“Congress is filled with lots of great actors. It is devoid of action,” said moderate Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), a member of the Problems Solvers Caucus who has been involved in the bipartisan discussions. “There’s a massive disconnect between those who have been elected to leadership in our respective chambers and caucuses and between the rank-and-file members.” The odds of passing a new tranche of relief […]
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As Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths surge across the country, most states are depending on National Guard members to perform essential tasks, including running testing sites. | AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio President Donald Trump on Thursday approved requests from nearly every state to extend federal funding for the National Guard’s Covid-19 relief work until the end of March. The White House, however, denied requests for full federal […]
As chair, DeLauro will work closely with the White House in future funding negotiations, charged with executing President-elect Joe Biden’s spending priorities and packing annual appropriations bills with long-held Democratic prerogatives. If Republicans keep their majority in the Senate, DeLauro will have to navigate the appropriations process alongside Senate Appropriations Chair Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who boasts a good working relationship with Lowey. Republicans in the next […]
As incoming DCCC chief, Maloney will have one of the trickiest jobs in Washington after the Democrats’ down-ballot trouncing at the polls last month that left Republicans between five and seven seats away from the majority. He will have to convince dozens of new candidates to run in a potentially unfavorable environment and in districts that have yet to be drawn. Maloney will be immediately inserted […]
The crossfire erupted this week after reports that Biden would appoint Brian Deese to lead the National Economic Council. Deese is a former Barack Obama adviser who spearheaded some of the former president’s most successful climate moves, but he has since joined BlackRock to help the investment management giant bring climate change into its decision-making. Many greens have also already preemptively warned against offering any administration […]
The rise of McMorris Rodgers, who also served a stint in Republican leadership, reflects a broader shift not only in the GOP, but also in the institution as a whole. More women are running for office — and winning — than ever before. And they’re leveraging their power to lock down prized committee and leadership roles. “For many, many years, we talked about how women needed […]
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), who chairs the committee, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross demanding that the agency “produce a full and unredacted set of the documents requested by the Committee,” threatening a subpoena if he does not comply. A second document released by the agency, dated Nov. 19 and labeled “pre-decisional — for discussion purposes only,” details 13 “anomalies” within the data that […]
“It’d be great if he ran. He’s done a good job. I think he ought to run if he wants to run. Who knows what’s going to happen in ‘24?” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who said he is not focused on a presidential run at the moment. “He can sell the things he accomplished.” In a series of interviews Wednesday, House and Senate Republicans made […]
“Representative McMorris Rodgers is an experienced leader who understands that we must balance America’s energy needs with reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Quill Robinson, vice president of government affairs with the center-right American Conservation Coalition. “She represents the future of the Republican Party on the issue of climate change.” McMorris Rodgers, an eastern Washington lawmaker, has championed hydropower, which accounts for more than two-thirds of all […]
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) welcomed Kelly to the Senate ahead of his swearing in. “It may not be the role he expected for himself earlier in his life,” Schumer said. “As Mark likes to say, his wife Gabby was already the member of the family in Congress. But tragedy upended both of their lives, and changed so many of their plans. Everyone continues to […]
Leaders in both chambers have said they must confront the coronavirus crisis before Congress leaves likely next week until the new year. But there’s no agreement on how to do that and only days to figure it out. “In light of the COVID crisis that confronts us, I am hopeful that members will come to grips with decision-making — that will be a compelling reason for […]
Key Republicans also made clear they weren’t going to bend to Trump. Senate Armed Services Chair Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said that while he agrees with Trump on Section 230, the provision “has nothing to do with the military.” “You can’t do it in this bill. That’s not a part of the bill,” Inhofe said, adding that he has conveyed that belief to Trump. In a pair […]
“Therefore, if the very dangerous & unfair Section 230 is not completely terminated as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), I will be forced to unequivocally VETO the Bill when sent to the very beautiful Resolute desk,” Trump added. A senior House staffer said the issue has no chance of success with Democrats. “It’s a fucking joke,” said the staffer, who spoke anonymously to […]
“We’re very, very concerned as a community, as a Latino community,” said Texas Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, who called last week for at least five Latinos to be appointed to Cabinet-level positions. Asian American and Pacific Islander advocates and officials are warning the Biden administration, in writing, it will be “deeply disappointing if several AAPIs are not nominated” to Cabinet positions. They’re growing increasingly convinced the president-elect […]
Armed Services is one of the most coveted committee posts in the House. The panel oversees the annual National Defense Authorization Act, a bill that directs military policy and outlines the Pentagon budget each year. The legislation has been enacted for 59 consecutive years, making it one of the few major bills that reliably passes each year. The committee has been in the spotlight as House […]
While the full caucus typically backs the Steering Committee’s pick, an upset has occurred as recently as 2014. Lawmakers and aides watching the race expect it will be decided on a second round of voting for DeLauro and Wasserman Schultz, with allies of the Florida Democrat hopeful she can eke out a win with the help of Kaptur supporters forced to throw their support behind another […]
Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen echoed Powell’s remarks when she was formally introduced today by President-elect Joe Biden as his choice for Treasury secretary. Said Yellen: “Lost lives, lost jobs, small businesses struggling to stay alive are closed for good. So many people struggling to put food on the table and pay bills and rent. It’s an American tragedy. And it is essential we move with […]
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the No. 3 Senate Democrat, said in a statement last week that “there needs to be a discussion” on the issue. Durbin’s allies, however, are quick to highlight that Murray is both in a high-ranking leadership position and is the top Democrat on the Senate HELP Committee. The issue is expected to come up during Democrats’ weekly caucus call Tuesday and […]
The U.S. Capitol building. | Patrick Semansky/AP Photo A bipartisan group of senators will introduce a broad coronavirus aid framework on Tuesday, a significant breakthrough after months of failed negotiation. But it’s just the first step toward Congress finally approving a new round of aid. The legislation would provide $908 billion in aid and also shield businesses from coronavirus lawsuits for a few months to allow […]
“It’s pretty crazy to me to think that she can go back and … eliminate all the tweets that she’s sent out over the last, whatever, months, years. And I think it’s really a misstep by the administration,” said Cornyn, who also occasionally does battle on Twitter. “I really am a little surprised, particularly on the OMB nominee that there hadn’t been at least some consultation. […]
A number of key provisions, like expanded unemployment insurance and eviction moratoriums from the spring’s massive CARES Act are expiring at the end of the year, heightening the urgency. Any potential coronavirus relief package could be attached to a spending bill due by Dec. 11 to ensure its passage. Congressional leaders prefer a large spending package to avoid a shutdown instead of a stopgap continuing resolution […]
“Anybody who believes in science knows that global warming is only going to cause increases in future risks for major storms,” said Stevens, the former Freddie Mac official, who also was president of the Mortgage Bankers Association trade organization. “I think the key is, what’s predictive here?” Making those decisions would put the mortgage giants in a position to write off whole communities. Susan Wachter, a […]
Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) Democrats will again have total control over the crafting of Illinois’s congressional map — and, if possible, they’ll want to take out GOP Rep. Rodney Davis. In 2011, mapmakers had to protect then-Democratic Rep. Jerry Costello, who held a seat to the south of Davis that has since moved away from the party. If Democrats […]
“If the last two years of the Obama administration were any indication, they’ll freeze them out,” Durbin said. “Hope springs eternal but I believe in history.” Biden, who chaired the Judiciary Committee from 1987 to 1995, will be confronting an institution that’s only become more partisan since he left it, especially when it comes to the courts. Last month, Amy Coney Barrett became the first Supreme […]
Malliotakis, who frequently attacked Ocasio-Cortez during her campaign against Democratic Rep. Max Rose, took aim again at her New York counterpart when asked about the future of the Republican Party. “I think one of the reasons why we were so motivated to run is seeing the Democratic women being elected in 2018 that don’t necessarily reflect our values, particularly those who are self-described socialists,” Malliotakis said. […]
“Well, the president-elect will be the president-elect when the electors vote for him. There is no official job of president-elect,” the Missouri Republican said. A small but growing number of Republican senators, including Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.), have publicly conceded in recent weeks that Trump lost, even though President Donald Trump’s campaign has continued to mount — and lose — legal fights […]
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), for example, remains decidedly anti-weed although his home state made history by legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana on Election Day. “I have not changed my position on it. I think this is really bad public policy,” Rounds said. He said he does not plan to work on revising federal marijuana laws, even piecemeal legislation like access to banking for cannabis businesses. […]
A Senate leadership aide familiar with the planning noted that no coronavirus cases have been linked to the GOP lunches or to floor activity. The Senate will continue to vote in person and maintain precautions like keeping the doors open to the chamber, holding votes open for a longer period of time and encouraging members to leave the floor after voting. In addition to Scott and […]
Such an outcome would contradict one of President Donald Trump’s closing campaign themes: that electing the former vice president would spell doom for U.S. fossil fuel producers. But it could rankle progressive climate activists who are pushing for Biden to end fracking and stop all U.S. fossil fuel exports. The Trump administration rolled back Obama-era methane regulations for new oil and gas wells in August, and […]
“I would love to see her nominated for Secretary of Defense,” he added. Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense for policy, also received an endorsement from a collection of former senior defense officials, diplomats and arms control experts who lauded her support for international treaties and other efforts to reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons in war planning. Flournoy “knows that a top priority […]
Another name being floated for CIA is Jeh Johnson, the former Obama-era Homeland Security secretary. Johnson, a former federal prosecutor, served as the Pentagon’s general counsel during Obama’s first term — trying, but failing, to shut down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It’s not clear how serious his standing is in the CIA hunt, however, and he’s also being mentioned for other posts, including defense secretary […]
In a statement, the Army Corps said it had determined the mining company’s plan to deal with the huge amounts of rock and other fill material that would be displaced by the mine “does not comply with Clean Water Act guidelines and [ACE] concluded that the proposed project is contrary to the public interest. This action is based on all available facts and complies with existing […]
Key context: House Democrats unveiled their funding allocations earlier this year and passed most of their spending bills in two big bundles over the summer, while Senate Republicans only released their numbers earlier this month and haven’t passed any bills. Appropriators and staff have worked for days to resolve a number of outstanding issues between the two sets of figures, including how to classify veterans health […]