Republicans want to pair border security with aid for Ukraine. Here's why that makes a deal so tough
Congress return to work this week after the holiday break, and Senate Republicans have made clear they wonโt support additional war aid for Ukraine unless they can pair it with border security measures.
What if? Path was uncertain if Pence objected to Biden's win
In the weeks before the Jan. 6, 2021, certification of President Joe Bidenโs victory, a small group of House Democrats huddled to contemplate what they would do if then-Vice President Mike Pence tried to overturn the presidential election.
Dems: Discovery, AT&T merger will hurt diversity, workers
House Democrats are raising concerns that the proposed merger of Discovery and AT&Tโs WarnerMedia, a $43 billion effort to conquer the world of streaming, could affect diversity efforts in Hollywood and particularly hurt Latinos, who are already deeply underrepresented.
With special sessionโs end looming, Texas Democrats and Republicans mull their next moves
Abbott has promised to call a second special session to pass the GOPโs priority voting bill, but the exact timing is uncertain. And House Democrats have not yet revealed what they have planned after the session ends this week.
Gov. Greg Abbott has set his legislative agenda. These lawmakers could influence how much is accomplished.
But to get anything done on his list, heโll need help in the Texas House and Senate. AdA hardline conservative faction in the HouseThe Texas House has 67 Democrats and 82 Republicans. One seat remains open after former state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, resigned to join the state Senate. Both the Texas House and Senate preliminary budgets both call for $119.7 billion in discretionary spending. In the House, meanwhile, state Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, will again chair the committee on criminal jurisprudence.
Trump rejects Dems' request to testify at impeachment trial
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)WASHINGTON โ House Democrats on Thursday asked Donald Trump to testify under oath for his Senate impeachment trial, challenging him to respond to their charge that he incited a violent mob to storm the Capitol. Hours after the Democrats' request was revealed, Trump adviser Jason Miller dismissed the trial as โan unconstitutional proceedingโ and said the former president would not testify. Separately, Trumpโs lawyers denounced the request as a โpublic relations stunt.โAdThe impeachment trial starts Feb. 9. He asked that Trump provide testimony about his conduct โeither before or during the Senate impeachment trial,โ and under cross-examination, as early as Monday, Feb. 8, and not later than Thursday, Feb. 11. The Senate could vote to subpoena Trump, or any other witnesses, on a simple majority vote during the trial.
Dems nominate Pelosi as speaker again to lead into Biden era
Against that backdrop, many House Democrats have for years impatiently insisted it's time for fresh leadership. To become speaker again, Pelosi will need more votes than House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., whoโs likely to garner nearly unanimous GOP support. Though she's likely to succeed, it wonโt be simple because when Pelosi was elected speaker in January 2019, 15 Democrats opposed her. Pelosi came to Congress in 1987 and has led House Democrats, both as the minority and majority party, ever since 2003. Pelosi has won wide acclaim among Democrats as a leading Trump foe in battles over impeachment, immigration and health care.
House Dem campaign chair won't seek post anew after losses
WASHINGTON โ The chairwoman of House Democrats' campaign arm said Monday that she won't seek the post again for the next Congress, days after her party's unexpected loss of seats in last week's election triggered recriminations among Democrats. Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos' decision to not seek a new term atop the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee comes with party members upset and divided over why that happened. Her win came after an eleventh-hour $1 million expenditure for her by the House Majority PAC, which was resented by some Democrats. That committee is aligned with House Democratic leaders. House Democrats currently have a 232-197 advantage, plus one independent and five vacancies.
Dems head toward House control, but lose incumbents to GOP
Though they seemed likely to retain House control, their performance was an unexpected disappointment for the party, which hoped for modest gains of perhaps 15 seats. Democrats control the House 232-197, with five open seats and one independent. By retaining House control, Democrats would mark only the second time in a quarter century that they've led the chamber for two consecutive two-year Congresses. She declared that Democrats had won the House majority, which seemed highly likely but hadnโt been officially declared by The Associated Press. โHouse Republicans have outperformed all expectations," said Dan Conston, who heads the Congressional Leadership Fund, a committee aligned with House GOP leaders that provides millions to Republican candidates.
Law and order vs. health care as Dems, GOP vie for suburbs
In the Republican-leaning California 48th Congressional District in Orange County, Republican challenger Michelle Steel has talked about taxes, while Rouda has focused on health care and prescription drug costs. The pattern is similar outside Philadelphia, where GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick accuses Democratic challenger Christina Finelo of supporting police defunding. Wagner has voted for bills that would have ended the coverage that former President Barack Obamaโs health care law guarantees people with preexisting conditions. Freitas has said he thinks government intrusion into health care doesn't help. Democrats have run health care themed ads against Republicans in numerous states including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska and Texas.
Capitol negotiators still stuck, still trying on virus aid
Negotiators are still stuck, but still trying. Republicans offered to extend the benefit into December and cut it to $400, according to aides confirming leaks reported in Politico. Pelosi is opposed for now, but Democrats who see it's a key to any final agreement aren't ruling the idea out. Key Republicans whose rural constituents are especially reliant on the post office support the idea. NON-CORONAVIRUS ITEMSThe competing bills from House Democrats and Senate Republicans include a fair amount of money for non-coronavirus-related items.
Virus aid: Where things stand in high-level Washington talks
WASHINGTON After more than a weeks worth of meetings, at least some clarity is emerging in the bipartisan Washington talks on a huge COVID-19 response bill. Postal Service on Wednesday indicates a long slog remains, but the White House is offering some movement in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis direction on aid to states and local governments and unemployment insurance benefits. The aides were unauthorized to discuss the private talks and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Very tricky talks remain, and Republicans are carping that Pelosi is being too greedy. NON-CORONAVIUS ITEMSThe competing bills from House Democrats and Senate Republicans include a fair amount of money for non-coronavirus-related items.