House panel moves ahead on budget with hopes for tax reform

July 20, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

WASHINGTON

A key House panel on Wednesday divided along party lines as it slogged through a daylong debate over a Republican budget that would slash safety-net programs while rewarding the military with a $70 billion boost.

The Budget Committee plan would pave the way for Republicans to overhaul the tax code, a top priority of President Donald Trump. Passing a budget through Congress is the only way to get a GOP-only tax plan enacted this year.

But the budget outline faces opposition from both wings of the party. Republican conservatives want more of its proposed cuts to actually take effect, while moderates want to focus on tax reform instead of cuts to benefit programs like food stamps.

The nonbinding GOP plan promises to cut more than $5 trillion from the budget over the coming decade, though Republicans only appear serious about enacting a relatively modest $203 billion deficit cut over the same period through filibuster-proof follow-up legislation.

Trump campaign inner circle called before committees

WASHINGTON

Members of the Trump campaign’s inner circle, including his eldest son and son-in-law, are being called before Senate committees next week to talk about the 2016 election.

Donald Trump Jr. is scheduled to appear Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee along with former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to a witness list released by the panel.

Also, a lawyer for Trump’s powerful son-in-law and adviser said Jared Kushner will speak to the Senate intelligence committee Monday.

Michigan woman convicted of murder in parrot case

WHITE CLOUD, Mich.

A jury has convicted a western Michigan woman of first-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband in a crime apparently witnessed by the man’s pet parrot.

The Newaygo County jury deliberated about eight hours before finding 49-year-old Glenna Duram guilty Wednesday of killing 46-year-old Martin Duram. He was shot five times in May 2015. Glenna Duram suffered a head wound in what prosecutors said was a suicide attempt, but survived.

Martin Duram’s ex-wife, Christina Keller, has said that after the slaying, the pet parrot, Bud, repeated “don’t (expletive) shoot” in Martin Duram’s voice. Keller took ownership of the bird after Martin Duram’s death.

Duram is due to be sentenced Aug. 28 on the murder and a felony firearm charge.

Minneapolis police officer has yet to talk to investigators

MINNEAPOLIS

Four days after a Minneapolis police officer fatally shot a woman who had called 911 to report a possible rape, the officer has yet to talk with investigators, and his attorney has given no indication he ever will.

Some legal experts say the move is wise and well within the officer’s rights. But without Officer Mohamed Noor’s version of events, there’s virtually no explanation for what happened Saturday when he fired a shot from the passenger seat of a squad car, past his partner in the driver’s seat and killed Justine Damond, 40, who was standing outside the vehicle.

Associated Press