In the News

POLITICODems call for Obama to expand retirement helpBy Rachael BadeMore than 60 House Democrats are urging President Barack Obama to require all federal contractors to automatically enroll employees in their companies' retirement plans, an effort led by Democratic caucus Vice Chair Joe Crowley (D-N.Y).In a copy of the letter obtained by POLITICO, that will go to the White House today, more than 65 Democrats are asking Obama to make the new requirement apply to full- and part-time workers. And c... Read more

MOMENT MAGAZINESymposium // Is There a “Jewish” Way to Parent?Debbie Wasserman SchultzOf course there is a Jewish way to parent. I am a Jewish mother before anything else; nothing is more important to me—it’s part of everything I do. Even though I didn’t have a very religious upbringing, my parents recognized the importance of Judaism. They educated me in my Jewish heritage, history and values, and that education helped prepare me to work to make the world a better place. My parents emphasized t... Read more

ORLANDO WEEKLY Congress members want answers on Florida's revised HIV numbersBy Monivette CordeiroEleven of Florida's Democratic and Republican members of Congress want Gov. Rick Scott to explain how the Florida Department of Health revised its count of new HIV infections in 2014 from 6,147 to 4,613, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Times first reported the 25-percent change, saying the adjustment was much larger than those made in recent years. The revision happened as Florida "faced criti... Read more

ABC NEWS The Latest: Suspect in Jewish Center Bomb Plot in CourtBy the Associated PressThe Latest on Jewish Center-Plot (all times local):2:35 p.m.A man accused of plotting to detonate an explosive at a large Jewish center in South Florida has made his first federal court appearance.A magistrate judge on Monday appointed a public defender for 40-year-old James Medina, who was arrested Friday. Medina faces life in prison if convicted of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.A bond hearin... Read more

THE POSTOfficials: FBI thwarts plot against Florida Jewish centerBy Curt SandersonMIAMI — A man’s planned explosive attack on a South Florida Jewish center was thwarted by the FBI through an undercover operation involving a dummy bomb, authorities said Monday.James Medina, 40, made his initial appearance in federal court Monday following his arrest last week in the alleged plot against the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, which includes a synagogue, school and meeting halls. Medina is charged w... Read more

MIAMI HERALD Plot to blow up Aventura synagogue ends with man’s arrestBy Jay WeaverA Hollywood man accused of trying to blow up an Aventura synagogue stood in Miami federal court and gave the judge two names — one real, the other an alias.“My name is James Medina, also known as ‘James Muhammad,’ ” Medina told Magistrate Judge William Turnoff.James G. Medina, 40, was arrested by FBI agents on a charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction against the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, ... Read more

NAPLES DAILY NEWSFeds lay out plans for Everglades bridge to boost water flowBy The Associated PressMIAMI (AP) - Federal officials say they will soon begin the next phase of a multi-million dollar project to erect a bridge across the Everglades in South Florida.Interior Secretary Sally Jewel announced plans to raise a two-and-half mile section of U.S. 41 during a visit Friday to Everglades National Park. She was joined by several members of Congress, including Democratic Rep.'s Debbie Wasserman ... Read more

MSNBC: THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW BLOGGOP wants to ‘help’ the Library of Congress with word choiceBy Steve BenenA House Appropriations panel this week took up a spending bill that should have been pretty uncontroversial: the package provides funding for basic federal functions such government printing, the Capitol Police, and congressional operations.But Roll Call reported that lawmakers ran into an unexpected controversy.[T]he bulk of an hour of debate in Wednesday’s Appropriations markup was devot... Read more

ABC NEWS / ASSOCIATED PRESSGOP Takes on Library of Congress on Immigration TerminologyBy ANDREW TAYLOR, ASSOCIATED PRESS Apr 22, 2016, 3:40 PM ETCongress may not be able to reform the immigration system, fix the broken tax code or even pass a budget. But it's telling the Library of Congress how to label immigrants living in the country illegally.That's how conservative Republicans are responding to a move by the library to drop the term "illegal alien" in favor of "noncitizens" or "unauthorized ... Read more

WALL STREET JOURNALFight Brews in House Over Use of ‘Illegal Alien’ by Library of CongressBy KRISTINA PETERSONCongress isn’t going to overhaul the immigration system anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean they can’t fight about it in the meantime.This week a panel of the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill funding the legislative branch spending for fiscal 2017 with a provision aimed at blocking the Library of Congress from changing its “aliens” and “illegal aliens” terminology.The Libra... Read more