Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey.
Congress returns to the Capitol today after a week's recess with a long to-do list.
“Republicans want to approve funding for immigration enforcement, but that is stuck because”
Democrats plan to introduce amendments focused on the fund President Trump created to pay people who claim the federal government targeted them. NPR's Eric McDaniels has Democrats want to get Republicans on the record. It became clear that an amendment outlawing the fund could get like 30 Republican votes probably, which would be embarrassing for Republicans, so GOP leaders push the vote on
the package to this week. But President Trump hasn't backed down on the fund in the time they were at home, and doesn't seem like waiting has made things any easier. Some lawmakers are also angry that the president allocated this money in the first place. He did it unilaterally, even though it is Congress's job to decide how tax payer dollars
are spent. Congress also faces dissent over the Iran War, the House had delayed a vote on a democratic war power's resolution because Republican absences meant it could have passed before the Memorial Day recess.
“The U.S. military says it's drug-verious radar and drone launch sites in Iran, near the”
straight-of-form news over the weekend. U.S. Central Command says these attacks came in response to Iran shooting down a U.S. drone operating over international waters, and P.R.'s I.A. Batreaui has more. President Com says its drug sites on Iran's Kisham Island and Guruk on Saturday and Sunday after Iran shot down a U.S. drone.
Iran's State-linked media quoted that Iranian Revolutionary Guard saying a telecommunications
tower was hit in Syracc, where Guruk city is located. There was no mention of the U.S. attack on Kisham Island. It said the guard responded by targeting the base from which that attack was launched. Kuwait, where U.S. troops are positioned, says its air defenses had intercepted missiles and drones Monday morning.
This latest round of violence comes as President Trump wrote a new post on true social urging his critics in Washington to quote "just sit back and relax" and said a deal with Iran that is quote "good for the U.S. will be reached." A. Abatreaui and P.R. News do buy.
“As things cost more, Americans are putting less aside.”
Federal data shows the personal savings rate has fallen to the lowest level in years. In P.R.'s Amy Held reports. Resolution is around 3-year high, wages have not kept up, and nearly half of U.S. households are struggling to afford the basics.
A year ago, the personal savings rate was 5.8 percent.
By March, it was down to 3.2. And in April, the latest reading it had fallen to 2.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. "It's one of the lowest rates in the past 65 years." Heather Long is chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union and author of the Everyday
Economic Substac. "We're seeing people turning more to credit cards and personal loans and buying out paid later. We can see some early signs of pullback and home improvement. And also in health care." Long says she expects things to get tighter into the second half of the year. Amy Held and P.R. News.
This is NPR in Washington. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is calling state lawmakers into special session today. As Katherine Welch reports, the governor wants to cut property taxes for many homeowners. DeSantis is calling for future legislation that would fully eliminate taxes for Floridians who own the homes they live in.
But to start, he's proposing a new calculation on property taxes that exempts the first $250,000 of the value.
He says that would eliminate property taxes for 60 percent of homeowners.
DeSantis says this will help new homeowners, the middle class, and those on a fixed income. The Florida League of Cities is against the plan, saying many cities would struggle to fund public safety at the same level for NPR news on Katherine Welch in Orlando. Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell used one of his first major public appearances since leaving the Fed's top post to deliver a broad defense of independent institutions.
Powell accepted the John F. Kennedy profile in Courage Award in Boston last night. Powell, who frequently clashed with President Trump during his eight years leading the central bank, warned against political interference in monetary policy, and described the Fed's independence as a priceless asset. Powell's termist chair ended last month, but he remains on the Fed's governing board.
Finland won the Icehockey World Championship yesterday, beating Switzerland, one to nothing in overtime. The Buffalo Sabers Consta Hellenius scored the winning goal, Norway earlier stunned Canada three to two in overtime in the bronze medal game. This is NPR News, I'm Libby Casey.
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