Depending on which news organization you look at, if the Republicans lose 22 or 23 votes, the AHCA is dead in the House. The voting is taking place today, and the bill is changing with little giftees for certain districts. Here is a wrap-up of where we are so far on the vote count, but pay close attention to the … Read More
Some Leaks Are Illegal; Ours Aren’t
At a press conference today, House Intelligence Chair Devin Nunes gave the following statement: At our open hearing on Monday, I encouraged anyone who has information about relevant topics—including surveillance on President-elect Trump or his transition team—to come forward and speak to the House Intelligence Committee. I also said that, while there was not a physical wiretap of Trump Tower, … Read More
The First Test Should Be A Massive Infrastructure Bill
Trump promised it, Democrats have always loved it. And Republicans hate it. Trump promised a half-trillion dollar building program, about twice as much as even Hillary Clinton. It certainly would put Americans to work (not that unemployment is a problem) AND more importantly, it is needed. But will Trump get it? It will be interesting to see how it plays out. … Read More
Democratic House Sit-In Enters Day Two
Late last night, Ryan managed to adjourn the House until after the July 4th break: After a chaotic, daylong occupation of the House floor, Republican leaders moved in the middle of the night to cut off House Democrats’ gun control “sit-in” by adjourning the House through the July 4 — without a vote on gun control. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) … Read More
Breaking: Literally “On The House Floor”
Dozens of House Democrats are staging a “sit-in” on the House floor until they are allowed a vote on a so-called “no fly, no buy” gun control bill. It is the most dramatic action by House Democrats on gun control since the Orlando shooting on June 12 that left 49 dead and 53 wounded. Two weeks ago, in the Senate, … Read More
Democrats Filibuster For Gun Control
Props to Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut for starting and leading a filibuster to enact some sort of gun control measure, something the Republican Congress won’t even consider, even in the light of such massacres as Newtown and the Orlando Pulse Club shootings. Senate Democrats ended a nearly 15-hour filibuster early this morning after Republican Party leaders reportedly agreed to allow … Read More
Breaking: Senate Democrats Engaging In Filibuster Re: Gun Control
About an hour and a half ago (around 11:30 am), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) started embarking on a talking filibuster in order to push the Senate to address gun control in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in Orlando, Florida. Murphy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) alternated speaking about gun control on the Senate floor, according to Fox 61 in Connecticut. … Read More
Dems In The House: “Screw Moment Of Silence, Where Is The Bill?”
After pausing to observe a moment of silence to honor the victims in the Orlando mass shooting, Democrats in the House on Monday erupted in protest repeating the question “Where’s the bill?” Their emotional demand was directed at Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republicans to bring forth gun control legislation in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in American history … Read More
Two Million Pregnant Women At Risk For Zika Virus
So far, the GOP-controlled House has offered a mere $622 million in Zika funding — far less than what will be needed to meaningfully combat the virus. It’s unclear when Congress may reach an agreement on this issue before its long summer recess. And according to an analysis by the Center For American Progress, this delay could be putting about … Read More
Watch As House Republicans Go Out Of Their Way To Discriminate Against LGBT
A chaotic scene unfolded on the floor of the U.S. House today as a measure to ensure federal contractors can’t discriminate against LGBT people was defeated by a single vote. It initially appeared that the measure — an amendment to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would’ve nullified a Republican “religious liberty” provision allowing federal contractors to discriminate against … Read More
Short Takes
(1) Trump likes to say that he is bringing enthusiasm to the GOP and people are voting in the Republican race in massive numbers, which means that Democrats should be worried about the general election. Is he right? He is not. As many have pointed out, voter turnout is an indication of the competitiveness of a primary contest, not of what will … Read More
Garland
Is it hard to do cartwheels over President Obama’s choice of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland today. Professor Epstein seems to think he’s a good liberal… … but you always have to question the methodology of these things. Merrick Garland is 63 years old and currently serves as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of … Read More
Hillary Clinton vs. Benghazi Committee
Before I get into this, if you’re not up to speed on what the whole Benghazi controversy is about, Vox has a really great primer on the issue. As the primer states, the number of investigations and hearings into the Benghazi incident is unprecedented. Check out these graphs: Today, Hillary Clinton is appearing before the House Benghazi Committee to testify, … Read More
GOP In Disarray: House Freedom Caucus Cools To Ryan
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced Tuesday night that he will consider a bid for House speaker as long as a few conditions are me and one of those conditions is that he doesn’t have to kiss ass to the House Freedom Caucus, the group of 40 far-right Republicans who don’t want to compromise, who want to shut down government, etc. Basically, … Read More
Benghazi Committee Gets Laughable
The House Benghazi investigation committee was supposed to be Hillary’s downfall, but it’s just turned out to be a huge ugly albatross around the GOP and the neck of the committee’s chair, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC). Here’s the latest screw-up: Benghazi committee Chair Trey Gowdy (R-SC) is now returning $6,000 in political donations that are indirectly tied to a PAC that … Read More