Author

Allison Stevens

Allison Stevens

Allison Stevens is a Washington correspondent for States Newsroom, a network of state-based nonprofit news outlets that includes Kansas Reflector.

U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins, who lost in the 2nd District Republican primary in August, attempted to win re-election by leaning on $408,000 in taxpayer financed communication expenditures since taking office in 2019. Kansas' four-person U.S. House delegation has spent $1 million in franked tax dollars as of June. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

Kansans take partisan view of U.S. House package aiding child care industry
By: - July 30, 2020

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House stepped in to try to rescue the nation’s child care system from collapse under the weight of the pandemic. The chamber approved a pair of bills Wednesday that backers say are needed to fully reopen the economy and shore up the child care industry in the longer term, while skeptics […]

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus say farewell at the conclusion of Monday’s memorial ceremony for the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis in the Capitol Rotunda. Lewis, a civil rights icon and fierce advocate of voting rights for African Americans, died July 17. (J. Scott Applewhite/Pool/Getty Images)

Get in ‘good trouble’: John Lewis’ words ring out in Capitol one more time
By: - July 27, 2020

WASHINGTON — The immortal words of the late civil rights leader John Lewis rang out from the U.S. Capitol on Monday during a private ceremony in celebration of his life. “You must find a way to get in the way,” he said in a recording of a 2014 commencement speech he gave at Emory University. “You […]

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was expected to unveil the details of the Republicans' proposal for extending jobless benefits but adjourned without doing so. (Jan. 23, 2020, photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Senate Republicans pursue pay cut for jobless, adjourn without action
By: - July 24, 2020

WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders slammed Republicans on Friday for leaving in the lurch millions of jobless Americans who are relying on enhanced unemployment benefits to stay financially afloat amid ongoing public health and economic crises. Republicans in Congress and the White House were engaged in heated negotiations this week over the details of their party’s proposal for a […]

President Donald Trump addresses the nation in March from the Oval Office about the widening coronavirus crisis. He is expected to sign a bill that provides $9.5 billion over five years to pay down the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog. (Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images)

House sends bipartisan public lands bill to president’s desk
By: and - July 22, 2020

WASHINGTON — Major environmental legislation sailed through Congress Wednesday while the nation’s political leaders were stuck in intense negotiations over the contours of a fifth coronavirus relief package. The bill would provide $9.5 billion over five years to pay down the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog and provide permanent funding at $900 million per year […]

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters Monday while hosting House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the Oval Office. Trump talked with congressional leaders about a proposed new round of financial stimulus to help the economy during the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. (Doug Mills/Getty Images)

The rent is coming due. Can Congress agree on a relief deal?
By: - July 21, 2020

WASHINGTON — The nation’s political leaders returned to the capital Monday with their sights on a fifth — and perhaps final — round of coronavirus relief before the November elections. The stakes are high and the timetable is short: Three weeks remain before Congress is set to adjourn for its August recess — though House […]

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