Category: Joe Biden

While Fox And Trump Make Stupid Noises, Biden Is Busy Governing

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So it turns out that the whole time Sleepy Joe Biden was hiding in the basement, he was working on a plan to render congressional Republicans irrelevant. Which, for the foreseeable future, they certainly are.

If you don’t remember—why should you?—the GOP literally had no party platform in 2020. It was Trump, Trump, Trump. A cult of personality. What they didn’t count on was a strong majority of Americans being all Trumped-out. And so now they’ve got nothing to talk about.

Except, oh yes, the budget deficit. A deficit that literally tripled on Trump’s watch, leading many to doubt that it was ever such a terrible threat to begin with. Washington Republicans who stood quiet as deficits soared over the past four years are donning green eyeshades and calling themselves “fiscal conservatives” again. Continue reading.

Join Rep. Phillips on a virtual tour of the US Capitol – with a Minnesota twist!

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) released a new, virtual tourof the U.S. Capitol and surrounding landmarks. The Capitol complex has been closed for in-person tours since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and interest in the history and symbolism of the Capitol Building has piqued since the January 6th insurrection. 

“Showing my fellow Minnesotans around the Capitol is one of my favorite things to do,” said Phillips. “Even though we can’t travel or be together right now, it’s as important as ever to appreciate the artwork, architecture, and American history in these hallowed halls. As our nation reels from the devastating events of January 6th, I invite all of my constituents to join me on a tour through this monument to our democracy.”

Phillips, a self-described history buff, hosts the virtual tour and highlights Minnesota’s ties to America’s “temple of democracy” for thousands of Minnesotans who have had to cancel their travel plans. Viewers will follow Rep. Phillips to statues commemorating Minnesota heroes Maria Sanford and Henry Mower Rice. Phillips also tours the Senate Fountain, constructed of Minnesota granite, and a memorial honoring Vietnam Veterans from our state. Other highlights of the tour include visits to the Congressman’s office, National Statuary Hall, and the breathtaking Capitol Rotunda – the very place desecrated by a violent mob two short months ago.

DFL Party Statement on President Biden Signing the American Rescue Plan Into Law

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, his $1.9 trillion COVID relief and stimulus bill, into law. The wide-ranging and incredibly popular bill contains numerous important measures to combatting COVID-19 and helping the American people build back better from the pandemic, including:

  • $1,400 relief checks for most Americans
  • Extended unemployment insurance of $300 per week through early September
  • Child tax credits of up to $3,600
  • More than $15 billion for vaccine distribution
  • Roughly $50 billion for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing
  • $130 billion to safely reopen schools
  • $350 billion in state and local aid

Every DFL member of Congress voted in favor of the American Rescue Plan and every Minnesota Republican voted against it. Republican opposition comes despite the bill’s tremendous popularity among voters across the political spectrum – 75% of American voters and 59% of Republican voters approve of the American Rescue Plan – and despite the roughly $1 billion in local government aid the bill will bring to Minnesota’s Republican-controlled congressional districts.

Continue reading “DFL Party Statement on President Biden Signing the American Rescue Plan Into Law”

Biden signs $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill

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President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act in the Oval Office on Thursday, one day earlier than originally scheduled.

The latest: White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing shortly after the signing that the first wave of direct deposit relief payments will begin hitting Americans’ bank accounts “as early as this weekend.”

Why it matters: The enactment of the massive coronavirus relief plan cements Biden’s first major legislative victory and comes exactly one year after the pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization. Continue reading.

White House: President Biden’s name will not appear on $1,400 stimulus payments

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The checks are a key part of the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan the House is expected to vote on Wednesday.

The White House said Tuesday that President Biden’s name would not appear on the $1,400 stimulus payments set to be sent out to millions of American families as part of the administration’s relief package, a reversal from the precedent set under President Trump.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Tuesday that the payments approved under Biden would instead by signed by a career official at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, an office within the Department of Treasury. The House is expected to vote on the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan as soon as Wednesday, putting it on course to be signed into law by Biden next week.

The decision marks a reversal from the Trump administration. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin included Trump’s signature on the memo line of the payments approved in March last year, as well as a gushing letter signed by Trump taking credit for the benefit. Continue reading.

Pentagon chief approves extension of National Guard deployment at the Capitol; Biden continues selling relief package to public

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday approved a request from the Capitol Police to extend the deployment of National Guard members to protect Congress into May, defense officials said, keeping a military presence around one of the nation’s major landmarks for two more months.

Meanwhile, the Senate voted Tuesday to move forward on confirming two of President Biden’s Cabinet picks, Merrick Garland for attorney general and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, setting up final confirmation for both on Wednesday afternoon.

Biden and senior administration officials plan to continue trying to sell the public on the benefits of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan after it passes, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday, adding that the effort will include some travel by the president. Aplanned final House vote slated for Wednesday would send the measure to Biden’s desk. Continue reading.

Biden administration eyes new housing facilities for migrant children

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The White House said Tuesday that it’s looking at new facilities to house the unaccompanied children who have arrived by the thousands in recent weeks at the southern border as the Biden administration scrambles to deal with the growing migrant crisis.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration is scouting new facilities that would enable the administration to move thousands of children out of temporary Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facilities and into housing managed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where children would have access to education, health care and legal services.

“We’re looking at additional facilities where we can safely house children and ensure they have access to all of these resources,” Psaki said. Continue reading.

Senate confirms Merrick Garland as attorney general

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The Senate voted 70-30 on Wednesday to confirm Judge Merrick Garland as U.S. attorney general. 

Why it matters: Garland takes over the Justice Department after a tumultuous four years under former President Trump, who frequently sought to politicize the law enforcement agency. The former Supreme Court nominee has pledged to make prosecuting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrectionists a top priority for the Justice Department.

  • Garland told the Senate Judiciary Committee last month that he will “supervise the prosecution of white supremacists and others who stormed the Capitol,” as he did as a federal prosecutor investigating the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
  • The Justice Department is also overseeing an investigation into the business affairs of President Biden’s son, Hunter. Garland testified that he hasn’t spoken to the president about the issue. Continue reading.

House votes to send $1.9 trillion COVID relief package to Biden’s desk

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The House voted 220-211 on Wednesday to approve the Senate’s revised version of President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, sending the bill to Biden’s desk to be signed.

Why it matters: The passage of the “American Rescue Plan” is the first — and potentially defining — legislative victory of Biden’s presidency, marking a key milestone in his pledge to steer the U.S. out of the coronavirus crisis.

The big picture: The package is being touted by Democrats as one of the most consequential anti-poverty bills of the modern era, with the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center projecting that it will boost incomes for the poorest 20% of Americans by 20%. Continue reading.

‘Russia is up to its old tricks’: Biden battling COVID-19 vaccine disinformation campaign

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WASHINGTON – The Biden administration said Monday it is taking steps to combat Russian disinformation aimed at undermining confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer Inc. and other Western companies.

“We will fight (the disinformation) with every tool we have,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing on Monday.

On Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported that four publications, all serving as fronts for Russian intelligence, have targeted Western-produced COVID-19 vaccines with misleading coverage that exaggerates the risk of side effects and raises questions about their efficacy. Continue reading.