Jacqueline Klimas
Articles by Jacqueline Klimas
Former FBI terrorism expert: Sochi terrorism threat is unique
Don Borelli, a former member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, said the terrorist threat in Sochi, Russia, is unique because officials already know terrorists are planning an attack in Sochi sometime during the Olympics. Published January 21, 2014
U.S. warships deploy for Sochi Olympics
The United States will deploy at least two warships into the Black Sea off the coast of Sochi, Russia, to respond to a potential terror attack during the upcoming Olympics, top officials said on Monday. Published January 20, 2014
N.J. Lt. Gov. Guadagno denies threatening to withhold Sandy funds from Hoboken
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno denied allegations that she made supporting a redevelopment project championed by Gov. Chris Christie a condition to receive federal relief funds to rebuild Hoboken after Hurricane Sandy. Published January 20, 2014
Iran to attend Syria peace talks
Iran accepted an invitation on Monday to attend peace talks to end conflict in Syria later this week Published January 20, 2014
Gen. Stanley McChrystal: Security agreement needed now in Afghanistan
Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the retired leader of forces in Afghanistan who served in the Army for 34 years, said Afghanistan and the U.S. need to sign a security agreement as soon as possible to give Afghan people some certainty about their future. Published January 20, 2014
Veterans’ groups press Congress to undo cuts to benefits
Lawmakers say they have plenty of time to repeal a cut to military retiree pay that takes effect in 2015, but veterans' groups are warning Congress it must get it done soon before members get distracted by their own re-election campaigns later this year. Published January 19, 2014
House Democrats blocked in bid to cancel recess, continue unemployment benefits fight
House Democrats on Thursday demanded that Congress cancel its recess next week and stay on Capitol Hill to work on reviving benefits for the long-term unemployed, but Senate Democratic leaders said it makes more sense for lawmakers to go home and hear the stories from struggling jobless voters. Published January 16, 2014
House Democrats fail to kill curb on D.C. taxpayer-funded abortions
Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill Wednesday to permanently prevent the District of Columbia from using its own taxpayer money to pay for abortions, setting up an election-year debate on social issues. Published January 15, 2014
Senate struggles to get a deal on extending unemployment benefits
Democrats' election-year push to extend federal unemployment benefits to the long-term jobless died Tuesday after Senate Republicans filibustered, leaving more than 1 million long-term unemployed workers without aid and both sides pointing fingers. Published January 14, 2014
Reid delays Senate vote on unemployment benefits extension
The Democrats' unemployment benefits bill, already reeling from GOP attacks, is now running into budget problems after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled a new version late last week that adds billions of dollars to the deficit. Published January 13, 2014
Republicans vow to cut off child tax credit for illegal immigrants
Democrats ducked a debate last week about cutting off tax breaks to illegal immigrants, but Republicans vowed to keep raising the issue, saying that having the IRS pay out tax credits to those who shouldn't be in the country in the first place is a form of fraud. Published January 12, 2014
Harry Reid: We’re amenable to GOP unemployment amendments
Just one day after saying unequivocally that no GOP amendments would be considered on a bill to extend unemployment insurance, Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, decided Friday afternoon to allow "a reasonable number of relevant amendments from Republicans." Published January 10, 2014
Democrats rewrite unemployment benefits extension plan
Senate Democrats rewrote their unemployment benefit extension plan Thursday, ignoring Republicans' pleas for a full debate and instead offering a take-it-or-leave-it proposal that would pay for nearly a year's worth of additional benefits now by promising broad budget cuts more than a decade in the future. Published January 9, 2014
Republican senators: Prohibit illegals from claiming child tax credit
Republican senators gave a small victory to Democrats this week in voting not to filibuster a three-month extension to unemployment benefits, but GOP lawmakers are now trying to turn the debate into a choice between the jobless and illegal immigrants. Published January 8, 2014
Unemployment insurance extension passes Senate
A handful of Republican lawmakers joined Democrats in pushing a hotly contested extension of unemployment benefits through the Senate Tuesday, but the House's GOP leadership said the bill isn't going anywhere until backers figure out how to pay for its $6.5 billion price tag. Published January 7, 2014
Finding money to reverse military pension cuts is latest budget battle
All sides say they want to undo the cut to military retirement benefits approved by Congress in last month's budget deal — but finding the money to pay for it is proving to be a major problem. Published January 5, 2014
Senate fight likely over unemployment benefits
Lawmakers are set for a clash in the Senate Monday over unemployment benefits, with Democrats calling for a no-strings-attached extension of long-term benefits and Republicans insisting that any new spending be offset by cuts elsewhere. Published January 5, 2014
Napolitano: U.S. will continue to work to keep Olympic athletes, spectators safe
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said the United States will continue to work with Russia and the International Olympic Coalition to ensure athletes and spectators are safe at the Olympics in Sochi next month. Published January 5, 2014
Harry Reid: Blame Republicans if 2014 is as bad as 2013 in Congress
Congress is taking on different battles in 2014, but the partisan fighting will remain largely the same and Republicans are to blame, according to the Senate’s top Democrat. Published January 5, 2014
Schumer: Immigration reform possible in 2014 because of Boehner’s tea party break
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said he thinks Congress will reform immigration in 2014 because of Speaker John A. Boehner's break with the tea party during the budget debate. Published January 5, 2014