Top progressive lawmakers are urging President Joe Biden to lean more heavily on Israel as it launches what seems likely to be an aggressive, bloody and lengthy campaign in Gaza. The leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus along with dozens more lawmakers wrote the president and Secretary of State Antony Blinken a letter on Friday
âWe are deeply concernedâ â Progressive lawmakers make plea to Biden ahead of Israelâs Gaza campaign
October 23, 2023 by
California lawmakers give final approval to bill allowing legislative workers to form a labor union
September 27, 2023 by
Legislative workers at the California Capitol are close to forming their first labor union after state lawmakers approved a bill Wednesday that allows them to organize. The Democrats in charge of California’s Legislature have historically been friendly with labor unions. This year alone, lawmakers are poised to increase the minimum wage for fast food workers […]
Trans Pop Star Kim Petras: Lawmakers ‘Shouldn’t Ban Hormone Therapy,’ Sex Workers Should âFeel Empowered’
September 2, 2023 by
Trans pop star Kim Petras, a male who identifies as a woman, says lawmakers âshouldnât ban hormone therapyâ as several U.S. states and European nations have restricted medical interventions for gender dysphoria in children. Petras, who began receiving hormone therapy in Germany at the age of 12, told Entertainment Weekly that âhormones were essential for me.â âEvery person
Lawmakers react to Trump indictment news
August 18, 2023 by
Lawmakers were quick to react following the news that former President Donald Trump had been indicted on charges connected to his handling of classified documents. The reaction largely fell along party lines, with Republicans flocking to support the former president and denounce the investigation as partisan, and Democrats using the news to criticize the 2src24
âBreathtakingâ: Lawmakers react to escalating security situation in Russia
August 16, 2023 by
Members of Wagner group sit atop of a tank in a street in the city of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2src23. Senators and House members noted on Saturday the implications of the rebellion on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. | AFP/Getty Images Lawmakers on Saturday spoke out in unison on the historic significance of
Lawmakers react to debt ceiling deal reached between House GOP and Biden
August 2, 2023 by
Washington leaders responded on Sunday to the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, a deal reached between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Biden to evade defaulting on the countryâs financial obligations. Both McCarthy and Biden held their posture as long as they could with a looming deadline of June 5, and on Sunday, reached a […]
Wisconsin lawmakers propose ban on child sex dolls, making ownership a felony
July 26, 2023 by
A bill introduced by Wisconsin state Rep. Joy Goeben and state Sen. Jesse James, both Republicans, would make possession of child sex dolls a felony. Under the proposed law, prison sentences for possession could range from 3 ½ years or less for a first-time offender, to 25 years for someone caught multiple times with dolls […]
Illinois lawmakers greenlight bill requiring libraries in state to adopt anti-book banning policy
July 8, 2023 by
Legislation that requires libraries in Illinois to adopt an anti-book banning policy in order to receive state funding has passed both chambers and now heads to the governor’s desk. The American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights says, “materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their […]
Utah Lawmaker’s Home Vandalized After Introducing Bill to Ban Transgender Surgeries on Children
June 27, 2023 by
A Utah state Republican lawmakerâs home was allegedly vandalized after he introduced a bill aiming to ban transgender surgeries on minors. The message to State Sen. Mike Kennedy written in red spray-paint on his door read, âFashâ (abbreviation for Fascist) and âThese trannies bash back.â Kennedy announced the vandalism on Facebook. âTo those who seek
Utah lawmaker’s home vandalized after he introduced bill to ban transgender surgeries: ‘Trannies bash back’
June 26, 2023 by
A Utah state lawmaker’s home was vandalized this week with messages that indicate he was targeted because of his opposition to transgender medical treatments for minors. Messages in red spray-painted on Republican state Sen. Mike Kennedy’s door read “fash” â short for fascist â and “These trannies bash back,” a phrase that uses a slur […]
Virginia Dem lawmakerâs staff injured in baseball bat attack
May 16, 2023 by
âThe thought that someone would take advantage of my staffâs accessibility to commit an act of violence is unconscionable and devastating,â Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said. | Francis Chung/POLITICO A man armed with a baseball bat allegedly injured two staff members in Rep. Gerry Connollyâs district office, police said Monday. âThis morning, an individual entered
Lawmakers dismiss possibility of debt limit off-ramp
May 4, 2023 by
âI just think that this needs to get done and delay, delay, delay doesnât solve anything, said Senate GOP Whip John Thune. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Congress is hurtling toward a debt crisis in weeks, and this time lawmakers may not be able to fall back on their time-honored tradition of punting the problem. Key members
Republican Lawmakers Raise Questions over $200 Million Park Service Grant to Pelosi’s DistrictÂ
April 26, 2023 by
National Park Service (NPS) Director Chuck Sams told Congress that President Joe Bidenâs Interior Department ordered him to transfer $2srcsrc million in federal funding to a park in Rep. Nancy Pelosiâs (D-CA) district, drawing increased scrutiny by House Republicans. Last week, Sams reportedly told Congress that Interior Department Fish and Wildlife and Parks Assistant Secretary
House lawmakers focus on ‘outcompeting China’ in bipartisan visit to Guyana
April 18, 2023 by
EXCLUSIVE: Members of Congress met with officials in Guyana on Friday to bolster U.S. relations with the South American country while also keeping China’s encroaching influence at bay. House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., led a group of Democrats and Republicans in Guyana, part of a three-country tour that also included stops in […]
Tennessee GOP rep abruptly exits CNN interview after host berates him for expelling lawmakers
April 7, 2023 by
After being lectured by a CNN correspondent over moving to expel Democrats from the Tennessee state legislature, Tennessee Republican Caucus Chair Rep. Jeremy Faison chair abruptly exited his interview, leaving CNN anchors bewildered. Prior to his unexpected departure, CNN reporter Sara Sidner had disputed his claims that the two Democratic Party lawmakers the legislature expelled […]
Zelenskyy visits King Charles III on UK trip, asks lawmakers for jets: ‘every air force pilot is a king’
March 11, 2023 by
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy descended upon the United Kingdom Wednesday and urged lawmakers to send warplanes to Ukraine ahead of his visit with King Charles III. “Today I will have the honor to be received by His Majesty the King,” Zelenskyy said while addressing both Houses of Parliament and U.K. Prime Minster Rishi Sunak. “It […]
Bill Maher urges lawmakers to take page from Hollywood: You can get things done and ‘hate each other’s guts’
March 7, 2023 by
“Real Time” host Bill Maher closed his show Friday night by urging lawmakers on Capitol Hill to take a page from Hollywood. Maher began by sounding the alarm about the incivility from both Republicans and Democrats, mostly from State of the Union addresses in recent years, warning they can soon evolve into physical “brawls” like […]
Georgia lawmakers reach agreement on state budget including property tax breaks
March 7, 2023 by
Georgia lawmakers have reached a final agreement on amendments to this year’s state budget, setting the stage for final House and Senate votes on the spending plan Monday. House Bill 18 raises spending by $2.4 billion after Republican Gov. Brian Kemp raised projected revenue. It includes $950 million for property tax rebates to homeowners and […]
Chinaâs Lawmakers Prepare to Address Woeful Economy, Freezing Single Womenâs Eggs
March 1, 2023 by
The Chinese governmentâs annual âtwo sessionsâ â simultaneous meetings of the National Peopleâs Congress (NPC) and the Chinese Peopleâs Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) â are scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 4. This yearâs sessions will likely be preoccupied with the dismal Chinese economy, the accelerating demographic crisis, and the rotation of government officials that occurs every
State Lawmakers Want to Ban Health Insurance for Trans Care
February 24, 2023 by
A new Tennessee bill poses an interstate health care nightmare. If an insurance provider covers gender-affirming care in another stateâlike hormone therapy in New York, or breast reduction surgery in Illinoisâthat provider could be cut off from the 1.7 million Tennesseans who use the stateâs Medicaid program.The bill, HB1215, is just one of several recent
DOJ wonât charge Gaetz in sex trafficking probe, lawmakerâs office says
February 22, 2023 by
Federal prosecutors and the FBI began investigating Matt Gaetz in late 2src2src during the Trump administration over potential sex trafficking crimes. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images TALLAHASSEE, Fla. â The Justice Department is closing its long-running sex trafficking investigation into GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz and will not charge the firebrand congressman, according to a lawyer representing
GOP lawmakers seek investigation of âunauthorizedâ disclosure of their Air Force records
February 22, 2023 by
Rep. Don Bacon said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall first told him that an internal probe revealed 11 peopleâs records were disclosed and that the Air Force would send the results of its inquiry to the Justice Department â while offering no further information on whether a formal DOJ investigation would result. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images Two Republican lawmakers say the Air Force
Republican lawmakers file appeal regarding the legality of the PA Legislature’s impeachment of Larry Krasner
January 27, 2023 by
Republican state lawmakers filed an appeal with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday hoping to preserve elements of their impeachment case against an elected progressive Philadelphia prosecutor. The appeal asks the state’s highest court to review last month’s decision regarding the legality of the Legislature’s impeachment and trial of Democratic District Attorney Larry Krasner. It […]
Lawmakers labor to break impasses stalling massive spending bill
January 14, 2023 by
House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) fields questions about the politics of the federal debt in front of the House Rules Committee at the Capitol. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Top lawmakers are still grasping for the deal they need to tee up a sprawling year-end spending package as potential pitfalls for the bill
âItâs not a principle changeâ: Lawmakers dissect Sinema switch
January 12, 2023 by
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema leaves the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2src22. | Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo Sen. Kyrsten Sinemaâs choice to leave the Democratic Party was political, rather than a matter of principle, some of her colleagues said Sunday. âShe was likely going to lose her next primary, and thatâs why sheâs doing this.
Geraldo Rivera calls for lawmakers to come together to fix border crisis: Not going to be fixed with posturing
January 10, 2023 by
Fox News’ Sean Hannity sparred with Geraldo Rivera over President Biden’s border policies Monday on “Hannity.” Hannity highlighted record numbers of migrant crossings under the Biden administration and large amounts of fentanyl being smuggled into the country via the southern border. “When will you join me in saying, if you want to come to America, […]
Two lawmakers nearly come to blows â and other crazy moments from McCarthyâs final speaker votes
January 7, 2023 by
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) pulls Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) back as he spoke with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo Even for career-long observers of Congress, Friday night on the House floor was a sight to behold. The chamber descended into chaos when two lawmakers nearly came to fisticuffs â the frustration of
Enablers, line-straddlers and quiet resisters: How GOP lawmakers contributed to Jan. 6
January 6, 2023 by
Scott Perry was a frequent presence in pre-Jan. 6 planning. Evidence showed Perry pushing fringe theories about European efforts to steal the 2src2src election from Trump. | Francis Chung/POLITICO A handful of Republicans who remained in the Jan. 6 committeeâs sights throughout its investigation are now leading the effort to deny Kevin McCarthy the speakership
Lawmakers fret over another holiday punt on government funding
November 24, 2022 by
Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho, a top appropriator, laughed when asked about meeting the mid-December deadline: âI just donât think thatâs going to happen,â he said. âThereâs just too much confusion going on.â The muddle carries serious stakes for a multitude of government programs, not to mention the future of congressional spending debates. Lawmakers
Fiscal winter is coming: Lawmakers’ 5 chilly hills to climb
November 21, 2022 by
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who could face a tricky path to the speakership next year if Republicans eke out a majority, will be working with slim margins and a group of conservative bomb-throwers who could wield a tremendous amount of leverage. Meanwhile, in the Senate, both parties will be forced to tackle those huge