US budget talks face daunting odds

US budget talks face daunting odds

WASHINGTON

For all the optimistic talk, negotiators seeking a deal for lifting a lid on how much money the government can borrow are learning how difficult it is to cut deficits by $2 trillion over the next decade or so. Just this week, the farm lobby showed it will fight to preserve its lucrative federal support as it rallied to the defense of a $5 billion a year subsidy on corn-produced ethanol, while House leaders maneuvered to protect up to $167 million in cuts in direct payments to farmers. At the same time, a blistering outburst from House Democrats against GOP cuts to food aid for pregnant women and hungry people overseas demonstrated that the two parties are miles apart on cutting domestic programs. Republicans are saying “no way” to revenue increases. Democrats, in turn, are taking Medicare off the table. And there’s no certainty that even if leaders can produce an agreement, they’ll be able to line up the followers.

US Rep. Giffords exits Houston hospital

HOUSTON

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned home to her astronaut husband Wednesday, leaving behind a Houston hospital where she began to rebuild her life after a gunman shot her in the head five months ago. Giffords’ release marks a new phase in her recovery. She struggles to speak and walk, and will need daily, intensive therapy. Whether she will ever recover enough to resume her congressional duties is still unknown.

Hackers say they hit CIA website

WASHINGTON

A group of hackers who breached the Senate computer system earlier this week claimed responsibility for problems with the CIA’s website Wednesday. The group, known as Lulz Security, tweeted “Tango down - CIA.gov,” and there were difficulties throughout the early evening accessing the agency’s website.

New speaker has less than predecessor

WASHINGTON

New House Speaker John Boehner doesn’t have as many millions as his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, but like many new committee chairmen and other leaders, he has holdings in companies that have major financial stakes in the actions of Congress. For Boehner, that includes a portfolio of stocks in oil companies, financial firms, communication companies and pharmaceuticals.

Prepaid debit cards

Rising fees have chased millions of people away from banks and into prepaid debit cards. In just a handful of years, prepaid cards have become the fastest growing payment method in the U.S. Just this week, American Express became the first mainstream financial company to offer a prepaid card.

Roles of fathers diverging nowadays

WASHINGTON

Nearly half of American dads under 45 this Father’s Day say they have at least one kid who was born out of wedlock. And the share of fathers living apart from children is more than double what it was not so long ago. In encouraging news, though, among married fathers, children are said to be getting more attention from both parents at home than ever before.

2 arrested near home of singer Joss Stone

LONDON

Two men have been arrested near Joss Stone’s home on suspicion of conspiracy to rob and murder, after reportedly being found in a car with swords, rope, a body bag and plans of the soul singer’s secluded house. Stone said in a statement that she was “absolutely fine and getting on with life as normal” as police charged the men with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.

Associated Press