GOVERNMENT

WASHINGTON — Far-reaching immigration legislation cruised toward passage in the Senate on Wednesday as House Republicans pushed ahead on a different approach that cracks down on millions living in the United States illegally rather than offering them a chance at citizenship. Presidential politics took a more prominent role in a long-running national debate as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tried to reassure conservatives that many of the criticisms of the bill, which he helped write, are “just not true.” WASHINGTON — Efforts to keep interest rates on new student loans from doubling appeared to be falling apart Wednesday as the Democratic leader of the Senate declared a bipartisan proposal unacceptable. With just days to spare before a July 1 deadline, a group of senators from both parties attempted to link interest rates on new federally subsidized Stafford loans to the financial markets in a deal that would avert a costly rate hike for now but could spell higher rates in coming years. WASHINGTON — An Internal Revenue Service official refused to testify Wednesday before a House committee examining his relationship with the CEO of a computer services company that has as much as $500 million in contracts with the tax agency. Gregory Roseman said he was advised by his lawyer to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is investigating government contracts secured by Strong Castle Inc., and whether a friendship between Roseman and Strong Castle’s CEO, Braulio Castillo, was a factor in the company’s ability to win such large contracts with the IRS. starting next year. New rules clarify that people who are eligible to receive medical care through the federal Indian Health Service will be exempt from the requirement to have health insurance or face fines from the Internal Revenue Service. The law exempted only American Indians who can document their membership in one of about 560 tribes recognized by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

CONNECTICUT

OREGON

| Portland — Poor visibility and avalanche danger limited the search Wednesday for a climber missing on Oregon’s Mount Hood. Kinley Adams, of Salem, has been missing since Saturday. Since then, search and rescue crews have been persistently thwarted by white-out conditions, and the skies are not expected to clear until Thursday. Thick fog delayed the start of Wednesday’s search until late morning. The dangerous conditions kept crews near timberline, away from the higher elevations where they believe Adams is likely to be found.