Government employees have expressed unprecedented levels of dissent in response to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling for new conditions on a package of billions of dollars in aid for Israel. Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has commented on the remarkable scope of the dissent, and it remains to be seen how Congress will respond.
Posts tagged as “1st Congressional District”
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in the case of SEC v. Jarkesy, which could have sweeping consequences for the power of federal agencies to enforce the law. The case centers around the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) ability to take enforcement actions outside of the court system. During the oral arguments, the justices questioned the government lawyer about stripping the SEC of some of its enforcement discretion. The outcome of the case could have a major impact on the power of federal agencies to enforce the law, and a ruling is expected in the coming months.
The House of Representatives will vote on a resolution to expel embattled New York Republican Rep. George Santos this week, after a damning report from the House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence of criminal activity. The resolution, introduced by California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass and would be the first time in more than two decades that a member of Congress has been expelled. If passed, it would be the first time in history that a member of Congress has been expelled due to criminal charges.
President Donald Trump has once again promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) if he is re-elected in 2021. This has been a consistent theme throughout his political career, however a recent NBC News poll found that voters trust Democrats over Republicans when it comes to health care. The ACA has been a major point of contention between Republicans and Democrats since its passage in 2010, and the outcome of the 2021 presidential election will likely determine its future.
Congress is facing a two-part deadline to fund the government, while international mediators are pushing for an extension of the cease-fire in Gaza. Sharon Hertzman and her daughter Noam were recently released by Hamas after being held as hostages in Gaza for 50 days, and Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. Debate over approving U.S. aid to Israel and Ukraine is complicated by divisions between the two parties.
Rep. George Santos, a New York Republican, is facing expulsion from Congress following a damning House ethics report that found he had spent thousands of dollars of campaign funds on personal expenses. Despite criticism from both sides of the aisle, Santos has declared he would “wear it like a badge of honor” if he were to be expelled. It remains to be seen what action the House Ethics Committee will take, but it is clear that Rep. George Santos’s future in Congress is uncertain.
Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips announced on Friday that he will not seek reelection to Congress and will instead pursue a run for the presidency. Phillips believes that democracy requires participation and that it is time to stop fighting one another and begin fighting for one another. He is a one-time vice chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and is a longshot candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. Phillips is 54 years old and is ready to take on the challenge of running for the presidency.
Utah voters in the 2nd congressional district will decide between Republican Celeste Maloy and Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart. If elected, Maloy would become the first woman in Utah’s congressional delegation since 2019 and Riebe would be the first Democrat since 2011. The 435th member of the House will be determined by the election, with Maloy being the heavy favorite in the Republican-leaning district. The election is expected to draw a large turnout, with the winner being sworn in shortly after the election.