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WASHINGTON (AP) — Voters in Utah’s second congressional district will cast ballots Tuesday in a Thanksgiving-week special election to fill the last remaining vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Political Cartoons View All 1253 ImagesThe second congressional district includes a portion of Salt Lake County, a Democratic area that went for President Joe Biden in 2020. Here’s a look at what to expect on election night:ELECTION DAYUtah will hold a special congressional election on Tuesday. WHAT’S ON THE BALLOTThe Associated Press will provide coverage of the special congressional election in Utah’s second congressional district. WHO GETS TO VOTEAny voter registered in Utah’s second congressional district may participate in Tuesday’s special election.

Persons: Republican Celeste Maloy, Kathleen Riebe, Chris Stewart, Maloy, Becky Edwards, Bruce Hough, Riebe, outspent Maloy, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Stewart, Donald, it’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, U.S . House, Representatives, Republican, GOP U.S . Rep, Democratic, Democrat, Libertarian, United, Press, WHO, AP, Statewide Locations: Utah’s, U.S, Riebe, United Utah, Salt Lake County, Utah

Political Cartoons View All 1250 ImagesHere’s a look at what to expect on election night:ELECTION DAYThe Louisiana general election will be held Saturday. All registered voters may participate in the general election on Saturday. Turnout for the 2019 gubernatorial general election was 1.5 million voters, or 51% of registered voters. That year, turnout went from 33% of total registered voters in the primary to 23% in the general election. In the 2019 gubernatorial general election, 33% of voters cast ballots before Election Day.

Persons: Republican Kyle Ardoin, Nancy Landry, Gwen Collins, Landry, Collins, Jeff Landry, Mike Lindell, Greenup, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, John Bel Edwards, Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Biden, it’s, Republican Bobby Jindal Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Republican, Ardoin, Republican Gov, Associated Press, WHO, Democrats, AP Locations: Louisiana, Baton Rouge

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

Michigan Democrats who have controlled the governor’s office and slim majorities in both chambers of the Legislature will lose their full control after two state representatives won mayoral races. Two Democratic state representatives, Lori Stone and Kevin Coleman, won mayoral races Tuesday in their own districts in suburban Detroit. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesThe entire Michigan House of Representatives will be up for election in next year’s November general election. For the time being Galloway, who did not return messages Wednesday, remains a state House member. In Pennsylvania, magisterial district judges, as they are formally known, handle lower-level criminal matters and many are not lawyers.

Persons: Lori Stone, Kevin Coleman, It's, —, Gretchen Whitmer, Coleman, Stone, John Galloway, Joanna McClinton, Galloway, ___ Schultz Organizations: Republicans, Democrats, Michigan Democrats, Democratic, Democratic Michigan Gov, Bucks, Bucks County Democratic Rep, Democrat Locations: LANSING, Mich, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Detroit, representative’s, Westland, Warren, Bucks County, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania

They both advanced to the Nov. 7 general election after the August primaries. The loss of two Democratic state representatives would put the state House in a 54-54 deadlock until special elections could be held for the seats. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesStone and Coleman will serve the remainder of their terms in the state House if they lose Tuesday. The entire Michigan House of Representatives will be up for election in next year’s November general election. But while Michigan Democrats sped through legislation to start the year, party unity has wavered in recent months.

Persons: Lori Stone, Kevin Coleman, Coleman, Stone, they've Organizations: —, Democratic, Michigan Locations: LANSING, Mich, Michigan, Detroit, Warren, representative's

Steve Beshear – faces Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a protege of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In Mississippi, Republican Lynn Fitch is seeking a second term against Greta Kemp Martin, the litigation director of Disability Rights Mississippi. Democratic attorney Lindsey Cheek won the other runoff slot by taking 23% of the all-party primary vote. In Mississippi, Republican incumbent Michael Watson is seeking a second term and should easily defeat Democrat Ty Pinkins. She will face Democratic attorney, accountant, and small business owner Gwen Collins-Greenup, who finished second in the primary.

Persons: — it’s, Kentuckians, Andy Beshear, Jeff Landry, Beshear, Steve Beshear –, Daniel Cameron, Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s, He’s, Cameron, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Presley, Reeves, Democrat hasn’t, Jim Hood, Glenn Youngkin’s, Winsome Sears, Youngkin, Phil Murphy, Democratic Sen, Robert Menendez, Joe Biden, Max Baer, Carolyn Carluccio, Daniel McCaffery, Donald Trump, wouldn’t, Roe, Wade, Ohio’s, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Janet Mills, Russell Coleman, McConnell, Pamela Stevenson, Republican Lynn Fitch, Greta Kemp Martin, Fitch, Liz Murrill, Landry, Lindsey Cheek, Michael Adams, Buddy Wheatley, Adams, Michael Watson, Ty Pinkins, Shuwaski Young, Young, Kyle Ardoin, Nancy Landry, Gwen Collins, Greenup Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republican, Gubernatorial, Gov, Lean Democratic, Republican Gov, Public Service Commission, Democrat, Mississippi, Public, Impact Research, Lean Republican, State Legislative, Virginia, GOP, Senate, Republicans, House, George Mason University, Assembly, , New Jersey Republicans, Pleas, Superior Court, Ohio, Sierra Club, AFL, of Commerce, Avangrid Inc, Trump, Air Force, Disability Rights Mississippi, State, Iraq Locations: Mississippi, Virginia, Republican . New Jersey, Garden, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, In Kentucky, Republican Mississippi, U.S, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Washington, New Jersey, , New Jersey, Montgomery County, In Ohio, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Massachusetts, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, State Kentucky, In Mississippi

WASHINGTON (AP) — Before House Speaker Mike Johnson was elected to public office, he was the dean of a small Baptist law school that didn't exist. “The law school deal was really an anomaly. As dean of the proposed law school, Johnson embarked on a major fundraising campaign and described a big-dollar event in Houston with former Arkansas Gov. Bobby Jindal and Pressler, according to an account Johnson wrote in a 2011 alumni magazine. Meanwhile, the historic former federal courthouse in Shreveport that was selected as the law school’s campus required at least $20 million in renovations.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, It's, “, ”, Gene Mills, Johnson's, ” J, Michael Johnson, Southern Baptist Convention luminary, Tony Perkins, Jerry Falwell, “ I’m, Joe Aguillard, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Aguillard, “ Mike, Gilbert Little, ” Johnson, Perkins, Little, Barack, Kelly, Kelly Johnson, Louis “ Woody ” Jenkins, Jenkins, Democrat Mary Landrieu, Moon Griffin, Eugene Mills, Mills, ” Mills, Johnson’s, George W, Bush’s, it’s, Lamar White Jr, Lamar, Richard Lardner, Trenton Daniel Organizations: WASHINGTON, Paul Pressler School of Law, Louisiana College, Louisiana Christian University, Republican House, Southern Baptist Convention, Family Research, Southern Poverty Law, Liberty University, Daily, ”, Arkansas Gov, Louisiana Gov, Freedom Guard, Southern Baptist Conference, Shreveport Times, ABC News, Louisiana State University, Democrat, Louisiana Family, Alliance Defense Fund, Alliance Defending, ADF, CNN, Democratic, Civil, Associated Press Locations: Louisiana, Washington, Alexandria , Louisiana, Houston, Pressler, Africa, Shreveport, Shreveport , Louisiana, everyone’s, America, New Orleans, Texas, Orleans Parish, Trump’s, Baton Rouge, New York

DEARBORN, Michigan (AP) — Many of Michigan's top Democrats, including Gov. In Dearborn, which borders Detroit, nearly half of the roughly 110,000 residents claim Arab ancestry. Among them were a who's who of Michigan Democrats, including Whitmer, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, two U.S. House members, the secretary of state and the state attorney general. In Congress, the war has forced Democrats back to a familiar place where the establishment’s history of unconditional loyalty to Israel is being tested. She has been widely criticized by members of both parties — including fellow Michigan Democrats — who say she hasn't explicitly faulted Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack.

Persons: Gretchen Whitmer, “, Chai, Michigan's, we’ve, Adam Abusalah, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Whitmer, Sen, Gary Peters, Israel ”, ” Robyn Lederman, Puder, ”, Nasser Beydoun, Peters, Garlin Gilchrist, “ They're, ” Beydoun, Abraham Aiyash, Jeremy Moss, Moss, Rashida, Michigan Democrats —, “ It’s, Samantha Woll, they’ve, they've, Alabas Farhat, ___ Fernando, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: Israel, U.S, Michigan, Democrats, Wayne County, Detroit, House, Associated Press, West Bloomfield Hills, Democratic, Dearborn ., Democratic U.S, Senate, Gov, Democrat, U.S . Rep, Palestinian American, West Bank, Michigan Democrats, Police, Rep, AP, Washington , D.C Locations: DEARBORN , Michigan, Michigan's, Detroit, Israel, Dearborn, Gaza, Wayne County, Hamtramck, Wayne, Southfield, U.S, “ In Michigan, West, Israeli, United States, Lebanon, Yemen, Michigan, North Carolina , Ohio , Wisconsin, California, Dearborn's, Arab, “, Chicago, Washington ,

☆ No stock trading, a hefty home mortgage, and more than $120,000 from Liberty University: Here's what we know about newly-elected Speaker Mike Johnson's personal finances
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson is much less wealthy than other members of Congress. He doesn't trade any stocks and has a home mortgage valued between $250,000 and $500,000. He's made more than $120,000 since 2018 teaching online classes at Liberty University. There's little publicly-available information about Johnson's activities at the university, and Insider has reached out to the university for further details. But now that he's speaker, Johnson is set to get a $50,000 raise: while all rank-and-file House members and senators make $174,000, the speaker of the House makes $223,500.

Persons: Mike Johnson, He's, —, That's, they've, Johnson, Nancy Pelosi, Paul's, Insider's, Kelly, Kevin McCarthy, OpenSecrets, he's, There's Organizations: Liberty University, Service, Citizens National Bank, Citizens Bank, university's Helms School of Government, Law Locations: Louisiana's, California, Louisiana

☆ Who is Rep. Tom Emmer, the House GOP’s new speaker nominee?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Piper Hudspeth Blackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Rep. Tom Emmer, the House majority whip whose bid for House speaker was thrown into immediate jeopardy Tuesday afternoon, has tried to balance an at-times moderate voting record while trying to appeal to the Donald Trump-aligned base of the Republican Party. The Minnesota Republican emerged Tuesday afternoon as House Republicans’ new speaker nominee in the scramble to succeed Kevin McCarthy. Several Republicans who oppose Emmer told CNN Tuesday they will not change their stance and are calling for a new candidate. As majority whip, Emmer has experience with keeping the GOP’s narrow majority in line. McCarthy has backed the Minnesota Republican for speaker and urged the conference to elect him by the end of the week.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Emmer, CNN’s KFile, Joe Biden, Patrick McHenry, McCarthy, Tom, ”, Steve Scalise, Ralph Norman, “ didn’t, ” Norman Organizations: CNN —, Republican Party, The, The Minnesota Republican, Republicans, Trump, CNN, Republican, Minnesota, Financial Services, Minnesota Republican, Press, GOP, South Carolina Rep, Caucus Locations: The Minnesota, Minnesota, “

☆ Inside Poland Spring’s Hidden Attack on Water Rules It Didn’t Like
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Hiroko Tabuchi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

The BlueTriton bottling plant in Poland Spring, Maine, this month. Water Clashes NationwideBlueTriton finds itself pitted against local water boards, environmentalists and other groups across the country. Aquifers Water bottling facility BlueTriton facility Aquifers Water bottling facility BlueTriton facility Aquifers Water bottling facility BlueTriton facility Water bottling facility Aquifers BlueTriton facility Water bottling facility Aquifers BlueTriton facility Water bottling facility Aquifers BlueTriton facility Sources: U.S. Geological Survey; Continental U.S. aquifer map data from GebreEgziabher, Jasechko and Perrone, Nature Communications (2022) Mira Rojanasakul/The New York TimesIn California, BlueTriton has publicly criticized and vowed to fight a cease-and-desist order issued by the state’s water board to stop diverting millions of gallons of water from a spring in San Bernardino County. Poland Spring water was first packaged as a local elixir in the mid-1800s. The original Poland Spring water source.

Persons: BlueTriton, ”, Elizabeth M, Frazier, haven’t, Christopher Kessler, Bottlers, Ms, Frazier didn’t, Anthony Moffa, Mark Lawrence, Lawrence, Mira Rojanasakul, State Legislature’s, Margaret M, “, John Mullaney, Roger Crouse, Cheryl Dieter, Metropoulos, Nestlé, John McGowan, Natalie DiPentino, DiPentino, Poland Spring, BlueTriton’s Organizations: The New York Times, Times, Democratic, Energy, Utilities, Technology, Maine State House, ”, Industries, University of Maine School of Law ., Democrat, Water, . Geological Survey, Continental, Nature Communications, New York Times, State, Poland, U.S, Geological, Water Science, Industry, Maine Water Utilities Association, United States Geological Survey, Rock Capital Partners, Metropoulos, Moody’s Investors Service Locations: Maine, Poland, Poland Spring , Maine, South Portland, Michigan, Colorado, Augusta, In Colorado, Arkansas, United States, Continental U.S, GebreEgziabher, California, San Bernardino County, In Michigan, Lincoln, Lincoln , Maine, New York, BlueTriton’s Poland, Chaffee County , Colorado

☆ These are the House Republicans running for speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Jack Forrest | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The high-stakes race for House speaker enters a new phase this week, with a slate of new candidates vying for the gavel following Rep. Jim Jordan’s exit from the race. The former National Republican Congressional Committee chairman was first elected to Congress in 2014 and became majority whip earlier this year. Bergman is a member of the House Armed Services Committee where he chairs the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee. Scott, who represents Georgia’s 8th Congressional District, serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Armed Services Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. Johnson sits on the House Judiciary Committee, Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and on the House Armed Services Committee.

Persons: Jim Jordan’s, Kevin McCarthy, Tom Emmer Emmer, ” McCarthy, “ He’s, Tom, ”, ” Emmer, Donald Trump, Emmer, Kevin Hern The, Hern, McCarthy, Jack Bergman Bergman, –, Bergman, Austin Scott The, Austin Scott The Georgia Republican –, Scott, Byron Donalds The, ” Donalds, Francis Rooney, Donalds, Mike Johnson The, ” Johnson, Johnson, Pete Sessions, Colin Allred, Sessions, Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Ukraine –, Dan Meuser, Elise Stefanik, Meuser, Tom Corbett, Gary Palmer Palmer, Palmer, Steve Scalise Organizations: CNN, Republicans, GOP, Minnesota Republican, Press, Caucus, National Republican, Minnesota, Financial Services, Rep, Kevin Hern The Oklahoma Republican, Republican, Committee, McDonalds, Small Business, US Marines, Michigan’s, House Armed, Austin Scott The Georgia Republican, Jordan, California Republican, University of Georgia, Congressional, Intelligence, House Armed Services Committee, Agriculture, Byron Donalds The Florida Republican, Freedom Caucus, GOP Rep, Florida’s, Florida State University, Mike Johnson The Louisiana Republican, House Republican, House GOP, Federal Government, Pete Sessions Sessions, Texas, ”, Sessions, Trump, Pennsylvania Republican, Gov, Alabama’s, Energy, Commerce Locations: Michigan, Austin Scott The Georgia, Ohio, California, Georgia, Florida, Mike Johnson The Louisiana, House, Dallas, Waco , Texas, Ukraine, Pennsylvania, Alabama

To win, he'll need support from nearly every House Republicans, having few votes to spare in a chamber they only narrowly control. “One person says disruption," Jordan told The Associated Press in 2017. That helped him land a coaching job at Ohio State University before his election to the Ohio legislature in the mid 1990s. I never saw, never, heard of, never was told about any kind of abuse,” Jordan told Fox News in 2018, suggesting that the allegations against him were politically motivated. Jordan repeatedly cast doubt on the outcome of the contest while organizing the House Republican response.

Persons: Jim Jordan, John Boehner, he'd, Boehner, Jordan, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Jordan speakership, Liz Cheney, ” Cheney, ” Jordan, “, Bob Taft, —, Richard Strauss, Strauss, ” Adam DiSabato, DiSabato, “ Jim Jordan, “ He’s, Polly, I’m, ’ ”, Matt Huffman, Joe Biden, Biden, corruptly, Trump, Scott Perry, Bryan Cutler, Mike Pence, Cassidy Hutchinson, Mark Meadows, ” Trump, Hutchinson Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republican Party, Republican, Republicans, Capitol, Ohio State University, Associated Press, University of Wisconsin, GOP, Republican Gov, Caucus, Ohio State, Fox News, Congress, Trump, White, Committee, House Intelligence, ” Locations: “, Dayton, Ohio, Columbus, Congress, Washington, Russia, House, Pennsylvania

☆ Meet a single mom with $60,000 in student debt who was billed over $100 more than she was told her monthly payment would be: 'I will be struggling if I made that payment'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The new SAVE income-driven repayment plan was intended to make borrowers' monthly payments cheaper. But many borrowers have faced errors with the plan and their payments are higher than what they can afford. "I do want to pay something, but I'm not able to pay that amount that they're requiring me to pay." When the Education Department officially rolled out the SAVE plan in August, it was coined as "the most affordable repayment plan yet." When she applied for the SAVE plan, she was told her monthly payment would be $125 a month, but when she got her billing statement, she was facing a $428 payment, according to documents reviewed by Insider.

Persons: —, Ann Currie, Currie, Joe Biden's, I'm, servicers, she's, Joanna Arbach, hasn't, Arbach, it's, They've Organizations: Service, Education Department, SAVE, Federal Student Aid Locations: Washington

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will have to provide COVID-19 data to the public again after a former Democratic state representative settled a lawsuit with Republican Gov. Then-Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith sued after the Department of Health denied his public records request for COVID-19 data in 2021 and announced the settlement Monday. “All Floridians have a constitutional right to public records and the right to receive critical public health data in a timely manner," Smith said. “The Department lied about the existence of these public records in court and did everything to restrict information and downplay the threat of COVID." Department spokesman Jae Williams III criticized Smith and the Florida Center for Government Accountability in an email, saying the lawsuit was a political stunt.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Smith, Jae Williams, epidemiologists, ” Williams Organizations: Democratic, Republican Gov, Department of Health, Florida Center, Government, of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention Locations: TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Florida

CNN —Following Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster as House speaker, names have started to emerge as possible successors to take over the gavel. Jordan replied “yes,” when asked if he is running for speaker and said he had just talked to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the No. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/FILELouisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, who serves as House majority leader, announced on Wednesday his intention to succeed McCarthy. As he exited a GOP meeting, he told reporters, “Steve Scalise has been a friend for a long time. Kevin HernRep. Kevin Hern leaves a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy’s, McCarthy, Tuesday’s, Jim Jordan Rep, Jim Jordan, Anna Moneymaker, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Jordan, “, Steve Scalise, Fani Willis, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump, Hunter Biden, ” Scalise, Scalise, ”, David Duke, Tom Emmer, Tom Williams, Emmer, “ Steve Scalise, Kevin Hern, ”, I’ve, ” Hern, Hern Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Committee, Manhattan, Attorney, Justice Department, Freedom Caucus, Building, Congress, Ku Klux, House Republican Conference, Capitol, Minnesota Republican, Louisiana Rep, Minnesota, Financial Services, Capitol Hill Club, Oklahoma Republican, Caucus, McDonalds, Small Business Locations: Washington , DC, Benghazi, Trump, Fulton County, Louisiana, Alexandria , Virginia, New Orleans ’, Minnesota, Texas

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Kevin McCarthy had support from 208 members of his conference to remain as House speaker. A look at the eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy from office, against the overwhelming wishes of their colleagues. REP. ANDY BIGGSBiggs is serving his fourth term in the House representing a strongly Republican-leaning district in Arizona. He said the annual spending bills are critical to cutting spending and getting rid of duplicative programs. It had nothing to do about spending," McCarthy said.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Joe Biden, ” McCarthy, “ That's, Reagan, ANDY BIGGS Biggs, Biggs, Donald Trump, ”, KEN BUCK Buck, Buck, Biden, @SpeakerMcCarthy, Burchett, we've, Kevin, ELI CRANE Crane, Tom O’Halleran, ” Crane, MATT GAETZ Gaetz, Trump, Mike Rogers, Gaetz, Matt Gaetz, ” Gaetz, “ Kevin McCarthy, Denver Riggleman, Good, “, NANCY MACE Mace, Mace Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democrats, REP, Caucus, Republican Party, McCarthy's, TIM, “, Navy, Democratic, Republican, Alabama Rep, GOP, Denver, The Citadel, Cadets, U.S Locations: Arizona, Colorado, Denver, He's, Tennessee, Tennessee’s, Florida, South Carolina, Montana, Ukraine, U.S, “, Rosendale

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Senate's elections committee retaliated Tuesday against one of the three Democratic elections commissioners who tried to block them from voting to fire the state's nonpartisan top elections official earlier this year. The committee voted along party lines against confirming Democratic Commissioner Joseph Czarnezki, who was appointed to the Wisconsin Elections Commission in May by Democratic Gov. The bipartisan elections commission, which consists of three Democrats and three Republicans, deadlocked in June on a vote to reappoint nonpartisan Administrator Meagan Wolfe. Senate Republicans proceeded anyways, voting last month to fire her. Democratic Sen. Mark Spreitzer, a member of the elections committee, accused Republicans of bowing to pressure from elections skeptics on Tuesday.

Persons: Joseph Czarnezki, Tony Evers, Meagan Wolfe, Czarnezki, Wolfe, Josh Kaul, Republican Sen, Dan Knodl, ”, ” Czarnezki, “ I'm, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, Democratic Sen, Mark Spreitzer, “, Evers, Scott Walker, ” Evers Organizations: —, Democratic, Commission, Democratic Gov, GOP, Republican, Senate, Republicans, Republican Gov, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, Milwaukee

Political Cartoons View All 1176 ImagesAs a lawmaker and then governor, Haley supported some of the most restrictive abortion measures South Carolina's legislature could pass. Running against three men, Haley attacked what she called the “good ol' boys” dominating the state's politics. As governor, she signed the most conservative abortion bill South Carolina Republicans were able to pass through both chambers at the time. Majorities of Republican men (57%) and women (54%) support their state allowing legal abortions up to 6 weeks into the pregnancy. Republican men are slightly more likely than GOP women to say abortion should be legalized at 15 weeks (34% vs. 21%).

Persons: Nikki Haley, “ I’m, ”, Donald Trump's, She's, Haley, South Carolina —, Joe Biden, “, Nathan Ballentine, ” Haley, Olivia Perez, Cubas, Sen, Tim Scott, —, Ballentine, Trump, Margaret Thatcher, Britain's, Roe, Wade, midterms, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B, Anthony Pro, Henry McMaster, John McCravy, McCravy, Meg Kinnard Organizations: COLUMBIA, Donald Trump's United Nations, Trump, Republican Party, GOP, Republican White House, Senate, ”, Republican, South, South Carolina Republicans, Republicans, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, America, Gov Locations: South Carolina, U.S, New Hampshire, South

☆ 41,000 people are about to get $240 million in medical debt cancelled thanks to an infusion of cash from Biden's pandemic aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In Toledo, Ohio, 41,000 residents will see around $240 million in medical debt relieved. Communities across the country have allocated at least $16 million toward relieving medical debt, according to the White House . Cook County officials connected Grim with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit that buys up medical debt across the country and wipes it out completely. "If you have your medical debt relieved, they can go back to the doctor again, they can put food on the table." Do you have medical debt, or have received medical debt relief?

Persons: Michele Grim, It's, Grim, Joe Biden, Grim — Organizations: Service, Kaiser Family Foundation, Consumer Financial, Bureau, American, ARPA Locations: Toledo , Ohio, Wall, Silicon, Ohio, Lucas County, Toledo, Cook County , Illinois, Cook, Cook County

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court’s decision siding with Black voters in an Alabama redistricting case gave Democrats and voting rights activists a surprising opportunity before the 2024 elections. Khadidah Stone, a plaintiff in the Alabama case, said the continuing opposition was “appalling” but “not surprising.” She noted that Alabama is where then-Gov. A similar dynamic is playing out in Florida, where Republicans are appealing a ruling favorable to Black voters to the Republican-majority state Supreme Court. But the continued pushback from Republican legislatures in control of redistricting means there is great uncertainty about whether –- or how soon -– new maps offering equal representation for Black voters will be drawn. Louisiana state Rep. Sam Jenkins Jr., a Democrat, said he is optimistic now that the matter is in the courts.

Persons: It's, “, ”, George Wallace, Shawn Donahue, ’ ” Donahue, general’s, Shelly Dick, Dick, Stuart Naifeh, Sam Jenkins Jr, Sen, Royce Duplessis, ” Duplessis, Ron DeSantis, Al Lawson, DeSantis, Angie Nixon, Nixon, ___ Gomez Licon, Kim Chandler, Kevin McGill Organizations: WASHINGTON, Black, Alabama Republicans, Republican, University of Alabama, State University of New, Republicans, U.S . House, U.S, Louisiana’s GOP, Circuit, NAACP Legal Defense, Educational Fund, Democrat, Gov, GOP, Florida Supreme, DeSantis, Democratic U.S . Rep, Democratic, Associated Press Locations: Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, State University of New York, Buffalo, Black, U.S, Orleans, Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, Miami, Montgomery , Alabama, New Orleans

☆ Lauren Boebert was announced as a guest speaker for a conservative youth conference days after she was tossed out of a musical recommended for kids
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sebastian Cahill | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Friday, the Texas Youth Summit announced Boebert would be a speaker at their upcoming conference. The Texas Youth Summit, aimed at children and young adults, allows anyone between 12 and 26 to attend for free. Christian Collins, founder of the Texas Youth Summit, declined to comment to Insider or clarify whether or not the decision to allow Boebert to speak came before or after September 10. In addition to Boebert, this year's speakers include Donald Trump, Jr., Charlie Kirk, and other conservative federal and state representatives. Representatives for Boebert did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Lauren Boebert, @laurenboebert, Boebert, Christian Collins, Donald Trump , Jr, Charlie Kirk Organizations: Texas Youth Summit, Service, Woodlands, Texas Youth Foundation, Woodlands Waterway Locations: Wall, Silicon, Denver , Colorado, Marriott, Houston, Colorado's, Denver, American

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans have enjoyed outsize control of the Legislature in one of the most closely divided states for a dozen years. Maintaining that power is now at the heart of a drama involving the state Supreme Court that has national political implications. “Impeachment is an act of pure power politics,” said Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. In 2020, the state Supreme Court, then controlled 4-3 by conservatives, came within one vote of overturning Democrat Joe Biden's nearly 21,000 vote victory over then-President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether it will take either case.

Persons: ”, Ben Wikler, “ It’s, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Greta Neubauer, Mark Pocan, Robin Vos, “, ” Vos, Wisconsin Legislature “, Nick Seabrook, Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Vos, Tyler August, ” ___ Lieb Organizations: — Wisconsin Republicans, Republicans, Democratic, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Wisconsin Supreme, Donald Trump . Wisconsin Republicans, Republican, Michigan House, Democrat, U.S . Senate, Associated, Democratic U.S . Rep, U.S, Supreme, Wisconsin Legislature, University of North, Wisconsin Democrats, GOP, Legislative Republicans, Democratic Party, GOP . Wisconsin Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Neighboring Michigan, Unlike Wisconsin , Michigan, Wisconsin’s, West Virginia, ” Wisconsin, University of North Florida, Jefferson City , Missouri

The district is a Democratic stronghold Democratic strategists predict their party will be able to retain. A previous special election in which the Republican candidate lost by a wide margin may be why the GOP hasn’t drained its coffers to try to flip the seat, said Trevor Southerland, House Democratic campaign strategist. Several Democrat-led initiatives, such as whole home repair and broader protections for LGBTQ+ people, were critical pieces of legislation that didn’t move until Democrats reclaimed control of the state House earlier this year, she said. But the Legislature remains politically divided, with a firm Republican majority in the Senate that has sought to advance its own priorities, including school vouchers and constitutional amendments. She previously ran for the state House in 2000 but lost to the Democrat seeking reelection.

Persons: Lindsay Powell, Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith, Sara Innamorato, Trevor Southerland, ”, “ We’re, “, Sam DeMarco, ” Powell, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Powell, Josh Shapiro, that’s, Autenreith, it’s, Innamorato, Joseph Rockey, John Galloway, ___ Brooke Schultz Organizations: Pennsylvania, Republican, Democratic, House Democratic, Republicans, U.S . Rep, New York Democrats, Pittsburgh, Democrat, Democrats, Gov, Senate, Capitol, Republican Party, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Harrisburg, McKees, Shaler, Bucks County

☆ Abortion rights at stake as Florida court weighs DeSantis-backed ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Octavio Jones/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 8 (Reuters) - The future of abortion rights in Florida will be at stake on Friday when the state's highest court hears arguments over whether the Florida constitution protects the right to end pregnancies. The case before the conservative Florida Supreme Court concerns the state's current ban on most abortions after 15 weeks, which took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned a national right to abortion. The outcome will also determine the fate of a stricter six-week ban, which has been on hold since Governor Ron DeSantis signed it into law in April. One justice, Charles Canady, is married to a state representative who co-sponsored the six-week ban. But if the court throws out the 1989 decision, Torres-Spelliscy said, it would be nearly impossible to mount a successful legal challenge to the six-week ban.

Persons: Octavio Jones, Ron DeSantis, Charlie Crist, Charles Canady, Ciara Torres, Torres, Spelliscy, Joseph Ax, Colleen Jenkins, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Woman's Health, REUTERS, Florida Supreme, U.S, Supreme, Republican, Stetson University, Thomson Locations: Clearwater , Florida, U.S, Florida

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