Now legal for recreational use in 10 states and Washington, D.C., more Americans are smoking pot than ever, even though it is still a federally outlawed drug. The federal ban is creating banking and tax challenges for pot companies that operate in accordance with their states’ laws. An average of about 600,000 people were arrested each year for possession from 2013 through 2017. Support for legalization reached a peak in […]
Congress has left Washington for a two-week break, but lawmakers look to lay the groundwork for a busy spring agenda when they return. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he hopes to reach what so far have been elusive bipartisan breakthroughs on immigration, infrastructure, and budget caps. McConnell said that talks have begun among his staff, Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) staff, and the White House on a two-year deal […]
The federal government is poised to invest roughly $4.9 billion in unclassified artificial intelligence and machine learning-related research & development in fiscal year 2020. The number of AI-related programs has ballooned compared with fiscal 2019. The Defense Department (DoD) plans to allocate $4 billion toward artificial intelligence and machine learning R&D activities in fiscal 2020, a sizeable increase above fiscal 2019 spending levels. The cornerstone of the Pentagon’s AI program, […]
The Medicare for All Act of 2019 introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and 106 House Democrats would create a universal, single-payer health program. The bill (H.R. 1384) would provide comprehensive health-care benefits at no cost to patients, replacing health insurance. However, the measure does not include provisions to pay for the program, though Rep. Jayapal said she is considering several options including increasing corporate taxes, increasing income taxes on […]