It’s not Election Day 2020 yet, but on Tuesday we got the next best thing.Voters all over the country headed to the polls to decide local and state elections. The headline-grabbing contest was in the Kentucky governor’s race — a state President Donald Trump won by a whopping 30 percent in 2016. Some caveats: Bevin was among the most unpopular governors in the country, and other Republican leaders in the state outperformed him on Tuesday.But Beshear’s win was still a big loss for Trump, who campaigned in Kentucky just a day before the election, tying Bevin’s race to his own reputation. The...…It’s not Election Day 2020 yet, but on Tuesday we got the next best thing.Voters all over the country headed to the polls to decide local and state elections. The headline-grabbing contest was in the Kentucky governor’s race — a state President Donald Trump won by a whopping 30 percent in 2016. Some caveats: Bevin was among the most unpopular governors in the country, and other Republican leaders in the state outperformed him on Tuesday.But Beshear’s win was still a big loss for Trump, who campaigned in Kentucky just a day before the election, tying Bevin’s race to his own reputation. The...WW…

Republicans are trying to claim credit for stimulus — and some voters are primed to believe them.Earlier this month, : After being one of 49 Republican senators who voted against the American Rescue Plan (ARP), he proudly boasted that the pandemic relief it provided would be coming soon.“Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief,” Wicker wrote in his post. “This funding will ensure small businesses can survive the pandemic by helping to adapt their operations and keep their employees on the payroll.”Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6...…Republicans are trying to claim credit for stimulus — and some voters are primed to believe them.Earlier this month, : After being one of 49 Republican senators who voted against the American Rescue Plan (ARP), he proudly boasted that the pandemic relief it provided would be coming soon.“Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6 billion worth of targeted relief,” Wicker wrote in his post. “This funding will ensure small businesses can survive the pandemic by helping to adapt their operations and keep their employees on the payroll.”Independent restaurant operators have won $28.6...WW…

A historic number of lawmakers voted to convict a president of their own party in Trump’s impeachment trial.has been acquitted yet again in his second impeachment trial, seven Republican senators voted to convict him, making the trial outcome the most bipartisan in history.A total of 57 senators ended up voting to convict Trump of inciting the insurrection that took place at the US Capitol on January 6, including seven Republicans: Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey.Many of these lawmakers are considered moderates, and Toomey is...…A historic number of lawmakers voted to convict a president of their own party in Trump’s impeachment trial.has been acquitted yet again in his second impeachment trial, seven Republican senators voted to convict him, making the trial outcome the most bipartisan in history.A total of 57 senators ended up voting to convict Trump of inciting the insurrection that took place at the US Capitol on January 6, including seven Republicans: Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey.Many of these lawmakers are considered moderates, and Toomey is...WW…

The Senate parliamentarian says the minimum wage increase can’t be part of the stimulus bill.The $15 minimum wage is effectively dead — for now.The Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, told senators on Thursday that the policy did not have a significant enough effect on the federal budget to be included as part of the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill. That decision — while one that Democrats could ignore — means there likely won’t be any more action on the minimum wage in the near term.Democrats expressed disappointment at the decision.SCHUMER: “We are deeply disappointed in this...…The Senate parliamentarian says the minimum wage increase can’t be part of the stimulus bill.The $15 minimum wage is effectively dead — for now.The Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, told senators on Thursday that the policy did not have a significant enough effect on the federal budget to be included as part of the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief bill. That decision — while one that Democrats could ignore — means there likely won’t be any more action on the minimum wage in the near term.Democrats expressed disappointment at the decision.SCHUMER: “We are deeply disappointed in this...WW…

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus plans to hold a hearing to discuss violent attacks during the pandemic.Asian American lawmakers on Friday laid out a policy response to : They want Congress to pass the No Hate Act, a bill that boosts local government funding for tracking hate incidents, and they want a meeting with the Department of Justice. Plus, they’d like to hold a hearing about recent attacks.“What started as dirty looks and verbal assaults has escalated,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), in a press...…The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus plans to hold a hearing to discuss violent attacks during the pandemic.Asian American lawmakers on Friday laid out a policy response to : They want Congress to pass the No Hate Act, a bill that boosts local government funding for tracking hate incidents, and they want a meeting with the Department of Justice. Plus, they’d like to hold a hearing about recent attacks.“What started as dirty looks and verbal assaults has escalated,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), in a press...WW…

Just one year ago, America was not ready to consider the possibilities of bold racial justice reform. Discussion of reparations, a system that would redress the country’s oldest sin of slavery, or universal basic income, a guarantee of economic security, were just talking points on the campaign trail for candidates vying to be president.It would take the acutely distressing events of the following months to help the nation acknowledge the merits of progressive ideals. Those events include a destructive pandemic that has now claimed close to half a million lives, a debilitating economic...…Just one year ago, America was not ready to consider the possibilities of bold racial justice reform. Discussion of reparations, a system that would redress the country’s oldest sin of slavery, or universal basic income, a guarantee of economic security, were just talking points on the campaign trail for candidates vying to be president.It would take the acutely distressing events of the following months to help the nation acknowledge the merits of progressive ideals. Those events include a destructive pandemic that has now claimed close to half a million lives, a debilitating economic...WW…

Republicans are doing what they can to delay passage of the Covid-19 relief bill.Senate Republicans — beginning with a reading of the entirety of the stimulus package on Thursday — have been trying to drag out the legislative process on the bill as much as possible in an effort to make things uncomfortable for Democrats.That also means, however, that they’re delaying the legislation’s passage in the middle of a public health crisis, as millions of people and thousands of businesses wait on congressional aid.In an effort spearheaded by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Republicans asked Senate clerks...…Republicans are doing what they can to delay passage of the Covid-19 relief bill.Senate Republicans — beginning with a reading of the entirety of the stimulus package on Thursday — have been trying to drag out the legislative process on the bill as much as possible in an effort to make things uncomfortable for Democrats.That also means, however, that they’re delaying the legislation’s passage in the middle of a public health crisis, as millions of people and thousands of businesses wait on congressional aid.In an effort spearheaded by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Republicans asked Senate clerks...WW…

“Unless they hear from us, we will remain invisible forever.”Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the head of Congress’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus, is laser-focused on getting more AAPI representation into government.Most recently, Chu has pushed back on the lack of AAPI Cabinet Secretaries in the current administration, and the omission of AAPI members in a previous “unity task force” on immigration. While she welcomes cabinet-level appointees — Office of Management and Budget director nominee Neera Tanden and US Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai — as well as the historic...…“Unless they hear from us, we will remain invisible forever.”Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the head of Congress’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus, is laser-focused on getting more AAPI representation into government.Most recently, Chu has pushed back on the lack of AAPI Cabinet Secretaries in the current administration, and the omission of AAPI members in a previous “unity task force” on immigration. While she welcomes cabinet-level appointees — Office of Management and Budget director nominee Neera Tanden and US Trade Representative nominee Katherine Tai — as well as the historic...WW…

A new poll shows that people prioritize speed when it comes to a new relief package.Americans want Covid-19 relief fast — and they’re supportive of passing it via budget reconciliation if that’s what it takes.According to a , a majority of likely voters — 64 percent — would back more coronavirus relief, even if it means approving it via budget reconciliation, rather than the standard process for advancing most bills. Typically, most bills need 60 votes in the Senate in order to pass, but a budget resolution would only need 51 — and Democrats would be able to include several Covid-19...…A new poll shows that people prioritize speed when it comes to a new relief package.Americans want Covid-19 relief fast — and they’re supportive of passing it via budget reconciliation if that’s what it takes.According to a , a majority of likely voters — 64 percent — would back more coronavirus relief, even if it means approving it via budget reconciliation, rather than the standard process for advancing most bills. Typically, most bills need 60 votes in the Senate in order to pass, but a budget resolution would only need 51 — and Democrats would be able to include several Covid-19...WW…

Democrats just got an unprecedented Senate blessing.Senate Democrats just got some wonky procedural news that has some pretty big implications for President Joe Biden’s agenda.On Monday night, the Senate parliamentarian — an in-house rules expert — determined that Democrats would be able to do a third budget reconciliation bill this year, a massive development that gives lawmakers more room to pass legislation without Republican support.Already, Democrats had the ability to do two budget reconciliation bills: one focused on fiscal year 2021 and one focused on fiscal year 2022. Unlike most...…Democrats just got an unprecedented Senate blessing.Senate Democrats just got some wonky procedural news that has some pretty big implications for President Joe Biden’s agenda.On Monday night, the Senate parliamentarian — an in-house rules expert — determined that Democrats would be able to do a third budget reconciliation bill this year, a massive development that gives lawmakers more room to pass legislation without Republican support.Already, Democrats had the ability to do two budget reconciliation bills: one focused on fiscal year 2021 and one focused on fiscal year 2022. Unlike most...WW…