Category: US House

Lawmakers propose draft bill to create Capitol riot commission

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Congressional leaders are discussing draft legislation for a bipartisan commission that would investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, with the latest proposal giving Democrats more sway over its membership.

According to a senior Democratic aide, a draft bill under discussion would allow each of the four top House and Senate leaders of each party to appoint two members. President Biden would also choose three additional members, including the commission’s chair.

That would give Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Biden the ability to choose a total of seven members, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) would choose a total of four members. Continue reading.

Rep. Dean Phillips to Speak at Chanhassen Rotary


According to reporting the The Chanhassen Villager, Rep. Dean Phillips will be speaking at the Chanhassen Rotary on March 31. The event is free, but registration is required. If you have questions, please email events@chanhassenrotary.org.

GOP not worried about voting against popular relief bill

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Republicans are dismissing the idea that they’ll be punished at the ballot box for voting against President Biden‘s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

The relief measure is expected to get few, if any, GOP votes as it moves through Congress in the coming weeks. Democrats are trying to pressure Republicans into voting for the package, touting polls that show it’s popular with the public.

Republicans counter that much of the bill is focused on Democrats’ longstanding priorities rather than coronavirus relief. And strategists note that it’s unclear whether voters will be thinking about the relief package closer to the midterm elections, which are more than a year and a half away.  Continue reading.

Oath Keeper Claims She Met with Secret Service Before Capitol Riot

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A leader of the far-right “Oath Keepers” group charged in the deadly U.S. Capitol riots said she was in Washington on Jan. 6 to provide security for legislators and meet with Secret Service agents, according to a court filing.

Jessica Watkins, 38, is one of nine associates of the anti-government group charged with conspiring to storm the Capitol to prevent Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory.

Prosecutors said Watkins entered the Capitol building illegally. According to a defense petition filed on Saturday: “Ms. Watkins did not engage in any violence or force at the Capitol grounds or in the Capitol.” Continue reading.

The Lost Hours: How Confusion and Inaction at the Capitol Delayed a Troop Deployment

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As violence grew out of control on Jan. 6, the head of the Capitol Police made an urgent request for the National Guard. It took nearly two hours to be approved.

WASHINGTON — At 1:09 p.m. on Jan. 6, minutes after protesters had burst through the barricades around the U.S. Capitol and began using the steel debris to assault the officers standing guard, the chief of the Capitol Police made a desperate call for backup. It took nearly two hours for officials to approve the deployment of the National Guard.

New details about what transpired over those 115 minutes on that dark, violent day — revealed in interviews and documents — tell a story of how chaotic decision-making among political and military leaders burned precious time as the rioting at the Capitol spiraled out of control.

Communication breakdowns, inaction and confusion over who had authority to call for the National Guard delayed a deployment of hundreds of troops who might have helped quell the violence that raged for hours. Continue reading.

Democrats plan crackdown on rising drug costs

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Democrats are hoping 2021 will be the year they accomplish their long-held goal of reining in rising prescription drug costs by allowing the government to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies.

The proposal is largely opposed by Republicans and loathed by the pharmaceutical industry, but Democrats think they have a chance of getting it done with control of the White House and Congress.  

Price negotiations could be included later this year in a reconciliation bill, a fast-track budgetary move that only needs 51 votes to pass the Senate and can’t be filibustered. Continue reading.

Congressional Spotlight: Representative Dean Phillips

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SEATTLE, Washington — Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District has been fighting to end global poverty since he was first elected to office in 2018.

Congressman Dean Phillips is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as a member of two subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security and Trade and the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. As a member of these committees, Phillips has made it a priority to co-sponsor legislation to enact true change. Among the numerous anti-poverty bills he has co-sponsored, two stand out as being especially impactful in protecting vulnerable groups and stimulating local economies in developing countries.

Anti-Poverty Legislation

One of the bills Phillips supported was the Youth, Peace and Security Act. The bill, which is still in committee, aims to help young people become more involved in the peacemaking process. Around 50% of people affected by the conflict in unstable regions are young people under the age of 20. Ultimately, the bill tries to rectify this problem by supporting youth civil-society organizations through additional funding as well as appointing someone to oversee the implementation of a U.S. strategy to support such groups. The goal of the bill is to help give power to today’s young people that are advocating for peace. As the next generation, youths can help communities torn by violence to rebuild over time. Continue reading.

‘No ethics’ Matt Gaetz criticized for having ‘no moral high ground’

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U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, decided to weigh in on Ted Cruz abandoning his constituents for a trip to sunny Cancun while some of them literally froze to death. Gaetz came out by defending Cruz, saying no apology was necessary.

More specifically, Gaetz gaslighted the general public, by saying, “Ted Cruz should not have apologized.”

The Senator from Texas who used his two little girls as a shield for his bad behavior did not apologize. Continue reading.

Leaked Memo Shows GOP Leadership Whipping Opposition To $1400 Relief Bill

House Republican leadership on Friday urged every GOP lawmaker to vote against President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief legislation, mocking the proposal as “Pelosi’s Payoff to Progressives Act,” according to a leaked memo issued by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and obtained by The Hill.

Because Democrats control the House, the bill doesn’t need Republican votes to pass.

However, by trying to get GOP lawmakers to oppose the bill, Republicans are making a risky bet that voting against a piece of legislation that a recent poll shows more than two-thirds of voters support is good politics.

In fact, polls show that the very things House Republicans are condemning in the bill are overwhelmingly popular with the electorate. Continue reading.

Rep. Lauren Boebert Ripped For Not Understanding Basics Of The Constitution

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The Republican congresswoman apparently didn’t learn about amendments in her high school civics class.

If you’re a politician who has promised to uphold the Constitution, it might help if you’re actually familiar with what that document includes.

Apparently, freshman Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) isn’t, based on a tweet she posted Friday morning.

Protecting and defending the Constitution doesn’t mean trying to rewrite the parts you don’t like.

Boebert’s tweet was sadly misinformed ― the Constitution was designed to change with changing times, hence the rules for adding amendments. Continue reading.