Tag: GOP senate

Republicans Rush Kavanaugh Hearing Before The Senate Receives Key Records

Senate Republicans are trying to rush through the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh by holding his hearing before the Senate is able to see a key subset of his records. Judge Kavanaugh is being considered for a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land, and the American people deserve to know who he is. What are Republicans trying to hide?

Senate Republicans plan to begin Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing on September 4 – many weeks before a subset of Kavanaugh’s records can be released.

CBS News: “The National Archives informed the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Thursday that his request for documents regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh can’t be fulfilled until the end of October. Chairman Chuck Grassley had asked for Kavanaugh’s emails and paper filings from his time as Bush’s associate White House counsel, and more documents pertaining to his nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.” Continue reading “Republicans Rush Kavanaugh Hearing Before The Senate Receives Key Records”

Poll: Majority disapproves of Trump, GOP’s handling of deficit

The following article by Julia Manchester was posted on the Hill website August 3, 2018:

A majority of Americans say they disapprove of how Republicans and the Trump administration have handled the budget deficit, according to a new American Barometer poll.

Fifty-six percent said they disproved of the handling of the budget deficit, which is set to top $1 trillion this year under the administration’s own estimates. Just 44 percent said they approved.

The survey, a joint project of The Hill and the HarrisX polling company, found that just 21 percent of Republicans, however, disapprove of the GOP’s handling of the deficit. Seventy-nine percent of Republicans polled said they approved of the work done by the administration and Republicans on the deficit.

View the complete article here.

Senate Republicans reject funding for election security

The following article by Caroline Orr was posted on the ShareBlue.com website August 2, 2018:

All but one Senate Republican voted against providing additional funds to secure state election systems.

Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Senate Republicans voted on Wednesday to reject a measure that would allot additional funding to states to upgrade election systems and defend against cyberattacks and hacking.

The amendment, which was introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), would have provided $250 million dollars in grants to help states improve election-related cybersecurity, replace outdated equipment, and undertake other election security efforts like training and hiring additional personnel.

Only one Republican senator, Bob Corker, voted in favor of the measure. Three others — Richard Burr, Jeff Flake, and John McCain — were not present for the vote. Ultimately, the legislation got 50 votes, falling short of the 60 votes needed to pass.

View the complete article here.

Senate Republicans drop bid to block Trump from helping Chinese telecom giant ZTE

The following article by Erica Werner was posted on the Washington Post website July 20, 2018:

President Trump, right, andChinese leader Xi Credit: Andy Wong, AP

Senate Republicans have dropped their attempt to reimpose U.S. sanctions on the Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE, lawmakers said Friday, a victory for President Trump as congressional Republicans abandoned a rare effort to thwart his agenda.

The retreat means ZTE, a company found guilty of selling U.S. goods to Iran in violation of sanctions, will duck Commerce Department penalties that bar U.S. companies from doing business with it.

U.S. and Chinese officials had said those penalties would effectively put ZTE out of business.

View the complete article here.

Democrats Press GOP for Quick Legislative Response on Russia

The following article by Rachel Oswald was posted on the Roll Call website July 20, 2018:

Several measures in both chambers designed to push back on Putin

Protesters participate in a candlelight vigil in front of the White House protesting President Trump in the wake of his meeting with Russian President Putin. Credit: Sarah Silbiger, CQ Roll Call

House and Senate Democrats are pressuring their Republican colleagues to bring to the floor legislation introduced in response to President Donald Trump’s comments — and revisions to those comments — this week on Russian interference in U.S. elections.

Democratic House leaders released a bipartisan package that includes 17 previously introduced bills that would further restrict the White House’s foreign policy and economic options when it comes to Moscow.

The package (HR 6437) has two Republican cosponsors, including Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who is chairwoman of the House Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee. Stefanik, who quickly emerged as a leader on the Armed Services panel, includes cyber in her subcommittee’s portfolio.

View the complete article here.

Republicans Block Anti-Putin Resolutions Before Senate Approves One Rebuke Image

The following article by Nicholas Fandos and Sheryl Gay Stolberg was posted on the New York Times website July 19, 2018:

WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress on Thursday blocked a series of measures put forward by lawmakers — largely Democratic — desperate to isolate Republican leaders and publicly rebuke President Trump over his summit meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia this week.

In the Senate, Republicans objected to two nonbinding measures that would have put the body on record as being in support of intelligence agency conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, called on Mr. Trump to fully impose sanctions against Russia and pressed for oversight of the summit meeting, including the production of any notes taken by Americans.

“If ever there was a moment to think not of just your party but for the country, this is it,” Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, implored his colleagues before his bipartisan resolution was shot down.

View the complete article here.

One Year Later, Trump And Republicans Continue To Attack The ACA

One year ago, of Trump and Republicans’ health care repeal failed in the Senate. Since, Trump and Republicans have continued to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, making premiums increase across the country. It’s clear why Americans overwhelmingly trust Democrats over Republicans on health care.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans want to keep and improve on the ACA, not repeal it, Trump has continued to sabotage the law.

  • The Trump administration urged a federal court to deem pre-existing condition protections under the ACA unconstitutional.
  • The Trump administration slashed funding for programs that help Americans sign up for health insurance, and promoted plans that do not comply with health care protection standards under the ACA.
  • Trump tried to suspend billions of dollars in risk-adjustment payments, which would have created more uncertainty and further driven up premiums.

Continue reading “One Year Later, Trump And Republicans Continue To Attack The ACA”

Supreme Court nominee has argued presidents should not be distracted by investigations and lawsuits

The following article by Michael Kranish and Ann E. Marimow was posted on the Washington Post website July 9, 2018:

Brett Kavanaugh accepted President Trump’s nomination to the Supreme Court July 9, after Justice Kennedy announced his retirement in June. (The Washington Post)

U.S. Circuit Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy who was nominated replace him, has argued that presidents should not be distracted by civil lawsuits, criminal investigations or even questions from a prosecutor or defense attorney while in office.

Kavanaugh had direct personal experience that informed his 2009 article for the Minnesota Law Review: He helped investigate President Bill Clinton as part of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr’s team and then served for five years as a close aide to President George W. Bush.

Having observed the weighty issues that can consume a president, Kavanaugh wrote, the nation’s chief executive should be exempt from “time-consuming and distracting” lawsuits and investigations, which “would ill serve the public interest, especially in times of financial or national security crisis.”

View the full article on the Washington Post website.

McConnell Makes It Clear That Republicans Won’t Do Anything to Protect Mueller from Trump

The following article by Cody Fenwick was posted on the AlterNet website April 17, 2018:

“I’m the one who decides what we take to the floor.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed calls on Tuesday for legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller, saying that he doesn’t think President Donald Trump will fire the lead investigator in charge of the Russia investigation.

“I don’t think he should fire Mueller, and I don’t think he’s going to, so this is a piece of legislation that is not necessary, in my judgment,” Mcconnell said on Fox News.

A growing number of Republican lawmakers have endorsed legislation to protect Mueller in recent days following the president’s fury over the federal raid on his attorney Michael Cohen. Neil Cavuto, the Fox News host who interviewed McConnell, pointed this fact out to the majority leader.

“But I’m the one who decides what we take to the floor,” McConnell said. “That’s my responsibility as the majority leader. And we will not be having this on the floor of the Senate.”

McConnell said he would be “shocked” if Trump does fire Mueller.