This
Week In Washington DC
Top 5 Stories This Week
1.
House and Senate
appropriators released an omnibus appropriations bill to fund most of the
federal government through Sept. 2015.
Look ahead: House Republican
leaders passed the bill, and now all that is left is for the Senate to pass it
Friday.
2.
The Senate Intelligence Committee
released its long-awaited, 500-page summary of a classified report on CIA
interrogation practices after 9/11, concluding that the controversial methods failed
to produce valuable information, despite the agency's continued assurances.
Look ahead: While the Senate
panel's report may dim public opinion of the CIA, it is unlikely to dull the
agency's influence.
3.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
321,000 positions were added to nonfarm payrolls in November, marking the strongest
monthly job growth since January 2012, while unemployment held steady at 5.8%.
The jobs report reflected a larger-than-expected increase in average hourly
earnings.
Look ahead: Despite the gains,
economists are concerned Americans remain reluctant to change jobs, a sign of
lingering weakness in the labor market.
4.
Attorney General Eric Holder
announced a set of draft policy changes for federal law enforcement that will ban
the use of religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender
identity as the basis for enforcement actions such as traffic stops, with some exceptions
for certain Homeland Security agencies.
Look ahead: The new policy, while
binding only on federal agencies, is intended to serve as guidance for state
and local law enforcement agencies.
5.
The White House announced $750
million in federal grants to improve early childhood education, coupled with
more than $330 million in private commitments and donations.
Look ahead: $200 million will be
distributed directly to 18 states working to improve their preschool offerings,
and $500 million will go to Early Head Start and Child Care Partnership
programs.
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