Mitch McConnell
Justice Stephen Breyer, for the love of God, please retire
By Imani Gandy, ReWire Stephen Breyer isn’t retiring, he doesn’t know when he’s going to retire, and, frankly, it’s making me tired. In a new interview with CNN’s Joan Biskupic, Justice Breyer cited two factors that play into his decision about when to retire: his health and the Supreme Court. And while I don’t know anything […]
Biden’s public lands pick wins backing by environmental advocates ahead of hearing
Environmental groups are lining up behind President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management prior to her Tuesday confirmation hearing. More than 100 organizations wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-N.Y.), and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-Ky.), Monday asking that the Senate confirm Tracy Stone-Manning, a Montanan who led conservation and […]
Senators deadlock on major U.S. elections bill in committee vote
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Tuesday tackled a massive voting reforms bill in committee in a heated daylong debate. But the final vote on the bill by the Senate Rules Committee was a 9-9 tie, which means Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer likely would have to use a Senate procedure to bring the legislation to […]
DeWine condemns Trump’s riot incitement, praises his judges
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine condemned the riot Donald Trump incited at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. Yet he refused to withdraw his support from the president, for whom DeWine served as Ohio co-chair. Nor would DeWine say whether he thought Trump should run for another term in 2024.
U.S. House approves $2,000 relief checks backed by Trump
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure Monday evening to send $2,000 checks to many Americans, embracing a call from President Donald Trump to more than triple the direct payments in the massive coronavirus relief package signed into law Sunday night. A bill to boost the relief payments cleared the House on […]
Congress passes massive ‘first step’ in pandemic relief with $900B package
WASHINGTON — Congress on Monday night cleared and sent to President Donald Trump the first major COVID-19 relief measure since the spring, a sprawling spending bill that would provide $900 billion in pandemic-related aid but still didn’t go far enough for many Democrats. House leaders divided the bill into two parts and passed the emergency […]
Congress close to emergency relief deal including direct payments, added unemployment benefits
WASHINGTON — A coronavirus relief deal appeared within reach late Wednesday following months of stalemate in Congress, potentially providing much-needed help to Americans facing expiring unemployment benefits and states distributing the new COVID-19 vaccine. A final deal also may include another round of direct payments, with Sen. John Thune, (R-S.D.), suggesting to reporters that those […]
U.S. House passes bill to avert government shutdown while relief talks drag on
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday voted to pass a stopgap spending bill, preventing a government shutdown and giving a group of bipartisan lawmakers another week to negotiate a coronavirus relief package. In an overwhelming 343-67 vote, House members backed the stopgap, which would extend fiscal 2021 funding until Dec. 18 while talks continue on […]
Agencies helping the poor fear a dreadful new year
The Nov. 3 general election has garnered most of the public attention lately, but officials on Monday warned that the coronavirus pandemic continues to squeeze the growing ranks of low-income Ohioans.
Republicans in Congress chime in on Trump claims of a stolen election
WASHINGTON — Some Republicans in Congress are agreeing with President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that the election was stolen from him, and backing legal challenges to voting results in states won by President-elect Joe Biden. “For the integrity of the electoral process, and the system that we have chosen to effectuate our democracy, we have […]
Looking at the work to be done after Jan. 20, 2021
Progressive groups and their Democratic allies have been necessarily focused on getting ready for Election Day. And they’re understandably worried about what happens between Nov. 3 and whenever critical national races are called ― especially the presidential election. There will be understandable jubilation in many corners if President Trump is actually voted out of office. […]
Trump and McConnell’s mostly white male judges buck 30-year trend of increasing diversity
In nominating Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Donald Trump fulfilled his pledge to put another woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. But most of the 218 judges Trump has so far appointed to the federal judiciary – with the steadfast collaboration of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell – […]