House Rules Committee moves to protect Trump’s tariffs from congressional disapproval

WASHINGTON — The House Rules Committee teed up legislation for a floor vote Tuesday that would again prevent lawmakers from terminating President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, this time until July 31.

The panel voted 8-3 Monday to report the resolution, but the floor vote, expected at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, may encounter resistance from Republicans who were unhappy when the House adopted a resolution in September that put the prohibition in place until last month.

“This extension will allow the Supreme Court the time necessary to provide a ruling on this very consequential issue,” House Rules Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said, noting that the court heard arguments in November in a case challenging Trump’s authority to levy tariffs. Critics call the tariffs a tax and note that the constitution gives Congress sole authority to tax.

The measure — part of a rule for floor debate on three unrelated bills — would block a fast-track procedure to disapprove of tariffs Trump levied under a 1977 law giving him emergency powers. It applies to tariff announcements made on Feb.1, April 2, July 30 and Aug. 6 of last year.

—CQ-Roll Call

Liberal Sen. Bernie Sanders to kick off California billionaires' tax campaign

LOS ANGELES — Sen. Bernie Sanders, a political hero among liberals and populists, next week will formally kick off the campaign to place a new tax on billionaires on California's November ballot.

The controversial proposal, which would impose a one-time 5% tax on the assets of the state's wealthiest residents, is critical to backfilling federal funding cuts to healthcare enacted by the Trump administration, Sanders said in a statement.

"This initiative would provide the necessary funding to prevent over 3 million working-class Californians from losing the healthcare they currently have — and would help prevent the closures of California hospitals and emergency rooms," he said.

"It should be common sense that the billionaires pay just slightly more so that entire communities can preserve access to life-saving medical care. Our country needs access to hospitals and emergency rooms, not more tax breaks for billionaires."

—Los Angeles Times

Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs school cellphone ban, saying it will benefit students

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vowed Tuesday that a new state policy to ban students from using cellphones in schools during instructional time will help improve their social skills and their ability to learn.

Whitmer, a Democrat, signed two bills on the subject into law during an event inside Waverly High School, three miles from the state Capitol. "Will this new law work?" Hell yes, it will," Whitmer said. "I know I'm in school. I shouldn't be swearing."

Whitmer, lawmakers and educators spoke out in support of the cellphone ban on Tuesday, while standing in a hallway in front of a row of blue lockers and signs that said "supporting MI students."

The governor called for the cellphone restriction during her 2025 State of the State address. A bipartisan coalition of Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, and Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, helped negotiate a compromise and usher it through the divided Legislature, where bipartisan achievements have been few over the last year.

—The Detroit News

New Iran deal distant prospect as US talks drag, airstrikes loom

The United States and Iran each struck a positive tone about the start of diplomatic talks, though analysts remain skeptical that the engagement will be enough to head off U.S. airstrikes.

The timeline and terms of the negotiations remain unclear after an opening round of talks on Friday that President Donald Trump cast as “very good” and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed as a “step forward.” But developments since those discussions started only underscore the persistent tension between the two sides.

Over the weekend, Iran continued its crackdown on dissidents, risking Trump’s ire after he held back on strikes due to Iranian assurances that it would halt protester executions. On Monday, the U.S. warned American vessels to steer clear of Iranian waters, spooking oil markets and renewing the prospect of conflict.

Analysts see almost no chance of a serious deal given that Iran wants to limit negotiations to its nuclear program. The U.S., meanwhile, has previously demanded that Iran give up its ballistic-missile program, stop supporting military groups and end a crackdown on protesters.

—Bloomberg News