Category: US House

Jim Jordan among McCarthy picks for Jan. 6 panel

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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday is expected to pick five Republicans to serve on the special House committee created to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The top Republican on the bipartisan panel will be Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.), a rising star who is serving this cycle as chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, GOP sources said.

The others , sources said, are Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee and the co-founder of the far-right Freedom Caucus; Rep. Rodney Davis (Ill.), the top Republican on the Administration Committee; and Reps. Kelly Armstrong (N.D.) and Troy Nehls (Texas), a former county sheriff. Continue reading.

Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3) Update: Conversation and Collaboration

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Hi Neighbors,

I’m checking in with more updates after a busy week. My time was split between DC and Minnesota, and highlights included engaging with my constituents, supporting two pieces of bipartisan legislation that keep America at the centerstage, and authoring a bill that works to fuel the modernization of our healthcare system.

I’m already looking forward to my next visit home, but, in the meantime I have some great news to share: 

Community Conversation

Last Thursday, I was thrilled to be back with you all at our first in-person town hall in over a year. Its been a long year for many of us, and, as is often the case, what is good for the soul is good for our democracy.

Continue reading “Rep. Dean Phillips (CD3) Update: Conversation and Collaboration”

‘Death by DeSantis’: Congresswoman attacks governor for making a mockery of Floridians dying in hospitals

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One out of five Americans with COVID-19 are from Florida, according to shocking information revealed this week. The state is one of the worst in the country after the Republican governor celebrated that he was eliminating all precautions employed by other states.

The numbers tracked by the New York Times revealed that Florida is the worst state, followed by regional outbreaks like northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, both of which are experiencing enormous increases in disease spread. 

“I think we have a governor who has not taken covid seriously from the beginning,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “He has campaign merchandise on his website saying ‘Don’t Fauci my Florida.’ And we’ve had nearly 40,000 Floridians die of COVID. We have, we are contributing 20 percent of the COVID diagnosis in the country right now and we’re on the rise. And look, I would rather see us Fauci our Florida than have people go through death by DeSantis. That’s what we’re facing now. He actually had a law pass in Florida to prohibit local governments from being able to enact measures like mask requirements and social distancing to keep people safe. You can’t make this up! That’s where the blame lies. At his feet.” Continue reading.

GOP teeing up critical race theory for midterms in Minnesota, across the nation

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GOP seizes on critical race theory as partisan divider. 

ASHBY, MINN. – Jason Kirchenwitz wanted to know more about an issue arising often now in his conversations, and he suspected others did too, especially Republican activists he helps organize in rural Grant County.

He was right. Nearly 100 people filed into a gymnasium in this town of fewer than 500 people last week for a meeting he called. They all came to hear about critical race theory.

“I have kids in school,” said Kirchenwitz. “I don’t want them pressured or pushed into other views.” Continue reading.

Strike 3: ‘America First’ Rally Axed in Anaheim After 2 Cancellations Elsewhere

Hometown of Disneyland was not the happiest place on Earth and nixed plans for a rally with Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene

An “America First” Rally featuring speeches by controversial GOP representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz was scheduled for Saturday night at Anaheim Event Center following cancellations at two other Southern California venues, but Anaheim also backed out on Saturday morning.

The City of Anaheim — home to Disneyland — was not the happiest place on Earth over the news, reported Saturday morning by City News Service, with the city issuing a statement Saturday saying it planned to act fast on the plans. And it did, cancelling the event with a follow-up statement, citing public safety concerns.

“The city of Anaheim shared public safety concerns with the operator, and those concerns are shared by the operator,” the statement said in part. “As a city we respect free speech but also have a duty to call out speech that does not reflect our city and its values.” Continue reading.

QAnon congresswoman complains about her and Matt Gaetz being so politically toxic

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Controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) complained about “communists” on Friday after she and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) faced backlash over plans for an “America First” rally in California.

The two were disinvited from a location in legendary GOP stronghold of Orange County. After failing to find another venue in the OC that would take them, the two moved the spectacle to Riverside County.

But even after securing a second venue, the two faced protests as they were holding their event at the city-owned convention center. Continue reading.

Federal judge blocks new applications to DACA

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A federal judge in Texas blocked new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in a ruling Friday, increasing pressure on Congress to find a legislative solution for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as minors.

Immigration advocates had been expecting the ruling for weeks, fearing Judge Andrew Hanen — a George W. Bush appointee who is known for his tough stance on immigration matters — could rule against the legality of the Obama-era program as a whole.

Hanen ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) “with the creation of DACA and its continued operation.” Continue reading.

DFL Debrief: Political Data and the Path to Victory in 2022

DFL Debrief

This week, the DFL crew dug into the data on what actually happened in the 2020 elections and what those results tell us about the DFL path to victory in 2022 with TargetSmart CEO Tom Bonier.

If you like the show, be sure to tell your friends and rate and review on Apple Podcasts! You can submit any feedback or t-shirt ideas you have to podcast@dfl.org.

You can listen here.

Crime victims bill logjam ends; may go to Biden’s desk next week

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Bill to boost cash for victims’ services is set to move forward

A Justice Department program that uses fines and penalties from criminal settlements to fund services for crime victims is on the verge of getting a long-sought cash infusion.

On the same day groups like the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence urged members to light up senators’ phone lines, email addresses and Twitter feeds with calls for action, Democratic and Republican leaders in that chamber reached agreement late Wednesday to take up House-passed legislation to give the Crime Victims Fund a financial boost. Sources familiar with the matter expect that vote to occur next week.

The measure would direct revenue from out-of-court settlements like deferred prosecution agreements, which have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, into the fund so it no longer has to rely solely on criminal cases. Continue reading.