House Republicans have passed the "Lower Energy Costs Act" (H.R. 1), their top legislative priority, which seeks to increase domestic production of oil, natural gas, coal, and critical minerals, as well as ease permitting restrictions. The bill has been met with criticism from Democrats and environmental activists, and now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to face stiff opposition.
Posts tagged as “GOP”
Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a former middle school principal, sparked a heated debate on Capitol Hill when he yelled at his GOP colleagues for not supporting stricter gun measures in the wake of the Nashville school shooting. Rep. Bowman accused Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., of “carrying water for the gun lobby” and called his colleagues “cowards” for not doing more to protect children. His passionate plea for stricter gun control legislation has been met with mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle, sparking a much-needed conversation about the issue.
Republican senators have proposed a resolution to revoke President Joe Biden's executive action to forgive some federal student loan debt, arguing that it is unfair to those who have made responsible financial decisions. The resolution, led by Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, has 35 GOP co-sponsors and is currently under review. Opponents of the resolution argue that forgiving student loan debt will help stimulate the economy and provide much needed relief to those struggling to pay off their loans.
House Republican committee chairs have sought documents and testimony from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office regarding a possible criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump. In response, District Attorney Alvin Bragg has slammed the efforts of the GOP trio, saying that their inquiry serves only to hinder the investigation. Bragg added that the District Attorney's Office is committed to conducting a fair and impartial investigation into the $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has vetoed a Republican bill that would have restricted the rights of transgender young people in the state, citing potential harm to the state's reputation and economy. Opponents of the bill say it would have caused irreparable harm, and the outcome of the veto will be determined next week when lawmakers reconvene to decide whether to override it. The veto is seen as a victory for transgender rights advocates, who have been fighting for greater protections for transgender young people in Kentucky.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has responded to a demand from House Republicans for sworn testimony on their investigation into former President Donald Trump in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, Leslie B. Dubeck, the Manhattan DA's general counsel, called the Republicans' request an "unprecedented inquiry" and noted that it came after Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested. Former White House counsel John O'Donnell called Jordan a "buffoon" for writing to the DA. It is unclear when the investigation will be concluded or if any charges will be brought against the former president.
The Senate Ethics Committee has admonished Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for violating Senate rules during a Fox News appearance last November by directly soliciting campaign contributions for Herschel Walker in the Russell Senate Office building. The committee has asked Graham to respond to the letter within 30 days, and it is unclear what action, if any, the committee will take against Graham if he does not comply.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt who was killed during the Jan. 6 riots, to discuss McCarthy's previous comments about Babbitt's death. Witthoeft has been organizing nightly protests outside the D.C. jail since Aug. 1, and estimates that 5,000-8,000 people have been live streaming the protests. After the meeting, Witthoeft said it went well and she was expecting good things to come from it.