All articles tagged with #republican lawmakers
Tensions rise over troop pay during the ongoing government shutdown, with some GOP lawmakers criticizing President Trump for bypassing Congress to fund military salaries through alternative means, while legislative efforts to address the issue face opposition and political maneuvering continues.
The FBI analyzed the personal cellphone data of nine Republican lawmakers during its Jan. 6 probe, focusing on call metadata without reviewing conversation content, leading to concerns about privacy violations and potential political repercussions.
The FBI analyzed phone records of over a dozen Republican lawmakers during the 2021 Capitol riot investigation, revealing basic call data but not content, raising concerns about privacy and political implications amid ongoing probes into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
In 2023, the FBI analyzed phone records of over a dozen Republican lawmakers during the investigation into efforts by Trump to overturn the 2020 election, focusing on the week of the Capitol riot, with the records showing call times but not content, raising concerns among GOP senators about privacy violations and government overreach.
A group of Republican lawmakers criticized Canada for wildfire smoke affecting US air quality, despite supporting a bill that increases fossil fuel production and greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to worsening wildfires and climate change.
Budget negotiations between Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers have collapsed over disagreements on spending and tax priorities, with Republicans planning to proceed with their own budget proposal as the current fiscal year ends on June 30.
North Carolina Republican lawmakers have passed a bill to reduce the powers of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general, shifting the authority to appoint members of the state's election board to the Republican-held state auditor's office. The legislation, which also includes changes to voting procedures and limits the attorney general's legal autonomy, was passed quickly before the GOP loses its veto-proof supermajority. The bill now awaits the signature of Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, who has expressed concerns about its impact on election administration.
Republican lawmakers in several states are blocking or attempting to restrict access to birth control by falsely equating it with abortion, despite scientific evidence to the contrary. This has led to internal tensions within the party and public misinformation, while Democrats seek to capitalize on the issue ahead of elections.
Republican lawmakers reacted with outrage to former President Donald Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, calling the trial politically motivated and questioning its legitimacy. Despite the conviction, GOP members rallied in support of Trump, with many echoing his claims of a "rigged trial." The verdict has intensified partisan divisions, with Democrats defending the judicial process and Republicans vowing to appeal and support Trump in the upcoming 2024 election.
National Democrats have devised a solution to ensure President Joe Biden appears on the Ohio ballot, circumventing state law and embarrassing Republican lawmakers who have failed to act. The Democratic National Committee plans a virtual roll call vote to meet the requirements set by Ohio's Secretary of State, while the state legislature remains in an emergency session ordered by Governor Mike DeWine.
Arizona Republican lawmakers rejected a second attempt by Democrats to repeal a Civil War-era abortion ban, despite pressure from former President Donald Trump and Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake. The ban, upheld by the state's Supreme Court, makes abortion a felony with no exceptions for rape or incest. Republicans hold a narrow majority in both legislative chambers, and efforts to repeal the ban have faced strong opposition. The state Senate may still consider a bill to repeal the ban, and voters may have the opportunity to decide on a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would effectively undo the ban.
Rob Schneider denies reports that his Republican comedy set was cut short due to offensive material, stating that he did a 50-minute set as agreed and was not removed from the stage. He refuses to apologize for his jokes, criticizing "woke culture." The set allegedly included "raunchy" material and jokes aimed at Asian people, leading Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith to walk out. The Senate Working Group expressed regret over the entertainment falling short of professionalism, claiming Schneider disregarded a verbal agreement to keep his set relatively clean.
Texas' ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in higher education has resulted in over 100 job cuts across state universities, with more than 60 staff members terminated at the University of Texas at Austin alone. Similar policies in other states have also led to job losses, as Republican lawmakers argue that DEI programs are discriminatory and promote left-wing ideology, while Democratic supporters say they are necessary to meet the needs of diverse student populations. The law prohibits training and activities related to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and has already had a significant impact on faculty and staff, raising concerns about discrimination and the future of DEI initiatives in higher education.
Two Republican lawmakers in Maine were ruled out of order after one of them suggested that a mass shooting in Lewiston was God’s retribution for an abortion bill, and the other agreed. The Speaker of Maine’s House of Representatives called their comments "extremely offensive and intentionally harmful" and signed letters to censure them. The bill to expand gender-affirming care passed in the state legislature by a narrow vote.
Rep. Gerry Connolly challenged Republican lawmakers to "honor" Donald Trump by naming a federal penitentiary near Mar-a-Lago after the former president, citing Trump's pending criminal indictments and civil penalty trials. This comes in response to GOP lawmakers proposing to rename Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump. Connolly suggested that naming a prison Trump might visit soon would be the most appropriate way to honor him, given his legal troubles.