Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana has publicly opposed Speaker Kevin McCarthy's efforts to remove three Democrats from committees, signaling potential complications for the House GOP's efforts. McCarthy has the power to keep members off the Intelligence panel, but not the Foreign Affairs Committee, which is a standing committee. Spartz's opposition may be enough to sway the outcome of the dispute, which is expected to continue in the coming days.
Posts tagged as “House Republican Steering Committee”
Senate Republicans are refusing to back House Republicans' plans to use the debt ceiling as leverage, despite warnings from corporate America and Wall Street investors. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is seeking spending cuts to vital programs, but Senate Republicans are instead vowing to seek spending cuts in exchange for passing legislation. This is a stark contrast to the Republicans' traditional alignment with the business community, and the early June deadline is looming.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has defended the Justice Department's handling of two separate special counsel investigations into classified documents linked to former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. He has stated that the Department applies the same norms and practices to all, and is now grappling with a growing political nightmare due to the investigations targeting two presidents. In his first public remarks on the topic, Garland was asked whether he believed the Justice Department was handling the probes fairly, to which he responded that the Department has a set of norms and practices that are applied to all.
Solomon Peña, a former New Mexico Republican state house candidate, has been ordered to remain in jail as he awaits trial for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to shoot at the homes of two state legislators and two Bernalillo County commissioners. Judge David Murphy of the Second Judicial District Court ruled that Peña posed a threat to the targets of the shootings and their family members, citing his history of felony convictions and the tactics police say were used in the shootings. Peña is currently facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, and tampering with evidence, and his trial is set to begin in April.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) have embraced each other in a strategic shift to gain more support from the Republican base. This shift comes after Greene has been trying to transition away from her far-right views and into a more moderate Republican stance. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) commented on Greene's appointment to the House Homeland Security Committee, despite her questioning if the 9/11 terror attack on the Pentagon actually occurred. It remains to be seen if this shift will be successful and if Greene will be able to maintain her new public image.
Representative George Santos (R-NY) has been assigned to two House committees, despite calls for his resignation from both Democrats and Republicans due to allegations of misrepresentation in order to gain a pension and health care for life. The controversy has sparked a debate over the ethics of misrepresentation in politics, and it is up to the voters to decide whether or not they will continue to support him. Santos has acknowledged that he had “embellished” his resume but added that he did nothing “criminal.”
Congressman George Santos of New York has been accused of performing in drag in Brazil by a Brazilian drag performer, but he denies the claims. He has not commented further on the matter, but it appears he may have confirmed a decade ago that he performed in drag as a teenager in Brazil. The controversy has sparked a debate about the role of drag in LGBTQ+ culture and the importance of respecting people’s privacy.
President Joe Biden is set to appoint Jeff Zients, his former COVID-19 policy czar, as his next White House chief of staff. Zients brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served in high-ranking roles in the Obama administration. If confirmed, he will become the fourth chief of staff of the Biden administration and is expected to take the job shortly after the president's State of the Union address.