Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Le n
In this May 16, 2015, file photo, then Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in Anaheim, Calif. Atkins is now a state senator.
Category Archives: Democrat
Tax-reform plan would eliminate deduction for wildfire losses
Tax-reform plans before Congress would limit or eliminate the natural-disaster deduction, meaning future victims of wildfires like the ones raging throughout Southern California could no longer deduct losses of property that is uninsured or under-insured. The House and Senate proposals, which are in the process of being reconciled, would not affect natural-disaster deductions filed for the 2017 tax year.
Sexual misconduct claims force two in Congress to resign, another into ethics probe
In a head shaking series of events, a tide of sexual misconduct allegations continued to sweep across Capitol Hill on Thursday, as one Senate Democrat and one House Republican announced their resignations, while another House GOP lawmaker became the subject of an ethics review over a sexual harassment case that has already resulted in a taxpayer funded settlment. Hours later, the House floor suddenly was in the spotlight, as Rep. Trent Franks surprised colleagues by announcing he would resign effective at the end of January.
Al Franken joins long list of lawmakers ousted by scandal
Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota announced on Thursday that he will resign in the face of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. He joins a long list of lawmakers ousted by scandal.
US fails to enforce smog rules, 14 states allege in lawsuit
FILE - This July 12, 2017 file photo shows the Valero Benicia Refinery in Benicia, Calif. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced, Thursday, Dec. 7 that California is among fourteen states and the Distric... SACRAMENTO, Calif.
DOT drops proposal to force airlines to disclose bag fees
In this Jan. 30, 2017, file photo, luggage sits on a baggage claim carousel at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. The Transportation Department is dropping an Obama administration proposal that would have required airlines to disclose checked and carry-on bag fees at the start of a ticket purchase rather than later.
Hard to identify winners, losers in post-Franken scenarios
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., leaves the Capitol after speaking on the Senate floor, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Photo Credit: AP / Andrew Harnik He became the first television comedian to win a U.S. Senate seat.
Aztec High School shooting leaves 2 students, suspect dead
Police escort buses moving students and faculty from Aztec High School after a shooting Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Aztec, N.M. Buses begin to move students and faculty from Aztec High School after a shooting Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Aztec, N.M. Students are led out of Aztec High School after a shooting Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Aztec, N.M. The school is in the Four Corners region and is near the Navajo Nation.
Senate Judiciary Committee Dems: GOP Rushing Trump Nominees
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee accused Republicans on the committee of rushing through President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, according to The Hill . Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said that the confirmations were the fastest pace she could remember in her 25-year experience as a committee member.
Sen. John Thune: Tax Reform Will Be on Trump’s Desk Before Christmas
The year is winding down, but the tax reform bill will be complete and on President Donald Trump's desk before 2017 ends, Sen. John Thune said Thursday. "There is a sense of urgency about it," the South Dakota Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" program, explaining that there are already informal discussions occurring between House and Senate negotiators.
Ari Fleischer: Franken Should Not Have Quit
Ari Fleischer, the former press secretary to President George W. Bush, said Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., should not have resigned. Fleischer's comments came in a tweet posted shortly after Franken said on Thursday he would be quitting in the coming weeks.
Put Up or Shut Up: Franken’s Promise to Resign Later Isn’t Good Enough
Sen. Al Franken, under fire and lots of pressure from Democrats and Republicans to resign because of his misogynistic male chauvinist pig treatment of women, took to the Senate floor today allegedly to resign. Franken, pulled a fast one.
John Lewis to skip civil rights museum opening due to Trump
U.S. Rep John Lewis says he won't speak at the opening of Mississippi civil rights and history museums, calling it intolerable that President Donald Trump will attend. Lewis made the announcement Thursday.
Franken resignation would trigger a rush to replace
ST. PAUL, Minn. - A resignation by Sen. Al Franken amid a growing cloud of sexual misconduct allegations would trigger a short-term appointment to replace him and a mad-dash special election in 2018 to finish the Minnesota Democrat's term.
Female Lieutenant Governor Poised to Take Frankena s SeatIf the…
On Thursday, Al Franken will announce that, in light of the growing number of sexual-harassment allegations against him , he has decided to resign from the Senate. Unless he announces that he's actually comfortable staying on as a pariah - or else, that he's decided to leave the Democratic caucus, and join a party that takes a more nuanced view of sexual predation.
Interior announces full funding to repair Arlington Memorial Bridge
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced a $227 million project to rehabilitate Arlington Memorial Bridge, a historic and critical transportation link in the nation's capital. As awarded, the project will save American taxpayers $35 million and 1.5 years of estimated construction time.
AP Interview: On North Korea, senator says China a problem
China is more of a problem than a partner for the United States on dealing with nuclear-armed North Korea, a leading Republican senator and ally of President Donald Trump told the Associated Press during a wide-ranging interview Thursday. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said China has been "lying for 25 years" about wanting to eliminate North Korea's nuclear capability.
Announcement coming from Sen. Franken amid fresh accusations
Minnesota Democrat Al Franken, facing fresh allegations of sexual misconduct and vanishing support from fellow Democrats, appears on the brink of resigning from the Senate. Franken's office said he will make an announcement at 11:45 a.m. Thursday in a speech on the Senate floor.
CTA Moves Forward on Transformational Red and Purple Modernization Program
The Chicago Transit Authority took the next major step in Mayor Rahm Emanuel's transformational Red and Purple Modernization Program by selecting three qualified contracting teams to develop proposals to design and build the first phase of the project, which will significantly modernize, improve and increase rail service in Chicago for decades to come. The first phase of RPM will rebuild four of the oldest Red Line stations and make them fully accessible to people with disabilities and completely reconstruct 1.3 miles of adjacent track structure.
58 Members Of Congress Vote To Impeach Donald J. Trump
Today, fifty-eight Members of Congress voted in support of articles of impeachment against President Trump in a floor vote led by Congressman Al Green . "Today's vote shows that momentum is building for the call for an impeachment investigation of President Trump," says John Bonifaz, the Co-Founder and President of Free Speech For People.