shareblue--2020-02-11--DOJ backtracks on jail sentence for Trump ally after Trump complains

The Justice Department will no longer seek a nine-year prison sentence for Roger Stone , a longtime Donald Trump ally who was convicted of witness tampering and obstruction of justice in November .
The announcement comes less than one day after Trump tweeted that it was `` unfair '' of prosecutors to ask for such a long sentence .
`` This is a horrible and very unfair situation , '' Trump tweeted at 1:48 a.m. EST on Tuesday , hours after Justice officials announced their initial sentencing recommendations against Stone .
`` The real crimes were on the other side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can not allow this miscarriage of justice ! ''
Fox News quoted an unnamed official on Tuesday who claimed that the decision to seek a lesser sentence for Stone was made before Trump 's tweet .
`` The Department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the filing in the stone case last night , '' the unnamed official told Fox News .
`` The sentencing recommendation was not what had been briefed to the Department . ''
Stone was convicted in November on seven counts of lying to Congress , witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was discovered as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into the Trump campaign 's potential ties to Russian interference in the 2016 election .
Justice officials had previously sought seven to nine years behind bars for Stone as punishment for those actions , stating that they `` were not a one-off mistake in judgment .
Nor were his false statements made in the heat of the moment .
They were nowhere close to that . ''
`` Stone ’ s conduct over the past two years shows the low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intelligence Committee ’ s investigation and this very criminal case , '' they wrote .
Ultimately , Amy Berman Jackson , the judge overseeing the case , will determine Stone 's sentence — no matter what the DOJ seeks .
Stone , for his part , posted a threatening image of Jackson during his trial , which featured a crosshair near her face .
Stone later deleted the image and apologized , but nevertheless was hit with a gag order and barred from speaking publicly about his case .
Stone 's sentencing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Justice Department will no longer seek a nine-year prison sentence for Roger Stone, a longtime Donald Trump ally who was convicted of witness tampering and obstruction of justice in November.
The announcement comes less than one day after Trump tweeted that it was “unfair” of prosecutors to ask for such a long sentence.
“This is a horrible and very unfair situation,” Trump tweeted at 1:48 a.m. EST on Tuesday, hours after Justice officials announced their initial sentencing recommendations against Stone.
“The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!”
Fox News quoted an unnamed official on Tuesday who claimed that the decision to seek a lesser sentence for Stone was made before Trump’s tweet.
“The Department was shocked to see the sentencing recommendation in the filing in the stone case last night,” the unnamed official told Fox News. “The sentencing recommendation was not what had been briefed to the Department.”
Stone was convicted in November on seven counts of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice, which was discovered as part of former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s potential ties to Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Justice officials had previously sought seven to nine years behind bars for Stone as punishment for those actions, stating that they “were not a one-off mistake in judgment. Nor were his false statements made in the heat of the moment. They were nowhere close to that.”
“Stone’s conduct over the past two years shows the low regard in which he holds the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation and this very criminal case,” they wrote.
Ultimately, Amy Berman Jackson, the judge overseeing the case, will determine Stone’s sentence — no matter what the DOJ seeks.
Stone, for his part, posted a threatening image of Jackson during his trial, which featured a crosshair near her face. Stone later deleted the image and apologized, but nevertheless was hit with a gag order and barred from speaking publicly about his case.
Stone’s sentencing is scheduled for later this month.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--GOP congressman: Trump economy must be great because people golf more

A Republican congressman from South Carolina defended Donald Trump 's economy this week , citing as proof an increase in golf rounds in the Myrtle Beach area in 2019 , among other things .
Rep. Tom Rice argued in a Facebook post on Wednesday that `` folks '' with a `` negative agenda '' were covering the slowing Trump economy to make people `` despair . ''
To counter that narrative , he shared a series of local headlines that he said proved Americans were in fact `` experiencing a great American comeback ! ''
One of those examples was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a regional outlet , titled `` Golf rounds in the Myrtle Beach market increase in 2019 . ''
That story , which ran online Feb. 10 , said that a 3.7 % increase in golf rounds played from 2018 to 2019 .
It attributed this largely to the fact that 2018 had been the year of `` devastating effects of Hurricane Florence and subsequent flooding . ''
It also quoted the executive director of the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association predicting an even better year in 2020 .
`` If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a very , very good year , '' the director said .
Another example Rice shared , also from The Sun News , was titled `` Myrtle Beach ranks among most affordable beach towns , according to study . ''
That article , also posted Monday , focused on a recent report that ranked the area `` 12th out of 50 [ among ] the 'most affordable beach towns ' based off home prices , average number of rooms per house and expected property taxes . ''
The study only examined U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national economy 's health overall or the broader housing market , which slowed last year but was sparked briefly by Trump 's erratic trade war with China .
( `` Perhaps the only beneficiary of President Trump 's trade war is housing , at least for the time being .
The war has undermined the economy and pushed down mortgage rates , '' Mark Zandi , chief economist at Moody 's Analytics , told Bloomberg in late October , warning that the market was still perilously unstable . )
Rice also included with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion piece from January , which touted the `` best economy in generations . ''
That story noted that the Bureau of Economic Analysis had recently reported the growth rate in the last quarter at 2.1 % and total GDP growth for 2019 as 2.3 % .
Both of these numbers were well below Trump 's promised growth rate of `` 4 , 5 , and maybe even 6 % ultimately . ''
Back in 2018 , Rice himself mocked President Barack Obama for stating that the `` new normal '' for GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Trump has yet to reach 3 % annual GDP growth .
Rice 's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A Republican congressman from South Carolina defended Donald Trump’s economy this week, citing as proof an increase in golf rounds in the Myrtle Beach area in 2019, among other things.
Rep. Tom Rice argued in a Facebook post on Wednesday that “folks” with a “negative agenda” were covering the slowing Trump economy to make people “despair.”
To counter that narrative, he shared a series of local headlines that he said proved Americans were in fact “experiencing a great American comeback!”
One of those examples was an article from The Sun News, a regional outlet, titled “Golf rounds in the Myrtle Beach market increase in 2019.”
That story, which ran online Feb. 10, said that a 3.7% increase in golf rounds played from 2018 to 2019. It attributed this largely to the fact that 2018 had been the year of “devastating effects of Hurricane Florence and subsequent flooding.”
It also quoted the executive director of the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association predicting an even better year in 2020. “If we have reasonable weather we’re poised to have a very, very good year,” the director said.
Another example Rice shared, also from The Sun News, was titled “Myrtle Beach ranks among most affordable beach towns, according to study.”
That article, also posted Monday, focused on a recent report that ranked the area “12th out of 50 [among] the ‘most affordable beach towns’ based off home prices, average number of rooms per house and expected property taxes.”
The study only examined U.S. beach towns and did not examine the national economy’s health overall or the broader housing market, which slowed last year but was sparked briefly by Trump’s erratic trade war with China. (“Perhaps the only beneficiary of President Trump’s trade war is housing, at least for the time being. The war has undermined the economy and pushed down mortgage rates,” Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told Bloomberg in late October, warning that the market was still perilously unstable.)
Rice also included with his Facebook post Wednesday a Washington Examiner opinion piece from January, which touted the “best economy in generations.”
That story noted that the Bureau of Economic Analysis had recently reported the growth rate in the last quarter at 2.1% and total GDP growth for 2019 as 2.3%. Both of these numbers were well below Trump’s promised growth rate of “4, 5, and maybe even 6% ultimately.”
Back in 2018, Rice himself mocked President Barack Obama for stating that the “new normal” for GDP growth moving forward would be around 2%.
Trump has yet to reach 3% annual GDP growth.
Rice’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--Drop in new virus cases provides hope for China

The number of new cases of the coronavirus in China dropped for a second straight day , health officials said Wednesday in a possible glimmer of hope amid the outbreak that has infected over 45,000 people worldwide and killed more than 1,100 .
Chinese President Xi Jinping , meanwhile , promised tax cuts and other aid to industry as the ruling Communist Party tries to limit the mounting damage to the economy .
And in Japan , 39 new cases were confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama , bringing the total to 174 on the Diamond Princess .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis , which started in December in the city of Wuhan : The number of new cases has trended down in the past week , raising hopes that the epidemic may be plateauing .
China 's National Health Commission said 2,015 new cases had been tallied on Tuesday , the second straight daily decline and down from nearly 3,900 a week ago .
Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the situation is still grim but `` we have seen some positive changes . ''
In Geneva , Dr. Mike Ryan , the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said `` it 's way too early to try to predict the beginning of the end '' of the outbreak in China .
But he said it is reassuring that the number of daily cases appears to be stabilizing , mainly because of China 's huge public health operation , which has placed an unprecedented 60 million people under lockdown .
All but one of the deaths recorded so far have been in China , as have more than 99 % of all reported infections in the world .
China is struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lunar New Year holiday was extended to try to curb the spread of the virus .
Traffic remained light in Beijing , and many people were still working at home .
Xi 's announcement of tax cuts came as companies face increasing losses because of the closing of factories , offices , shops and other businesses in the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed .
A large cluster of cases in Tianjin , a port city southeast of Beijing , has been traced to a department store , Chinese state media said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in Baodi district , where the store is situated , the Xinhua News Agency reported .
A salesperson in the store 's home appliance section was the first diagnosed on Jan. 31 , Xinhua said , and a series of cases followed .
None of those infected had visited Wuhan recently , and with the exception of one married couple , they worked in different sections of the store and did not know one another .
Elsewhere around the world , DBS bank in Singapore cleared its office , telling 300 employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an employee had been infected .
The city-state has 50 confirmed cases .
A Formula One race in Shanghai in April became the latest event canceled because of the virus .
Nokia , Vodafone , and Deutsche Telekom became the latest companies to pull out of a major wireless trade fair this month in Spain that usually draws 5,000 to 6,000 Chinese visitors .
A citizen journalist reporting on the epidemic in Wuhan has disappeared , activists said , becoming the second to vanish in recent days amid tightening controls on information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seller of traditional Chinese clothing , stopped posting videos or responding to calls and messages on Sunday , activists Gao Fei and Hua Yong said , citing Fang 's friends .
His phone was turned off Wednesday .
Fang had posted videos of Wuhan 's overcrowded hospitals , including bodies in a van waiting to be taken to a crematorium .
The last video he posted was of a piece of paper reading , `` All citizens resist , hand power back to the people . ''
Another citizen journalist , Chen Qiushi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the outbreak by activists is challenging the Communist Party 's tightly policed monopoly on information on an unprecedented scale .
Passengers aboard a cruise ship that has been barred from docking by four governments may finally set foot on land again .
Holland America Line said the MS Westerdam will arrive Thursday morning in Sihanoukville , Cambodia .
The ship has been turned away by the Philippines , Taiwan , Japan , and Thailand , though its operator said no cases of the disease have been confirmed among the more than 2,200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were kept in isolation for possible inflection by the virus say they escaped from Russian hospitals because of uncooperative doctors , poor conditions , and fear they would become infected .
Both women said their hospital ordeals began after returning from Hainan , a tropical island in southern China popular with Russian tourists .
One said she jumped out of a hospital window to escape her quarantine , while the other broke out by disabling an electronic lock .
Many of those quarantined in Russian hospitals have complained about conditions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors who are uncertain about quarantine protocols .
Two cases of the virus have been reported in Russia .
No evidence yet of mother-to-baby spread In a study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet , Chinese scientists reported there is no evidence so far to suggest the virus can be passed from mother to baby .
The study looked at nine pregnant women who all had the COVID-19 virus and delivered via cesarean section in a hospital in Wuhan , the epicenter of the outbreak .
After the babies were born , scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amniotic fluid , cord blood and throat swabs .
All tested negative for the virus .
But the scientists acknowledged the study was small .
To date , two cases of the virus have been confirmed in babies , including a newborn diagnosed just 36 hours after birth .
It is unknown how the child was infected .
Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo , Elaine Kurtenbach in Singapore , James Heintz in Moscow , Grant Peck in Bangkok , Kelvin Chan and Maria Cheng in London and Joe McDonald , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report .

The number of new cases of the coronavirus in China dropped for a second straight day, health officials said Wednesday in a possible glimmer of hope amid the outbreak that has infected over 45,000 people worldwide and killed more than 1,100.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, promised tax cuts and other aid to industry as the ruling Communist Party tries to limit the mounting damage to the economy. And in Japan, 39 new cases were confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama, bringing the total to 174 on the Diamond Princess.
A look at the latest developments in the crisis, which started in December in the city of Wuhan:
New cases decline
The number of new cases has trended down in the past week, raising hopes that the epidemic may be plateauing.
China’s National Health Commission said 2,015 new cases had been tallied on Tuesday, the second straight daily decline and down from nearly 3,900 a week ago. Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the situation is still grim but “we have seen some positive changes.”
In Geneva, Dr. Mike Ryan, the head of emergencies for the World Health Organization, said “it’s way too early to try to predict the beginning of the end” of the outbreak in China. But he said it is reassuring that the number of daily cases appears to be stabilizing, mainly because of China’s huge public health operation, which has placed an unprecedented 60 million people under lockdown.
All but one of the deaths recorded so far have been in China, as have more than 99% of all reported infections in the world.
Economic fallout
China is struggling to restart its economy after the annual Lunar New Year holiday was extended to try to curb the spread of the virus. Traffic remained light in Beijing, and many people were still working at home.
Xi’s announcement of tax cuts came as companies face increasing losses because of the closing of factories, offices, shops and other businesses in the most sweeping anti-disease measures ever imposed.
A large cluster of cases in Tianjin, a port city southeast of Beijing, has been traced to a department store, Chinese state media said. One-third of Tianjin’s 104 confirmed cases are in Baodi district, where the store is situated, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
A salesperson in the store’s home appliance section was the first diagnosed on Jan. 31, Xinhua said, and a series of cases followed. None of those infected had visited Wuhan recently, and with the exception of one married couple, they worked in different sections of the store and did not know one another.
Elsewhere around the world, DBS bank in Singapore cleared its office, telling 300 employees to work from home after it learned that an employee had been infected. The city-state has 50 confirmed cases.
A Formula One race in Shanghai in April became the latest event canceled because of the virus. Nokia, Vodafone, and Deutsche Telekom became the latest companies to pull out of a major wireless trade fair this month in Spain that usually draws 5,000 to 6,000 Chinese visitors.
Citizen journalist disappears
A citizen journalist reporting on the epidemic in Wuhan has disappeared, activists said, becoming the second to vanish in recent days amid tightening controls on information in China.
Fang Bin, a seller of traditional Chinese clothing, stopped posting videos or responding to calls and messages on Sunday, activists Gao Fei and Hua Yong said, citing Fang’s friends. His phone was turned off Wednesday.
Fang had posted videos of Wuhan’s overcrowded hospitals, including bodies in a van waiting to be taken to a crematorium. The last video he posted was of a piece of paper reading, “All citizens resist, hand power back to the people.”
Another citizen journalist, Chen Qiushi, vanished on Friday. Non-sanctioned reporting on the outbreak by activists is challenging the Communist Party’s tightly policed monopoly on information on an unprecedented scale.
Cruise ship woes
Passengers aboard a cruise ship that has been barred from docking by four governments may finally set foot on land again.
Holland America Line said the MS Westerdam will arrive Thursday morning in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The ship has been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand, though its operator said no cases of the disease have been confirmed among the more than 2,200 passengers and crew.
Two Russians flee quarantine
Two Russian women who were kept in isolation for possible inflection by the virus say they escaped from Russian hospitals because of uncooperative doctors, poor conditions, and fear they would become infected.
Both women said their hospital ordeals began after returning from Hainan, a tropical island in southern China popular with Russian tourists. One said she jumped out of a hospital window to escape her quarantine, while the other broke out by disabling an electronic lock.
Many of those quarantined in Russian hospitals have complained about conditions in the isolation rooms and lack of cooperation from doctors who are uncertain about quarantine protocols.
Two cases of the virus have been reported in Russia.
No evidence yet of mother-to-baby spread
In a study published Wednesday in the journal Lancet, Chinese scientists reported there is no evidence so far to suggest the virus can be passed from mother to baby.
The study looked at nine pregnant women who all had the COVID-19 virus and delivered via cesarean section in a hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. After the babies were born, scientists tested samples from the newborns, including the amniotic fluid, cord blood and throat swabs. All tested negative for the virus.
But the scientists acknowledged the study was small.
To date, two cases of the virus have been confirmed in babies, including a newborn diagnosed just 36 hours after birth. It is unknown how the child was infected.
___
Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Elaine Kurtenbach in Singapore, James Heintz in Moscow, Grant Peck in Bangkok, Kelvin Chan and Maria Cheng in London and Joe McDonald, Dake Kang, Yanan Wang, and researcher Yu Bing in Beijing contributed to this report.


shareblue--2020-02-12--Donald Trump admits he's learned nothing from impeachment

Donald Trump admitted on Wednesday that he did n't learn any lessons from being impeached by the House of Representatives , contradicting a reason Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) cited for voting to acquit him of all wrongdoing .
`` What lessons did you learn from impeachment ? ''
a reporter asked Trump in the Oval Office during a meeting with the president of Ecuador .
`` That the Democrats are crooked , '' he replied .
`` They 're vicious .
That they should n't have brought impeachment . ''
Trump also falsely said that his poll numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's average approval rating was 41.1 % on Oct. 31 , 2019 , the day the House voted to open the impeachment inquiry .
On Wednesday , it was 43.6 % .
Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
The impeachment stemmed from allegations Trump withheld critical military aid from Ukraine in order to pressure the Ukrainian government to open a politically motivated investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden .
Trump refused to hand over documents to Congress and ordered administration officials not to cooperate with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , Collins went on national television to declare `` the president has learned from this case . ''
She said that Trump has been impeached and `` that 's a pretty big lesson , '' adding , `` I believe that he will be much more cautious in the future . ''
Earlier on Wednesday , Collins was asked what specific lessons she thought Trump learned from impeachment .
She refused to answer , eventually closing the door on a reporter .
Since Collins and her Republican colleagues acquitted Trump , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress with evidence of his wrongdoing .
On Friday , Trump fired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , a Ukrainian expert working at the White House who told Congress he was uncomfortable with Trump 's July 25 phone call where Trump asked the Ukrainian government to investigate Biden .
Later that day , Trump also fired U.S .
Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland .
Sondland told Congress that Trump was involved in a quid pro quo with Ukraine centered on a White House visit for the Ukrainian president in exchange for opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump inserted himself into the Justice Department 's sentencing recommendation for his former campaign adviser , convicted felon Roger Stone .
Stone was convicted of seven counts of witness tampering , lying to Congress , and obstruction of justice .
The DOJ initially recommended up to nine years in prison , but subsequently reduced their recommendation after Trump called the punishment too harsh .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump admitted on Wednesday that he didn’t learn any lessons from being impeached by the House of Representatives, contradicting a reason Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) cited for voting to acquit him of all wrongdoing.
“What lessons did you learn from impeachment?” a reporter asked Trump in the Oval Office during a meeting with the president of Ecuador.
“That the Democrats are crooked,” he replied. “They’re vicious. That they shouldn’t have brought impeachment.”
Trump also falsely said that his poll numbers “are 10 points higher.” Trump’s average approval rating was 41.1% on Oct. 31, 2019, the day the House voted to open the impeachment inquiry. On Wednesday, it was 43.6%.
Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The impeachment stemmed from allegations Trump withheld critical military aid from Ukraine in order to pressure the Ukrainian government to open a politically motivated investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump refused to hand over documents to Congress and ordered administration officials not to cooperate with the investigation.
Before voting to acquit Trump, Collins went on national television to declare “the president has learned from this case.” She said that Trump has been impeached and “that’s a pretty big lesson,” adding, “I believe that he will be much more cautious in the future.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Collins was asked what specific lessons she thought Trump learned from impeachment. She refused to answer, eventually closing the door on a reporter.
Since Collins and her Republican colleagues acquitted Trump, he has retaliated against multiple witnesses who provided Congress with evidence of his wrongdoing.
On Friday, Trump fired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Ukrainian expert working at the White House who told Congress he was uncomfortable with Trump’s July 25 phone call where Trump asked the Ukrainian government to investigate Biden.
Later that day, Trump also fired U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. Sondland told Congress that Trump was involved in a quid pro quo with Ukraine centered on a White House visit for the Ukrainian president in exchange for opening an investigation.
Earlier this week, Trump inserted himself into the Justice Department’s sentencing recommendation for his former campaign adviser, convicted felon Roger Stone. Stone was convicted of seven counts of witness tampering, lying to Congress, and obstruction of justice. The DOJ initially recommended up to nine years in prison, but subsequently reduced their recommendation after Trump called the punishment too harsh.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--Fact check: Trump is lying about retirement money

Donald Trump is telling a skewed story when he boasts about workers who 've seen their personal retirement savings nearly double under his administration .
Gains in the overall stock market are only half of what he implied .
Trump made the assertion at his New Hampshire rally Monday , where he also tried to snatch victory from defeat by claiming a shutout victory in the House impeachment vote , which he actually lost .
TRUMP , on workers ' 401 ( k ) investments : `` Up 90 % , up 104 % .
Is there anybody doing badly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Do n't put up your hand , I do n't believe you .
The 401 ( k ) s , they 're up 90 % , 95 % . ''
THE FACTS : That 's misleading at best .
There have indeed been 401 ( k ) increases of 100 % or more since 2017 , but those were largely among workers with fewer than four years at their job , according to the Employee Benefits Research Institute .
The increases are big for recent and younger employees because they generally start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part from workers setting aside money from their own paychecks and contributions from their employers , not just market returns .
In that circumstance , it 's unremarkable to see a $ 1,000 401 ( k ) account double in a year , for example , when a young worker and perhaps the employer is paying into it .
Older workers with more than 20 years on the job have seen gains of roughly 50 % over three years in their retirement accounts , thanks both to contributions from paychecks and market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P 500 — the broadest measure of the U.S. stock market — was up 47.6 % from Trump 's inauguration through Monday 's close .
Some 401 ( k ) averages are problematic for Trump 's claims to be generating prosperity because many workers lack the savings for a comfortable retirement .
The median account balance was $ 22,217 in 2018 in 401 ( k ) and similar plans for which investment giant Vanguard was the recordkeeper .
That 's down from $ 26,331 in 2017 .
TRUMP , on impeachment : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to thank our Republican senators and our Republican House members ; they were tremendous .
In the House , we won 196 to nothing , and then we got three Democrats . ''
THE FACTS : By that measure , the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl 20-0 .
They actually lost it 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs .
If you only count your own score , you win every vote and every game .
The House impeached Trump on a 230-197 vote on the first article , outlining abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote on the second article covering obstruction of Congress .
That 's because most of the majority Democrats backed impeachment .
Trump went on to say : `` In the Senate , other than Romney , we had — we got 52 to nothing . ''
Again , he ignores votes from the Democrats .
Trump was acquitted of impeachment charges after senators in the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly rejected Democratic demands to summon witnesses and extend the trial .
The Senate acquitted Trump by votes of 52-48 on abuse of power and 53-47 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romney was the only Republican to vote for conviction , doing so on the abuse of power charge .

Donald Trump is telling a skewed story when he boasts about workers who’ve seen their personal retirement savings nearly double under his administration. Gains in the overall stock market are only half of what he implied.
Trump made the assertion at his New Hampshire rally Monday, where he also tried to snatch victory from defeat by claiming a shutout victory in the House impeachment vote, which he actually lost.
TRUMP, on workers’ 401(k) investments: “Up 90%, up 104%. Is there anybody doing badly with the 401(k)? … Don’t put up your hand, I don’t believe you. The 401(k)s, they’re up 90%, 95%.”
THE FACTS: That’s misleading at best.
There have indeed been 401(k) increases of 100% or more since 2017, but those were largely among workers with fewer than four years at their job, according to the Employee Benefits Research Institute. The increases are big for recent and younger employees because they generally start with meager savings. The gains come in part from workers setting aside money from their own paychecks and contributions from their employers, not just market returns.
In that circumstance, it’s unremarkable to see a $1,000 401(k) account double in a year, for example, when a young worker and perhaps the employer is paying into it.
Older workers with more than 20 years on the job have seen gains of roughly 50% over three years in their retirement accounts, thanks both to contributions from paychecks and market gains.
Moreover, the S&P 500 — the broadest measure of the U.S. stock market — was up 47.6% from Trump’s inauguration through Monday’s close.
Some 401(k) averages are problematic for Trump’s claims to be generating prosperity because many workers lack the savings for a comfortable retirement. The median account balance was $22,217 in 2018 in 401(k) and similar plans for which investment giant Vanguard was the recordkeeper. That’s down from $26,331 in 2017.
___
TRUMP, on impeachment: “It wasn’t even close. I want to thank our Republican senators and our Republican House members; they were tremendous. In the House, we won 196 to nothing, and then we got three Democrats.”
THE FACTS: By that measure, the San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl 20-0. They actually lost it 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
If you only count your own score, you win every vote and every game.
The House impeached Trump on a 230-197 vote on the first article, outlining abuse of power charges, and a 229-198 vote on the second article covering obstruction of Congress. That’s because most of the majority Democrats backed impeachment.
Trump went on to say: “In the Senate, other than Romney, we had — we got 52 to nothing.”
Again, he ignores votes from the Democrats. Trump was acquitted of impeachment charges after senators in the Republican-controlled Senate narrowly rejected Democratic demands to summon witnesses and extend the trial. The Senate acquitted Trump by votes of 52-48 on abuse of power and 53-47 on obstructing Congress.
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney was the only Republican to vote for conviction, doing so on the abuse of power charge.


shareblue--2020-02-12--Trump's budget chief refuses to admit Obama created 8.9 million jobs

Russell Vought , Donald Trump 's acting director of the Office of Management and Budget , would not admit this week to data showing President Barack Obama created 8.9 million jobs by the end of his second term in December 2016 .
When President George W. Bush left office during the Great Recession , 143.4 million Americans were at work .
By the time Obama left , that number had risen to 152.3 million .
Vought was confronted about those figures during a hearing before the House Budget Committee on Wednesday .
REP. ALBIO SIRES ( D-NJ ) : I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How was the economy then ?
Was it a disaster ?
RUSSELL VOUGHT : We were in the middle of a significant recession .
SIRES : I remember [ former Treasury Secretary Hank ] Paulson coming — I was in Financial Services — Paulson coming in and telling me that the world was coming to an end , financial houses are going under , auto industry going under .
In over 8 years , did the Obama administration create jobs ?
VOUGHT : My recollection of the Obama administration is that they lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SIRES : No , we 're losing manufacturing jobs with this administration , no sir .
I 'm not talking about manufacturing jobs .
Were there jobs created during the Obama administration ?
By the end of his term ?
VOUGHT : I ca n't tell you based on where it started versus where it ended but we lost manufacturing jobs — SIRES : I just love the selective memory that you have .
All I can tell you is : This president in three years , you would think that he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never done before .
Jobs were created , growth was there by the end of the Obama administration and I 've got to put up with this nonsense that we somehow did n't do anything to save this country .
We saved the auto industry , we saved AIG , we saved some of these banks and yet he thinks he did it all by himself .
Like I said you 're good , you 've got all the right lingo .
Thank you very much .
Published with permission of The American @ @ @

Russell Vought, Donald Trump’s acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, would not admit this week to data showing President Barack Obama created 8.9 million jobs by the end of his second term in December 2016.
When President George W. Bush left office during the Great Recession, 143.4 million Americans were at work. By the time Obama left, that number had risen to 152.3 million.
Vought was confronted about those figures during a hearing before the House Budget Committee on Wednesday.
From the Feb. 12 hearing:
REP. ALBIO SIRES (D-NJ): I was here when Obama took over. How was the economy then? Was it a disaster? RUSSELL VOUGHT: We were in the middle of a significant recession. SIRES: I remember [former Treasury Secretary Hank] Paulson coming — I was in Financial Services — Paulson coming in and telling me that the world was coming to an end, financial houses are going under, auto industry going under. In over 8 years, did the Obama administration create jobs? VOUGHT: My recollection of the Obama administration is that they lost 200 million – 200,000 manufacturing jobs. SIRES: No, we’re losing manufacturing jobs with this administration, no sir. I’m not talking about manufacturing jobs. Were there jobs created during the Obama administration? By the end of his term? VOUGHT: I can’t tell you based on where it started versus where it ended but we lost manufacturing jobs — SIRES: I just love the selective memory that you have. All I can tell you is: This president in three years, you would think that he has done this wonderful thing that it was never done before. Jobs were created, growth was there by the end of the Obama administration and I’ve got to put up with this nonsense that we somehow didn’t do anything to save this country. We saved the auto industry, we saved AIG, we saved some of these banks and yet he thinks he did it all by himself. Like I said you’re good, you’ve got all the right lingo. Thank you very much.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--GOP is trying to stop a Trump ally's Senate bid in Georgia

Rep. Doug Collins ( R-GA ) , a staunch ally of Donald Trump , is facing a barrage of attacks from Republican groups after announcing his Georgia Senate campaign .
Collins is `` everything Georgians hate about Washington , '' Kevin McLaughlin , executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee , said in a statement , according to CNN .
McLaughlin claimed Collins was `` a swamp creature '' who made `` an emotional , ill-informed , and selfish decision '' when he chose to run for Senate .
The Collins ' campaign , meanwhile , has claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts .
Dan McLagan , a Collins campaign spokesperson , told CNN that the NRSC was allegedly `` threatening vendors , calling their clients and pressuring them to not work with us . ''
In addition to battles with the Republican establishment , Collins is also facing $ 3 million worth of negative advertising from the conservative Club for Growth , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported this week .
The group 's latest ad attacks Collins for his 2018 vote to raise the debt ceiling and increase government spending , claiming those votes were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Speaker ] Nancy Pelosi . ''
Collins decided in late January to run for the Georgia Senate seat vacated by the now-retired Sen. Johnny Isakson .
Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp previously appointed multi-millionaire GOP donor Kelly Loeffler to the seat until November , when Georgians will vote to decide who will fill out the remainder of Isakson 's term .
Collins emerged as one of Trump 's top defenders during the House impeachment inquiry , once complaining that the investigation into Trump 's pressure campaign on Ukraine distracted from investigations into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He later posted videos defending Trump by making false allegations about the House impeachment process .
Collins ' entry into the Senate race has roiled many Republicans .
His decision to run has `` put two Senate seats , multiple House seats , and Georgia 's 16 electoral votes in play , '' the NRSC 's McLaughlin said in late January .
The NRSC and Club for Growth are instead rallying around Loeffler , who pledged to put $ 20 million of her own funds into her Senate campaign .
In late 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , but is charging 2.41 % interest on the loan .
By the time the election comes , Loeffler could pocket more than $ 120,000 in interest , which is more than twice the average household income in Georgia .
`` This multimillion-dollar battle is the GOP 's nightmare scenario , '' Alex Floyd , spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Georgia , said in an email .
Floyd called the `` frantic effort '' from Washington Republicans to prop up Loeffler `` a divisive , expensive feud '' that `` they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be coalescing around the campaign of Rev .
Raphael Warnock .
He garnered the endorsement of Stacey Abrams , the popular Democrat who narrowly lost her 2018 gubernatorial bid , as well as the approval of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee .
Matt Lieberman , son of former Sen. Joe Lieberman ( D-CT ) , is also running as a Democrat .
There will not be a primary in this race .
Instead , all candidates will appear on the ballot in November .
If no candidate receives a majority of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most votes will compete in a runoff election in early January 2021 .
Also up for reelection is the state 's other senator , David Perdue , meaning Georgia voters will have two high-profile Senate races to weigh in on this November .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), a staunch ally of Donald Trump, is facing a barrage of attacks from Republican groups after announcing his Georgia Senate campaign.
Collins is “everything Georgians hate about Washington,” Kevin McLaughlin, executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement, according to CNN.
McLaughlin claimed Collins was “a swamp creature” who made “an emotional, ill-informed, and selfish decision” when he chose to run for Senate.
The Collins’ campaign, meanwhile, has claimed that the NRSC is attempting to sabotage its efforts. Dan McLagan, a Collins campaign spokesperson, told CNN that the NRSC was allegedly “threatening vendors, calling their clients and pressuring them to not work with us.”
In addition to battles with the Republican establishment, Collins is also facing $3 million worth of negative advertising from the conservative Club for Growth, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported this week.
The group’s latest ad attacks Collins for his 2018 vote to raise the debt ceiling and increase government spending, claiming those votes were “music to the ears of [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi.”
Collins decided in late January to run for the Georgia Senate seat vacated by the now-retired Sen. Johnny Isakson. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp previously appointed multi-millionaire GOP donor Kelly Loeffler to the seat until November, when Georgians will vote to decide who will fill out the remainder of Isakson’s term.
Collins emerged as one of Trump’s top defenders during the House impeachment inquiry, once complaining that the investigation into Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine distracted from investigations into “deep state” conspiracy theories. He later posted videos defending Trump by making false allegations about the House impeachment process.
Collins’ entry into the Senate race has roiled many Republicans. His decision to run has “put two Senate seats, multiple House seats, and Georgia’s 16 electoral votes in play,” the NRSC’s McLaughlin said in late January.
The NRSC and Club for Growth are instead rallying around Loeffler, who pledged to put $20 million of her own funds into her Senate campaign. In late 2019, Loeffler loaned her campaign $5 million, but is charging 2.41% interest on the loan. By the time the election comes, Loeffler could pocket more than $120,000 in interest, which is more than twice the average household income in Georgia.
“This multimillion-dollar battle is the GOP’s nightmare scenario,” Alex Floyd, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Georgia, said in an email. Floyd called the “frantic effort” from Washington Republicans to prop up Loeffler “a divisive, expensive feud” that “they can’t afford.”
Democrats seems to be coalescing around the campaign of Rev. Raphael Warnock. He garnered the endorsement of Stacey Abrams, the popular Democrat who narrowly lost her 2018 gubernatorial bid, as well as the approval of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Matt Lieberman, son of former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), is also running as a Democrat.
There will not be a primary in this race. Instead, all candidates will appear on the ballot in November. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, the two candidates with the most votes will compete in a runoff election in early January 2021.
Also up for reelection is the state’s other senator, David Perdue, meaning Georgia voters will have two high-profile Senate races to weigh in on this November.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--35 Republican men just voted against honoring women's contributions to America

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to authorize the creation of the first national women 's history museum in Washington , D.C .
But 36 House Republicans and conservative Rep. Justin Amash ( I-MI ) voted against the bipartisan bill .
Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D-NY ) , the bill 's sponsor , explained in a floor speech that such a museum was vital because , without recognition of women , there can be no empowerment .
`` This is not about politics , it is not about partisanship , and it is not a Democrat or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It is an American issue recognizing the contributions of our mothers , our sisters , and our daughters .
This is about giving all women our rightful place in history . ''
All 224 Democrats present voted for the Smithsonian Women 's History Museum Act , as did 150 Republicans .
Several GOP lawmakers praised the bill in floor speeches or tweeted their support .
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick ( R-PA ) observed that just 5 % of the 2,400 national monuments in the United States honor women .
`` This bipartisan bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women deserve an entire museum , '' he told his colleagues .
`` There are currently museums in Washington , DC for stamps , buildings , & spies — but not for half of the population .
It 's time to change that .
I 'm proud to support the Smithsonian Women 's History Museum Act to tell and preserve the rich history of America 's women , '' noted Rep. Debbie Lesko ( R-AZ ) .
But the highest-ranking woman in the minority party 's leadership , House Republican Conference Chair Liz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men in voting no .
Though none of the 37 opponents explained their rationale during the floor debate , a spokesperson for Cheney ( R-WY ) said in an email : `` Congresswoman Cheney represents Wyoming , where generations of women have demonstrated grit , determination , courage and leadership in building our great state .
She believes women ’ s accomplishments deserve to be honored in an equal manner , alongside those of men , as part of our great national story . ''
Rep. Kenny Marchant ( R-TX ) , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a bit of a surprise .
Last July , he had actually signed on as a co-sponsor .
His office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about his change of heart .
If enacted , the bill will create a council to recommend a plan to find a site , design the museum , and then construct it .
The bill now moves onto the GOP-controlled Senate , where more than 400 pieces of legislation are already awaiting action .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to authorize the creation of the first national women’s history museum in Washington, D.C. But 36 House Republicans and conservative Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI) voted against the bipartisan bill.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), the bill’s sponsor, explained in a floor speech that such a museum was vital because, without recognition of women, there can be no empowerment.
“This is not about politics, it is not about partisanship, and it is not a Democrat or a Republican issue,” she said. “It is an American issue recognizing the contributions of our mothers, our sisters, and our daughters. This is about giving all women our rightful place in history.”
All 224 Democrats present voted for the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act, as did 150 Republicans. Several GOP lawmakers praised the bill in floor speeches or tweeted their support.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) observed that just 5% of the 2,400 national monuments in the United States honor women. “This bipartisan bill sends a message loud and clear that women deserve an entire museum,” he told his colleagues.
“There are currently museums in Washington, DC for stamps, buildings, & spies — but not for half of the population. It’s time to change that. I’m proud to support the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act to tell and preserve the rich history of America’s women,” noted Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ).
But the highest-ranking woman in the minority party’s leadership, House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, joined with a few dozen men in voting no.
Though none of the 37 opponents explained their rationale during the floor debate, a spokesperson for Cheney (R-WY) said in an email:
“Congresswoman Cheney represents Wyoming, where generations of women have demonstrated grit, determination, courage and leadership in building our great state. She believes women’s accomplishments deserve to be honored in an equal manner, alongside those of men, as part of our great national story.”
Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX), another member who voted against the bill, was a bit of a surprise. Last July, he had actually signed on as a co-sponsor. His office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about his change of heart.
If enacted, the bill will create a council to recommend a plan to find a site, design the museum, and then construct it. The bill now moves onto the GOP-controlled Senate, where more than 400 pieces of legislation are already awaiting action.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--GOP skips national security hearing because they're still mad about Russia probe

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee boycotted a hearing this week on how new technologies could impact national security because they were upset about issues stemming from the nearly two-year-long Russia investigation .
In a letter to House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff on Wednesday the GOP lawmakers said they would n't be attending Wednesday 's hearing because Democrats have yet to hold hearings on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court warrant that was used on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
Republicans have wrongly claimed that the Russia investigation was illegitimate because Page was illegally surveilled .
An Inspector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , showed the investigation was legitimate and that , while there was overreach in the FISA process — specifically misconduct by one lawyer who omitted key information that may have made Page look less suspicious — the FBI still had sufficient reason to open a deeper investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign .
The GOP lawmakers said this week that a hearing about the FISA warrant on Page was still more important than the scheduled hearing on emerging technologies — such as artificial intelligence — and their potential impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee prioritizes oversight activities related to urgent and critical concerns , Republican Members can not support distractions from our core responsibilities , '' they wrote in their letter , which was signed by the GOP committee members including Devin Nunes ( R-CA ) .
The lawmakers also demanded that the Intelligence Committee hold more hearings in secret , rather than public hearings like the one on Wednesday .
`` Given this Committee 's access to highly sensitive information , it is concerning that you prioritize publicity events rather than the more productive work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space , '' the letter stated .
Republicans infamously stormed a secure room in the Capitol last October where an impeachment inquiry deposition was taking place , risking national security in the process .
The lawmakers were upset at the time that impeachment hearings were taking place in a classified setting .
Democratic lawmakers on the committee called out their Republicans colleagues for skipping the security hearing on Wednesday morning .
`` This morning the House Intelligence Committee is holding a hearing on national security .
Notice the half-empty dais ?
Republicans are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been mean to Trump , '' Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. ( D-NJ ) tweeted , along with a photo of the empty Republican seats .
`` This is the Republican Party .
Trump pity parties over US national security . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee boycotted a hearing this week on how new technologies could impact national security because they were upset about issues stemming from the nearly two-year-long Russia investigation.
In a letter to House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff on Wednesday the GOP lawmakers said they wouldn’t be attending Wednesday’s hearing because Democrats have yet to hold hearings on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court warrant that was used on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.
Republicans have wrongly claimed that the Russia investigation was illegitimate because Page was illegally surveilled. An Inspector General report issued late last year, however, showed the investigation was legitimate and that, while there was overreach in the FISA process — specifically misconduct by one lawyer who omitted key information that may have made Page look less suspicious — the FBI still had sufficient reason to open a deeper investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.
The GOP lawmakers said this week that a hearing about the FISA warrant on Page was still more important than the scheduled hearing on emerging technologies — such as artificial intelligence — and their potential impact on national security.
“Until the Committee prioritizes oversight activities related to urgent and critical concerns, Republican Members cannot support distractions from our core responsibilities,” they wrote in their letter, which was signed by the GOP committee members including Devin Nunes (R-CA).
The lawmakers also demanded that the Intelligence Committee hold more hearings in secret, rather than public hearings like the one on Wednesday.
“Given this Committee’s access to highly sensitive information, it is concerning that you prioritize publicity events rather than the more productive work that occurs in the Committee’s classified space,” the letter stated.
Republicans infamously stormed a secure room in the Capitol last October where an impeachment inquiry deposition was taking place, risking national security in the process. The lawmakers were upset at the time that impeachment hearings were taking place in a classified setting.
Democratic lawmakers on the committee called out their Republicans colleagues for skipping the security hearing on Wednesday morning.
“This morning the House Intelligence Committee is holding a hearing on national security. Notice the half-empty dais? Republicans are skipping it bc they say the House has been mean to Trump,” Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) tweeted, along with a photo of the empty Republican seats.
“This is the Republican Party. Trump pity parties over US national security.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--Jim Jordan ripped by former wrestling captain for ignoring sex abuse

In testimony before Ohio 's House Civil Justice Committee on Tuesday , a former captain of Ohio State University 's wrestling team slammed Rep. Jim Jordan ( R-OH ) for ignoring reports of sexual abuse .
Adam DiSabato held his position with the team in the late 1980s and early 1990s .
From 1979 to 1996 , Ohio State team doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students at the school .
Jordan was the assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1987 to 1995 , and at least 53 members of the team were abused by Strauss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach kids and what they did to kids is awful , '' DiSabato said on Tuesday .
`` I went to Jim Jordan , I went to them as a captain begging them to do something .
They did nothing . ''
DiSabato also testified that Jordan called him in 2018 to pressure him to rebuke his brother Michael DiSabato , who was then speaking out and telling reporters that the abuse was common knowledge to wrestling coaches like Jordan .
`` Jim Jordan called me crying , crying , groveling , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go against my brother .
Begging me , crying for a half hour .
That 's the kind of cover-up that 's going on there , '' DiSabato said .
Jordan 's spokesman , Ian Fury , called DiSabato 's testimony `` Another lie '' and said , `` Congressman Jordan never saw or heard of any abuse , and if he had he would have dealt with it . ''
Multiple abuse victims have accused Jordan of turning a blind eye to their trauma , charges of which he has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump 's most visible defenders in the House of Representatives .
Trump has admitted to sexually abusing women and has been accused by multiple women with credible accounts of sexually predatory behavior .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In testimony before Ohio’s House Civil Justice Committee on Tuesday, a former captain of Ohio State University’s wrestling team slammed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for ignoring reports of sexual abuse.
Adam DiSabato held his position with the team in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
From 1979 to 1996, Ohio State team doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students at the school. Jordan was the assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1987 to 1995, and at least 53 members of the team were abused by Strauss during that time period.
“I coach kids and what they did to kids is awful,” DiSabato said on Tuesday. “I went to Jim Jordan, I went to them as a captain begging them to do something. They did nothing.”
DiSabato also testified that Jordan called him in 2018 to pressure him to rebuke his brother Michael DiSabato, who was then speaking out and telling reporters that the abuse was common knowledge to wrestling coaches like Jordan.
“Jim Jordan called me crying, crying, groveling, on the Fourth of July, begging me to go against my brother. Begging me, crying for a half hour. That’s the kind of cover-up that’s going on there,” DiSabato said.
Jordan’s spokesman, Ian Fury, called DiSabato’s testimony “Another lie” and said, “Congressman Jordan never saw or heard of any abuse, and if he had he would have dealt with it.”
Multiple abuse victims have accused Jordan of turning a blind eye to their trauma, charges of which he has repeatedly denied.
Jordan has been one of Donald Trump’s most visible defenders in the House of Representatives. Trump has admitted to sexually abusing women and has been accused by multiple women with credible accounts of sexually predatory behavior.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-12--Voters break record for Democratic turnout in New Hampshire primary

More than 290,000 New Hampshire voters participated in Tuesday 's Democratic presidential primary — a significant increase from 2016 .
Turnout appears to have broken the state 's record , set during the 2008 election .
As of Wednesday morning , with about 96 % of the state 's precincts reporting , 293,550 ballots had been recorded , well above the 249,587 votes cast in the last New Hampshire Democratic primary .
The state 's previous record for the Democrats primary was 287,556 votes cast in the race between Hillary Clinton , Barack Obama , and several other prominent candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday night scoring approximately 26 % of the overall vote , with more than 91 % of the state 's precincts counted .
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar were the only other candidates earning convention delegates , garnering about 24 % and 20 % , respectively .
The GOP primary results were less encouraging for Donald Trump , who still managed to handily defeat his opponent .
For months , Trump has claimed again and again to enjoy an `` all time high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At a rally in Manchester , New Hampshire , on Monday , Trump also claimed 40,000 to 50,000 had shown up to support him , though the venue capacity was less than 12,000 people .
On Tuesday , Trump received less than 86 % of the vote , with more than 90 % of precincts reporting .
Former Massachusetts Gov .
Bill Weld , who was the Libertarian Party 's vice presidential nominee in 2016 and has amassed less than 1 % of Trump 's war chest for this race , received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
GOP turnout was also only a little over half of Democratic turnout for the primary .
And it was way down from 2016 , when Trump faced better-funded opponents than Weld .
As Vox noted on Wednesday , there 's a small caveat in the turnout numbers .
New Hampshire voters who are n't registered with a party are free to vote in whichever primary they choose , but registered Republicans or Democrats `` must vote in their respective primaries . ''
That means Democratic turnout was likely propped up by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An NBC News exit poll showed that 43 percent of the Democratic primary electorate in the state were independents , only slightly up from 40 percent in 2016 , which would seem to suggest that there wasn ’ t a big influx of independents who voted on the Republican side in 2016 and switched to the Democrats this time around , '' the outlet wrote .
Trump will likely fare better in other states , where Republican officials have rigged or canceled the primaries to ensure he wins .
Democrats will vote next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the February 29 South Carolina primaries .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

More than 290,000 New Hampshire voters participated in Tuesday’s Democratic presidential primary — a significant increase from 2016.
Turnout appears to have broken the state’s record, set during the 2008 election.
As of Wednesday morning, with about 96% of the state’s precincts reporting, 293,550 ballots had been recorded, well above the 249,587 votes cast in the last New Hampshire Democratic primary. The state’s previous record for the Democrats primary was 287,556 votes cast in the race between Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and several other prominent candidates.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was victorious on Tuesday night scoring approximately 26% of the overall vote, with more than 91% of the state’s precincts counted. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar were the only other candidates earning convention delegates, garnering about 24% and 20%, respectively.
The GOP primary results were less encouraging for Donald Trump, who still managed to handily defeat his opponent.
For months, Trump has claimed again and again to enjoy an “all time high” 95% approval rating among Republicans. At a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Monday, Trump also claimed 40,000 to 50,000 had shown up to support him, though the venue capacity was less than 12,000 people.
On Tuesday, Trump received less than 86% of the vote, with more than 90% of precincts reporting. Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who was the Libertarian Party’s vice presidential nominee in 2016 and has amassed less than 1% of Trump’s war chest for this race, received more than 9% of the vote.
GOP turnout was also only a little over half of Democratic turnout for the primary. And it was way down from 2016, when Trump faced better-funded opponents than Weld.
As Vox noted on Wednesday, there’s a small caveat in the turnout numbers. New Hampshire voters who aren’t registered with a party are free to vote in whichever primary they choose, but registered Republicans or Democrats “must vote in their respective primaries.” That means Democratic turnout was likely propped up by the relatively noncompetitive Republican race.
“… An NBC News exit poll showed that 43 percent of the Democratic primary electorate in the state were independents, only slightly up from 40 percent in 2016, which would seem to suggest that there wasn’t a big influx of independents who voted on the Republican side in 2016 and switched to the Democrats this time around,” the outlet wrote.
Trump will likely fare better in other states, where Republican officials have rigged or canceled the primaries to ensure he wins.
Democrats will vote next in the February 22 Nevada caucuses and the February 29 South Carolina primaries.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-13--Trump cuts raises for federal workers while bragging about 'booming' economy

The White House informed Congress on Monday that Donald Trump would use his authority to scale back pay raises for federal workers next year from 2.5 % to just 1 % .
Officials cited Trump 's authority to do so in cases of `` national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare . ''
`` We must maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course ; Federal agency budgets can not sustain such increases , '' the White House wrote .
`` ... For 2021 the across-the-board base pay increase will be limited to 1.0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their 2020 levels .
This alternative pay plan decision will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well‑qualified Federal workforce . ''
The letter stands in stark contrast with Trump 's repeated boasts about the U.S. economy .
`` BEST USA ECONOMY IN HISTORY ! ''
Trump tweeted Tuesday , one day after the White House letter was sent to Congress .
On Sunday , Trump retweeted a post from his campaign that claimed the economy `` is BOOMING . ''
The White House did not immediately respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Analysis from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the Trump administration has added trillions to the national debt , due in no small part to the 2017 GOP tax bill .
That law alone will add billions to the deficit , with most of the changes designed to benefit corporations and the wealthiest Americans .
The group estimates that the tax law , combined with other legislation Trump has signed since taking office , will likely send the national debt soaring above $ 4.1 trillion .
Federal workers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late 2018 and early 2019 , he instigated a 35-day partial government shutdown which prevented hundreds of thousands of federal workers from getting paid just before the holiday season .
During the shutdown , 1 in 4 federal workers had to turn to food banks in order to feed themselves and their families .
More than 1 in 4 missed a mortgage or rent payment , and 42 % were forced to take on additional debt to endure the shutdown .
One top Trump adviser dismissed those issues at the time , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off '' because of the shutdown .
`` A huge share of government workers were going to take vacation days , say between Christmas and New Year 's .
And then we have a shutdown , and so they can ’ t go to work .
So then they have the vacation , but they do n't have to use their vacation days , '' said Kevin Hassett , chair of the White House ’ s Council of Economic Advisers .
By contrast , while federal workers were furloughed , Trump spent $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital golf toy installed in the White House .
Rep. Jennifer Wexton ( D-VA ) criticized the White House 's decision to freeze pay raises this week , saying Trump appeared to be `` talking out of both sides of his mouth . ''
`` President Trump has done a great job of taking credit for Barack Obama 's economy , but when it comes to giving federal workers the raise they deserve , he cites , 'serious economic conditions , ' '' she said in an email .
`` Rather than give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % and big corporations , we should pay the people who make America work a fair wage . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The White House informed Congress on Monday that Donald Trump would use his authority to scale back pay raises for federal workers next year from 2.5% to just 1%.
Officials cited Trump’s authority to do so in cases of “national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare.”
“We must maintain efforts to put our Nation on a fiscally sustainable course; Federal agency budgets cannot sustain such increases,” the White House wrote. “… For 2021 the across-the-board base pay increase will be limited to 1.0 percent and locality pay percentages will remain at their 2020 levels. This alternative pay plan decision will not materially affect our ability to attract and retain a well‑qualified Federal workforce.”
The letter stands in stark contrast with Trump’s repeated boasts about the U.S. economy.
“BEST USA ECONOMY IN HISTORY!” Trump tweeted Tuesday, one day after the White House letter was sent to Congress.
On Sunday, Trump retweeted a post from his campaign that claimed the economy “is BOOMING.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the contradiction.
Analysis from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the Trump administration has added trillions to the national debt, due in no small part to the 2017 GOP tax bill. That law alone will add billions to the deficit, with most of the changes designed to benefit corporations and the wealthiest Americans.
The group estimates that the tax law, combined with other legislation Trump has signed since taking office, will likely send the national debt soaring above $4.1 trillion.
Federal workers have been hit before under Trump. In late 2018 and early 2019, he instigated a 35-day partial government shutdown which prevented hundreds of thousands of federal workers from getting paid just before the holiday season.
During the shutdown, 1 in 4 federal workers had to turn to food banks in order to feed themselves and their families. More than 1 in 4 missed a mortgage or rent payment, and 42% were forced to take on additional debt to endure the shutdown.
One top Trump adviser dismissed those issues at the time, saying federal workers may have been “better off” because of the shutdown.
“A huge share of government workers were going to take vacation days, say between Christmas and New Year’s. And then we have a shutdown, and so they can’t go to work. So then they have the vacation, but they don’t have to use their vacation days,” said Kevin Hassett, chair of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers.
By contrast, while federal workers were furloughed, Trump spent $50,000 of his own money on a digital golf toy installed in the White House.
Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) criticized the White House’s decision to freeze pay raises this week, saying Trump appeared to be “talking out of both sides of his mouth.”
“President Trump has done a great job of taking credit for Barack Obama’s economy, but when it comes to giving federal workers the raise they deserve, he cites, ‘serious economic conditions,'” she said in an email. “Rather than give massive tax breaks to the top 1% and big corporations, we should pay the people who make America work a fair wage.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-13--182 House Republicans vote against equal rights for women

Nearly every House Republican voted against a resolution that could help ratify the Equal Rights Amendment on Thursday , citing a litany of excuses not to enshrine equality on the basis of sex in the Constitution .
The House of Representatives voted , 232 to 183 , for a resolution to remove the 1982 deadline for states to ratify the ERA .
Five Republicans joined all 227 Democrats present in voting for the measure ; 182 Republicans and a conservative independent voted against .
During Thursday 's floor debate , some Republicans said they opposed the resolution on constitutional grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Amendment on its merits .
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner ( R-WI ) warned that banning discrimination would mean women could no longer enjoy discounts .
`` Girls get substantially lower rates on auto insurance because they 're better drivers , '' he said , adding that , with a constitutional ban on sex discrimination , such advantages `` would become unconstitutional and girls are going to have to pay boy-drivers ' rates for auto insurance . ''
Sensenbrenner also said that , although women `` live longer than men , '' women would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurance than they do now .
Rep. Vicky Hartzler ( R-MS ) said the ERA `` would not bring women any more rights than they currently have right now . ''
But , she said , the amendment would jeopardize `` private spaces for women , girls sports programs , and women 's education institutions . ''
She also claimed it would endanger welfare programs , grants for battered women shelters , efforts to encourage women 's participation in STEM programs , and state alimony and custody laws .
Rep. Kay Granger ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bans discrimination on the basis of sex it would `` clear the way to provide taxpayer-funded abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy , costing millions of dollars every year . ''
Rep. Virginia Foxx ( R-NC ) claimed that ERA ratification `` would have a harmful impact on shelters that protect women from violence , eliminate women-specific workplace protections , and destroy women 's sports . ''
The House vote comes just a month after Virginia became the 38th state to approve the 1972 constitutional amendment .
This typically would be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the states , but because Congress included a time limit for ratification , and because some of those states have since attempted to rescind their ratification votes , it is unclear what will happen next .
State attorneys general for Virginia , Illinois , and Nevada filed a federal lawsuit last month to demand the ERA be considered part of the Constitution .
The Trump administration 's lawyers say the amendment has been dead for decades and the process must start again from scratch .
House proponents hope to improve the amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution .
Now that it has passed in the House , it moves to the Republican-led Senate , but like all progressive legislation , it 's unlikely to get a vote there .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week that he is `` personally not a supporter '' of the Equal Rights Amendment .
A 2016 poll found 94 % support for such an amendment .
This was roughly consistent with other polls in recent decades that have shown overwhelming bipartisan support .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Nearly every House Republican voted against a resolution that could help ratify the Equal Rights Amendment on Thursday, citing a litany of excuses not to enshrine equality on the basis of sex in the Constitution.
The House of Representatives voted, 232 to 183, for a resolution to remove the 1982 deadline for states to ratify the ERA. Five Republicans joined all 227 Democrats present in voting for the measure; 182 Republicans and a conservative independent voted against.
During Thursday’s floor debate, some Republicans said they opposed the resolution on constitutional grounds, but many argued against the Equal Rights Amendment on its merits.
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) warned that banning discrimination would mean women could no longer enjoy discounts. “Girls get substantially lower rates on auto insurance because they’re better drivers,” he said, adding that, with a constitutional ban on sex discrimination, such advantages “would become unconstitutional and girls are going to have to pay boy-drivers’ rates for auto insurance.”
Sensenbrenner also said that, although women “live longer than men,” women would also have to pay more for life insurance than they do now.
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MS) said the ERA “would not bring women any more rights than they currently have right now.”
But, she said, the amendment would jeopardize “private spaces for women, girls sports programs, and women’s education institutions.” She also claimed it would endanger welfare programs, grants for battered women shelters, efforts to encourage women’s participation in STEM programs, and state alimony and custody laws.
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) warned that if the Constitution bans discrimination on the basis of sex it would “clear the way to provide taxpayer-funded abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy, costing millions of dollars every year.”
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) claimed that ERA ratification “would have a harmful impact on shelters that protect women from violence, eliminate women-specific workplace protections, and destroy women’s sports.”
The House vote comes just a month after Virginia became the 38th state to approve the 1972 constitutional amendment. This typically would be the last state needed for ratification by three-fourths of the states, but because Congress included a time limit for ratification, and because some of those states have since attempted to rescind their ratification votes, it is unclear what will happen next.
State attorneys general for Virginia, Illinois, and Nevada filed a federal lawsuit last month to demand the ERA be considered part of the Constitution. The Trump administration’s lawyers say the amendment has been dead for decades and the process must start again from scratch.
House proponents hope to improve the amendment’s chances of survival via the current resolution. Now that it has passed in the House, it moves to the Republican-led Senate, but like all progressive legislation, it’s unlikely to get a vote there. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week that he is “personally not a supporter” of the Equal Rights Amendment.
A 2016 poll found 94% support for such an amendment. This was roughly consistent with other polls in recent decades that have shown overwhelming bipartisan support.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-13--Trump says he'll stop punishing New York if the state stops investigating him

Donald Trump on Thursday said he would allow New Yorkers to once again be part of the federal government 's trusted traveler programs — so long as the state stops investigating him and suing him .
`` I 'm seeing Governor Cuomo today at The White House .
He must understand that National Security far exceeds politics .
New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harrassment ( sic ) , start cleaning itself up , and lowering taxes , '' Trump tweeted .
`` Build relationships , but do n't bring Fredo ! ''
( Fredo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Cuomo 's brother , Chris , who is a CNN anchor . )
Cuomo is set to meet with Trump following the announcement from the Trump administration that New Yorkers will no longer be allowed to apply for federally run trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry , which lets applicants get through customs lines quicker .
Trump announced that New York residents will be banned from applying for or renewing applications in trusted travel programs because the state of New York is refusing to give Customs and Border Patrol access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York now allows undocumented immigrants to apply for driver 's licenses — and allowing the CBP access to DMV records could open those undocumented immigrants up to retaliation from Trump 's anti-immigrant administration .
Shortly after the announcement , New York 's attorney general issued a statement saying the state is suing the Trump administration over the ban .
Trump 's assertion that he wo n't allow New Yorkers to apply for the trusted traveler programs until the state does exactly what he wants is similar to the playbook he used with Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ukraine as leverage to force the country to investigate Trump 's political rivals .
The House impeached Trump for this effort , and a nonpartisan government watchdog said Trump broke the law when he unilaterally decided to withhold congressionally appropriated money to Ukraine .
However , Senate Republicans acquitted Trump , even with some members admitting they thought Trump was guilty of what the House accused him .
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said it was enough that Trump had learned his lesson and that he would n't take similar actions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lesson , as he is now trying to stop New York from investigating him by punishing residents of the state .
New York is currently investigating Trump on a number of issues , including whether the Trump Organization falsified business records , inflated financial assets , and whether Trump and his family broke tax law .
`` Trump is publicly admitting that he is holding Global Entry for New Yorkers hostage in exchange for dropping lawsuits against him and his family 's lawbreaking behavior .
This is corrupt , illegal , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Hope Collins and Murkowski are proud of their vote , '' Cortez added , referring to Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R-AK ) , who both voted to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial even though they thought his behavior was wrong .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Thursday said he would allow New Yorkers to once again be part of the federal government’s trusted traveler programs — so long as the state stops investigating him and suing him.
“I’m seeing Governor Cuomo today at The White House. He must understand that National Security far exceeds politics. New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harrassment (sic), start cleaning itself up, and lowering taxes,” Trump tweeted. “Build relationships, but don’t bring Fredo!” (Fredo is Trump’s pejorative nickname for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s brother, Chris, who is a CNN anchor.)
Cuomo is set to meet with Trump following the announcement from the Trump administration that New Yorkers will no longer be allowed to apply for federally run trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, which lets applicants get through customs lines quicker.
Trump announced that New York residents will be banned from applying for or renewing applications in trusted travel programs because the state of New York is refusing to give Customs and Border Patrol access to Department of Motor Vehicle records. New York now allows undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses — and allowing the CBP access to DMV records could open those undocumented immigrants up to retaliation from Trump’s anti-immigrant administration.
Shortly after the announcement, New York’s attorney general issued a statement saying the state is suing the Trump administration over the ban.
Trump’s assertion that he won’t allow New Yorkers to apply for the trusted traveler programs until the state does exactly what he wants is similar to the playbook he used with Ukraine. Trump withheld congressionally appropriated military aid to Ukraine as leverage to force the country to investigate Trump’s political rivals.
The House impeached Trump for this effort, and a nonpartisan government watchdog said Trump broke the law when he unilaterally decided to withhold congressionally appropriated money to Ukraine.
However, Senate Republicans acquitted Trump, even with some members admitting they thought Trump was guilty of what the House accused him. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said it was enough that Trump had learned his lesson and that he wouldn’t take similar actions.
However, Trump clearly has not learned his lesson, as he is now trying to stop New York from investigating him by punishing residents of the state.
New York is currently investigating Trump on a number of issues, including whether the Trump Organization falsified business records, inflated financial assets, and whether Trump and his family broke tax law.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York condemned Trump’s behavior.
“Trump is publicly admitting that he is holding Global Entry for New Yorkers hostage in exchange for dropping lawsuits against him and his family’s lawbreaking behavior. This is corrupt, illegal, and authoritarian,” she tweeted Thursday afternoon.
“Hope Collins and Murkowski are proud of their vote,” Cortez added, referring to Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who both voted to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial even though they thought his behavior was wrong.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-13--Native Americans defeat GOP's racist voter ID law in North Dakota

North Dakota was forced this week to allow Native American tribal IDs as acceptable identification at the voting booth , the Campaign Legal Center announced on Thursday .
The decision is the culmination of a four-year legal battle that began in January 2016 , in response to the state 's stringent voter ID law .
`` It has always been our goal to ensure that every native person in North Dakota has an equal opportunity to vote , and we have achieved that today , '' Matthew Campbell , attorney for the Native American Rights Fund , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spirit Lake Nation , Standing Rock Sioux Tribe , and the individual native voters that stood up for the right to vote . ''
The Native American Rights Fund , along with the Campaign Legal Center , were plaintiffs in lawsuits targeting the ID law .
Under the GOP-backed law , North Dakota residents were forced to present identification with a street address in order to vote .
However , many Native Americans in the state live on reservations that do not even have residential addresses , thereby disenfranchising them from the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ID law put North Dakota beyond the norms of voter ID laws and violates the constitutional rights of the state 's citizens , '' the Native American Rights Fund wrote on its website .
`` Just like North Dakota 's previous law , which was found unconstitutional by a federal court , this law makes it harder for some citizens—specifically Native American citizens—to exercise their right to vote . ''
On Thursday , the North Dakota Secretary of State agreed to enter a legally binding consent decree allowing tribal IDs as an acceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the Campaign Legal Center , the state will work to distribute free non-driver IDs on every reservation in the state within 30 days of an election .
`` North Dakota is moving in the right direction to remove unfair barriers to the ballot box , '' Rep. Terri Sewell ( D-AL ) , a staunch voting rights advocate , said in an email .
Sewell noted that lawsuits are `` slow and costly , '' calling on the U.S. Senate to pass `` pass H.R .
4 so that these kinds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can go into effect and sway an election . ''
H.R .
4 , the Voting Rights Advancement Act , would strengthen the Voting Rights Act and protect citizens across the country from unfair suppression efforts .
The bill passed the House by a 228-187 vote in December .
Voting rights advocates and Democratic organizations have been ramping up efforts to fight various Republican-backed voter suppression laws across the country in recent years .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee made an eight-figure investment in those efforts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That push appears to be paying off .
In November , a judge ordered the state of Florida to stop rigging the ballot by listing Republican candidates first , a tactic that increases support for those candidates by up to 5 % .
In January , the Missouri Supreme Court overturned a key part of a Republican-backed voter suppression law that required residents to have a photo ID or another form of ID like a bank statement to cast a ballot .
The measure forced those without a photo ID to sign a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Court called the law `` misleading '' and `` contradictory . ''
Also in January , a federal court blocked a Republican-backed voter suppression law in Arizona in part because it has a discriminatory impact on Native American , Hispanic , and African American voters .
Democrats scored a victory in South Carolina the same month , eliminating the requirement that voters provide their full , nine-digit Social Security number in order to register to vote .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

North Dakota was forced this week to allow Native American tribal IDs as acceptable identification at the voting booth, the Campaign Legal Center announced on Thursday.
The decision is the culmination of a four-year legal battle that began in January 2016, in response to the state’s stringent voter ID law.
“It has always been our goal to ensure that every native person in North Dakota has an equal opportunity to vote, and we have achieved that today,” Matthew Campbell, attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, said in a press release. “We thank the Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the individual native voters that stood up for the right to vote.”
The Native American Rights Fund, along with the Campaign Legal Center, were plaintiffs in lawsuits targeting the ID law.
Under the GOP-backed law, North Dakota residents were forced to present identification with a street address in order to vote. However, many Native Americans in the state live on reservations that do not even have residential addresses, thereby disenfranchising them from the ability to vote.
“This restrictive voter ID law put North Dakota beyond the norms of voter ID laws and violates the constitutional rights of the state’s citizens,” the Native American Rights Fund wrote on its website. “Just like North Dakota’s previous law, which was found unconstitutional by a federal court, this law makes it harder for some citizens—specifically Native American citizens—to exercise their right to vote.”
On Thursday, the North Dakota Secretary of State agreed to enter a legally binding consent decree allowing tribal IDs as an acceptable for of voter ID. Further, according to the Campaign Legal Center, the state will work to distribute free non-driver IDs on every reservation in the state within 30 days of an election.
“North Dakota is moving in the right direction to remove unfair barriers to the ballot box,” Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), a staunch voting rights advocate, said in an email.
Sewell noted that lawsuits are “slow and costly,” calling on the U.S. Senate to pass “pass H.R. 4 so that these kinds of voter suppression tactics are stopped before they can go into effect and sway an election.”
H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, would strengthen the Voting Rights Act and protect citizens across the country from unfair suppression efforts. The bill passed the House by a 228-187 vote in December.
Voting rights advocates and Democratic organizations have been ramping up efforts to fight various Republican-backed voter suppression laws across the country in recent years. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee made an eight-figure investment in those efforts, according to a January 2020 memo.
That push appears to be paying off.
In November, a judge ordered the state of Florida to stop rigging the ballot by listing Republican candidates first, a tactic that increases support for those candidates by up to 5%.
In January, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned a key part of a Republican-backed voter suppression law that required residents to have a photo ID or another form of ID like a bank statement to cast a ballot. The measure forced those without a photo ID to sign a form acknowledging they did not have one.
The Court called the law “misleading” and “contradictory.”
Also in January, a federal court blocked a Republican-backed voter suppression law in Arizona in part because it has a discriminatory impact on Native American, Hispanic, and African American voters.
Democrats scored a victory in South Carolina the same month, eliminating the requirement that voters provide their full, nine-digit Social Security number in order to register to vote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.