WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House threatened a presidential veto Wednesday of legislation that would tighten screening of Syrian and Iraqi refugees before they are granted U.S. entry, calling new requirements in the Republican-backed bill "untenable."
The legislation pending in the House of Representatives sets high hurdles for refugee admissions, including FBI background checks and individual sign-offs by top federal officials. The measure "would provide no meaningful additional security for the American people, instead serving only to create significant delays and obstacles in the fulfillment of a vital program that satisfies both humanitarian and national security objectives," the White House said.
BOSTON – Pressing ahead with the Green Line Extension project may require fresh bonding authority from the state Legislature next year to help cover the costs, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack told lawmakers Wednesday.
"As I've said repeatedly the option of halting the project remains on the table until or unless we can develop a fiscally responsible approach to completing the project," Pollack told the House Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. "If the project is to continue, I must emphasize that the commonwealth's contribution may well need to increase beyond the $1.2 billion that was authorized in the 2014 transportation bond bill. If that is the case, we would be seeking additional bond authorization."
