The Republicans most at risk in next year's election are falling in line behind impeachment inquiry
The most vulnerable House Republicans whose elections in swing districts next year will determine which party gains control of the chamber are overwhelmingly voicing their support for House Speaker Kevin McCarthyโs impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Quarreling Dems must put aside differences, Schumer warns
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is warning that that Democrats โmust put aside our differencesโ as the party struggles to coalesce around President Joe Bidenโs now-scaled back package of social services and climate change strategies.
House OKs George Floyd Act as Democrats avoid 'defund' clash
Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON โ House Democrats passed the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing nationwide, avoiding a potential clash with moderates in their own party who were wary of reigniting the โdefund the policeโ debate they say hurt them during last fall's election. Approved 220-212 late Wednesday, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is named for the man whose killing by police in Minnesota last Memorial Day sparked demonstrations nationwide. โWe want to feel safe when we encounter law enforcement. โOur law enforcement officers need more funding not less,โ Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis. Another possible point of contention is provisions easing standards for prosecution of law enforcement officers accused of wrongdoing.
With Biden's backing, Dems revive bill to overhaul policing
House Democrats are hustling to pass the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing. The bill would ban chokeholds and โqualified immunityโ for law enforcement and create national standards for policing in a bid to bolster accountability. โOur law enforcement officers need more funding not less,โ Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., said during Wednesday's debate. AdPolice unions and other law enforcement groups have argued that, without such legal protections, fear of lawsuits will stop people from becoming police officers โ even though the measure permits such suits only against law enforcement agencies, rather than all public employees. California Rep. Karen Bass, who authored the bill, understands the challenge some House members face in supporting it.
Dems propose $1,400 payments as part of Biden virus relief
Less than three weeks into his presidency, Biden has declared that vanquishing the virus and resuscitating the economy are his top priorities. AdHouse Education and Labor Committee Democrats also previewed their plans Monday. Couples who make up to $150,000 would be entitled to $2,800 relief payments, which would gradually diminish and fully disappear for those earning $200,000. Biden has said he will not allow the per-person payments to fall below $1,400 but has indicated flexibility on the income thresholds. A federal law known as COBRA already allows them to temporarily keep their old employerโs health plan, but they typically have to pay prohibitively high premiums.