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CNN —The record level of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border loomed over a gathering of governors at the White House this weekend, revealing how the issue has become prominent in states nationwide and across the political spectrum. The National Governors Association holds a gathering of governors at the White House annually to discuss matters affecting their states and other kitchen-table issues. “Everybody realizes that this is a significant problem right now and a challenge,” North Carolina Democratic Gov. White House officials maintain no final decision has been made. Garza and other mayors from across the country met with Biden last month at the White House to discuss the influx of migrants arriving in their cities.

Persons: ”, Greg Gianforte, “, Roy Cooper, Greg Abbott, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Andy Beshear, — Biden, Trump, Spencer Cox, Biden, Doug Burgum, ” Cooper, Phil Murphy, Ramiro Garza, Garza, Abbott, CNN’s Edward, Isaac Dovere Organizations: CNN, National Governors Association, White, ” Montana Republican Gov, ” North Carolina Democratic Gov, Governors, Republican Texas Gov, Democratic, Republicans, Democratic Kentucky Gov, Republican Utah Gov, ” Republican Gov, New, New Jersey Democratic Gov, Republican Locations: Mexico, ” Montana, ”, North Dakota, New Jersey, America, Edinburg , Texas, United States

(AP) — Montana Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale said Thursday he is dropping his bid for the U.S. Senate less than a week after he got into the race on the same day that former President Donald Trump endorsed his opponent. Rosendale said he would be able to challenge Tester despite losing to him in 2018. Photos You Should See View All 33 Images“I’ve won two elections since then,” Rosendale, 63, told reporters after filing paperwork Friday to formally enter the race. “And the most important thing is that my name ID and my trust factor is elevated dramatically. Several other Republicans have already announced their intentions to enter that race, which is in a solidly GOP district.

Persons: —, Matt Rosendale, Donald Trump, Tim Sheehy, Sheehy, Democratic Sen, Jon Tester, Montana Sen, Steve Daines, “ I’ve, Daines, “, Matt, ” Organizations: U.S . Senate, Democratic, Republican, firebrand, Navy, Montana, National Republican, U.S Locations: Mont, — Montana, Rosendale

(AP) — Montana Republicans gathered in a hotel ballroom this weekend aiming to unite ahead of the 2024 election and defeat three-term incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Rosendale's move laid bare deep fissures within the Montana GOP at a time when Republicans can ill afford it. Outside observers and even some Republicans say an intraparty skirmish leading up to Montana's June primary could undermine those hopes. Rosendale’s entry into the Senate contest capped months of speculation that the hard-right lawmaker wanted a rematch six years after losing to Tester in 2018. Those Democrats are egging on the division in the GOP Senate race, hopeful it will drain Republican funds and alienate independent voters before the general election.

Persons: HELENA, —, Sen, Jon Tester, Matt Rosendale, Rosendale's, Steve Daines, “ I’ve, boisterously, Greg Gianforte, Tim Sheehy, “, Donald Trump, Sheehy, ” Gianforte, Trump, Rosendale, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, ”, I’ve, irk, Theresa Manzella, George Nikolakakos, Nikolakakos, Steve Bullock Organizations: — Montana Republicans, Democrat U.S, U.S . Rep, Montana GOP, Republican, National Republican, Committee, U.S . Navy, Senate, Montana Gov, GOP, Montana Freedom Caucus, Rosendale, GOP Senate, Democratic Party, Trump, Biden, Republicans Locations: Mont, Montana, Montana , Ohio, West Virginia, U.S, Rosendale, Helena, Belgrade , Montana, Afghanistan, Washington, Great Falls, “, Rosendale . Montana, Daines

☆ Larry Hogan Will Run for Senate in Maryland
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Michael C. Bender | More About Michael C. Bender | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Larry Hogan, the popular Republican former governor of Maryland, announced on Friday that he would run for the state’s open Senate seat, a surprising move that immediately made the state a top battleground for control of the chamber. “I am running for the United States Senate — not to serve one party — but to stand up to both parties, fight for Maryland, and fix our nation’s broken politics,” Mr. Hogan wrote on X. “It’s what I did as Maryland’s governor, and it’s exactly how I’ll serve Maryland in the Senate. Let’s get back to work.”Mr. Hogan has been one of his party’s most vocal critics of former President Donald J. Trump and has endorsed former Gov. Senator Steve Daines, a Montana Republican and the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, welcomed Mr. Hogan into the race, saying he was “a great leader for Maryland, and that’s why he remains overwhelmingly popular in the state.”

Persons: Larry Hogan, United States Senate —, ” Mr, Hogan, I’ll, Let’s, Donald J, Trump, Nikki Haley, Steve Daines, ” Organizations: Republican, United States Senate, Maryland, Gov, Montana Republican, National Republican Senatorial Locations: Maryland, South Carolina, Montana

A spokesman for Mr. Rosendale declined to comment. In those seven campaigns over 12 years, Mr. Rosendale has won five contests and lost two. Mr. Rosendale finished three points behind Mr. Tester in that race after narrowly winning the primary with 34 percent of the vote. Mr. Rosendale has been a frequent guest on Mr. Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, which is popular with conservatives. A third super PAC supporting Mr. Sheehy, known as More Jobs, Less Government, has been underwritten by a few wealthy Wall Street executives.

Persons: Matt Rosendale, torching, Jon Tester, Tester, Donald J, Trump, Tim Sheehy, Tester’s, Steve Daines, Sheehy, Daines, John Barrasso of, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Trump’s, hasn’t, Rachel Leathe, Rosendale, Alex Bruesewitz, Chad F, Donald Trump Jr, Bruesewitz, “, Ted Cruz, “ I’ve, he’s, ”, Biden, Caroline Wren, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Greene, Stephen K, Bannon, Bannon’s, Mr, Mitch McConnell, Karl Rove —, Kenneth Griffin, Paul Singer, Stephen A, Schwarzman, Tony Fabrizio, Andy Surabian, Maggie Haberman Organizations: Senate, Montana Republicans, Republican, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Republicans, Trump, Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Associated Press, Montana Republican, U.S . House, Montana Senate, Mr, Trump White House, Navy SEAL, Republicans —, Fund, Wall Street, PAC, Democratic Locations: Montana, Rosendale, Helena, Washington, John Barrasso of Wyoming, Georgia, Iowa, Bozeman, MAGA, U.S, Ted Cruz of Texas, Arizona and Ohio

(AP) — Montana Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, whose administration oversaw a decrease in individual income taxes and an increase in residential property taxes, is seeking a second term. Property taxes went up because the appraised value of homes increased due to demand. Critics said Gianforte and the Republican Legislature did not do enough to mitigate the increase. Busse and the Montana Democratic Party criticized Gianforte's support of legislation that sought to limit access to abortion.

Persons: HELENA, —, Greg Gianforte, Gianforte, Gov, Kristen Juras, Critics, “, ” Ryan Busse, " Busse, Gianforte's Organizations: — Montana Republican Gov, Republican Legislature, Democratic, Montana Democratic Party Locations: Mont, — Montana

☆ If You Can't Beat 'em, Impeach 'em
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Susan Milligan | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Republicans want President Joe Biden out of office. And they've taken the clashes to an unprecedented new level: If you can't beat 'em, impeach 'em. "Secretary Mayorkas has brazenly refused to enforce the laws passed by Congress that knowingly made our country less safe. But Justice did not prosecute three other Republicans – White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark and former Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino – whom the panel referred for legal action. "They're struggling to come up with the votes to impeach President Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Biden, Tom Whalen, William Belknap, Ulysses S, Grant, Joshua Matz, Donald Trump, Matz, Kaplan Hecker, Fink, Alejandro Mayorkas –, Mayorkas, Mark Green of, nefariously, Hunter, Nancy Mace, Merrick Garland, James Comer of, Garland, ” Comer, Trump, Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro –, Republicans –, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, Staff Dan Scavino –, Lloyd Austin, Matt Rosendale, They're, Brad Woodhouse, They'll, Woodhouse, Whalen, Austin, John Kasich, Bill Clinton Organizations: Justice Department, GOP, Boston University, Fink LLP, Homeland, Congress, House Republicans, Republican, Democrat, Department, Republicans, Republicans – White, Trump, Staff, White, Montana Republican, Austin, House, Democratic, Congressional Locations: Washington ,, Mark Green of Tennessee, South Carolina, James Comer of Kentucky, Austin, Montana

☆ House Republicans are considering a 3rd impeachment push just days before a partial government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewHouse Republicans are plowing ahead toward a partial government shutdown amid conservative grumbling about Speaker Mike Johnson's dealmaking abilities. At the same time, the party is already juggling two potential impeachment pushes. The first potential shutdown would be on Jan. 19, covering roughly 20% of the federal government, per The Post. The top Republican's words are also a great reminder of why this current impeachment push is unlikely to go anywhere. AdvertisementEven if an official is impeached, some Senate Republicans have previously expressed unease about how commonplace impeachment is becoming.

Persons: —, Mike Johnson's, Matt Rosendale, Lloyd Austin, Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, James Comer, General Merrick Garland, Garland doesn't, Hunter Biden, Comer, Jim Jordan, It's, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Chip Roy, Warren Davidson, Hugh, Hugh Hewitt, Mayorkas Organizations: Service, Montana Republican, Pentagon, Business, Homeland, The Washington Post, Republicans, Committee, Texas Republican, Ohio Republican Locations: Montana, Texas, Ohio

☆ Montana GOP Senate candidate would be in the top 10 richest lawmakers — and his investments are sure to irk some conservatives
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Tim Sheehy, GOP leadership's anointed Senate candidate in Montana, disclosed his personal finances. Altogether, the Montana Republican's net worth lies somewhere between $74 million and $260 million, according to a calculation of his declared assets. Yet Tester still handily outraised Sheehy during the last quarter, raising $5 million versus Sheehy's $2.8 million. The Montana Republican and his wife are also invested in a variety of pharmaceutical companies, even as skepticism of big pharma grows on the right in the wake of the pandemic and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The spokesperson also pointed to Sheehy's ethics pledge, which states that the Montana Republican will place all of his stocks into a blind trust if elected.

Persons: Tim Sheehy, Democratic Sen, Jon Tester, Bridger Aerospace CEO's, Republican Sen, Rick Scott of, who's, Tester, outraised Sheehy, Matt Rosendale, —, Sheehy, Bridger Organizations: Service, Democratic, Bridger Aerospace, Republican, Bridger, GOP, Montana Republican, Johnson, Royalty Pharma Locations: Montana, Bridger, Rick Scott of Florida, Rosendale, China, PZIEX, Cloverly

The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel is reprehensible. Israel is under heavy attack right now by Hamas and taking action to defend itself and its people. Israel has every right to defend itself.”Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against our ally Israel. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Democrat“Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel is nothing short of horrifying. Israel has every right to defend itself from this unjust war.”Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat“The terrorist attack on Israel is appalling.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, “, Steve Scalise, ” Kevin McCarthy, ” Chuck Schumer, –, Herzog –, ” Mitch McConnell, ” Tom Emmer, ” Katherine Clarke, ” Dick Durbin, ” John Thune, ” Sen, Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat “, Israel, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat “, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat “, Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat “, Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat “, Gary Peters, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat “, Catherine Cortez Masto, Brian Schatz, Hawaii Democrat “, Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat “, John Barrasso, Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican “, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Republican “, Steve Daines, Montana Republican “, Mike Lee, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Kyrsten, Mark Kelly, John Boozman, Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican “, Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler, California Democrat “, today’s, Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat “, John Hickenlooper, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat “, Chris Murphy, Tom Carper, Delaware Democrat “, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Jon Ossoff, Georgia Democrat “, Anat Sultan, Raphael Warnock, “ I’m, Mazie, Tammy Duckworth, Todd Young, Mike Braun, Jerry Moran, Kansas Republican “, Hamas’s, Roger Marshall, Netanyahu, Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican “, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Maine Republican “, Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat “, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Tina Smith, Minnesota Democrat “, Roger Wicker ,, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican “, Cindy Hyde, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, Jon Tester, Montana Democrat “, Deb Fischer, Nebraska Republican “, Pete Ricketts, Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat “, Jeanne Shaheen, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat “, Maggie Hassan, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat “, Bob Menendez, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat “, Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat “, Biden, Ben Ray Lujan, Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat “ I'm, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, North Carolina Republican “, John Hoeven, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican “, Kevin Cramer, Sherrod Brown, Ohio Democrat “, J.D, ”, Vance, James Lankford, Markwayne Mullin, Israel –, Ron Wyden, Bob Casey, John Fetterman, craven, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican “ I’m, Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican “ Shocked, Marsha Blackburn, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican “ Israel, Bill Haggerty, Tennessee Republican “, John Cornyn, John Cornyn , Texas Republican “, Ted Cruz, Mitt, Vile, Peter Welch, Vermont Democrat “, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, Washington Democrat “, Maria Cantwell, Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican “ Israel, Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Republican “, Jim Jordan, Jared Moskowitz, Abigail Spanberger, Elissa Slotkin, Don Bacon, perpetrating, Cori Bush, Missouri Democrat “, Kevin Hern, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican “, ” Rep, Ritchie Torres, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat “, Michael McCaul, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican “ I, Ilhan Omar Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Biden, House, Michigan Democrat, Minnesota Democrat, Virginia Democrat “, Senate Intelligence, Massachusetts Democrat, Islamic, Cory Booker , New, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat, West Virginia Democrat, Wisconsin Democrat, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat, Nevada Democrat, Hawaii Democrat, State, Oregon Democrat, John Barrasso , Wyoming Republican, Iowa Republican, West Virginia Republican, Montana Republican, Utah Republican, Idaho Republican, Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, Alaska Republican “, Arizona Democrat, John Boozman , Arkansas Republican “, Jewish, Arkansas Republican, California Democrat, Colorado Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Delaware Democrat, Israel, Florida Republican, Georgia Democrat, Hawaii Democrat “, Indiana Republican, Indiana Republican “, Kansas Republican, Kentucky Republican, Louisiana Republican, Maine Republican, Maryland Democrat, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican, Smith , Mississippi Republican, Josh Hawley , Missouri Republican, Missouri Republican, Montana Democrat, Nebraska Republican, Jeanne Shaheen , New, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat, Bob Menendez , New, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat, New Mexico Democrat, New, New York Democrat, United, North Carolina Republican, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican, Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Republican “, Ohio Democrat, Vance , Ohio Republican, James Lankford , Oklahoma Republican, Oklahoma Republican, “ Hamas, Rhode, Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican, Tennessee Republican, John Cornyn , Texas Republican, Ted Cruz , Texas Republican, Vermont Democrat, Washington Democrat, Wisconsin Republican, Wyoming Republican, ”, Ohio Republican “, Missouri Democrat, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican, Ritchie Torres , New, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat, Jewish State, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican Locations: Israel, United States, Tehran, The United States, Iran, Michigan, U.S, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont, Cory Booker ,, Cory Booker , New Jersey, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Gary Peters , Michigan, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, John Barrasso , Wyoming, America, Iowa, West, Montana, Iranian, Utah, Idaho, Alabama, Alaska, Alaska Republican “ America, @Israel, Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona, John Boozman , Arkansas, Jewish State, Arkansas, Saudi Arabia, California, Gaza, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mazie Hirono, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Palestine, Roger Wicker , Mississippi, Smith , Mississippi, Josh Hawley , Missouri, Missouri, Nebraska, Jeanne Shaheen ,, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire, Bob Menendez ,, Bob Menendez , New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North, John Hoeven , North, Kevin Cramer , North, Ohio, Vance , Ohio, James Lankford , Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Lindsey Graham , South, South, States, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee, Tennessee, John Cornyn , Texas, Ted Cruz , Texas, Mitt Romney, Virginia, “ Hamas, Washington, Wyoming, Ohio Republican “ America, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma, Ritchie Torres ,, Ritchie Torres , New York, Michael McCaul , Texas

☆ How the Senate GOP’s campaign chief is navigating Trump and messy primaries
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Top Senate Republicans look at the prospects of a Donald Trump primary victory with trepidation, fearful his polarizing style and heavy baggage may sink GOP candidates down the ticket as their party battles for control of the chamber. Daines argues that Trump is “strengthening” among independent voters and that could be a boon for his Senate candidates – even in purple states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Pennsylvania. “What’s key is we want to make sure we have high-quality candidates running with President Trump,” Daines said. Kyrsten Sinema nor Joe Manchin could hold onto their seats if they ran for reelection in their states as independents. And that’s a losing strategy.”Daines is also in the middle of another internal party war – between Trump and Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, as the two men have been at sharp odds since the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Persons: Donald Trump, trepidation, Sen, Steve Daines doesn’t, don’t, Daines, Trump, –, “, ” Daines, Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin, Kari Lake, ”, he’s, Trump’s, Ronald Reagan, West Virginia –, Ted Cruz, he’s Ted Cruz he’ll, Tim Sheehy, Sheehy, Matt Rosendale, Jon Tester, Matt, He’s, Sherrod Brown’s, Manchin, ” Manchin, Joe, Ruben Gallego, Roe, Wade, that’s, Mitch McConnell, McConnell Organizations: CNN, Top, Republicans, Montana Republican, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Trump, Senate Republican, Republican, NRSC, GOP, Democratic, –, Navy SEAL, Caucus, Senate GOP, Capitol Locations: Michigan , Wisconsin , Nevada, Pennsylvania, Montana, Sens, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, – Ohio, West Virginia, Texas, Florida, Rosendale, Ohio, Trump

The shutdown clock is ticking in Congress, after progress was largely stymied last week in both chambers amid conservative opposition. And with less than two weeks to fund the government, finding a path forward will be critical in the days ahead. The deal, brokered by House Freedom Caucus and Main Street Caucus Republicans, would cut spending on domestic agencies by some 8%, sparing the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs while implementing border policies backed by House Republicans earlier this year. But not long after the deal was announced, a number of House conservatives pledged their opposition to the legislation and reiterated objections to any stopgap measure. The White House has asked Congress for roughly $40 billion in funding for Ukraine, domestic disaster relief and border security.

Persons: Matt Rosendale, Nancy Pelosi’s, Joe Biden’s, ”, Kevin McCarthy, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden Organizations: House Republicans, Freedom Caucus, Main Street Caucus Republicans, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Montana Republican, Democrat, Republican, White, White House, Capitol, Russia, Republicans, Ukraine, Fox News Locations: Montana, Ukraine, California

☆ The genius plan that could bring down skyrocketing home prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Not only did this help to slow down skyrocketing housing costs, it inspired a bipartisan, nationwide expansion of the policy. Home prices in Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, doubled between 2009 and 2016 and prices across the rest of the country followed close behind. "A typical New Zealand city looks a lot like a typical US city," Gray said. There are three models of housing construction in US cities right now, Gray said. "In terms of an overall objective, I think bringing down house prices to construction costs is an ultimate sign of housing abundance."

Persons: Upzoning, Jenny Schuetz, Matthew Maltman, who's, Ryan Greenaway, Guo Lei, Maltman, There's, Auckland's upzoning, Vicki Been, Bill de Blasio, Schuetz, Nolan Gray, Gray, let's, Brett Coomer, that's, Allison Zaucha, Freemark, we're, Emily Hamilton, Eliza Relman Organizations: Brookings Institute, Auckland, Economic, University of Auckland, New, National Party, Housing, Economic Development, New Zealand, California YIMBY, Urban Institute, Houston, Montana Republicans, George Mason University Locations: New Zealand, Auckland, Australian, Zealand, Auckland , New, New Zealand's, New York, Europe, California, Zealanders, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Washington, Portland , Oregon, Montana, California . Utah, Minneapolis, New York City

☆ The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

The GOP needs a net gain of one or two seats to flip the chamber, depending on which party wins the White House in 2024, and it’s Democrats who are defending the tougher seats. Jim Justice announcing his Senate bid in West Virginia – the seat most likely to flip party control in 2024. In a presidential year, the national environment is likely to loom large, especially with battleground states hosting key Senate races. Two businessmen with the ability to tap into or raise significant resources could be in the mix – Eric Hovde, who lost the GOP Senate nomination in 2012, and Scott Mayer. Still, unseating Cruz in a state Trump won by nearly 6 points in 2020 will be a tall order.

☆ Opinion | A Sinister New Page in the Republican Playbook
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On Tuesday, I wrote about the Republican effort to limit the reach and scope of initiatives and referendums as another instance of the party’s war on majority rule. One thing I wanted to include, but couldn’t quite integrate into the structure of the column, was a point about the recent use of legislative expulsion to punish Democratic lawmakers who dissent from or challenge Republican majorities. We saw another example this week, in Montana, after State Representative Zooey Zephyr, a transgender woman, spoke out against a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. In Nebraska, a Democratic lawmaker is being investigated by an ethics panel for a conflict of interest regarding her filibuster of another bill to ban gender-affirming health care for minors. She has a transgender child.

☆ Montana governor signs bill banning transgender medical care for youths
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 28 (Reuters) - Montana's governor on Friday enacted a Republican-backed ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender children, days after a transgender lawmaker protesting the bill was barred from the floor of the state legislature, sparking a national furor. The legislation, Senate Bill 99, passed the House of Representatives three days later, and Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signed it into law on Friday. Republican House leaders initially reacted to Zephyr's floor statements by turning off her microphone. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday called the Montana Republican House action against Zephyr a "denial of democratic values". The Tennessee lawmakers were promptly reappointed to their seats by their county legislatures and earned a trip to the White House.

☆ Montana Republicans censure transgender legislator
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsMontana Republicans censure transgender legislatorPostedMontana statehouse Republicans on Wednesday (April 26) censured Democratic transgender legislator Zooey Zephyr for breaking decorum after she said lawmakers who backed a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors would have "blood on their hands."

☆ Montana House Republicans ban Rep. Zooey Zephyr from House chamber for remainder of legislative session
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The move by Montana Republicans comes just weeks after two Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee were expelled over their protests on the House floor demanding action to address gun violence after a mass shooting at a Nashville school. Until Wednesday’s debate of the resolution to discipline Zephyr, he had refused to recognize her to speak until she apologized. Pro-Zephyr activists packed into Montana’s House gallery on Monday. Republican leaders canceled Tuesday’s scheduled House floor session, and announced late Tuesday night that they would consider “disciplinary action” against Zephyr on Wednesday over her role in Monday’s protests. Rep. David Bedey, a Republican, said Zephyr should have left the House floor or helped try to calm the crowd of protesters on Monday.

☆ Montana's House just voted to censure its first openly transgender lawmaker after protests and days of not letting her speak
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Montana House of Representatives voted to censure its first transgender legislator. State Rep. Zooey Zephyr was censured days after protestors interrupted the legislature because the House speaker wouldn't recognize her on the floor. In doing so, Zephyr will not be allowed on the House floor or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session. State Rep. SJ Howell, a Democratic legislator who is nonbinary, spoke in support of Zephyr on Wednesday and said the protests on Monday were unsurprising. Now, after Zephyr's censure, a similar problem could occur for Montana Republicans as Zephyr increasingly gets placed into the spotlight.

☆ Montana Republicans are trying to censure a transgender legislator for castigating them about a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr is the state's first openly transgender legislator. Following her speech, Montana's Freedom Caucus demanded Zephyr be censured. Additionally, the caucus also misgendered Zephyr, the first openly transgender member of the Montana legislature, in the letter. House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, in a statement to the Helena Independent Record, admonished the Montana Freedom Caucus for disrespecting her colleague. "I stand by my accurate description of the devastating consequences of banning essential medical care for transgender youth," Zephyr wrote.

☆ Montana Republicans are appealing to anti-California sentiment to pass a slew of bipartisan pro-housing policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Montana Republicans are aligned behind zoning reform and other pro-housing policies. And everybody in Montana is asking this question of, you know, how can we keep Montana feeling like Montana?" Preventing a 'California-style housing crisis'Montana's ultra-conservative GOP governor, Greg Gianforte, recently called the housing crisis "probably the number one issue faced by working Montanans." Conservative supporters of pro-housing policies in the state have successfully tied anti-California sentiment to anti-sprawl and pro-housing policies. "The fear is that in 25 years, we're going to have a California-style housing crisis," Cotton said.

☆ Montana lawmakers pass bill to ban TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Montana legislators approved a bill on Friday that would ban TikTok from being offered in the state in a 54-43 vote. Beyond Montana, federal lawmakers have for months been pushing an act that would ban TikTok across the country if ByteDance won't sell its stake in the viral video app. The Montana bill cited likely Chinese surveillance and the potential theft of state intellectual property as some of the impetus behind the ban. TikTok said it opposes the bill, adding that there's no clear path for the Montana government to enforce it or punish violators. "We will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach."

☆ U.S. IRS to hire nearly 20,000 staff over two years with $80 bln in new funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Signage is seen at the headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 10, 2021. But a significant portion of these new hires will replace the nearly 12,000 IRS employees expected to retire over the next two years -- including more than 4,700 enforcement staff, a U.S. Treasury official said. Those audit targets include wealthy individuals, corporations and complex partnerships, which have grown in number while IRS audit staff has shrunk by nearly half over the past decade, new IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters. REPUBLICAN BACKLASHThe plan drew fresh complaints from Republicans who want to repeal the IRS funding as part of their demands for raising the $31.4 trillion federal debt ceiling. He said that the percentage of Criminal Investigation staff would not change from its current proportion of about 3% of the IRS workforce.

☆ Republicans are seeking wealthy, self-funding candidates to help the party win a Senate majority in 2024, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

GOP leaders are seeking out wealthy Senate candidates to counter Democratic fundraising successes. In recent cycles, some GOP candidates have used outside spending to mitigate spending disparities. Last year, Democratic Senate nominees in the six most competitive races outraised their GOP counterparts by $288 million, per Politico. The well-known doctor poured $26.8 million of his own funds into his unsuccessful Senate campaign, according to OpenSecrets. Dolan, who put more than $10.5 million into his 2022 Senate bid, could face Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

☆ FAA temporarily closed airspace above Lake Michigan due to 'national defense' amid reports of a hovering 'object'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | Kadia Tubman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Aviation Administration declared a "national defense airspace" over part of Lake Michigan. Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale said Sunday that officials advised him that "there IS an object and it WAS NOT an anomaly." The FAA declared a "national defense airspace" over Lake Michigan, the agency said in a notice according to Fox News. The FAA said that it "briefly closed some airspace over Lake Michigan to support Department of Defense activities" in a statement to Insider on Sunday. The US Department of Defense said that the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be working "very closely" to investigate the object shot down over Canada in a statement.

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