>>White House Rolls Out Push For Renter Protections
(Washington, DC) -- The Biden administration is rolling out new initiatives to help protect tenants and make renting homes more affordable. The President has directed multiple federal agencies to gather information on unfair housing practices in order to tackle soaring rent costs. The administration also released a "Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights," which lays out principles for federal and state governments and the private sector to strengthen protection for tenants. More than a third of Americans, some 44-million households, rent their homes.
>>Democrats: Entitlement Cuts Non-Starter In Debt Ceiling Talks
(Washington, DC) -- Top Democrats say Republicans want to cut entitlements as part of negotiations to raise the debt ceiling. House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar told reporters his party won't entertain deep cuts to Medicare and Social Security. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and conservatives are expected to push for spending cuts in exchange for a yes vote to raise the nation's borrowing authority. Democrats have urged their colleagues on the other side of the aisle to raise the limit without conditions or risk a default. President Biden plans to meet soon with McCarthy to discuss the debt ceiling issue. The U.S. hit its debt limit last week, prompting the Treasury Department to start "extraordinary measures" to continue paying its bills.
>>Report: Goldman Sachs Warns Of Recession Caused By Debt Ceiling
(New York, NY) -- The top economist at Goldman Sachs warns a recession could be triggered by a debt ceiling crisis. Speaking with CNN, Jan Hatzius said even a hint that the U.S. could fail to make interest and principal payments "could have very, very adverse consequences." The U.S. reached its debt limit last week. That forced U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to take what have been called "extraordinary measures" to prevent a debt default. Yellen has warned a global financial crisis could happen if Congress fails to act.
>>Officials Concerned About Possible Sikorsky Layoffs
(Stratford, CT) -- The announcement that Sikorsky parent Lockheed Martin is planning hundreds of layoffs have state and local officials concerned. The company has not indicated how many of the 800 planned layoffs to rotary and mission system workers will impact the Sikorsky facility in Stratford. The union representing rank and file Sikorsky workers says none of their members will be laid off. This round of layoffs is expected to mostly impact salaried management or engineering.
