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☆ Republicans nominate Mike Johnson for House speaker in latest attempt to break GOP impasse
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Scott Wong | Sahil Kapur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) leaves a House Republican conference meeting in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. Rep. Mike Johnson, a relatively little-known Louisiana Republican and low-ranking member of the GOP leadership team, became the party's latest nominee for House speaker on Tuesday night after three other hopefuls fizzled out. It remains unclear if he can garner the 217 Republican votes — a simple majority of the full House — needed to win the coveted gavel. Johnson is seeking to achieve something that the last three nominees failed to do: win at least 217 of the 221 Republican votes needed to become speaker. Another wild card in the speaker's race is Trump, who knifed Emmer on Tuesday after he won the nomination.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Tom Emmer, Johnson, Emmer, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Jordan, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump Organizations: Rep, Republican, Washington , DC, Louisiana Republican, GOP, GOP Conference, Committee, New York Times, Electoral, The Times, Republicans, Trump Locations: Longworth, Washington ,, Louisiana, Johnson, Jim Jordan of Ohio

The wife of Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., has received anonymous, threatening text messages this week pressuring her to persuade her husband to support Jordan. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., said his staffers have been "cussed out" in phone calls from Jordan supporters. But the bloc of roughly 20 anti-Jordan Republicans say that they aren't caving and that the hardball tactics are backfiring. Moments after Jordan was rejected on a second ballot for speaker Wednesday, Gimenez recounted a tense phone call with Jordan on Tuesday. Gimenez told reporters just off the House floor.

Persons: Jim Jordan, Jim Jordan's, Republican holdouts, Jordan, Don Bacon, Rep, Steve Womack, Carlos Gimenez, Jordan robocalls, Mariannette Miller, Meeks, she'd, Miller, Gimenez, they're, he's, you've, I'd, —, Kevin McCarthy, Jordan's Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, GOP, Jordan Republicans Locations: Rayburn, Washington ,, Ohio, South Florida, Iowa

☆ Rep. Matt Gaetz triggers vote to oust Kevin McCarthy from speaker's office
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Scott Wong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Defiant, McCarthy and his allies have lashed out at Gaetz, accusing the Florida Republican of seeking the limelight and holding a personal vendetta against the speaker. By filing a so-called "motion to vacate," Gaetz has now triggered a future floor vote on removing McCarthy as speaker, though it's unclear exactly when that vote might happen. The Gaetz resolution "declaring the Office of Speaker vacant" is privileged, meaning it takes precedence over other House business. Gaetz's motion now puts House Democrats in a political pickle given the GOP's razor-thin, 221-212 majority. Democrats will have to decide whether to vote with McCarthy foes to topple him as speaker, or side with McCarthy allies to bail him out.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Gaetz, McCarthy, True, there's, Joe Biden Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Democratic, Florida Republican, CBS, House Democrats, California Republican, Trump Locations: Washington ,, Gaetz, Florida

In securing some of the biggest names in tech, Schumer plans to make a giant splash for the first of what he's dubbed "AI Insight Forums." But when it comes to AI, we cannot be ostriches sticking our heads in the sand." But some have scratched their heads at Schumer's new approach in the Senate, which typically develops major policy legislation through committees of jurisdiction. Schumer has said the committees will work in tandem with the insight forums to develop legislation. And to me, that's a process that you ought to let work," Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., a senior member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said this summer.

Persons: Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Chuck Schumer, Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, OpenAI's Sam Altman, NVIDIA's Jensen Huang, Eric Schmidt, Musk, ChatGPT, Schumer, You've, John Thune Organizations: Capitol, SpaceX, Tesla, Meta, Facebook, Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: OpenAI, York

☆ GOP Oversight Chairman Comer vows to subpoena the Biden family
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Scott Wong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, departs federal court after a plea hearing on two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes in Wilmington, Delaware, July 26, 2023. WASHINGTON — House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who is leading the investigation into Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings, said Thursday his panel plans to subpoena members of the Biden family, including possibly President Joe Biden. We are going to subpoena the family," Comer, R-Ky., said in an appearance on Fox Business. Comer said that had he issued a subpoena for Joe and Hunter Biden on his first day as Oversight chairman, a judge would have thrown it out. Last month, Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to two charges of failing to pay federal taxes related to his business dealings.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, James Comer, Hunter, Biden, Comer, Joe, —, Ian Sams, Devon Archer, Joe Biden's, Archer, Maria Bartiromo, We've, they'll, Donald Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON —, Fox Business, Biden, Fox Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, Ky, America, Congress

☆ House lawmakers to host bipartisan dinner with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Scott Wong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arrive to the White House for a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris on artificial intelligence, Thursday, May 4, 2023, in Washington. WASHINGTON — House Democrats and Republicans will hold a dinner at the Capitol next week with Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, which developed the popular artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, according to an invitation obtained by NBC News. The goal of the Altman dinner is to "educate members," said Lieu, who shared the invitation with NBC News. The dinner will be one of several appearances on Capitol Hill for Altman. And top lawmakers are warning that if Congress doesn't act soon, the U.S. will fall behind China, which is already moving ahead with proposed regulations for AI.

☆ Republicans vote to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Scott Wong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

House Republicans on Thursday voted to oust Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the Foreign Affairs Committee — the latest skirmish in a long-running partisan battle over committee assignments. One Republican, Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, a senior member of the Ethics Committee, voted present. All 211 Democrats unified behind Omar, who gave an emotional and defiant floor speech before the vote that left many of her colleagues in tears. Last week, several Republicans voiced opposition to the GOP taking action against Omar, threatening to derail the vote given their new, razor-thin majority. Moments before the vote, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, the lone GOP holdout, emerged from McCarthy's office and announced she would also vote yes.

WASHINGTON — Embattled Rep. George Santos is refusing to face the music, but he appears to be relishing his moment in the spotlight. The New York Republican and freshman fabulist, the subject of federal, state, local and international investigations, was spotted Wednesday night by NBC News smiling, laughing and taking dozens of selfies with patrons during karaoke night at a popular D.C. barbecue joint. “It’s bizarre.”Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., whose office is just down the hall from Santos’, suggested all that attention could benefit Santos. “You always know more than I do about myself.”Later that night, Santos strolled into Hill Country, where he spent more than an hour schmoozing and chatting up patrons. A Santos staffer belted “Build Me Up Buttercup.”Approached by NBC News at Hill Country, Santos said: “You’re not going to try to interview me.

Haines also refused to discuss the sensitive material, citing ongoing special counsel investigations, according to members of the Senate Intelligence Committee who attending the classified briefing. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., was so furious after the briefing that he threatened to block presidential nominees or funding for some federal agencies until the Biden administration shows key lawmakers the classified documents. “Whether it’s blocking nominees or withholding budgetary funds, Congress will impose pain on the administration until they provide these documents. The bipartisan leaders of the Senate Intelligence panel emerged together from the secure briefing room and rejected the administration’s argument. “I’m not saying anything bad about the three [Biden, Trump and Pence], but classified information in the wrong hands can create problems for our country, put people at risk.

McCarthy made good on his promise to block former House Intelligence chair Adam Schiff and Rep. Eric Swalwell — both California Democrats — from serving on that panel. In addition to keeping Schiff and Swalwell off the Intelligence Committee, McCarthy previously said he intended to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who backed McCarthy but has caused headaches for GOP leadership in the past, also got a slot on the panel. The coronavirus committeeRep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, will chair the special committee investigating the spread of the coronavirus. Last week, McCarthy named GOP members to a third select committee, focused on competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party.

The U.S. government’s system for labeling and tracking classified documents appears to be broken, with potentially serious consequences for the country’s national security, lawmakers, former officials and scholars said Tuesday. Democratic and Republican lawmakers said there was a “systemic failure” if both the Obama and Trump administrations could not keep track of classified documents after their tenures ended. I don’t know how anybody ends up with classified documents. “We clearly don’t have an effective management system to oversee where classified documents go and how they’re retrieved,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. Goitein and others said the recent discoveries of classified documents present a political opportunity for the White House, and possibly Congress, to at last tackle the problem.

As speaker, McCarthy has the authority to choose a chairman and Republican members of the panel. Jeffries, as minority leader, can nominate Democrats to serve on the panel, but McCarthy has the power to reject them. He has specifically targeted Schiff and Swalwell who played a major role in the impeachments of former President Donald Trump. Those actions angered McCarthy and for months he has vowed to block Schiff and Swalwell from the Intelligence panel. As recently as Jan. 12, McCarthy told reporters he would not seat Schiff and Swalwell who regularly antagonize McCarthy during cable news appearances.

This year, women will hold all four of the top positions on the House and Senate Appropriations committees for the first time in history. “Oftentimes people say, you know, ‘We need to have women at the table.’ Well, women are the table.”Spending and debt fights loomOver the decades, these women have seen their share of spending fights. But I’m absolutely convinced that we have to stand together,” said Granger, who last week became the first female Republican to chair the House Appropriations Committee. Women, Murray said, are good communicators, and she and her colleagues can translate a big, complicated appropriations bill for everyday Americans. But as a 14-year House Appropriations staffer, she also intimately knows each of the top appropriators and recognizes the significance of this glass-ceiling-shattering moment.

Rep. Dan Bishop of South Carolina , one of 13 holdouts who flipped to back McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will continue to serve on the Judiciary Committee. , one of 13 holdouts who flipped to back McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will continue to serve on the Judiciary Committee. , who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, won a seat on the Homeland Security Committee. , who also flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, won a new seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which controls federal spending. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois , who flipped to McCarthy on the 12th ballot, will remain on the Agriculture Committee.

WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Tuesday awarded embattled Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., seats on two House committees, even as he faces federal, state and local investigations and fellow Republicans demand that he resign. Asked if Santos would be a distraction to his committee, Williams replied: "It's only going to be a distraction to those who want to distract." If they think [Santos's controversy] is going to be the main thing that comes out of the committee, they're going to really miss the boat." On Tuesday, McCarthy said the decision to grant Santos committee slots was made by the Steering Committee, and that he did not make that decision alone. When asked why Santos was given two committee assignments, McCarthy said that was standard protocol.

☆ Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar receive committee assignments after Democrats kicked them off
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — House Republicans have assigned Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., to serve on committees again after Democrats stripped them of that privilege in 2021, according to a member of the GOP Steering Committee, which doles out the appointments. Greene has been assigned to the House Committee on Homeland Security, which Republicans will use to focus on border security and investigate Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Gosar, meanwhile, has been assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he had served just before his removal, the member said. The Democratic majority chose to pursue a proposal to remove Greene from her committees after House Republican leaders opted not to take action against Greene. As part of the measure, Gosar was censured, which is considered the harshest punishment against a member in the House, after expulsion.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said she has personally spoken to Jeffries and recommended that Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., should be the ranking member. “The Republicans made it very clear that the committee is primarily focused on … counter intelligence and economic espionage issues which have been the focus of my own work, especially on the Intelligence Committee,” Krishnamoorthi said in an interview. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a former CIA analyst who is eyeing a possible Senate bid in 2024, has also expressed interest in the top role on the China panel. But while CAPAC is divided, its members agree that the ranking member of the new panel should be Asian American. Think about that," said one CAPAC member.

☆ NY Republican leaders and lawmakers call on GOP Rep. George Santos to resign over campaign lies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

“George Santos’ campaign last year was a campaign of deceit, lies and fabrication,” Nassau County GOP Chairman Joe Cairo said at a news conference with other party officials. But House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said that Cairo’s call for Santos’ resignation doesn’t affect his thinking on the issue. The New York State Conservative party said it stands with the Nassau County GOP in calling for Santos’ resignation in a statement. It will work itself out in the end.”Nassau County GOP officials initially endorsed Santos in the 2022 election cycle. Wednesday's announcement from Nassau County officials also comes amid several investigations into Santos' campaign and other calls for him to resign.

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday that embattled freshman GOP Rep. George Santos, who is facing growing calls to resign after admitting to fabricating much of his personal biography, should not be seated on any top committees. "No," McCarthy said emphatically as he headed into a GOP Steering Committee meeting where members are deciding which colleagues should serve on certain committees. Lawmakers of both political stripes argue that seating Santos on committees could be a national security risk. Democrats say that McCarthy and the leadership team shouldn't seat Santos on any committees, while some Republicans agree with McCarthy: Keep Santos off the panels that handle the most sensitive, classified information. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, the head of the Main Street Caucus, said Santos shouldn't serve on any committees.

WASHINGTON — After a grueling five-day, 15-ballot floor fight for speaker, House Republicans on Monday night will face what's expected to be the first of many tough legislative battles ahead: Passing a package of rules that will govern how they run the House over the next two years. These are the easy part[s], the speaker vote and the rules vote," Gonzales said on Fox News on Monday. Because of their razor-thin majority, McCarthy’s leadership team can only afford to lose four GOP votes on the rules package for the new Congress. GOP leaders, including new Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, indicated Monday that they believe Republicans will be able to stick together and pass the rules package. "Obviously the rules package is the first piece allowing us to get started with our agenda to fight for the American people," Scalise told reporters.

WASHINGTON — House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and his conservative detractors on Wednesday night inched closer to a deal designed to flip some no votes to the yes column. And because of the GOP’s new razor-thin majority, McCarthy can only afford four GOP defections on any speaker vote. “We have zero trust in Kevin McCarthy. “We’ll see,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, one of the 20 defectors, when asked if McCarthy will be speaker. “If it takes till tomorrow, it takes till tomorrow; if it takes till the 4th of July, it takes till the 4th of July,” said Rep.

There are no active House lawmakers. Other business in the House is paralyzed, as well, and the rules that previously governed the lower chamber have expired. Some members worry they and their staff members will stop receiving paychecks if the new Republican majority remains unable to elect a speaker. Incoming House Rules Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., said members are expecting to get paid through Jan. 13. Some lawmakers are asking questions about whether their staffers will be covered by health care if the Republican impasse drags on.

On Thursday, the House enters its third day of the new Congress without a speaker under the new GOP majority. Until Republicans have enough votes for a candidate, all other House business remains at a standstill. During the six speaker votes this week, 20 conservatives have stuck together to deny GOP leader Kevin McCarthy of California the 218 votes needed to win the speaker's gavel. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leaves the House Chamber following a day of votes for the new Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Kevin Dietsch / Getty ImagesAfter the sixth failed vote, McCarthy and his must trusted allies huddled with his most fervent opponents for more than two hours in the first-floor Capitol office of Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

WASHINGTON — Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and his conservative detractors will square off for a second consecutive day as lawmakers prepare to resume voting Wednesday to pick the next House speaker. Three separate votes were held, and each time McCarthy, R-Calif., a veteran member of GOP leadership, fell short. It was the first time in 100 years that the speaker vote has gone to multiple ballots. Without a speaker, House lawmakers can’t be sworn in, committees can’t be formed, and GOP investigations into the Biden administration can’t begin. Trump, who previously endorsed McCarthy for speaker and had been making calls on his behalf, has gone silent on his support.

WASHINGTON — A weekslong standoff between Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and his conservative detractors comes to a head Tuesday as lawmakers prepare to vote on a new speaker of the House. But nine members of that group, including Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., characterized his proposals as too little, too late. "Despite some progress achieved," the Freedom Caucus group wrote, "Mr. McCarthy’s statement comes almost impossibly late to address continued deficiencies ahead of the opening of the 118th Congress on January 3rd." McCarthy, who has Trump's endorsement and easily defeated Biggs to win his party's nomination for speaker, isn’t backing down. He is already moving into the speaker’s suite, and upon leaving the Capitol on Monday he predicted that the day of the speaker vote would be a "good day."

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