Before a winter storm caked most of the eastern United States in snow and ice, the Senate on Wednesday approved House-passed legislation to pay the nation’s bills. President Obama circumvented Republicans’ unwillingness to raise the minimum wage by issuing an executive order on Wednesday declaring that federal contractors must pay at least $10.10 an hour. It was a step that Obama had been urged to take by Sen. Bernie Sanders and others in Congress. In a deal that alarmed consumer groups, Comcast on Thursday announced plans to take over Time Warner.

Minimum Wage President Obama signed an executive order raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 for workers employed by federal contractors. The pay raise would take effect with future or renewed contracts. Sanders in September had recommended the move in a letter to the president that he wrote and 14 other senators signed. “At a time when more and more jobs being created in the United States are low-wage and part-time, this action by Obama adds momentum to the push in Congress to raise the minimum wage for every worker,” the senator said. Read more

Internet and Cable Colossus Comcast launched a lobbying blitz in Washington, D.C. to support its $45.2 billion takeover of Time Warner Cable. The deal drew fire from public interest groups. On Capitol Hill, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who heads the Senate Commerce's Subcommittee on Antitrust, said she would hold a hearing on the proposed merger. What do you think?

Veterans The Senate will soon take up a comprehensive veterans’ bill by Sanders, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. One provision would help the growing number of men and women veterans who want to have children but need medical help because of combat injuries. The legislation also would fully restore retirement benefits for men and women serving in uniform today. It also would improve health care and education benefits and provide more support for the caregivers for wounded veterans.  Read more in The Washington Times

Dear Mr. President: Don’t Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid A group of senators on Friday urged President Obama to spare Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in the budget blueprint that he will submit to Congress on March 4. A letter written by Sanders and signed by 15 other senators praised the president for improving the economy and creating jobs while reducing the deficit. In making the case against cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, however, the senators expressed concerns about retirement insecurity, growing income inequality and rising poverty. To read the letter, click here.

Cuba A majority of Americans now favor normalizing relations with Cuba, according to a survey for the Atlantic Council released on Tuesday. “We have had an embargo for 55 years. It’s counterproductive. It’s time we normalize relations,” said Sanders, who was just back from a visit to Cuba last weekend. Sanders said lifting the embargo would benefit the economies of both countries.