Lawmakers fear turning 144 cities into "micropolitan" areas
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and congressmen is urging the federal government not to approve recommendations to remove 144 cities from the designation of metropolitan statistical areas. Reclassifying them as โmicropolitanโ would put key federal funding at risk, they said. Doing so would reclassify more than a third of the current 392 metro areas as micropolitan statistical areas. In a separate letter to the Office of Management and Budget, Hoeven said the proposal also would hurt micropolitan areas that were on the cusp of becoming metro areas. โIf a metropolitan statistical area is redefined as a micropolitan area, it may fall out of the conversation.
Nebraska Democrats struggle with 'dumpster fire' reputation
In this Nov. 4, 2016, photo, Nebraska Democratic Party chairwoman Jane Kleeb is about to introduce Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, in Omaha, Neb. The 29% of Nebraska voters registered as Democrats is the smallest in at least 50 years, and thats only one indication of the partys problems. The local Republican Party chapter in Omaha put it bluntly in a recent tweet: Nebraska Dems have a dumpster fire on their hands." Or as former Nebraska Democratic Party executive director Paul Landow noted, For a Democrat to win statewide office, something really crazy would have to happen.It wasn't always this way. Nebraska Democrats have fared somewhat better in local elections and the nonpartisan Legislature, but theyre still relegated to the minority.
President Trumps war against mail-in voting lacks Republican allies
(CNN) Donald Trump's campaign against mail-in voting isn't getting much support from other Republicans, either in Washington or in some key swing states. On Monday, Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri told CNN he is supportive of states expanding mail-in voting. Blunt did add that states that "dramatically change" their systems to include more mail-in voting presented a "challenge." GOP Texas Sen. John Cornyn said the process for mail-in voting through absentee ballots has worked well in his state, though he said expanded mail-in voting is "not a panacea." And there is already anecdotal evidence Trump's campaign against mail-in voting is putting his reelection bid at a disadvantage.