All articles tagged with #republican leaders
A Staten Island Republican chief of staff was fired after leaked texts revealed racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and antisemitic comments, including praise for Hitler, leading to widespread condemnation and calls for accountability.
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents rejected a deal brokered with Republican leaders that would have restructured campus diversity efforts in exchange for $800 million in employee pay raises and building projects. The deal faced criticism for sacrificing DEI efforts and sending a negative message to students and faculty of color. Republicans sought to rein in campus hiring and roll back diversity programs, while the deal would have provided funding for capital projects and pay raises. The rejection of the deal highlights ongoing tensions over diversity, equity, and inclusion programming in higher education.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is open to rejecting $1.8 billion in federal education funding, citing "excessive overreach" by the federal government. A 10-member working group appointed by Republican leaders in the legislature is reviewing how federal education funding is used and will recommend a strategy for rejecting the funding. The move would require a vote from the legislature and support from the governor, but with a Republican supermajority, it is a real possibility. Democrats argue that rejecting federal funding would require taxpayers to pay twice for Tennessee's public education system. The U.S. Department of Education has criticized the move, warning of potential negative impacts on tutoring, afterschool programs, and mental health support for students.
The Crossroads Hotel in the Town of Newburgh, New York, has become a symbol of the country's contentious debate surrounding what to do with the thousands of migrants crossing the southern border every day. New York City Mayor Eric Adams sent three buses of male asylum-seekers to the area this week, angering Republican leaders in the Hudson Valley and creating a new political divide in a battleground region of the state and nation. The city can legally move migrants to hotels if it pays for them, but Orange and Rockland counties are both fighting the city in court over the moves.
Republican leaders in the House are opting to let the legal process play out before taking steps to force the resignation or expulsion of New York Rep. George Santos, who was accused of embezzling money from his campaign, falsely receiving unemployment funds, and lying to Congress about his finances. Santos pleaded not guilty. While some Republicans have called for his immediate expulsion, GOP leaders are following the precedent set by Congress in similar criminal cases. Santos is adamant that he will stay in Congress and seek reelection.
Democratic lawmaker Rep. Gloria Johnson faces expulsion from the Tennessee statehouse for her protest against gun violence. She refused to apologize and wants to defend herself and tell the people of the state what happened and why. Johnson and two other lawmakers engaged in a brief protest on the House floor last week, disrupting the House proceedings. She admitted to breaking House rules but said she never thought they would go to expulsion. Johnson hopes to make her case not only to the House but also to all Tennesseans.
Republican leaders and Trump loyalists on Capitol Hill are rallying behind the former president after he was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. Trump has issued a defiant message in response to the indictment, while his advisers are said to be in shock. The indictment has sparked outrage among some Republicans, with former Vice President Mike Pence calling it "an outrage."
Chaos erupted at the Tennessee Capitol as Democratic lawmakers led a gun-control rally during a House session, with hundreds of protesters filling the chambers. The House Republican Caucus later exited the chamber to the outdoor balcony, possibly to vote on how to proceed. Speaker Cameron Sexton admonished the crowd to stay quiet and called a five-minute recess. Once the House resumed its calendar, Republicans began to use a procedural maneuver to limit debate, leading Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons to ask Republicans to allow discussion on significant bills.