STATE HOUSE — Several experts pegged the likely growth of tax revenues in fiscal 2017 at less than 4 percent, citing drags on the economy from an aging workforce and relatively scarce housing combined with an expected further decrease in the income tax rate.
At the annual hearing on revenues Wednesday that kicked off the annual appropriations process, lawmakers heard a range of projections on the availability of tax revenues for fiscal 2017 budget-building purposes. The estimates came in as low as 3.2 percent and as high as 5.6 percent.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate may re-open debate on National Security Agency wire-tapping authority following the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told The Associated Press on Wednesday, a divisive issue already roiling the GOP presidential field.
The Kentucky Republican said in an interview in his Capitol office that the terror attacks abroad and on U.S. soil have raised questions about Congress' wisdom in limiting the authority earlier this year, something he personally opposed. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida sided with McConnell at the time but Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was on the other side, and the two GOP presidential candidates have been clashing heatedly on the issue, including in Tuesday night's debate.
