Senators Arrive For Gop Leadership Elections
Republican senators began arriving for the Senate leadership election Wednesday morning.
Among those who walked into the Old Senate Chamber, where the vote will happen, included: Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, James Risch of Idaho, John Thune of South Dakota, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Mike Braun of Indiana.
The senators will decide who will lead them in the next Congress. Current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is the heavy favorite to be elected.
Ledyard King, Rachel Looker
Key Votes: 117th Congress 2021
The 117th United States Congress began on January 3, 2021, at which point Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate had a 50-50 makeup. Democrats assumed control of the Senate on January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris , who acts as a tie-breaking vote in the chamber, assumed office. We identified the key votes below using Congress’ top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.
| Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Vote | |
| American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 | |
| The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key features of the bill included funding for a national vaccination program and response, funding to safely reopen schools, distribution of $1,400 per person in relief payments, and extended unemployment benefits. The bill required a 1/2 majority vote in the Senate. to read more. |
| National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 | |
|---|---|
| The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on December 27, 2021, authorizing Department of Defense acitivities and programs for fiscal year 2022. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. |
There Have Been Few Signs Of Movement Among Republicans
The Freedom to Vote Act was negotiated by a group of Senate Democrats, including Manchin, who was his partys lone holdout on the sweeping voting rights measure that passed the House earlier this year. Parts of the House-passed bill, called the For the People Act, were scaled back to win over Manchins support, as well as some Republicans. Manchin played a key role in courting Republican support for the compromise bill in recent weeks.
But Republicans didnt budge.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday that it was his hope and anticipation that no Republicans would vote for the Freedom to Vote Act, which he described as an attempt by Democratic lawmakers to have the federal government take over how elections are conducted all over America.
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Trump Attacks ‘disaster’ Mitch Mcconnell Says Top Republican ‘folded’ To Democrats
Former President Donald Trump again shared some blistering criticism of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after the top Republican lawmaker reached a deal with Democrats to allow for the federal debt ceiling to be increased.
McConnell, who represents Kentucky, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, reached a deal that will see a number of Republicans vote to end debate on the debt ceiling increase. Then the legislation will be allowed to pass with just 51 votes. While no Republicans are expected to vote to approve raising the debt ceiling, at least 10 will vote to end debate and enable Democrats to pass the bill without their support.
Trump took issue McConnell’s willingness to reach the compromise with Democratic leaders.
“Mitch McConnell just folded on the Debt Ceiling, a total victory for the Democrats,” the former president said in an official statement posted to by his spokesperson Liz Harrington.
Trump argued that McConnell “gave the Democrats everything they needed.”
“The Dems would have folded completely if Mitch properly played his hand,” he said.
“He has all the cards to win, but not the ‘guts’ to play them. Instead, he gives our Country away, just like he did with the two Senate seats in Georgia, and the Presidency itself. The Old Crow is a disaster!” Trump concluded.
Opinion: Mitch Mcconnell Still The Crucial Republican Leader
Sen. Mitch McConnell will remain majority leader until noon on Jan. 20, with the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. At that moment, McConnell will then become the equal in influence of any minority leader in Senate history. No doubt he is already planning how to wield that power for the GOP and the good of the country.
As I have noted before, rule-of-law conservatives owe an enormous debt to McConnell for protecting the Constitution and its separation of powers, checks on administrative agencies and robust individual rights, particularly those of free exercise of religion, speech and property.
In 2016, McConnell refused to be railroaded by the chattering class into consenting to President Barack Obamas filling of the Supreme Court vacancy caused by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Again defying liberals condemnation, McConnell joined with then-Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley in 2018 and Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey O. Graham in 2020 in guiding the Supreme Court nominations of Justices Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to confirmation. McConnell has also kept a laser focus on the appointments of appeals court judges, ensuring that the Constitutions protections of American freedoms will be preserved for decades.
The only thing that can deeply injure the Republicans is division. And the partys unity is essential in an increasingly unstable era at home and abroad.
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Mcconnell Holds Off Us Senate Challenge Republicans Win Narrow House Edge
WASHINGTON, Nov 16 – Top U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell held off a challenge to his leadership on Wednesday as some of Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress lashed out at top Republicans and their party squeaked out a narrower-than-expected House majority in the midterm election.
McConnell fended off the first challenge in his nearly 16-year reign as party chief, after Senator Rick Scott tried to unseat him as minority leader, contending that the “D.C. swamp” was to blame for the party’s inability to win a Senate majority.
That bid failed, even after Trump had repeatedly called for McConnell’s ouster and promoted Scott as a replacement. McConnell drew Trump’s ire by recognizing Democrat Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Trump, who launched his own 2024 White House candidacy on Tuesday, falsely claims he lost because of fraud.
“I’m not, in any way, offended by having an opponent or having a few votes in opposition,” an elated-looking McConnell told reporters at a news conference after the vote.
Despite Republican hopes for a “red wave” of support in the Nov. 8 elections, they failed to reverse Democrats’ razor-thin Senate majority. They won a narrow House majority, having won the 218 seats needed, with eight still uncalled. Democrats have won 209, according to projections by Edison Research.
Scott and his supporters have criticized McConnell for not putting forward a party agenda during the midterm campaign.
Mitch Mcconnell ‘welcomes’ Challenge From Rick Scott
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., welcomed the competition for his leadership post from Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla, telling reporters during the Senate GOP news conference Tuesday, Anybody in the conference is certainly entitled to challenge me, and I welcome the contest.”
McConnell said he is confident he has the votes to keep his job, a role hes held since 2007. “Ill be elected, he added.
Sarah Elbeshbishi, Rachel Looker, Ledyard King
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Senators Reject Cruz Proposal To Delay Election Until After Georgia Runoff
With a contested leadership race in the rearview mirror, Senate Republicans now need to figure out if they can unify heading into the 118th Congress.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell handily won reelection to his leadership post Wednesday after a challenge from National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott.
The result of the contest between the Kentucky and Florida senators was no surprise, with the vote coming one day after Scott formally announced his challenge during a roughly three-hour Senate Republican Conference meeting. Behind closed doors, senators aired grievances after a lackluster midterm election performance in which Democrats retained control of the Senate and may even gain a seat.
Senators said the vote was 37-10. One member voted present.
“I want to repeat again, I have the votes. I will be elected. The only issue is whether we do it sooner or later,” McConnell had told reporters Tuesday.
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz sought to delay the leadership elections until after a Dec. 6 runoff in Georgia so that Republican Herschel Walker, if he prevailed, could participate in the leadership discussions. That fell short 32-16. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski was participating in Wednesday’s votes although Alaska has not yet worked its way through the ranked-choice voting process.
McConnell, who had spoken before the midterm elections of concerns about “candidate quality,” expounded on that point Tuesday afternoon.
Mcconnell To Remain As Senate Gop Leader
Senate Republicans reelected Mitch McConnell as their leader Wednesday despite grumblings among some of his GOP colleagues that the caucus needs new leadership after a poor showing in the midterms, where Democrats defied expectations by retaining their slim majority.
McConnell, who has led Senate Republicans both in the minority and the majority since 2007, faced a challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who said the caucus should be “far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past.”
Scott received some support, including from Indiana Sen. Mike Braun who tweeted Tuesday that Hoosier conservative Republicans are sick and tired of the status quo.
But McConnell showed how firm his grip on the caucus is. He maintained his leadership position despite a midterm election where the GOP could see its minority shrink further depending on the Dec. 6 run-off in Georgia between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and GOP challenger Herschel Walker.
Ledyard King
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In January 57% Of Americans Will Live In States With Democratic Governors
Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina, the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, said on a call with reporters Wednesday that starting in January, 57% of the country would live in states with a Democratic governor after the partys strong performance last week.
It wasnt that surprising to me that we won these races, Cooper said. What was surprising was the margins and how resounding many of these victories in swing states were.
In battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Arizona, Democratic candidates defeated far-right, Donald Trump-endorsed Republican candidates, offering a blueprint for the party moving forward, Cooper said.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, the groups vice-chair, attributed the victories to a cocktail of ingredients, among them the quality of the candidates and the extremism of their Republican opponents.
Both Cooper and Murphy lamented the loss of Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak of Nevada, who was defeated by the Trump-backed Joe Lombardo. Calling Nevada the one that got away, Murphy said voters likely punished Sisolak for implementing strict coronavirus restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic, which had a painful effect on the states tourism industry. He paid a big price for doing the right thing, Murphy said.
The doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints related between a man and a woman is well-known and will remain unchanged, the church said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mitch Mcconnell Exchanged Fawning Compliments With Democrat Kirsten Sinema
New York Daily News | Sep 27, 2022 | News | 7
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.,
Sen. Kirsten Sinema traded compliments with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday, raising fresh questions about her political future.
Speaking at an event sponsored by McConnells foundation, Sinema gushed about her relationship with the man despised by most Democrats as the most prominent roadblock to their domestic agenda.
Sen. McConnell and I have forged a friendship, one that is rooted in our commonalities, including our pragmatic approach to legislating, our respect for the Senate as an institution, Sinema said.
McConnell was equally unstinting in his praise for Sinema, a first-term moderate.
She is, today, what we have too few of in the Democratic Party: a genuine moderate and a deal-maker, he said, adding that Sinema is the most effective first-term senator hes ever seen.
The cross-the-aisle love fest raises fresh questions about Sinemas political future.
The first-term lawmaker is the most prominent moderate Democrat in the Senate along with Sen. Joe Manchin and has helped maintain the filibuster that prevents most legislation from passing without a super-majority of 60 votes.
Sinema represents a fast-changing battleground state in Arizona, making her a prime target for a primary challenge when she faces reelection in 2024.
©2022 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Why The Debt Ceiling Must Be Raised
If the borrowing limit is not extended by the middle of the month, Washington wont be able to pay its bills.
The military could go without pay. Social Security checks will dry up. Mortgages, car loans and credit card bills would be more expensive. Millions of Americans might lose their jobs and the pandemic recovery would crash. Since the stability of US debt is the bedrock of the global economy, a default by Washington could plunge the rest of the world into crisis.
But in the narrow calculations of the Senate minority leader, that would all be Bidens fault and would likely further wound an already-wobbling presidency. And in the end, McConnell is probably calculating that Democrats would never let it get that far and would have to compromise their own goals given the disastrous impact of a debt default.
Still, given McConnells well-earned reputation for being impervious to political shame and pressure, Senate Democrats ought to face questions over why they waited so long to act. Playing chicken with the senator from Kentucky is usually a losing proposition.
What The House Results Mean For The Republicans
With Republicans officially winning the House Wednesday, Nancy Pelosi will not be speaker when the new Congress is sworn in Jan. 3. Her deputy chief of staff tweeted late Tuesday that “the Speaker plans to address her future plans to her colleagues.”
@SpeakerPelosi has been overwhelmed by calls from colleagues, friends and supporters. This evening, the Speaker monitored returns in the three remaining critical states. The Speaker plans to address her future plans tomorrow to her colleagues. Stay tuned.
Drew Hammill
The new GOP majority will usher in a new group of leaders in Washington. If elected to succeed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the top post, Kevin McCarthy would lead what will likely be a rowdy conference of House Republicans, most of whom are aligned with Trumps bare-knuckle brand of politics.
Many Republicans in the incoming Congress rejected the results of the 2020 presidential election, even though claims of widespread fraud were refuted by courts, elections officials and Trumps own attorney general.
Biden administration probes: What will a Republican House look like? A lot of investigations and maybe impeachment.
McCarthy won the nomination for House speaker on Tuesday, with a formal vote to come when the new Congress convenes in January.
Im proud to announce the era of one-party Democrat rule in Washington is over, McCarthy said after winning the nomination.
– Ledge King and Associated Press
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Draft Dodgers And Deserters
On September 16 , Ford issued Presidential Proclamation 4313, which introduced a conditional program for military deserters and Vietnam War who had fled to countries such as Canada. The conditions of the amnesty required that those reaffirm their allegiance to the United States and serve two years working in a public service job or a total of two years service for those who had served less than two years of honorable service in the military. The program for the Return of Vietnam Era Draft Evaders and Military Deserters established a Clemency Board to review the records and make recommendations for receiving a Presidential Pardon and a change in status. came in the .
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Rick Scott Challenges Mitch Mcconnell For Gop Leadership
Florida Sen. Rick Scott announced Tuesday that he will challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for the top Republican leadership spot in a letter to his colleagues, calling for a change in leadership. A leadership vote is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
I believe its time for the Senate Republican Conference to be far more bold and resolute than we have been in the past, the letter said. There is a Republican Party that is alive and well in communities across America. It is time there is one in Washington, D.C. too. That is why I am running to be Republican Leader.
Indiana Sen. Mike Braun tweeted support for Scott on Tuesday. “I ran for Senate because we need OUTSIDERS to take on the D.C. swamp and get RESULTS,” he wrote. “Hoosier conservative Republicans are sick and tired of the status quo.”
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Why Mitch Mcconnell Is Hated By So Many Republicans
Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate Minority Leader, was labeled the least popular politician in America in December.
An aggregate of polls from RealClearPolitics showed that just 24% of Americans see McConnell in a favorable light, while 59% view him unfavorably. It gave the Kentucky Senator a net negative approval rating of 35%.
In 2019, McConnell was also branded the least popular senator among voters in his own state. A Morning Consult poll showed McConnell with a 50% job disapproval rating and at the top of the nations list of the 10 most unpopular senators.
McConnells unpopularity appears to be driven by a shift within the Republican Party. Democrats are naturally less likely to approve of the work of any Democratic senator, particularly during this time of extreme partisanship. Combined with the Republican Partys continued overwhelming allegiance to former President Donald Trump, and his unpopularity begins to make sense.
Donald Trump v. Mitch McConnell
Former President Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have feuded for years. Earlier this month, however, that feud reached new heights when McConnell responded to the Republican National Committees decision to censure two Republican members of the House of Representatives.
McConnell responded by effectively agreeing with the House Committees claims.
In a statement issued by his Save America PAC, former President Donald Trump said that McConnell does not speak for the party.
