Tag: United States Senate

He had lost to Bobby Rush by 30 points in a race for Congress and was at a crossroads. Now I look back and realize there were actually more important things I needed to do, and the fact that I didn’t make time for those things is a source of embarrassment and shame. From the time I woke up to the time I went to sleep, I was thinking: Did I miss something? Is there a call I haven’t made? A lot of skills I learned were essential to my work in politics, the first of which is narrative. Campaigns are about telling a story of who you are and where you want to lead. Two years after getting married, we had a daughter, Lauren, who had very serious epilepsy. When I was Obama’s political adviser and we were working on the Affordable Care Act, the best political advice was, “Don’t do this because it’s risky, and we have a lot of things going on right now. Seven have failed.” But the other part of me had almost gone bankrupt when I was a young reporter and insurance wouldn’t cover Lauren’s medications and other things she needed. And that made everything real.

By Betty Jean Grant As an informed citizen, one has an obligation and a duty to protect the public’s trust in its government, all public agencies and to abide by the rules and regulations put in place to make sure these policies are adhered to. There have been at least five articles and two editorials published in The News over the past month detailing the irregularities and possible unapproved activities of the Western New York Community Action Organization’s board of directors and its lawyer and legal adviser. All of these published reports and not one peep out of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown or even our U.S. senators, Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. Not one word of concern from Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes or State Sen. Timothy Kennedy, who in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee was instrumental in recommending former comptroller Mark Schroeder to the long-vacant position of state commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. It is also troubling that the person who was endorsed by the Democratic Party to be the next city comptroller, and who will be responsible for oversight and for conducting audits of the CAO, is a personal friend and political ally of Mayor Brown, Sen. Kennedy and the CEO of the Community Action Organization. What is mind-boggling is that this individual was just appointed to this CAO board to replace the improperly fired board members who called for the audit in the first place. At a time when precious dollars to fight Buffalo’s poverty rate are decreasing or are being eliminated, we cannot have a situation where politically connected agencies and their managers are held to a different standard than the rest of us. The four longtime board members who were removed and the several honest and brave former CAO employees who were fired should be commended for coming forward in their effort to be the stewards of resources that are desperately needed. This region cannot afford to disregard or to make light of what these courageous women have brought forth and determined to be improprieties in the management of an agency that is in charge on tens of millions of dollars allocated to Western New York to increase the living standards of the poorest among us. Betty Jean Grant is a former member of the Erie County Legislature, from which she retired in 2017.

Shattering the assumption that America’s gun control debate is doomed to political deadlock, a new poll has found an overwhelming majority of South Carolinians — both Republicans and Democrats — support legislation that would require background checks for gun purchases, even if it takes longer than three days. A Winthrop University poll of 1,007 South Carolina residents found 80 percent of respondents said they would be in favor of closing the so-called “Charleston loophole” that allowed a self-avowed white supremacist to purchase the gun used in the 2015 Emanuel AME Church murders. The poll results released early Thursday found 80 percent of Republicans surveyed said they would support the expanded background check effort, compared to the 83 percent of Democrats polled. “Where the division is, is with the party elites like elected officials and campaign leaders. One of them was the Enhanced Background Checks Act, which seeks to extend the length of FBI background checks for gun purchases from three days to 10. Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, was the bill’s primary sponsor. Since the bill’s passage in the House, both Clyburn and Cunningham have publicly urged their colleagues in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate to take up the bill by holding press conferences and penning op-eds. Huffmon said there’s a real political fear, especially among Republicans, to alienate potential voters on the issue of guns. Nobody is marching with signs saying don’t close the Charleston loophole.” Each year, Kimpson said he has seen slow but steady progress on getting his bill closer to passage. In October 2015, a Winthrop poll found 80 percent of South Carolinians supported requiring a completed background check for a gun purchase.

Beto O’Rourke thinks he is born to run for president, and so far, it looks like two members of New York’s congressional delegation agree. In doing so, Maloney and Rice became the first members of New York’s congressional delegation to endorse any of the politicians currently vying for the Democratic nomination. O’Rourke, 46, represented El Paso in Congress for three terms. That, Democratic political consultant Bruce Gyory says, is why moderates Rice and Maloney are backing him. To endorse so early in the race – before candidates have even outlined their national policy platforms – might seem rash, but Kathleen Rice said working with O’Rourke in Congress made her confident in his policy positions. Maloney, arguably the most moderate Democrat in New York’s House delegation, could be attempting to bolster his credentials in a swing district. But it may just be that like Rice, he and O’Rourke already have a relationship. What is perhaps most notable – if not totally surprising – about this pair of endorsements, is that the only 2020 Democratic presidential candidate from New York still has no support from New York’s congressional delegation. Beto O'Rourke represents energy in a Democratic Party that is breaking up into pieces that will hopefully unite during the November general election.” So while Rice and Maloney may not have been likely to support Gillibrand, their endorsements of O’Rourke have drawn more attention to the fact that Gillibrand is still running without home state support. “I have a great relationship with Sen. Gillibrand,” Rice said.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced new legislation today, dubbed the Scientific Integrity Act, to protect public scientific research and reports from the influence of political and special interests. Schatz, along with U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), said this longstanding concern has “taken on newfound urgency under President Trump.” “These are challenging and unprecedented times for science,” said Schatz in a news release. “And while it’s not the first time it has been under attack, this time feels worse. That’s why we need to answer the call of our times and stand up for science. It would make data and findings off-limits for political appointees and managers, and make sure scientists follow careful processes for review.” The Scientific Integrity Act would establish uniform standards for policies at U.S. agencies meant to prevent public research and findings from being distorted or shelved for political reasons. Public scientists would be held to high standards, but also be guaranteed rights and protections. In its first two years, he said the Trump administration has prohibited the Centers for Disease Control staff from using the words “evidence-based” and “science-based” in budget documents, and scrapped an EPA-recommended ban on chlorpyrifos, a pesticide proven to impair brain development in young children. “Our economy, our health and safety, and our environment all depend on independent federal scientific research and fully informed, science-based policies,” said Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a statement. “The Scientific Integrity Act would protect scientists from political interference in their scientific work, and make sure that they can carry out their research and share it without fear of retaliation. Congress should pass the Scientific Integrity Act so that all presidential administrations can be held to that strong standard.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, on his first trip to Iowa after announcing he'll run for president, on March 7, 2019, in Council Bluffs. — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders kicked off his second Iowa campaign the same way he concluded his first. Sanders walked onto the stage at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs Thursday evening as a frontrunner: A December Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed the senator polling at 19 percent, second only to former Vice President Joe Biden, who was the preferred candidate for 32 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers polled. Three years ago, Sanders called for a "political revolution" fueled by working and middle-class Americans. More: Iowa Poll: Biden, Sanders top early look at possible Democratic hopefuls in 2020 caucuses While Sanders has not abandoned his long-held political platform, he said his policy proposals — like instituting a $15-per-hour federal minimum wage, providing Medicare to all Americans and free public college for all — are now mainstream tenets within the Democratic party. "Those ideas that we talked about here in Iowa four years ago that seemed so radical at the time — remember that?" Cyndie Poffenbarger said Sanders is best equipped to defeat President Donald Trump in 2020. "More people know him this time." Wearing a "Bernie 2016" cap and a "Bernie 2020" T-shirt, Poffenbarger said Sanders stands out in a wide field of Democratic presidential candidates. "I followed him for like 10 years before he ever ran for president," she said.

On average, primary elections in 10 of 67 counties will be closed because of write-ins, Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards has said. Candidate’s party affiliation may appear on ballot as provided by law.” The second is “All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor, and Cabinet.” Here’s that summary: “Allows all registered voters to vote in primaries for the state legislature, governor, and cabinet regardless of political party affiliation. “There’s probably 30 different things I could have put in there.” “Sheriff comment by DeSantis causes stir” via the News Service of Florida — DeSantis used part of his State of the State address to tout his decision to suspend Israel. DeSantis delivered his State of the State address. “Lawmakers look at fixing election problems” via Dara Kam of the News Service of Florida —Voters would have more time to “cure” ballot signature discrepancies, county canvassing boards could start counting absentee ballots earlier and election supervisors would have more time to submit recount results, under a sweeping elections proposal approved by a key Senate committee. There’s a commitment from President Galvano, to making sure we address issues there, as well,” he said. The Florida League of Cities, the Florida Association of Counties and Democrats on the panel opposed the bill, but HB 5 passed on a party-line vote. When legislators voted for this last year, legislators thought that they were voting for 30 days,” Asztalos said. Cohen has just 12 percent of the vote. So would a lot of other people.

David Paterson's surprise appointment of second-term U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Hillary Clinton's U.S. Senate seat on Jan. 23, 2009, the New York Times helpfully phoneticized her name for its readers: "JILL-uh-brand." Political consultant Morgan Hook, who was a news producer for Albany's CBS6 at the time, recalled interviewing Gillibrand about voting with Republicans against a Democratic bill that would fund U.S. efforts in Iraq. Her advice that he use the occasion to speak out on behalf of people with disabilities, Paterson said, cemented his decision. She wrote in her 2014 autobiography that, during the interview, he told her, "You know, throughout this process, I have heard the nastiest things about you and you have reflected none of that. Previously, she had expressed support only for civil unions. Schumer, along with President Barack Obama, helped clear the Democratic field for Gillibrand's election, according to reports at the time. Tellingly, at a 2009 fundraiser, as Gillibrand thanked her supporters, she had noted that she might face a Democratic challenge the following year. Velazquez, a New York City Democrat who has not endorsed a candidate for 2020, said she found Gillibrand's evolution on the issue sincere. Gillibrand has long supported Medicare for all. Editorial boards jumped on her when she announced her exploratory committee for president three months later.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., was the target of "a political stunt" when he was served with a subpoena following his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland, his spokeswoman said Friday. Mike Parson’s office. “After more than two weeks of evading service, Senator Josh Hawley was personally served with the subpoena at CPAC.” Gross said the subpoena was issued in early February by the Cole County Circuit Court at his request because of Hawley’s alleged mishandling of Missouri’s Sunshine Law – which deals with government transparency – while he was state attorney general, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Gross said in a news release around that time that he had sought records of correspondence between Gov. Kelli Ford, a spokeswoman for Hawley, reacted to Gross's remarks Friday. "The reality is that Mr. The reality is that Mr. — Kelli Ford, spokeswoman for Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The environmental activist group, Sunrise Movement, released the video of the confrontation and tweeted that the California senator treated the group of about 15 young people with “smugness” and “disrespect.” In the 15-minute version of the video, the children tell Feinstein that they’ve come to her to express their support for the Green New Deal. Feinstein repeatedly tells the children that there is “no way to pay” for the plan, and tells the children that she is supporting her own resolution. I know what I’m doing,” Feinstein says. I’ve gotten elected. So maybe people should listen a little bit.” When a teen tells Feinstein that she should listen to them, because they are her voters, Feinstein responds by asking the girl how old she is. When the girl responds that she is 16, Feinstein says, “Well you didn’t vote for me.” She says to the group, “You know better than I do, so maybe one day you should run for the Senate and then you do it your way. Feinstein responded to the incident later on Friday in a statement, which she released on Twitter. “This morning I spoke with a small group of children, young adults and parents from the Sunrise Movement, who were delivering a letter in support of the Green New Deal resolution. The Sunrise Movement released their own statement on Twitter, writing that Feinstein showed “stale, establishment thinking.” “Sen. But we are going forward, one way or another,” the group wrote.