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☆ Effort to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas will only complicate the immigration puzzle
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

They want the incoming Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee to launch an impeachment investigation of Mayorkas ASAP in early January. While their alleged crimes are very different, any impeachment effort against Mayorkas would likely end similarly: Belknap was acquitted in a Senate trial. Democrats, controlling the Senate majority, would surely do the same if Republicans could even muster the majority needed to impeach Mayorkas. McCarthy would rather just see Mayorkas resign, although there’s no indication Mayorkas will. “If Secretary Mayorkas does not resign, House Republicans will investigate every order, every action and every failure.

The proposals have alarmed voting rights activists and state Democrats, who tried and failed last year to block a GOP-backed overhaul of election laws — a priority of Gov. The 62 voting rights-related bills Texas lawmakers have already prefiled represent nearly all prefiled voting rights legislation across the country, according to a review of prefiled bills by Voting Rights Lab and NBC News. An election police forceRepublican-authored Texas bills, such as HB 549 and SB 220, propose creating a system of state “election marshals,” who would investigate allegations of violations of election and voting laws, and file criminal charges when warranted. Harsher penaltiesLegislation such as HB 39, HB 52, HB 222, HB 397 and SB 166 aims to raise the penalty for election and voting rights crimes to a felony from a misdemeanor. “All my bill does is restore the felony punishment for illegal voting,” Texas Rep. David Spiller, the author of HB 52, said in an interview.

☆ Senate MAGA mutineers work on new ways to punish Mitch McConnell
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Senate Republicans recently tried and failed to strip Mitch McConnell of his leadership post. Ted Cruz is among the conservatives determined to "stand up and fight" against business as usual. He called any such compromise "indefensible," and urged others to also dig in their heels so House Republicans have a better negotiating position next year once their narrow majority takes effect. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is trying to fend off House conservatives determined to deny him his dream of becoming speaker, has also been pushing to quash any lame duck breakthroughs. "Any Republican that's out there trying to work with them is wrong," McCarthy recently said on Fox News.

☆ Senate MAGA mutineers incensed their red wave never came work on new ways to punish Mitch McConnell
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The investigation Abbott wants would be on top of an ongoing audit of the county’s election system, begun before Election Day. Texas Democratic Party leaders and the Harris County Democratic Party chair issued criticized Ogg’s planned investigation, calling on her to “stop enabling Texas Republicans' insidious efforts to silence Black and Brown Houstonians. “In 2021, Texas Republicans moved mountains to make it harder for Black and Brown residents of Harris County to vote. It has not gone unnoticed that Democrat-voting Harris County is the target of the state's urgent response. The law Abbott signed last year banned those Harris County initiatives.

☆ Texas GOP looks to restrict transgender health care and drag shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Zachary Schermele | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Texas Republicans introduced several bills this week that target the transgender community, including at least two measures seeking to criminalize gender-affirming care for minors and one bill looking to prevent children from attending drag performances. For minors, this type of care typically includes puberty blockers, which are recommended to trans youths before the onset of puberty, or hormone therapy for teenagers. The Texas bills come on the heels of a previous attempt this year by the state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, to deem transition-related care for minors as child abuse under state law. Greg Abbott, the state’s Republican governor, subsequently called on citizens to report parents of transgender minors to the state if they suspect these minors are receiving gender-affirming care. The state’s current definition of “sexually oriented businesses” includes any venue where two or more people perform nude and alcohol is served.

Greg Abbott has won re-election to a third term, NBC News projects, soundly defeating a challenge from Democrat Beto O’Rourke. Polls in recent months had consistently shown Abbott leading; a recent RealClearPolitics average of surveys before the election showed him ahead by more than 8 percentage points. Greg Abbott at a campaign event in Fairview on Aug. 31. Texas hasn’t elected a Democratic governor in more than three decades, Abbott is a formidable fundraiser, and Texas Republicans have built inroads with Latino voters. After polls showed the race narrowing for a brief period over the summer, they then began showing Abbott pulling ahead.

☆ As a key deadline looms to claim 2021 tax credits, Republicans complain of 'suspicious timing' of IRS letters
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The federal agency recently sent letters to more than 9 million individuals and families who may qualify for the tax benefits but who have not yet filed a 2021 federal income tax return. Alternatively, ChildTaxCredit.gov also lets people file their 2021 federal income tax returns. watch nowThat includes a tool provided by Code for America, GetCTC.org, that will allow people to claim their 2021 child tax credits, earned income tax credits and third stimulus checks. Tax filers typically have up to three years to file their returns and claim tax credits for which they are eligible. Moreover, the notices reference two additional tax credits, the EITC and CTC, in addition to stimulus checks.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Republican J.D. And in interviews with NBC News after campaign events here Saturday, Vance and Ryan both spoke as if victory was within reach. And Trump endorsed Vance in a crowded GOP primary, seeming to relish the thought of elevating a high-profile convert. Vance, he joked at a September rally in Youngstown, is now “kissing my a--.”“The Trump tough guy stuff and J.D. The problems that the Republican Party needs to respond to are different.

As a result, political observers say, public school funding is effectively on the ballot Tuesday. “These groups have been demonizing what is being taught in public schools, and that’s the fastest way to erode faith that public schools work,” Rottinghaus said. (Abbott publicly came out in support of private school vouchers two months after winning the primary with 66.5% of the vote.) Greg Abbott in the GOP primary, campaigned in support of private school vouchers. “I will never support vouchers.”Rep. John Bucy III said he will continue to oppose private school vouchers.

☆ Laxalt's fiery closing pitch illustrates Nevada GOP's pro-Trump transformation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Natasha Korecki | Natasha Korecki Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

“I have more steak knives in my back from Republicans that have turned on us and stepped on us for their own benefit,” Nevada GOP Party Chair Michael McDonald said at a recent event in Reno. In 2020, Biden carried Nevada by just more than 33,000 votes via a similar path of winning Clark and Washoe counties. "The Republican Party has lost its mind," Cashell said. “Here in Washoe County, we have made it abundantly clear that if you as a Republican damage the Republican brand, there are consequences,” Washoe County GOP Chair Bruce Parks said in an interview. The county, as well as other Republican county organizations in Nevada have formally censured Republicans, like former GOP party chair Amy Tarkanian, after she endorsed two Democrats in Tuesday’s election.

☆ Pelosi likely has the largest security detail of any lawmaker in Congress. Here's what we know about her and her husband Paul's protection.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Details about congressional security practices remain closely guarded after the January 6 attack. Keeping information about congressional security practices under wraps is apparently part of the Capitol Police's job, as critical details remain closely guarded. Similar media reports say that full-time congressional security details are limited to the speaker, House and Senate majority and minority leaders, and House and Senate whips. Last month she told The New York Times that she'd spent more than $120,000 on private security over the past year. Financial records filed by the Nancy Pelosi Victory Fund PAC show that the fundraising committee paid nearly $4,000 to private security firm Safehouse Security Solutions this spring.

☆ Claude Monet, Larry Fink, and Ted Cruz: Climate stunts grab headlines but can they get results?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

That was an improvement over the previous year, but still not nearly enough given the threat the climate crisis presents for humanity, Hu told Insider. "I could spend 20 minutes talking about the destruction from climate change. "More people are aware of this climate crisis and that we have to do something about it because of our actions," Harris said. "Journalists don't report on the climate crisis like it is an emergency. Ridiculous stunts like the art action gets the climate crisis into the headlines and millions of people talking."

IllinoisIn Illinois, two candidates are looking to make history as the state's first Latina congresswoman: Democratic state Rep. Delia Ramirez in the state's 3rd Congressional District, and Republican newcomer Catalina Lauf in the 11th Congressional District. OregonIn Oregon, two candidates are looking to become the state’s first Latina congresswoman: Democratic state Rep. Andrea Salinas and Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the former mayor of Happy Valley. Flores is on the ballot again in November to defend her newly won seat representing Texas’ 34th Congressional District. Among them are Jenny Garcia Sharon in the 37th Congressional District and Carmen Maria Montiel in the 18th District. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images fileSen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, made history as the first Latina elected to the U.S. Senate and the first woman elected to the Senate from Nevada.

☆ Ted Cruz reminisces about the 'gorgeous woman in a halter top' who sat behind him at Yankee Stadium
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ted Cruz reminisced about the "gorgeous woman in a halter top" seated behind him at Yankee Stadium. He said on his podcast he reminded himself to avoid getting caught on camera looking at the woman. Cruz said a friend sitting beside him noted how "'to use the Monty Python phrase, 'She has great tracts of land.'" "I have to admit, the whole damn game, I'm like, 'I'm looking forward. Cruz was at Yankee Stadium to cheer on the Houston Astros, who advanced to the World Series.

☆ Ted Cruz's 'The View' interview disrupted by protesters
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN Business —Sen. Ted Cruz’s “The View” interview was disrupted by protesters multiple times on Monday, including some demanding the Texas Republican talk about climate change. Later in the interview, Cruz was interrupted once again. “Three members of the audience interrupted ‘The View’ today during Sen. Ted Cruz’s appearance protesting about climate,” said a “View” spokesperson. “They were promptly escorted out by security.”The protesters at The View once again start shouting from the crowd as the segment goes to break. You don’t do it to Hillary Clinton, who stood up and said, ‘Trump stole the election,’” Cruz said.

☆ Sen. Ted Cruz brutally mocked at Yankees game and heckled by audience member on 'The View'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

New Yorkers have been greeting Sen. Ted Cruz with a firehose of expletives. Fans at Yankee Stadium delivered insults and middle fingers Sunday as Cruz cheered on the Houston Astros. More heckling followed Monday on "The View," with censors cutting the audio on an audience member who was cheered for yelling "F--- you." The crowd was just as unruly at Yankee Stadium. Cruz is seen in a photo waving as one fan gives him a thumbs down and others give him the middle finger.

Rep. Mayra Flores speaks at the University Draft House in McAllen, Texas, on Oct. 10. “I still believe at the end of the day this is still a solid, moderate Democratic region,” González said. A fighting chanceOf the three Latina Republicans running, Mónica De La Cruz, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and running in an adjacent congressional district, Texas' 15th, is considered the party's best chance to win. Soon after being sworn in to Congress, Flores voted against the landmark gun safety bill pushed through Congress by Sen. John Cornyn, the Texas Republican. Francisco Medrano Jr., of Harlingen, says he’s likely to support Republican Mayra Flores.

☆ ABCs not LGBTs: Battles over race, gender inflame Texas school board vote
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( James Oliphant | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Oct 22 - At traffic-choked intersections in this Texas town, a blunt campaign slogan stands out from clusters of candidate signs: “Teach ABCs + 123s, Not CRTs & LGBTs." Blood-sport politics have come to school board elections in Round Rock, a rapidly growing and diversifying suburb of Austin. Zimmerman is running against incumbent Tiffanie Harrison, a progressive and the first Black woman elected to the Round Rock school board. Ryan Girdusky, who founded the 1776 Project, estimated about 70% of his school board candidates have won in elections held so far this year. FOLLOW THE MONEYIn school board races where name recognition may be the largest factor, a few thousand dollars can make a difference.

☆ Gen X is late to the leadership table in US politics, prompting the question: Will it ever produce a president?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Darren Samuelsohn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

By historical standards, Gen X should be in charge of the US by now. Think of them as the godparents of the "Xennials" — those born in the late 1970s or early 1980s who aren't fully Gen X or millennial. No matter whether you deny the 61-year-old Obama is a boomer, Gen X is starting to get up there in age. Michael Ciaglo-Pool/Getty ImagesWhat's the US missing without a Gen X president? "It's like seeing a ghost that doesn't appear," she said of any expectation the presidency would just suddenly open up for Gen X.

☆ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's aides were 'annoyed' by DeSantis' migrant stunt: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Aides to Greg Abbott were annoyed by Ron DeSantis' migrant stunt, according to The New York Times. DeSantis reportedly didn't tell anyone in Abbott's office about the plan ahead of time. Ron DeSantis ticked off more than just Democrats with his Martha's Vineyard migrant stunt earlier this month. The Sunshine State leader's scheme left several Texas Republicans peeved, according to The New York Times — including members of Texas Gov. Abbott's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ In Texas Attorney General Race, Democrat Targets Ken Paxton’s Legal Problems as He Courts Conservatives
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Elizabeth Findell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

AUSTIN, Texas—Democratic civil-rights lawyer Rochelle Garza is challenging Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a race where the incumbent is emphasizing his close ties to former President Donald Trump and counting on the loyalty of the state’s most conservative voters, while his opponent tries to make his legal scandals the focus. Democrats see opportunity this election season in Ms. Garza’s campaign, which is based in part on trying to win moderates who might otherwise vote Republican but are concerned that Mr. Paxton has been indicted on securities fraud charges and is being probed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, after former aides accused him of misusing his office.

☆ Some of Congress' youngest members have famously flamed out. Can a candidate be too young to serve?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Oma Seddiq | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

More youthful representation would better serve the country, young members of Congress say. But members of Congress, political scientists, and strategists generally don't blame age for these downfalls — leaders both young and old are prone to controversy. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made history in 2019 as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, at 29. "I was always accustomed to being the youngest," Schatz told Insider at the Capitol. The nation needs "more principled members of Congress," Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, 35, told Insider, adding: "It doesn't matter their age."

☆ Lower US job gain in August could help the Fed's inflation fight
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-02 | by ( Christopher S. Rugaber | Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers added a healthy number of jobs last month, yet slowed their hiring enough to potentially help the Federal Reserve in its fight to reduce raging inflation. Inflation did fall to an 8.5% annual rate in July from 9.1% in June, mostly as gas prices steadily dropped. Wage growth weakened a bit last month, too, which could also serve the Fed’s inflation fight. Powell warned that the Fed’s inflation fight would likely cause pain for Americans in the form of a weaker economy and job losses. Friday’s jobs figures and a report earlier this week that showed the number of job openings rose in July suggest that the Fed’s rate hikes so far haven’t restored much balance.

☆ We found at least 25 ex-Gaetz staffers who don't mention the congressman by name on their LinkedIn page
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-20 | by ( Robin Bravender | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Gaetz's name is absent from McFaul's LinkedIn page, too, where he describes his duties during that time working as a chief of staff for an unnamed "congressman." At least 25 of Gaetz's former congressional staffers don't mention the Republican congressman by name on their LinkedIn pages, according to an Insider analysis. McFaul declined to comment about why Gaetz's name wasn't on his LinkedIn page or his Ballard bio page. She also worked for Miller, Gaetz's congressional predecessor, but doesn't name him on her LinkedIn page, either. Drew Angerer/Getty Images'Riding the wave'Some current and former Gaetz staffers continue to publicize their work for the congressman.

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