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☆ Election Updates: Biden to campaign in Florida, keeping the focus on abortion.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Nicholas Nehamas | Patricia Mazzei | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The Biden campaign has made abortion one of its top issues, as polling shows it is one of the few subjects in which voters place more trust in Mr. Biden than Mr. Trump. While the vote could motivate liberal and independent voters to come to the polls, Mr. Biden would have to invest heavily in Florida to defeat Mr. Trump, which his campaign has not yet done. “Trump did this” has become a frequent messaging slogan from the Biden campaign. The Biden campaign, she said, should not give up on the nation’s third-largest state. Although the Biden campaign has a significant financial advantage over Mr. Trump’s operation, it has not spent heavily in Florida compared with the major battlegrounds.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump, Biden’s, Floridians, Donald Trump, ”, Michael Tyler, “, Roe, Wade, “ Trump, Ron DeSantis, Debbie Mucarsel, Powell, Rick Scott, Ms, Mucarsel, DeSantis, ” Mr, Tyler, “ We’ve, Lauren Brenzel, ” Alex Andrade, Mr, Andrade Organizations: Biden, Republicans, Gov, Republican, Democratic, Florida Locations: Florida, Tampa, Trump . Florida, Arizona, Florida , Arizona, Miami, “ Florida, Kentucky , Kansas, Ohio, Dade County, Hialeah Gardens, Fla

☆ A Massachusetts city is giving families at risk of losing their homes $750 a month, no strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA Massachusetts city is giving low-income families $750 a month, no strings attached. The guaranteed basic income program will focus on residents who are in danger of losing their homes. The Somerville GBI Pilot will serve about 200 low-income families currently experiencing housing insecurity. Related stories"My life was always just a couple hundred dollars short," a participant in San Antonio's income program told BI. St. Louis, Missouri recently distributed $500 monthly payments to low-income families, and Flint, Michigan is offering funds to new mothers.

Persons: —, Boston —, Somerville, Katjana Ballantyne, Ballantyne, Joe Biden's, hasn't, John Gillette Organizations: Service, Somerville, Business, Greater Boston Area, Boston, ARPA, The University of Massachusetts, Republican Locations: Massachusetts, —, Boston, San Antonio, Austin, Minneapolis, Durham , North Carolina, Denver, Antonio's, City, Somerville, Greater Boston, Arizona , South Dakota , Iowa, Texas, Arizona, Louis , Missouri, Flint , Michigan, Atlanta

☆ Georgia elections: GOP lawmakers back broad changes, including one that could benefit third-party presidential contenders
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

That could benefit third-party or independent presidential candidates in a state that Joe Biden narrowly carried over Donald Trump in 2020. A super PAC backing independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in February that it had gathered enough signatures in Georgia for Kennedy to make the ballot. Currently, independent or third-party candidates must collect at least 7,500 signatures from registered Georgia voters to qualify for the ballot in the state. A separate provision of the election legislation would broaden what constitutes “probable cause” needed to uphold challenges to voter registrations. Voting rights groups have objected to several provisions in the legislation, including the rules regarding voter challenges.

Persons: Brian Kemp’s, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Nicole Shanahan, Cornel West, Trump, Kemp, Garrison Douglas, John LaHood, CNN’s Aaron Pellish Organizations: CNN — Republican, Georgia Gov, Biden, Georgia, Republicans, Republican, Rep, The Atlanta, Constitution Locations: Georgia, California

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The attorney for a former Milwaukee elections official charged with fraudulently ordering three military absentee ballots under fake names and sending them to a Republican lawmaker who embraced election conspiracy theories argued Monday in opening statements that she was a whistleblower and not a criminal. Kimberly Zapata, the former deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, is on trial for misconduct in public office, a felony, and three misdemeanor counts of making a false statement to obtain an absentee ballot. In Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Zapata's defense attorney Daniel Adams told the jury that she committed no crime, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Milwaukee, home to the largest number of Democrats in Wisconsin, has been a target for complaints from Trump and his backers. Brandtjen has advocated for decertifying Biden’s 2020 win in Wisconsin for the past two years and has espoused conspiracy theories supporting her position.

Persons: Kimberly Zapata, Daniel Adams, Adams, Zapata, ”, Matthew Westphal, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Trump, Janel, Brandtjen, decertifying, ” Zapata, Robin Vos Organizations: MILWAUKEE, Republican, Milwaukee Election, Circuit, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin’s, Brandtjen, Trump, GOP, Journal Sentinel Locations: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, MyVote Wisconsin, Menomonee Falls

☆ Republicans vote unanimously to ban basic income programs in a state with one of the highest homelessness rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Katie Balevic | Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Arizona House Republicans unanimously voted to ban basic income programs in the state. They say guaranteed basic income programs are like socialism. In Iowa, Republican state Rep. Steve Holt introduced a bill to ban basic income programs last month, calling them "socialism on steroids." AdvertisementThe bill's sponsor, Sen. John Wiik, said basic income programs are a "socialist idea" during a committee meeting on February 5. "Guaranteed income programs, also known as basic income, undercut the dignity in earning a dollar, and they're a one-way ticket to government dependency," Wiik said in the hearing.

Persons: —, Lupe Diaz, Diaz, Steve Holt, Sen, John Wiik, Wiik Organizations: Arizona, Service, Republican, Business, — Locations: Arizona, United States, Baltimore, Oregon, Austin, Harris County , Texas, Houston, In Iowa, South Dakota

Johnson isn't buying arguments from the bill's Republican backers that she didn't inspire the proposed change to a longstanding law. Republican state lawmakers who favor the ban have argued that winning twice often means abandoning the lower office, creating a costly special election. Johnson narrowly escaped expulsion last year for her role in a pro-gun control protest inside the Tennessee House chamber. Republican lawmakers are considering changes that target Jones and Pearson, too. In California, a judge ruled Republican state Assemblymember Vince Fong could run for Congress and reelection to his state seat at the same time.

Persons: Johnson, David Hawk, Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, “ That’s, Ron DeSantis, Rand Paul, Paul, Sen, Cory Booker, Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's, Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's, Blackburn, Gloria Johnson, ”, Abigail Sigler, Blackburn's, she’s, Randy McNally, Justin Pearson, Justin Jones, Pearson, Jones, Vince Fong, State Shirley Weber, Marc Levy, Adam Beam, Sean Murphy, Amy Beth Hanson, John Hanna Organizations: Republican, National Conference of State Legislatures, Republican Gov, Republican U.S, Sen, Kentucky GOP, Democratic, Former U.S . Rep, statehouse, Covenant, Tennessee, Congress, State, Democrats, Associated Press Locations: Tennessee, Knoxville, Kentucky, Montana , Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona , Florida, Hawaii, Georgia, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Wisconsin, U.S, Connecticut, Washington, California, Pennsylvania, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania, Sacramento , California, Oklahoma City, Helena , Montana, Topeka , Kansas

We have people that are willing and able to work, but finding child care was an obstacle.”Republicans historically have been lukewarm about using taxpayer money for child care, even as they have embraced prekindergarten. Nebraska and Indiana have both pitched programs to make child care free for child care workers. Child care advocates say the investments are not enough and called on Congress to authorize a new round of money to keep the child care industry afloat. GOP resistance to child care spending dates to the 1970s, when President Richard Nixon vetoed a bill to establish a national child care system, invoking fears of communism and saying it had “family-weakening implications.” Many of those arguments persist. But during the pandemic, many child care workers left the industry for better-paying jobs, and some child care centers closed for good, exacerbating the problem.

Persons: Emily O'Brien, Lennon, O'Brien, Jolene, Doug Burgum's, ” O'Brien, —, Mike Parson, Brenda Shields, ” Shields, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, Glenn Youngkin, Richard Nixon, “, Kristi Noem, ” Noem Organizations: Republican, Gov, Republicans, Democratic, Republican Gov, Pro, Virginia Gov, U.S . Chamber of Commerce Foundation, KWAT, Associated Press Locations: North Dakota, Forks, Bismarck, New Mexico, Vermont, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Nebraska, Indiana, Idaho, U.S, South Dakota, Watertown , South Dakota, AP.org

☆ A guaranteed basic income program in Minneapolis found that even after a year of giving recipients $500 a month, they weren't working any less
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe city of Minneapolis is experimenting with a guaranteed basic income program, and the preliminary results are promising. Minneapolis has provided $500 monthly payments with no strings attached to 200 low-income families for the last year. Flint, Michigan — for example — recently opened enrollment for a basic income program for pregnant mothers, giving them a lump sum during pregnancy and $500 a month for their baby's first year of life. In Iowa, two Republican state representatives are pushing legislation to ban basic income programs, Business Insider reported. A lawmaker in Texas, meanwhile, called a newly launched basic income program in Harris County, which includes Houston, unconstitutional.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Minneapolis, Denver, Flint , Michigan, In Iowa, Texas, Harris County, Houston

“This is an extremely undemocratic way to harm access to reproductive health care," said Sofia Tomov, operations coordinator with Access Reproductive Care Southeast, a member of the Mississippi Abortion Access Coalition. The proposal comes days after a Missouri abortion-rights campaign launched its ballot measure effort aiming to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution. Missouri abortion rights groups also have criticized Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, saying he is attempting to impede the initiative by manipulating the measure's ballot summary. Ohio abortion rights advocates have said last year’s statewide vote to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution was as much about abortion as it was a referendum on democracy itself. After Ohio voters approved the abortion protections last year, Republican lawmakers pledged to block the amendment from reversing the state's restrictions.

Persons: “ They’re, Laurie Bertram Roberts, we’ve, Mississippi, Cheikh Taylor, “, ” Taylor, Fred Shanks, Roe, Wade, ”, Jason White, Sofia Tomov, State Jay Ashcroft, Ed Lewis, Sam Lee, John Rizzo, Joe Adams, Deirdre Schifeling, ‘ Will, Summer Ballentine, Emily Wagster Pettus Organizations: CHICAGO, —, U.S, Supreme, Mississippi House, Democratic Rep, Republican Party, Republican, Republicans, Mississippi, Reproductive, Coalition, State, GOP, Democratic, Ohio Republicans, Ohio, ACLU, Press, Associated Press, AP Locations: Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, . Mississippi, ”, ” In Missouri, Nevada, Jefferson City , Missouri, Jackson , Mississippi

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An effort to modernize state oversight of a thriving petroleum industry in the nation's No. 2 state for oil production advanced past its first committee vetting Thursday at the New Mexico Legislature. The bill also would give regulators greater authority over applications to transfer ownership of wells that often change hands when oil and natural gas output declines. The Democratic-led Legislature and governor are being sued over alleged failures to meet constitutional provisions for protecting against oil and gas pollution, as fed-up residents living near oil wells and environmental groups turn to the judiciary for relief. Voting against the bill, Republican state Rep. Larry Scott of Hobbs, said the initiative represents an existential threat to small-scale oil and natural gas producers, echoing concerns raised by several businesses.

Persons: Bill cosponsor Rep, Matthew McQueen, Galisteo, we’re, ”, “ We’ve, We’re, Gail Evans, Nathan Small, —, Ahtza Chavez, Lujan Grisham, “ They’ve, Chavez, Larry Scott, Hobbs, Scott Organizations: SANTA FE, New, New Mexico Legislature, Gas, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Land Office, Democratic, Center for Biological Diversity, Pueblo Action Alliance, Youth United, Las, Gov, Republican Locations: SANTA, New Mexico, Las Cruces, Albuquerque

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Republican state Rep. Mike Lynch announced he's stepping down as minority leader Wednesday, a week after The Denver Post reported that Lynch was arrested in 2022 on suspicion of drunken driving and possession of a gun while intoxicated. Lynch is also running for Congress in Colorado's 4th District, a hotly contested race recently joined by Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert after she announced she was switching districts. “I want it to be clear that I’m not stepping down because I won a close vote of no confidence,” Lynch said to gathered lawmakers on the House floor. The report details Lynch telling King he was a supporter of law enforcement and asking the trooper to call Colorado State Patrol’s legislative liaison at the state Capitol. A vote to elect a new minority leader will be held Thursday morning.

Persons: Mike Lynch, he's, Lynch, Lauren Boebert, ” Lynch, I've, Matthew King, King, didn’t, ” Organizations: DENVER, —, — Colorado Republican, Denver Post, Republican, Colorado State Patrol, The Denver Post, Colorado State, Associated Press Locations: — Colorado, Colorado's 4th, Fort Collins , Colorado

The narrow margin in Congress leaves both major parties fighting fiercely for every available seat in 2024. “By Lauren Boebert district shopping and becoming a carpetbagger so she can keep her office in D.C., she has now become part of the swamp,” he said. Still, Boebert is joining a race that is practically guaranteed to elect a Republican anyway, said Galdieri. Before she switched districts, Boebert had apologized up and down Colorado’s 3rd district as part of her last-ditch strategy against Frisch. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Persons: —, Lauren Boebert, Donald Trump, ”, Robin Varhelman, She’s, Big, Boebert, Boebert's, vaping, Adam Frisch, tangibly, ” Boebert, “, Richard Hudson, Frisch, he’s, Jeff Hurd —, Mike Johnson, Richard Holtorf, Lauren, Christopher Galdieri, who’ve, — she’s, Dawn Whitney, Whitney, Holtorf, Mike Lynch, she’s, Mark Moorman, She’d, that’s, Seth Masket, Debbie Spear — Organizations: Colo, Colorado Republican, U.S ., Trump, Republican, U.S . House, GOP, Democrat, National Republican Campaign, Saint Anselm College, Republicans, Representatives, Center, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Colorado, U.S, Washington, Brush, Denver, Lauren Boebert, New Hampshire, she’s, Boebert, Colorado’s House, Colorado’s, Texas

His sentence includes a 10-day suspended jail sentence, a mandatory evaluation and a victim impact panel. Rios' sentence is consistent with others for similar offenses, said criminal defense attorney Mark Friese, a long-time practitioner in DUI cases. He noted that Rios' driving privileges will be suspended automatically for 91 days. The House-Senate panel meets between legislative sessions for studies of topics related to law enforcement and the legal system for future or potential legislation. He also previously said he takes responsibility for his “disgusting actions," and apologized “to those I have hurt and disappointed," including law enforcement officers.

Persons: Nico Rios, Rios, Mark Friese, Friese, Mike Lefor, “ Organizations: N.D, North, Republican, Police, Republican Party, Committee, Representatives Locations: BISMARCK, North Dakota, Williston

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesUnder so-called linked-deposit programs, states deposit money in banks at below-market interest rates. Banks then leverage those funds to provide short-term, low-interest loans to particular borrowers, often in agriculture or small business. The programs can save thousands of dollars for borrowers by reducing their interest rates by an average 2-3 percentage points. Illinois has nearly $950 million of deposits linked to low-interest loans for farmers, businesses and individuals. In 2015, Frerichs said, the state's agricultural investment program had just two low-interest loans.

Persons: Vivek Malek, Malek, ” Malek, Banks, Michael Frerichs, Frerichs, Rafael Salaberrios, ” Salaberrios, Brian Zimmerschied, Doug Fish, Jason Bernard, ” Bernard, Mike Hopkins, “, Hopkins, Jordan Harvey, Sid Miller, hadn't, Miller, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Federal Reserve, National Association of State, State Development, “, OakStar Bank, FCS, FCS Financial, BTC Bank, Montana Board of Investments, Republican, AP Locations: Mo, Missouri, New York, Illinois, Montana, “, National Association of State Treasurers . Illinois, Bethany , Missouri, Bethany, Iowa , Kansas, Ohio, Kansas, In Ohio, Texas

Lujan Grisham said she'll ask the Legislature to set aside $500 million to underwrite acquisition of treated water. “We're going to turn water — this waste, which is a problem — into a commodity,” Lujan Grisham said at the conference. The state's oil wells draw out far more water than oil, by several multiples, according to oil field regulators. “Creating a state reserve of treated water for renewable energy projects merits serious consideration in the upcoming session,” Wirth said. New Mexico state government is navigating an unprecedented financial windfall from record setting oil production centered in the Permian Basin that extends across southeastern New Mexico and portions of western Texas.

Persons: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lujan Grisham, she'll, “ We're, ” Lujan Grisham, “, James Kenney, ” Kenney, Peter Wirth of, Peter Wirth of Santa Fe, ” Wirth, Larry Scott, Hobbs Organizations: SANTA FE, —, Democratic, Gov, Dubai, United Arab, Tax, Fund, U.S, Lawmakers, Democratic Party, Republican Locations: SANTA, — New Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Rio, New Mexico, Peter Wirth of Santa, Texas

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky state Rep. Kevin Bratcher announced his plans Thursday to run for a Louisville Metro Council seat next year, which would culminate a long statehouse career that put the Republican lawmaker at the forefront of school safety, juvenile justice and a host of other issues. Bratcher has been a fixture in the Kentucky House since 1997. Bratcher becomes the second Louisville-area lawmaker within days to pass up a House reelection run to instead seek a metro council seat in 2024. Democratic state Rep. Josie Raymond announced similar plans to run for metro council in another district. Another lawmaker who announced recently that he won't seek reelection next year is Republican state Rep. Danny Bentley, who represents a district in northeastern Kentucky.

Persons: Kevin Bratcher, Bratcher, Josie Raymond, ” Bratcher, David Osborne, ” Osborne, Danny Bentley, Bentley Organizations: Louisville Metro Council, statehouse, Republican, Kentucky House, GOP, Democratic, Louisville, Health, Family Services Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky, Louisville, Bratcher, Jefferson County, Fern

Possession of under a gram of heroin, for example, is only subject to a ticket and a maximum fine of $100. Some lawmakers have suggested focusing on criminalizing public drug use rather than possession. Backers of Oregon’s approach say decriminalization isn’t necessarily to blame, as many other states with stricter drug laws have also reported increases in fentanyl deaths. Despite public perception, the law has made some progress by directing $265 million dollars of cannabis tax revenue toward standing up the state’s new addiction treatment infrastructure. Horvick, the pollster, said public support for expanding treatment remains high despite pushback against the law.

Persons: — Oregon's, ”, John Horvick, Sen, Kate Lieber, Tina Kotek, Kotek, Jason Edmiston, Alex Kreit, Lily Morgan, Heather Jefferis, ” Lieber, “, Geoff Mulvihill, ___ Claire Rush Organizations: DHM Research, Democratic, Democratic Gov, Republican, Survey, Northern Kentucky University, Addiction Law, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Health, Networks, Oregon Council, Behavioral Health, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: PORTLAND, Oregon, Portland, Hermiston, California, Washington, U.S, Portugal, Philadelphia

The lawsuit was filed in January on behalf of 13 Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist leaders who support abortion rights. It seeks a permanent injunction barring the state from enforcing its abortion law, and a declaration that provisions of the law violate the Missouri Constitution. The law makes it a felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison to perform or induce an abortion. Their lawsuit specifically highlights the Jewish teaching that a fetus becomes a living person at birth and that Jewish law prioritizes the mother’s life and health. In Kentucky, three Jewish women sued, claiming the state’s ban violates their religious rights under the state’s constitution and religious freedom law.

Persons: Louis, Roe, Wade, Brennan, “, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, Eric Schmitt, Mike Parson, Nick Schroer, ”, Barry Hovis, — Organizations: LOUIS, Unitarian Universalist, Brennan Center for Justice, Pro, Republican, Americans United, & State, National Women’s Law, Rep, Hoosier, Choice Locations: Missouri, ” Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A former Indiana lawmaker has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge alleging that he accepted promises of lucrative employment from a gaming company during his time in public office, federal prosecutors said Friday. Sean Eberhart, 57, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, according to court documents filed Thursday. The former Republican state representative represented central Indiana's House District 57 for 16 years before leaving office in November 2022. In 2022, longtime casino executive John Keeler was sentenced along with a former Indiana state senator, Brent Waltz, for their role in the illegal funneling of gambling money into the lawmaker's unsuccessful 2016 bid for congress. Keeler, who was a Republican legislator for 16 years in the 1980s and 1990s, was sentenced to two months in federal prison and fined $55,000.

Persons: —, Sean Eberhart, ” Eberhart, Eberhart, Todd Huston, Eberhart's, Huston, John Keeler, Brent Waltz, Keeler Organizations: INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, Republican, central, General, Spectacle Entertainment, Lake Michigan, Public, Spectacle, Attorney's, Associated Press, FBI Locations: central Indiana's, Lake, Gary , Indiana, Gary, Indiana's Vigo County, U.S, Indiana, Greenwood

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. said Monday that it's pausing construction of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan until it is confident it can run the factory competitively. The move comes as the company is in the midst of national contract talks with the United Auto Workers union, which wants to represent workers at battery factories and win them top wages. In February, Ford announced plans to build the plant in Marshall, Michigan, employing about 2,500 workers to make lower-cost batteries for a variety of new and existing vehicles. But Ford spokesman TR Reid confirmed Monday that plant construction has been paused and spending has been limited on it. Earlier this year Virginia dropped out of the race for the same Ford plant after Republican Gov.

Persons: —, Ford, Marshall, TR Reid, ”, Shawn Fain, Sarah Lightner, Ford “, “, ” Lightner, Sam Abuelsamid, Abuelsamid, Biden, Glenn Youngkin, Joey Cappelletti, David Koenig Organizations: DETROIT, — Ford Motor, United Auto Workers union, UAW, Ford, Detroit, General Motors, EV, Amperex Technology, . Ltd, Republican State Rep, Guidehouse, Republican Gov, Chinese Communist Party, ____ Associated Press Locations: Michigan, Marshall , Michigan, Detroit, Marshall, China, U.S, Virginia, Lansing , Michigan, Dallas

The debate, which was hosted by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., aired on multiple Louisiana news stations including KLFY. While Wilson supports exceptions and a ballot initiative to allow citizens to vote on the abortion laws, he has previously stated he is pro-life. All candidates addressed the death of Greene, who was killed after being arrested by Louisiana State Police. Schroder and Landry have backgrounds in law enforcement and said they are willing to meet with the Greene family. While most of the night was spent on issues, some candidates took the opportunity to verbally spar with Landry, who skipped the first debate.

Persons: Jeff Landry, Black, Ronald Greene, Sen, Sharon Hewitt, Landry, Donald Trump, Hunter Lundy, Richard Nelson, John Schroder, Stephen Waguespack, Bobby Jindal, Shawn Wilson, Wilson, Nelson, “ It’s, ” Wilson, Greene, John Bel Edwards, Schroder, Alton Sterling, Lundy, Schroeder, ” Landry, Edwards Organizations: GOP, Republican, Transportation, Development Department, Democratic, Nexstar Media Group, Inc, Republicans, Democrat, Louisiana State Police, Authorities, Associated Press, ” Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Lake Charles, Landry

☆ Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial is on the brink of a verdict as senators end deliberations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The Texas Senate on Saturday ended deliberations over whether Attorney General Ken Paxton should be removed from office, putting the Republican's historic impeachment trial on the brink of a verdict. Paxton, who did not attend the majority of the two-week trial, was not seen in the chamber as some senators wandered around their desks. If convicted, Paxton would become Texas' first statewide official convicted on impeachment charges in more than 100 years. Leaning into divisions among Republicans, Buzbee portrayed the impeachment as a plot orchestrated by an old guard of GOP rivals. The verdict will be decided by 30 of the 31 state senators, most of them Republicans.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Paxton, Donald Trump, mangers, Andrew Murr, Tony Buzbee, Buzbee, George P, Bush, George W, Sen, Angela Paxton, Austin, Nate Paul, Paul, Drew Wicker, Paxton's, Wicker, Nate, general's Austin, Laura Olson, Olson, ___ Organizations: Texas Senate, Texas Capitol, Texas, FBI, Republican, Texas House, Texas Ranger, Republican Party Locations: Texas, U.S, San Antonio

(AP) — Former firearms executive turned gun industry critic Ryan Busse is seeking the 2024 Democratic nomination to challenge first-term Republican Governor Greg Gianforte in Montana. “To me this is a narrative about Greg Gianforte making this a playground for the wealthy and ignoring the people of Montana,” Busse said Wednesday. During a 25-year career in the firearms industry, Busse said, he directed the sale of almost 3 million guns from the manufacturer Kimber America. His remonstrations against America's gun culture could become a flashpoint in the campaign given the strong support for gun rights in Montana politics. Republican State Rep. Tanner Smith of Lakeside plans to challenge Gianforte in the primary.

Persons: HELENA, Ryan Busse, Greg Gianforte, Montana . Busse, It's, Gianforte, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Busse, ” Busse, “, Kimber, Busse's, Kaitlin Price, ” Price, Mike Cooney, Tanner Smith, Smith, ___ Brown Organizations: Democratic, Associated Press, Revenue Department, Republican, Kimber America, National Rifle Association, Gov, Republican State, Lakeside Locations: Mont, Montana, Billings

☆ Texas AG Ken Paxton's former aide who reported him to FBI is first key witness in impeachment trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

"The problem is the office is being used for the benefit of one person," said Jeff Mateer, who was Paxton's second-in-command at the Texas attorney generals' office. Their relationship is central to the case led by Republican impeachment managers that Paxton should be removed from office. Mateer took the stand with few onlookers in the Senate gallery for what is Texas' first impeachment trial in nearly a half century. Paxton attorney Tony Buzbee said Paxton "gave nothing of significance" to Paul and framed the proceedings as an attempt to overturn the will of voters. Paxton attorney Tony Buzbee said Paxton "gave nothing of significance" to Paul and framed the proceedings as an attempt to overturn the will of voters.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Jeff Mateer, Mateer, Paxton, Nate Paul, Paul, Dan Cogdell, Biden, Tony Buzbee, Gov, Dan Patrick, Paxton's, Sen, Angela Paxton, —, Mr, Andrew Murr, Austin, Peter Bowen, Bowen Organizations: Texas, FBI, Texas Senate, Republican, The Associated Press, Senators, Texas Republicans, Trump, Capitol, Senate Locations: Texas, U.S, Washington , U.S, Austin, May, Houston

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is underway with live television coverage, a former aide who reported him to the FBI on the witness stand and his wife watching from her desk in the state Senate but prohibited from participating. But how much Paxton himself will take part in the historic trial that resumes Wednesday is up in the air. Paxton pleaded not guilty Tuesday but did not return for opening arguments, when his attorneys sharply criticized the impeachment and urged Republican senators to acquit. The vote immediately suspended Paxton and made him only the third sitting official in Texas’ nearly 200-year history to be impeached. What they are doing is taking away the vote of the majority of the people of Texas,” Bowen said.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Paxton, Paxton’s, “, Dan Cogdell, Jeff Mateer, Mateer, “ Mr, ”, Andrew Murr, Biden, Austin, Nate Paul, Tony Buzbee, Paxton “, Paul, Gov, Dan Patrick, Sen, Angela Paxton, —, Peter Bowen, ” Bowen Organizations: Texas, FBI, Senators, Republican, “, Capitol, Texas Republicans, Trump, Texas ’, Senate Locations: AUSTIN, Texas, acquit, May, Houston

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