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☆ A GOP senator says Republican lawmakers are frustrated with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg because he wants 'everything to be climate and politically correct'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Hill Republicans are increasingly voicing their issues with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Sen. Capito told The Hill that Buttigieg had a "push" for everything "to be climate and politically correct." The Department of Transportation has defended Buttigieg's performance in handling recent crises. Secretary Buttigieg has been a vocal champion of President Biden's bipartisan infrastructure law. "Before, if you got your flight delayed, you weren't like 'oh that damn Elaine Chao,'" a Democratic operative told The Hill, referring to former President Donald Trump's transportation secretary.

☆ Senators call on Medicare to offer broad coverage of Alzheimer's treatments as public pressure grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

U.S. senators on Friday called for Medicare to offer broad coverage of Alzheimer's treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration, warning that current restrictions cost patients precious time as their disease progresses. The 20 senators told CMS that Alzheimer's will cost the nation $1 trillion by 2050 if the U.S. does not take decisive action. As a consequence, Medicare coverage for the expensive drug is basically nonexistent. The Alzheimer's Association wrote CMS in December calling for the agency to provide unrestricted Medicare coverage for Leqembi. "We believe Medicare beneficiaries should have unimpeded access, broad and simple access to Leqembi because the data fulfill those criteria."

☆ Senate GOP women hail Nikki Haley's entry into the 2024 presidential primary but almost unanimously cheer for 'a lot of other people' to jump in
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Senate Republican women offered guarded praise but seemed interested in additional candidates. And we'll see who else jumps in," Sen. Joni Ernst, who seemed to be on the exact same page as many of her colleagues, told Insider at the US Capitol. While the half-dozen GOP women Insider talked to about Haley's plans were generally supportive of her presidential ambitions, none offered her an endorsement. I thought it was well done," Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska told Insider between Senate votes. "She adds much needed diversity," Collins told Insider — before quickly adding, "I expect there'll be other very good candidates announcing as well."

☆ Vowles says Williams will not become a 'mini-Mercedes'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Williams' new principal James Vowles said after his appointment on Friday that the struggling former champions would be no Mercedes 'B' team in Formula One. "There's no mini-Mercedes or B team or any of that," said Vowles. Vowles told reporters that Williams were entirely independent and he would act in their best interests. "There was always the speculation that Williams, because of the Mercedes engine, was a subordinate but none of that was obviously true." That’s why James is going to do what's good for the team, what's good for James in order to bring that forward.

☆ Five states will have politically-split Senate delegations in the new Congress, reflecting the nation's continued partisan polarization
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The new Congress, which begins this week, will have five politically-split Senate delegations. But in the new Congress, which begins this week, only five states will have split Senate delegations: Maine, Montana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. AP Photo/Matthew BrownMontanaDemocratic Sen. Jon Tester and Republican Sen. Steve DainesTester was first elected to the Senate in 2006 and secured reelection in both 2012 and 2018. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesWest VirginiaDemocratic Sen. Joe Manchin and Republican Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoManchin is perhaps the nation's most recognizable moderate Democrat, having single-handedly scuttled Biden's Build Back Better agenda in December 2021. WisconsinRepublican Sen. Ron Johnson and Democratic Sen. Tammy BaldwinThe Badger State is often home to some of the closest races in the entire country.

☆ EPA issues new rule to strengthen water protections in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Lucas Thompson | Lucas Thompson Is A Content Producer For The Nbc News Climate Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

At issue is which types of waterways — wetlands, rivers, lakes, etc. The act regulates water pollutants and empowers the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to define which particular bodies of water are protected by law. Protected bodies of water qualify for federal programs pertaining to oil spill prevention, water quality regulation and more. The new definition announced this week instates similar protections to those that were in place before 2015, while also clarifying certain qualifications for protected waters. "This comes at a time when we’re seeing unprecedented attacks on federal clean water protections by polluters and their allies," said Jon Devine, director of federal water policy for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

☆ Here are the 14 Republican senators who may have doomed their bills in the new GOP House by voting for a major spending bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin McCarthy even vowed to block House consideration of bills sponsored by GOP senators who voted for it. But a slew of GOP senators voted for it anyway, including 4 who are retiring and 14 who will remain. "Kevin's in a tough spot," Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, a former House Republican and an opponent of the omnibus himself, told CNN's Manu Raju. "Statements like that... is the very reason that some Senate Republicans feel they probably should spare them from the burden of having to govern." Additionally, four Republican senators who voted for the bill are retiring, making the threat meaningless to them.

Known in the legal world as the “death penalty” of child welfare, it can happen in a matter of months. One in 100 U.S. children — disproportionately Black and Native American — experience termination through the child welfare system before they turn 18, the study found. Still, longer timelines can also reflect a stronger focus on family reunification and a willingness to devote greater resources to meet that goal, child welfare experts say. And some child welfare advocates have criticized the law’s focus on narrow initiatives like parenting classes, which they say fail to address poverty and the other root causes of neglect that prompt most child welfare cases. Snodgrass said she never imagined when her child welfare case started that she could lose her rights to her children.

WASHINGTON — The House passed legislation Thursday that enshrines federal protections for marriages of same-sex and interracial couples. Thirty-nine House Republicans supported the legislation Thursday and one voted present. The revisions to the bill meant the House had to vote again after passing an earlier version in July. It reflects the rapidly growing U.S. public support for legal same-sex marriage, which hit a new high of 71% in June, according to Gallup tracking polls — up from 27% in 1996. In the Senate, 12 Republicans voted with unanimous Democrats to pass the bill, which sent it back to the House.

The Williams Racing team has won nine World Constructors' Championships and seven World Drivers' Championships in Formula 1. He said all F1 teams faced the challenge of "how to spend the money wisely and be highly efficient." "We won't be as competitive as someone with a few years of experience in F1," Capito said. "It's also a good opportunity for the young drivers. Capito added that he was determined to keep morale high, which "has to come from the leader."

☆ GOP backlash over Trump's call for 'termination' of the US Constitution grows despite his attempts to walk back comment
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump claimed on Monday that he had not called for the Constitution to be cancelled. It came amid a backlash from Republican senators over the comment. Trump said that election fraud allowed for the "termination of all rules" including "those found in the Constitution." "The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to 'terminate' the Constitution. His claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him have been widely refuted.

☆ Factbox: Who are 12 U.S. Senate Republicans who voted to protect same-sex marriage?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here is what they said about supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, which some social conservatives object to:SUSAN COLLINS, MAINECollins is one of the most moderate Senate Republicans. LISA MURKOWSKI, ALASKAMurkowski, a moderate Senate Republican, was the third Republican senator in 2013 to come out in support of same-sex marriage. DAN SULLIVAN, ALASKASullivan said he disagreed with the 2015 Supreme Court decision that established the national right to same-sex marriage. CYNTHIA LUMMIS, WYOMINGAlthough she also believes in "traditional" marriage, Lummis said she believed the separation of church and state was more important than individual religious opinions. She told Politico that although she believes "in traditional marriage," her stance evolved with growing popular support for same-sex marriage.

That’s all I have to say about that,” said Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a member of Senate Republican leadership. I don’t think he should be the nominee of our party in 2024,” he said. And I don’t think it’ll matter in terms of his political future, but I do believe we need to watch who we meet with. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., the outgoing NRSC chair, said, “There’s no room in the Republican Party for white supremacist antisemitism — so it’s wrong.”Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said: “Antisemitism is wrong, and white supremacy is wrong, and that’s all there is to it. Writing on Truth Social, Trump called Ye a “seriously troubled man” and said he had no idea who Fuentes was.

☆ 12 Republican senators so far have broken with their party to support a bill that would protect same-sex marriage. Final passage is expected Tuesday night.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Senate will vote on a bill to protect same-sex marriage on Tuesday night. Twelve Republican senators so far have voted to advance the bill. Senators have tweaked the bill, which passed the Democratic-controlled House in July, to get GOP support. So far, 12 Republicans have cast votes in support of advancing the bill, and more could emerge when the final version comes up. A Gallup poll from June 2021 found that 70% of Americans — including 55% of Republicans — support same-sex marriage.

☆ Walmart's PAC has quietly donated nearly $1 million to campaigns ahead of the midterms. While the company has a ''don't rock the boat strategy,' it contributed to 41 election deniers.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Ben Tobin | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

WALPAC donated almost 50-50 to Democratic and Republican federal candidates for the midterms. Walmart's PAC donated to 41 candidates who denied the 2020 presidential election results, ProPublica found. Of that, about 53% went to Republican candidates, and 47% went to Democrats. Some members of Congress, particularly among Democrats, also reject any corporate PAC contribution — WALPAC or otherwise — as a matter of practice. However, the company did donate a significant amount of money to candidates who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results.

☆ Sargeant to end long wait for a U.S. F1 driver
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

All going to plan, he will become the first American to race in Formula One since Alexander Rossi entered five grands prix with now-defunct Marussia in 2015. Capito said Sargeant had performed as expected and done exactly what he was told to do in practice. Sargeant will replace Canadian Nicholas Latifi at the former champions, who are currently last in the standings, alongside experienced British-born Thai Alex Albon. The Formula Two title has been won already by Brazilian Felipe Drugovich but Sargeant has won two races. "I think we need an American driver and not just a driver but a successful driver competing in there as well, and it shouldn't just be Brad Pitt."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was the only GOP committee member to oppose the bill. Other numbers to know:155 miles per hour: How fast the maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Ian were as of Wednesday morning, per the National Hurricane Center. 23 percentage points: Democrat Beto O’Rourke’s edge over Republican Gov. Last night, Democratic Gov. Tim.”Oklahoma Senate: Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Sen. James Lankford in his Senate bid, after conspicuously not endorsing the GOP incumbent in his primary.

☆ Democrats strip Manchin's permitting reform bill from must-pass government funding measure after both Republicans and progressives pledged to vote against it
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Manchin's permitting reform plan was struck from a must-pass government funding bill on Tuesday. Progressives opposed it for environmental reasons, while Republicans want an even stronger bill. It's a major defeat for the West Virginia Democrat, who might otherwise have a hard time passing it. The bill would've green-lit a pipeline in Manchin's home state of West Virginia. The removal of Manchin's permitting reform legislation represents an unusual defeat for the usually-pivotal conservative Democrat.

☆ U.S. Senator Manchin unveils energy bill that some Democrats slam
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Timothy Gardner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Senator Joe Manchin on Wednesday released an energy permitting bill to speed approvals for natural gas pipelines and power transmission for renewable energy, legislation that some fellow Democrats criticized and will likely need to be amended in order to gain enough support. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe wider funding bill needs approval of the House and Senate and to be signed by President Joe Biden to become law. Manchin's staff told reporters he believes the funding bill will get 60 votes needed to pass the Senate with the permitting measure attached. The bill also sets a two-year target for environmental reviews on energy projects that need to be completed by more than one federal agency. In the House of Representatives, 77 Democrats this month asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in a letter to keep the side deal out of the funding bill.

There’s no palpable hunger for a shutdown so close to the Nov. 8 midterm elections, so Congress must pass a bill by midnight Sept. 30 to avert a lapse in funding. “The cleaner the bill is, the more likely” it is to pass quickly, said Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D. He wants tens of billions for Covid, and he says the pandemic is over,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a physician. Cases, hospitalizations, deaths, mental health aspects of Covid, long Covid. But conservatives are rebelling, saying Congress should push the issue into 2023 in the hope that the GOP will seize the majority and write legislation to its liking.

☆ Tom Carper's love of Amtrak doesn't take a back seat to Joe Biden's
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-06 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

His committee oversees surface transportation, and he loves trains, just like "Amtrak Joe." "Then they named it after Joe Biden, and my staff was so ticked off. Sen. Thomas Carper and then-Vice President Joe Biden speak at the former GM Boxwood Plant in October 2009 in Wilmington, Delaware. Tom Carper and Chris Coons speak to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in February, 2021. As he left, "Tell Joe Biden we love him," the ticket counter attendant said.

☆ Seth Moulton bankrolls ring maker, Mark Green goes crypto, Mark Warner sells a 7-figure window-and-door investment
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-19 | by ( Dave Levinthal | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton has made a major investment in a Finnish wearable tech firm. Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, sold a major investment in a high-end window company. Elon Musk would be proudRep. Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, purchased between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of cryptocurrency Dogecoin — the same day virtual currency platform Coinbase went public. According to Barron's, he paid $1.95 million to acquire 15,000 shares for $130 each, and paid $1.4 million for 10,000 shares for $140 each. He also bought between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of stock in Amazon.

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