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”
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.
Richard Barnett, known as "Bigo," was found guilty on eight counts related to his involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection. He was convicted of civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, and other charges, and faces up to 20 years in prison. The trial of Barnett and other rioters is part of the ongoing effort to hold those responsible for the attack accountable.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has nominated California Representatives Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell to serve on the House Intelligence Committee, setting up a potential showdown with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who has vowed to block the pair. Jeffries cited Schiff and Swalwell's "decades of distinguished leadership providing oversight" of the intelligence community and their careers as prosecutors before serving in Congress. The move signals a rocky start to the relationship between Jeffries and McCarthy, with the potential conflict between them affecting the committee's work.
Richard "Bigo" Barnett, an Arkansas man, was found guilty on all counts Monday after brief jury deliberations for his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. He was convicted of eight counts, including felony charges of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, and faces up to 20 years in prison. Barnett is the latest of more than 400 people to be charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol, which left five people dead and dozens of police officers injured.
Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona has announced his campaign for the United States Senate, setting up a potential 2024 clash with incumbent Senator Kyrsten Sinema. Gallego is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and has been a member of the House since 2015. He has asked for the support of his fellow veterans in his campaign and has hired well-known Democratic consultants and pollsters. The outcome of this potential three-way contest between Gallego, Sinema, and any other potential candidates will be closely watched by major Democratic leaders.
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.”
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.