Political Wire

Sununu Blasts Redistricting Plan as Too Partisan

January 11, 2022 at 10:38 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) “gave a negative review of the House-passed plan to redistrict the state’s two congressional districts, suggesting it would create seats that would be too partisan-leaning,” the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.

Said Sununu: “I don’t love it. I don’t think it’s going to be the plan that ends up on my desk.”

“The comments threw a monkey wrench into a process Republican state party leaders hoped would contain little dissent within GOP ranks since they hold sway in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, state Senate and the corner office.”

California Has Had 9 Consecutive Budget Surpluses

January 11, 2022 at 10:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Built on projections of a ninth consecutive year of surplus tax revenue — a streak that has made California’s deficit-ridden past a distant memory — the $286.4-billion spending plan Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) unveiled Monday builds on the state’s recent efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, homelessness and a worsening drought while surpassing K-12 school funding records set just last year,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

GOP Council Member Won’t Say If She’s Vaccinated

January 11, 2022 at 10:12 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York City Council member Vickie Paladino (R) told NY1 she’ll never disclose if she’s vaccinated against Covid-19 even though she’s been barred from the city council chambers.

Said Paladino: “It’s just nobody’s business whether I am or not. See, it’s called medical freedom. I don’t need to show you my papers. This is not Nazi Germany.”

Brian Kemp Builds Big War Chest

January 11, 2022 at 10:06 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) will report more than $12 million in his campaign account as he readies for a tough reelection fight against former Sen. David Perdue (R) in the GOP primary and a potential rematch against Stacey Abrams (D) in November, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Democratic Candidates Not Talking About Biden’s Agenda

January 11, 2022 at 9:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Daily Beast: “Most of those candidates have not so much as mentioned the name of the bill in their social media posts and campaign materials. And though these Democrats frequently tout their commitment to advancing the goals set out in the bill—like lowering prescription drug costs, fighting climate change, and improving child care—many don’t explicitly acknowledge that there is, currently, a bill that would achieve those goals.”

“Meanwhile, some Democrats running to break the 50-50 partisan deadlock in the Senate have avoided talking much about the legislation currently languishing in that chamber.”

Tennessee GOP Plans to Split Nashville House District

January 11, 2022 at 8:57 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Tennessee Republicans will present plans to split booming Nashville and Davidson County into multiple congressional districts, paving the way for the party to dilute its existing Democratic voter base and gain an additional congressional seat,” the Tennessean reports.

Why House Democrats Are Retiring

January 11, 2022 at 8:54 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Jonathan Bernstein: “What’s most noteworthy about the Democrats who are leaving the House without other electoral plans, however, is that they are as a group extremely old. Murphy is the exception; she will be 44 when the next Congress gavels in on Jan. 3, 2023. But four of the others are in their 80s, with Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas already 86, and all but four would turn at least 70 during their next terms if they stuck around. Even with Murphy, the group will average about 71 years old by January 2023. And the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who is 81, is expected to step down after the election, although she has committed to running for another term.”

“Even in a body as old as the U.S. Congress, this is unusual. The four Republicans who are leaving without running for higher office will be 67, 51, 44, and 38 when the next Congress begins.”

“Democrats may expect to lose their majority, and that could be a factor in the retirements. But the age data suggest something else may be going on as well.”

Missouri Governor Targets State’s Sunshine Law

January 11, 2022 at 8:48 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Amending Missouri’s open records law to permit government agencies to withhold more information from the public — and charge more for any records that are turned over — is among Gov. Mike Parson’s (R) priorities for the 2022 legislative session,” the Missouri Independent reports.

Trump Attorneys Met with Georgia Prosecutors

January 11, 2022 at 7:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rachel Maddow reports attorneys for former President Donald Trump have met in person with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office investigating whether Trump criminally violated Georgia state law by putting pressure on election officials.

HuffPost: “Maddow reported no details of the talks between Trump lawyers and prosecutors. She pointed out that the probe is the only known criminal investigation into Trump’s attempts to overturn his election defeat.”

U.S. Announces $308 Million In Aid for Afghans

January 11, 2022 at 7:03 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The White House has announced $308 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, offering new aid to the country as it edges toward a humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover nearly five months ago,” the AP reports.

CDC Weighs Recommending Better Masks

January 11, 2022 at 7:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The CDC is considering updating its mask guidance to recommend that people opt for the highly protective N95 or KN95 masks worn by health-care personnel, if they can do so consistently,“ the Washington Post reports.

“With the highly transmissible omicron variant spurring record levels of infections and hospitalizations, experts have repeatedly urged the Biden administration to recommend the better-quality masks rather than cloth coverings to protect against an airborne virus, and to underscore the importance of masking.”

North Korea Fires Second Missile In a Week

January 11, 2022 at 6:57 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile, less than a week after it launched what it claimed was a hypersonic missile,” the BBC reports.

Russia Positioning Helicopters Near Ukraine

January 11, 2022 at 6:56 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The number of Russian troops at Ukraine’s border has remained steady in recent weeks, despite U.S. intelligence predictions of a surge, but American officials say that President Vladimir V. Putin has begun taking steps to move military helicopters into place, a possible sign that planning for an attack continues,” the New York Times reports.

Dr. Oz Won’t Give Up Turkish Citizenship

January 11, 2022 at 6:47 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“As celebrity doc Mehmet Oz runs for Senate, he’s indicating he has no intention of renouncing his Turkish citizenship — and is being challenged repeatedly on the campaign trail to answer why,” Politico reports.

“In recent weeks, the Pennsylvania hopeful has been asked multiple times by Republicans about his dual citizenship.”

Politifact notes a dual citizen is legally permitted to serve in Congress.

McCarthy Floats Ban on Stock Trades for Lawmakers

January 11, 2022 at 6:38 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is considering instituting new limits or an outright ban on lawmakers holding and trading stocks and equities if Republicans take the majority in November,” Punchbowl News reports.

“McCarthy told us his planning on this front is in its early stages, and he hasn’t yet decided on what kind of limitations there may be on stock trades or holdings. One idea would be to force lawmakers to hold only professionally managed mutual funds. Another proposal the GOP leadership is considering would bar lawmakers from holding stocks in companies or industries their committees oversee. Other members have advocated for mandatory blind trusts for lawmakers’ holdings.”

Voters to Fill House Seat Once Held by Alcee Hastings

January 11, 2022 at 6:35 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Voters in South Florida will elect a new member of Congress on Tuesday, with health-care company CEO Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick heavily favored to replace Rep. Alcee Hastings, a fellow Democrat who died last year,” the Washington Post reports.

Voting Rights Groups Skipping Biden’s Speech in Georgia

January 10, 2022 at 11:17 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“When President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris deliver major speeches on voting rights on Tuesday in Atlanta, there will be notable absences in the crowd,” the New York Times reports.

“Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for governor and one of the nation’s best known voting-rights advocates, will not be there. Nor will a coalition of Georgia’s most active voting-rights groups.”

Washington Post: In pivot to voting rights, Biden risks falling short on a second big goal.

Chicago Teachers Agree to Return for In-Person Classes

January 10, 2022 at 11:14 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A proposal for Chicago Public Schools to resume in-person classes Wednesday has been approved by the Chicago Teachers Union’s House of Delegates following a contentious weeklong standoff,” the Chicago Tribune reports.

New York Times: “The deal, which city officials said included provisions for additional testing and metrics that would close schools with major virus outbreaks, was approved by the union’s House of Delegates on Monday night and was expected to be voted on later in the week by rank-and-file teachers.”

Members Get the Full Experience