US House 27 , CD3 DFL

Lawmakers’ false narratives could fan the flames of extremism, Senate told

Homeland Security plans review of how extremists have leveraged social media and other online platforms

Two top federal law enforcement officials said Wednesday that politicians who embrace false narratives could help fuel the possibility of violent extremism in America such as the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The testimony came the same morning House Republicans ousted their conference chair, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, for refusing to embrace former President Donald Trump’s continued lies about the 2020 election being stolen or fraudulent.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on domestic violent extremism, testified that false narratives create a lack of confidence in democratic institutions. Continue reading.

At hearing, Republicans recast Jan. 6 rioters as victims

At hearing, Republicans recast Jan. 6 rioters as victims

Less than an hour after Republicans ousted Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her role in conference leadership for criticizing former President Donald Trump, House Republicans sought to recast the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, with the rioters now assuming the role of victims.

Wednesday’s House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing featured testimony from former acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and former acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, who were in office on Jan. 6, along with Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., argued that there was something untoward about federal law enforcement seeking the public’s help in tracking down individuals for whom there’s photo and video evidence of potential violations of federal law. Continue reading.

Rep. Phillips: Focusing on Family

Hi Neighbors,

Families were on my mind as I celebrated my remarkable mom last weekend. It has been a challenging year for all families, and I hope however, and whoever, you honored this Mother’s Day, that it was filled with reflection and gratitude (and perhaps a long-overdue hug if you’re fully vaccinated).

It has been another busy week with a lot of news – so let’s get right to it:

Investing in Kids and Families

Minnesota is the third most expensive state for childcare in the nation. Even before the pandemic, the shortage of affordable, accessible childcare in Minnesota was a serious concern for policy experts and legislators. In the intervening months, that shortage has reached crisis levels, with disastrous repercussions for working families in our state and across the country. As others have said, saving childcare means preserving jobs and supporting working families and businesses. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 400,000 more women have left the workforce compared to men, in large part due to childcare responsibilities. Absent congressional action, employment for women will not reach pre-pandemic levels until 2024, two years after it is projected to do so for men. It’s time for solutions. So, I hosted a virtual roundtable conversation focused on the returns on investment in kids and families this week.

Cheney on Trump: ‘I will do everything I can’ to keep him away from the White House

Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) vowed following House Republicans’ Wednesday vote to remove her as GOP conference chairwoman to do everything she can to keep former President Trump from returning to power.

Sources inside a closed-door session Wednesday morning said lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to oust Cheney, who had attracted growing pushback from Trump allies in Congress for repeatedly refuting his claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election and blaming him for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

In remarks to reporters immediately following the vote, Cheney doubled down on her vow to continue countering Trump’s message, saying, “We must go forward based on truth.” Continue reading.

Biden administration, House Democrats reach agreement in Donald McGahn subpoena lawsuit

The Biden Justice Department and lawyers for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have reached an agreement about how to handle a congressional subpoena for testimony from former Trump White House counsel Donald McGahn.

The House Judiciary Committee and the Biden administration announced the deal Tuesday in a filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The parties told the court they have “an agreement in principle on an accommodation.” Former president Donald Trump is “not a party to the agreement,” the filing states.

No additional details were provided about the negotiated settlement. Continue reading.

In Honor of National Police Week, Phillips Salutes and Thanks Minnesota Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) spoke on the House floor during a Special Order Hour organized by Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) to honor Minnesota law enforcement officers and their sacrifices made in the line of duty.

“As a Gold Star Son who lost his father in the Vietnam War, I empathize with and salute the honorable men and women who don a uniform and risk their lives protecting our country and our communities – oftentimes without the appreciation or support that they need and deserve,” said Rep. Phillips. “So I rise today to express gratitude to the 11,000 police officers who serve and protect the residents of my home state of Minnesota – an overwhelming majority of whom are compassionate and principled public servants.”

In his remarks, Phillips paid tribute to Major Dawanna Witt, an officer who rose from adversity to a leadership position in the Hennepin County Sherriff’s office. A fierce advocate for both law enforcement and police reform, Major Witt embodies the character and values that define community policing in MN-03.

Click here to watch the speech

Republican Complaint: Workers Don’t Flock To Poverty-Wage Jobs

Republican lawmakers are blaming disappointing jobs numbers on unemployment benefits they claim incentivize employees to avoid returning to work — all while ignoring pleas for a higher minimum wage that might solve the supposed problem.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated on Friday that employers added 266,000 jobs in April — significantly less growth than the previous month — with the unemployment rate remaining almost unchanged at 6.1 percent.

Though administration officials say there is no evidence of a connection, Republicanlawmakers were quick to blame this slowdown on the emergency unemployment benefitsthat were passed as part of President Joe Biden’s COVID relief package, the American Rescue Plan. Because the federal government is giving jobless Americans an extra $300 a week, they argued, it must mean people are finding unemployment more lucrative than the jobs available to them. Continue reading.

Kevin McCarthy’s and the GOP’s nonsensical justification for ousting Liz Cheney

Republicans would very much like you to know that they are not punishing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) because she said mean things about former president Donald Trump. It’s not about that! What it is about is focusing on the future, rather than the past.

Since that became the talking point, though, Republicans including Trump have set about reinforcing its speciousness.

“I think you saw Congresswoman Cheney giving a press conference and talking about the last election when all of us — the vast majority of members — are talking about the next election,” the No. 2 House Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise (La.), has said. Continue reading.

DFL Party Statement on the Ousting of Representative Cheney

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement following Representative Liz Cheney’s ousting from Republican Party leadership:

“Donald Trump’s lies and conspiracy theories about the 2020 elections led to the storming of the United States Capitol in a violent attempt to overthrow American democracy. Congressional Republicans just removed Representative Liz Cheney from party leadership for acknowledging that basic fact, fighting back against those lies, and voting to hold the perpetrator accountable.

“Representatives Hagedorn, Emmer, Fischbach, and Stauber should have joined Cheney in working to stop the Big Lie from becoming part of Republican dogma. Instead, they meekly sat back and allowed Cheney to take the fall for standing up for truth, for the rule of law, and for our democracy. This act of political cowardice on the part of Minnesota’s Republican Congressional delegation should not be forgiven and it must not be forgotten.

“It is abundantly clear that the Republican Party is now the party of Donald Trump, the Big Lie, and the January insurrection, and every single Republican who allowed that to happen should be deeply ashamed of the miserable and morally bankrupt state of their party.”

House Republicans vote to remove Liz Cheney from leadership

House Republicans ousted Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as conference chair in a voice vote Wednesday, capping months of growing backlash over her criticisms of former President Trump, according to two sources in the room.

Why it matters: The stunning removal of the No. 3 House Republican over her condemnation of Trump’s election lies reflects the influence the former president still retains over the GOP.

The big picture: The vote marks the most significant turning point in an internal party feud that is unlikely to subside any time soon. Continue reading.

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Investing in Kids and Families

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