All articles tagged with #progressive caucus
Originally Published 6 months ago — by THE CITY - NYC News
Zohran Mamdani met with House Democrats in Washington, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to discuss his mayoral campaign and address concerns within the party, with initial positive impressions but ongoing tensions over his left-wing policies and rhetoric.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNN
Divisions within the Democratic Party over Israel's conflict with Hamas have become increasingly public, with tensions rising between lawmakers. Rep. Andre Carson called fellow Democrat Josh Gottheimer a "punk" and a "coward" after they disagreed over a resolution supporting Israel. While some Democrats push for unequivocal support for Israel, progressives have grown critical of the offensive impacting Palestinian civilians. The public spat between Gottheimer and Carson reflects the larger divide within the party, which is likely to grow as the war continues. Progressive Democrats are calling on President Joe Biden to take a stronger stance, while some prominent Democrats have criticized far-left members of their own party for their statements on Israel.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by POLITICO
Progressive leader Rep. Pramila Jayapal's comment calling Israel a "racist state" has sparked a week-long political controversy, with the House GOP using it to force a rebuke vote. While most Democrats backed the Republican resolution affirming support for Israel, some privately felt that Jayapal's apology didn't go far enough. The incident highlights the Democratic Party's struggle to navigate criticisms of the conservative Israeli government, with the Squad members learning that condemning Israel is a delicate dance. The fallout has sparked awkward conversations within the party, and Jayapal made calls to discourage Democrats from signing a statement about her remark. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries swiftly criticized Jayapal's comments, impressing some Democrats. Despite the frustrations, the controversy is unlikely to significantly affect Jayapal's standing in the Progressive Caucus.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by POLITICO
House Democrats are bracing for a contentious battle over Israel as Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to bring a measure to the floor that would affirm support for Israel and rebuke recent comments from Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who called Israel a "racist state." The resolution, timed with the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, may offer electorally vulnerable Democrats an opportunity for an easy messaging win. Jayapal's remarks have caused division within the Democratic Caucus, with some members criticizing her and others expressing support. Several high-profile progressive Democrats have announced plans to skip Herzog's speech. Despite the fallout, sources suggest that the impact on Jayapal's standing within the Progressive Caucus is likely to be minimal.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNN
Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, referred to Israel as a "racist state" while addressing pro-Palestine protesters at a conference. House progressives have been vocal about their opposition to Israeli settlements and the US sponsorship of Israel's Iron Dome defense system. Several lawmakers, including Jayapal, have announced they will not attend Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address to Congress due to concerns about human rights. Jayapal thanked the protesters for their activism and expressed willingness to work with them, while urging them to allow the panel discussion to continue.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Roll Call
A bipartisan bill to suspend the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025, and cut spending by at least $1.5 trillion passed the House with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes built from the center out. The 314-117 vote was carried by 149 Republicans and 165 Democrats. Much of the opposition came from the far right and left wings of the parties, but there were also some more surprising “no” votes, including from McCarthy allies, appropriators who will have to write spending bills capped by the bill, and others from groups primed to support bipartisan deals.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CNN
During an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, a Democratic lawmaker was asked if the White House should be worried about the Progressive Caucus. The lawmaker responded by saying that the caucus is focused on delivering for the American people and that they are not a threat to the White House.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim woman in the House, is no longer defined by her "firsts" and is now seen as a serious legislator who gives voice to marginalized groups. She has earned admiration for her work and was defended by fellow Democrats when Republicans tried to remove her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Omar is now embarking on a new chapter as a minority in the minority, helping Biden and the Democratic Party provide a split screen to Republican control by highlighting the implementation of several legislative achievements made in the past two years.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Chicago Tribune
Newly elected Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will face a challenging City Council, which has recently expanded the number of council committees and handed out chairmanships to themselves rather than waiting for Johnson to do so. While aldermen are open to working with Johnson, they may not be as willing to hand the keys to him as they have for decades when mayors dictated council committee leadership posts. The new council appears poised to see its Latino membership increase to 14 from 12, its Asian representation boosted to two from zero, and its LGBTQ representation increase to nine from six.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by POLITICO
The Freedom Caucus and Progressive Caucus are forming an unlikely alliance to repeal two decades-old war authorizations in Iraq, revamp government surveillance powers, and curb defense spending. This could create problems for Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as he can only lose four members of his own party during any given floor vote in the closely divided House. The best-case scenario outcome for McCarthy is House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul’s proposal to replace those war authorizations, but that approach would likely be a no-go for liberals who are currently on the same page as many conservatives.