
Reuters -

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California lawmakers in the state Senate approved on Tuesday evening the first bill in a state budget package that closes a nearly $10 billion shortfall a day after Governor Jerry Brown and top Democrats unveiled the package.

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Palin fuels presidential bid speculation in Iowa Tue,28 Jun 2011 06:02 PM PDT Reuters - PELLA, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican Sarah Palin said on Tuesday she is still considering a potential 2012 presidential run, though her daughter said she has already made up her mind and is keeping the decision secret for now. Full Story1

U.S., India pledge cooperation on market access Tue,28 Jun 2011 05:21 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Finance chiefs from the United States and India pledged on Tuesday to deepen efforts to open up India's financial, retail, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors to competition but offered no specific measures to boost access for American firms. Full Story1

White House pressures Republicans over trade deals Tue,28 Jun 2011 05:16 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday made a push to advance long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, challenging Republican lawmakers over a worker retraining program that many of them oppose. Full Story1

Palin fuels presidential bid speculation in Iowa Tue,28 Jun 2011 04:37 PM PDT Reuters - PELLA, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican Sarah Palin said on Tuesday she is still studying a potential 2012 presidential run, though her daughter said she has already made up her mind. Full Story1

Obama's oil reserves plan took shape in May: official Tue,28 Jun 2011 04:01 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It was on May 2, the day U.S. oil prices peaked at nearly $115 a barrel, that President Barack Obama put into a motion a controversial plan that would lead to the biggest-ever sale of U.S. emergency oil stocks. Full Story1

White House pressures Republicans over trade deals Tue,28 Jun 2011 03:42 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday made a new push to advance long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, challenging Republican lawmakers over a worker retraining program that many of them oppose. Full Story1

Senate panel approves Libya mission Tue,28 Jun 2011 03:30 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday approved a resolution formally authorizing continued U.S. participation in the NATO-led military intervention in Libya but banning the introduction of U.S. troops on the ground there. Full Story1

California legislators prepare for budget vote Tue,28 Jun 2011 03:26 PM PDT Reuters - SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California lawmakers prepared on Tuesday to approve a state budget that closes a nearly $10 billion shortfall a day after Governor Jerry Brown and top Democrats unveiled the package. Full Story1

Tax standoff blocks progress in debt talks Tue,28 Jun 2011 02:05 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday showed no sign of resolving an impasse over taxes that has stalled budget negotiations and could threaten the country's top-notch credit rating. Full Story1

Senate panel to start work on trade deals Tue,28 Jun 2011 12:35 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee said it will begin long-awaited action on Thursday on three U.S. free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama that have been stalled for years. Full Story1

U.S. sees "progress" after Syria activists meet Tue,28 Jun 2011 12:09 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday that Syria's move to allow activists to meet to discuss political change was a positive step but that the government needed to do more to launch real reforms. Full Story1

Lieutenant General John Allen backs Obama troop plan Tue,28 Jun 2011 11:52 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The general poised to take command of Western forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday embraced President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw a third of U.S. troops, saying it can be done without undermining the war effort. Full Story1

Factbox: What's on the table in debt talks Tue,28 Jun 2011 11:35 AM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and congressional leaders hope to reach a budget deal in the coming weeks that would narrow stubborn budget deficits and extend the country's borrowing authority. Full Story1

State, local budgets closer to recovery: report Tue,28 Jun 2011 11:26 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - State and local governments brought in record first-quarter revenues this year, according to a Census Bureau report released on Tuesday that offered a sign their budget crises may be abating. Full Story1

Senate confirms 3 top Justice Department nominees Tue,28 Jun 2011 11:06 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led Senate on Tuesday confirmed three of President Barack Obama's senior Justice Department nominees, including long-stalled Deputy Attorney General James Cole, who drew broad Republican opposition. Full Story1

Bachmann facing scrutiny as top-tier candidate Tue,28 Jun 2011 09:14 AM PDT Reuters - DES MOINES (Reuters) - Some of the wild statements uttered by Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann are coming back to haunt her now that the Tea Party favorite faces greater scrutiny as a top-tier 2012 candidate. Full Story1

U.S. formally backs Lagarde for IMF chief Tue,28 Jun 2011 05:33 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States supports French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde to take over as the new chief of the International Monetary Fund, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in a statement on Tuesday. Full Story1

Christie to sign New Jersey benefits overhaul Tuesday Mon,27 Jun 2011 08:31 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie plans to sign into law on Tuesday a major overhaul of pension and health benefits, a spokesman for the Republican governor said. Full Story1

Senate deplores China's use of force at sea Mon,27 Jun 2011 08:11 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution on Monday that deplored China's use of force against Vietnamese and Philippine ships in the South China Sea. Full Story1

Snap Analysis: California Democrats control reform agenda Mon,27 Jun 2011 07:02 PM PDT Reuters - SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A budget deal between California's governor and fellow Democrats in control of the state legislature on Monday has left Republicans with little role to play in major reforms. Full Story1

California governor, Democrats OK budget deal Mon,27 Jun 2011 06:33 PM PDT Reuters - SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Governor Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders have reached a deal that bypasses Republicans and relies on higher tax revenue forecasts and some spending cuts to close a $10 billion gap. Full Story1

Geithner eyes India financial reforms, U.S. access Mon,27 Jun 2011 05:46 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - India has outgrown its financial system, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Monday, calling for cooperation on reforms that would deepen India's capital markets and allow U.S. firms more access to them. Full Story1

California governor, Democrats reach budget deal Mon,27 Jun 2011 03:52 PM PDT Reuters - SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Governor Jerry Brown and Democratic leaders of the state Senate and Assembly said on Monday that they had reached a budget deal that closes a roughly $10 billion shortfall. Full Story1

Obama confident debt deal can be struck Mon,27 Jun 2011 03:42 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama is confident Democrats and Republicans can cut a "significant deal" to trim the U.S. deficit and increase its borrowing limit to avoid a damaging default, the White House said on Monday. Full Story1

Geithner: U.S., India not at odds on financial goals Mon,27 Jun 2011 03:27 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Monday that the United States and India had complementary objectives in developing India's financial markets. Full Story1

Democrat Levin will fight Colombia trade deal Mon,27 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leading Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives said on Monday he will fight a proposed trade pact with Colombia because it is unclear whether labor rights provisions will be enforced. Full Story1

Romney to favor business people for cabinet posts Mon,27 Jun 2011 12:46 PM PDT Reuters - CONCORD, New Hampshire (Reuters) - Mitt Romney, the early front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, on Monday said he would want people with extensive private sector experience in his Cabinet, defended his work at a private equity firm and touted the need for lower corporate tax rates. Full Story1

Clinton calls New York gay marriage vote "historic" Mon,27 Jun 2011 12:31 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that the New York state legislature's vote to approve same-sex marriage was "historic" and upheld the basic rights of gay people. Full Story1

Arrest warrant shows Gaddafi lost legitimacy: U.S. Mon,27 Jun 2011 11:51 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court's issuance of an arrest warrant for Muammar Gaddafi is another sign the Libyan leader has lost his legitimacy, the White House said on Monday. Full Story1

Bachmann launches 2012 presidential bid Mon,27 Jun 2011 11:24 AM PDT Reuters - WATERLOO, Iowa (Reuters) - Rising Tea Party star Michele Bachmann leaped into the Republican 2012 presidential nomination race on Monday, saying the country cannot afford four more years of President Barack Obama's handling of the economy. Full Story1

U.S. urges Cameroon to hold fair election Mon,27 Jun 2011 11:20 AM PDT Reuters - YAOUNDE (Reuters) - The United States on Monday urged Cameroonian authorities not to stifle the opposition ahead of a presidential poll planned for October. Full Story1

White House confident U.S. won't default on debt Mon,27 Jun 2011 10:44 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Monday said it remained confident that the United States would not default on its debt. Full Story1

White House confident U.S. won't default on debt Mon,27 Jun 2011 10:43 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Monday said it remained confident that the United States would not default on its debt. Full Story1

White House says significant debt deal possible Mon,27 Jun 2011 10:33 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that a significant federal deficit-reduction deal was possible this year if negotiators from both parties are willing to compromise. Full Story1

Tax code hurts stability: Fed's Kocherlakota Mon,27 Jun 2011 09:54 AM PDT Reuters - BIG SKY, Montana (Reuters) - Lawmakers should change the tax code to discourage household and business borrowing that threatens the stability of the financial system, a top Federal Reserve official said on Monday. Full Story1

Factbox: Bachmann enters field of 2012 Republican contenders Mon,27 Jun 2011 09:50 AM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - Congresswoman Michele Bachmann formally announced her 2012 Republican candidacy for president on Monday after emerging from relative obscurity as one of the most energetic hopefuls in the Republican field. Full Story1

Romney and Bachmann lead Iowa poll Mon,27 Jun 2011 09:36 AM PDT Reuters - DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Republican front-runner Mitt Romney and U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann led a closely watched presidential poll of Iowa Republicans, the state that holds the first contest in the nomination battle. Full Story1

Supreme Court strikes down Arizona campaign finance law Mon,27 Jun 2011 09:01 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court struck down on Monday an Arizona law that provides additional public money to political candidates for state office who face big-spending opponents, ruling it violated free-speech rights. Full Story1

Hungary intellectuals ask Clinton to defend democracy Mon,27 Jun 2011 07:15 AM PDT Reuters - BUDAPEST (Reuters) - A group of Hungarian intellectuals have called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to speak out against what they called their country's "autocratic system" during her visit to Budapest this week. Full Story1

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