shareblue--2020-02-07--DNC chair calls for review of Iowa results after days of chaos

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee has called for a `` recanvass '' of the results of the Iowa caucuses , saying it was needed to `` assure public confidence '' after three days of technical issues and delays .
`` Enough is enough , '' party leader Tom Perez wrote on Twitter .
Following the Iowa Democratic Party 's release of new results late Thursday night , former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg leads Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by two state delegate equivalents out of 2,152 counted .
That is a margin of 0.09 percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victorious .
However , there is evidence the party has not accurately tabulated some of its results , including those released late Thursday that the party reported as complete .
The Associated Press is unable to declare a winner .
The state party apologized for technical glitches with an app that slowed down reporting of results from Monday 's caucuses and has spent the week trying to verify results .
However , it was unclear if the party planned to follow the directive of the national leader to recanvass those results , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to review caucus math worksheets completed at more than 1,600 caucus sites to ensure the calculations were done correctly and matched the reported results .
Iowa chairman Troy Price suggested in a statement Thursday that he would only pursue a recanvass if one was requested by a campaign .
The caucus crisis was an embarrassing twist after months of promoting Iowa as a chance for Democrats to find some clarity in a jumbled 2020 field .
Instead , after a buildup that featured seven rounds of debates , nearly $ 1 billion spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jockeying , caucus day ended with no winner and no official results .
Campaigning in New Hampshire , Sanders called the Iowa Democratic Party 's management of the caucuses a `` screw-up '' that has been `` extremely unfair '' to the candidates and their supporters .
`` We 've got enough of Iowa , '' he said later Thursday at a CNN town hall .
`` I think we should move onto New Hampshire . ''
Iowa marked the first contest in a primary season that will span all 50 states and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party 's national convention in July .
As first reported by The New York Times , numerous precincts reported results that contained errors or were inconsistent with party rules .
For example , the AP confirmed that dozens of precincts reported more final alignment votes than first alignment votes , which is not possible under party rules .
In other precincts , viable candidates lost votes from the first alignment tally to the final , which is also inconsistent with party rules .
Some precincts made apparent errors in awarding state delegate equivalents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awarded more state delegate equivalents than they had available .
A few others did n't award all of theirs .
The trouble began with an app that the Iowa Democratic Party used to tabulate the results of the contest .
The app was rolled out shortly before caucusing began and did not go through rigorous testing .
The problems were compounded when phone lines for reporting the outcomes became jammed , with many callers placed on hold for hours in order to report outcomes .
Party officials said the backlog was exacerbated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accessed the number and appeared intent on disrupting the process .
`` There was a moment in the night where , it became clear , 'Oh , the phone number just became available to the entire country , ' '' said Iowa state Auditor Rob Sand , who was answering calls for the party .
`` It was a pretty big problem . ''
`` The Democrats , they ca n't count some simple votes and yet they want to take over your health care system , '' Trump said at a White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acquittal .
`` Think of that — no , think of that . ''
The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown seems sure to blunt the impact of Iowa 's election , which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum heading into subsequent primary contests .
But without a winner called , Democrats have quickly turned their focus to New Hampshire , which holds the next voting contest on Tuesday .
Buttigieg and Sanders will emerge from Iowa 's caucuses with the most delegates to the party 's national convention , regardless of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have each won at least 11 national delegates , with a handful of delegates still to be awarded , according to the AP delegate count .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has won at least five delegates , while former Vice President Joe Biden has won at least two and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar has at least one .
Iowa will award 41 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer .
There are 11 delegates still to be awarded as the state party sorts out the final results of the caucuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged delegates to the party 's national convention to win the Democratic nomination for president on the first ballot .
This year , that 's 1,191 pledged delegates .
The two Iowa leaders , Buttigieg and Sanders , are separated by 40 years in age and conflicting ideology .
Sanders , a 78-year-old self-described democratic socialist , has been a progressive powerhouse for decades .
Buttigieg , a 38-year-old former municipal official , represents the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party .
Buttigieg is also the first openly gay candidate to earn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Iowa caucuses in 2016 to Hillary Clinton and pushed the party to make changes to the process this year , including releasing three different sets of results : a tally of candidate support at the start of the caucuses , their levels of support after those backing candidates with less than 15 % got to make a second choice and the number of state delegate equivalents each candidate receives .
The AP will determine a winner based on state delegates .
Given the tight race , former DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right '' so the eventual nominee is n't saddled with questions of legitimacy .
`` It 's a combination of embarrassment and not being prepared for the various mishaps that can take place when you try to do something new and different , '' she said .
Party activist John Deeth , who organized the caucuses in Iowa 's most Democratic county , Johnson , said he welcomed a recanvass and would help as needed .
`` It makes sense to look everything over again and get it right , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review would uncover some data entry errors as well as some math and rounding errors in how delegates at each precinct were awarded .
Volunteers running the precincts did their best , he said , but likely made some minor mistakes .
Peoples reported from New York .
Associated Press writers Ryan J. Foley in Iowa City , Iowa , Will Weissert in Manchester , N.H. , Bill Barrow in Atlanta , and Stephen Ohlemacher and Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report .

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee has called for a “recanvass” of the results of the Iowa caucuses, saying it was needed to “assure public confidence” after three days of technical issues and delays.
“Enough is enough,” party leader Tom Perez wrote on Twitter.
Following the Iowa Democratic Party’s release of new results late Thursday night, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg leads Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by two state delegate equivalents out of 2,152 counted. That is a margin of 0.09 percentage points. Both candidates have declared themselves victorious.
However, there is evidence the party has not accurately tabulated some of its results, including those released late Thursday that the party reported as complete.
The Associated Press is unable to declare a winner.
The state party apologized for technical glitches with an app that slowed down reporting of results from Monday’s caucuses and has spent the week trying to verify results. However, it was unclear if the party planned to follow the directive of the national leader to recanvass those results, a process that would likely require state officials to review caucus math worksheets completed at more than 1,600 caucus sites to ensure the calculations were done correctly and matched the reported results.
Iowa chairman Troy Price suggested in a statement Thursday that he would only pursue a recanvass if one was requested by a campaign.
The caucus crisis was an embarrassing twist after months of promoting Iowa as a chance for Democrats to find some clarity in a jumbled 2020 field. Instead, after a buildup that featured seven rounds of debates, nearly $1 billion spent nationwide, and a year of political jockeying, caucus day ended with no winner and no official results.
Campaigning in New Hampshire, Sanders called the Iowa Democratic Party’s management of the caucuses a “screw-up” that has been “extremely unfair” to the candidates and their supporters.
“We’ve got enough of Iowa,” he said later Thursday at a CNN town hall. “I think we should move onto New Hampshire.”
Iowa marked the first contest in a primary season that will span all 50 states and several U.S. territories, ending at the party’s national convention in July.
As first reported by The New York Times, numerous precincts reported results that contained errors or were inconsistent with party rules. For example, the AP confirmed that dozens of precincts reported more final alignment votes than first alignment votes, which is not possible under party rules. In other precincts, viable candidates lost votes from the first alignment tally to the final, which is also inconsistent with party rules.
Some precincts made apparent errors in awarding state delegate equivalents to candidates. A handful of precincts awarded more state delegate equivalents than they had available. A few others didn’t award all of theirs.
The trouble began with an app that the Iowa Democratic Party used to tabulate the results of the contest. The app was rolled out shortly before caucusing began and did not go through rigorous testing.
The problems were compounded when phone lines for reporting the outcomes became jammed, with many callers placed on hold for hours in order to report outcomes. Party officials said the backlog was exacerbated by calls from people around the country who accessed the number and appeared intent on disrupting the process.
“There was a moment in the night where, it became clear, ‘Oh, the phone number just became available to the entire country,'” said Iowa state Auditor Rob Sand, who was answering calls for the party. “It was a pretty big problem.”
Donald Trump relished in the Democratic turmoil.
“The Democrats, they can’t count some simple votes and yet they want to take over your health care system,” Trump said at a White House event Thursday celebrating his impeachment trial acquittal. “Think of that — no, think of that.”
The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown seems sure to blunt the impact of Iowa’s election, which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum heading into subsequent primary contests. But without a winner called, Democrats have quickly turned their focus to New Hampshire, which holds the next voting contest on Tuesday.
Buttigieg and Sanders will emerge from Iowa’s caucuses with the most delegates to the party’s national convention, regardless of which one eventually wins the contest. They have each won at least 11 national delegates, with a handful of delegates still to be awarded, according to the AP delegate count. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has won at least five delegates, while former Vice President Joe Biden has won at least two and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar has at least one.
Iowa will award 41 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer. There are 11 delegates still to be awarded as the state party sorts out the final results of the caucuses.
Candidates must win a majority of pledged delegates to the party’s national convention to win the Democratic nomination for president on the first ballot. This year, that’s 1,191 pledged delegates.
The two Iowa leaders, Buttigieg and Sanders, are separated by 40 years in age and conflicting ideology.
Sanders, a 78-year-old self-described democratic socialist, has been a progressive powerhouse for decades. Buttigieg, a 38-year-old former municipal official, represents the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party. Buttigieg is also the first openly gay candidate to earn presidential primary delegates.
Sanders narrowly lost the Iowa caucuses in 2016 to Hillary Clinton and pushed the party to make changes to the process this year, including releasing three different sets of results: a tally of candidate support at the start of the caucuses, their levels of support after those backing candidates with less than 15% got to make a second choice and the number of state delegate equivalents each candidate receives. The AP will determine a winner based on state delegates.
Given the tight race, former DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile said the party needs to “get this right” so the eventual nominee isn’t saddled with questions of legitimacy.
“It’s a combination of embarrassment and not being prepared for the various mishaps that can take place when you try to do something new and different,” she said.
Party activist John Deeth, who organized the caucuses in Iowa’s most Democratic county, Johnson, said he welcomed a recanvass and would help as needed.
“It makes sense to look everything over again and get it right,” he said.
Deeth said that he believed the review would uncover some data entry errors as well as some math and rounding errors in how delegates at each precinct were awarded. Volunteers running the precincts did their best, he said, but likely made some minor mistakes.
___
Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writers Ryan J. Foley in Iowa City, Iowa, Will Weissert in Manchester, N.H., Bill Barrow in Atlanta, and Stephen Ohlemacher and Emily Swanson in Washington contributed to this report.


shareblue--2020-02-07--Trump hails James Woods' return to Twitter despite his call to 'hang' Democrats

Donald Trump welcomed James Woods back to Twitter on Friday , after the conservative actor 's account was reactivated following a nine-month long suspension .
Woods was booted from the platform last April after he refused to delete a tweet threatening Democrats .
`` Welcome back James ! ''
Trump wrote on Friday morning , linking to a story about the actor 's reinstatement .
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) echoed those comments welcoming Woods back to the platform with a similar tweet .
Woods was banned last year on April 19 — one day after the Mueller Report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'If you try to kill the King , you better not miss . '
# HangThemAll . ''
The tweet inaccurately cited a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote ( `` When you strike at a king , you must kill him '' ) that has been used in various movies and TV shows over the years , including `` The Wire '' ( `` You come at the king , you best not miss '' ) .
Woods ' tweet appeared to be a reference to the Mueller report , which detailed the extensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and laid out several instances of possible obstruction by Trump .
Despite those findings , special counsel Robert Mueller , who conducted the nearly two-year-long Russia investigation and authored the report , ultimately did not hand down any indictments against Trump , citing Justice Department protocol that prevents a sitting president from being charged with a crime .
Woods previously used similar imagery to attack pro-choice Democrats , writing in February last year , `` Eventually these people will hang .
Sooner or later they will go too far and they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Trump complained about Woods ' suspension at the time , although the actor 's account had initially been temporarily locked to compel him to remove the inciting tweet , which Woods himself admitted .
Woods was subsequently banned for refusing to remove the tweet .
`` How can it be possible that James Woods ( and many others ) , a strong but responsible Conservative Voice , is banned from Twitter ?
Social Media & Fake News Media , together with their partner , the Democrat Party , have no idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
VERY UNFAIR ! ''
Trump tweeted then .
Twitter 's terms of service explicitly prohibit the use of violent threats .
Trump 's warm welcome for Woods comes at the end of a week in which Republicans — led by Trump — complained that Speaker Nancy Pelosi was being uncivil for tearing up her paper copy of Trump 's State of the Union speech Tuesday night .
Republicans in Congress and other prominent conservatives used the `` # PelosiTantrum '' hashtag to air their grievances , which Trump himself amplified .
Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday that he `` was n't sure if she was ripping up the speech or ripping up the Constitution . ''
House Republicans including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz have since called for Pelosi to be punished or expelled for her decision .
`` Nobody is above the law , '' Gaetz tweeted this week , after filing an ethics complaint against the House speaker .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump welcomed James Woods back to Twitter on Friday, after the conservative actor’s account was reactivated following a nine-month long suspension.
Woods was booted from the platform last April after he refused to delete a tweet threatening Democrats.
“Welcome back James!” Trump wrote on Friday morning, linking to a story about the actor’s reinstatement.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) echoed those comments welcoming Woods back to the platform with a similar tweet.
Woods was banned last year on April 19 — one day after the Mueller Report was released — after tweeting, “‘If you try to kill the King, you better not miss.’ #HangThemAll.”
The tweet inaccurately cited a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote (“When you strike at a king, you must kill him”) that has been used in various movies and TV shows over the years, including “The Wire” (“You come at the king, you best not miss”).
Woods’ tweet appeared to be a reference to the Mueller report, which detailed the extensive ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, and laid out several instances of possible obstruction by Trump. Despite those findings, special counsel Robert Mueller, who conducted the nearly two-year-long Russia investigation and authored the report, ultimately did not hand down any indictments against Trump, citing Justice Department protocol that prevents a sitting president from being charged with a crime.
Woods previously used similar imagery to attack pro-choice Democrats, writing in February last year, “Eventually these people will hang. Sooner or later they will go too far and they will hang. It’s in their destiny.”
Trump complained about Woods’ suspension at the time, although the actor’s account had initially been temporarily locked to compel him to remove the inciting tweet, which Woods himself admitted.
Woods was subsequently banned for refusing to remove the tweet.
“How can it be possible that James Woods (and many others), a strong but responsible Conservative Voice, is banned from Twitter? Social Media & Fake News Media, together with their partner, the Democrat Party, have no idea the problems they are causing for themselves. VERY UNFAIR!” Trump tweeted then.
Twitter’s terms of service explicitly prohibit the use of violent threats.
Trump’s warm welcome for Woods comes at the end of a week in which Republicans — led by Trump — complained that Speaker Nancy Pelosi was being uncivil for tearing up her paper copy of Trump’s State of the Union speech Tuesday night.
Republicans in Congress and other prominent conservatives used the “#PelosiTantrum” hashtag to air their grievances, which Trump himself amplified.
Mike Pence told “Fox and Friends” on Wednesday that he “wasn’t sure if she was ripping up the speech or ripping up the Constitution.”
House Republicans including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz have since called for Pelosi to be punished or expelled for her decision. “Nobody is above the law,” Gaetz tweeted this week, after filing an ethics complaint against the House speaker.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-07--Messy Iowa caucuses could spell trouble for candidates low on cash

The Iowa caucuses were n't just a colossal political mess .
They were a massive money drain for Democratic presidential contenders who poured millions of dollars into a contest so marred by technical glitches that its ultimate outcome will be marked with an asterisk .
That 's forced a reassessment of political strategy born of financial necessity for candidates strapped for money .
It has also created a predatory environment for stronger candidates trying to pick off donors of weaker ones .
And then there is the case of Michael Bloomberg , the billionaire former New York City mayor who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that has come to be called a `` friend raiser '' rather than a fundraiser .
He merely is asking for support from donors to other candidates rather than asking them to write his campaign a check .
The chase for campaign money always runs in parallel to the primary calendar , but at this stage of the race , candidates ' finances can be a ready proxy for the state of their political strength .
That 's placed an even bigger spotlight on New Hampshire , where many of the cash-poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between campaign stops ahead of the Feb. 11 primary .
As results from Monday 's Iowa caucuses were still being tabulated , former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who both trailed in the state , shifted their money around , canceled ad buys and sent out emails pleading for donations ahead of Friday 's debate .
`` We 'll keep this brief .
If we do n't hit our $ 600,000 debate fundraising goal by tomorrow night , we could enter the New Hampshire ( get out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to succeed , '' Biden 's campaign said in a fundraising email .
Biden , who has low cash reserves and has struggled to raise money , has pegged his bid for the nomination on his appeal in more diverse states that follow New Hampshire .
But after a poor showing in predominantly white Iowa , he 's being squeezed .
Pete Buttigieg , the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor who did quite well in Iowa , has been reaching out to past Biden donors to gauge their interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend raiser '' tactic is targeting on-the-fence donors whom Biden needs and who could further hinder his fundraising efforts .
`` Donors panic .
Supporters panic , '' said Ian Sams , who was the primary spokesman for California Sen. Kamala Harris before she bowed out of the 2020 presidential race after struggling to raise money .
`` The challenge is convincing supporters that panic is not the wisest reaction and that they should keep faith in the plan that they 've been outlining for a year . ''
Although no winner has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders appeared to be the victor in the race to replenish his bank account .
Sanders , who is nearly tied with Buttigieg for the lead in Iowa , announced a $ 25 million January fundraising haul on Thursday .
The stunning sum , which was raised from his legions of grassroots donors who contribute small sums online , relieves the strain that $ 50 million in spending at the end of 2019 placed on his campaign finances .
That puts him in a `` strong position to compete in states all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager Faiz Shakir .
The campaign will immediately increase staffing in states that vote during the Democratic primary 's Super Tuesday , on March 3 , and also plans to spend $ 5.5 million on television and digital ads in eight new states : Arkansas , Colorado , Massachusetts , Minnesota , North Carolina , South Carolina , Tennessee and Utah .
And Sanders will expand ad buys the campaign already made in California and Texas , the two largest states voting on Super Tuesday .
Biden and Warren are taking a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 119,000 ad buy in South Carolina , where he has polled strongly .
Warren cut even more , canceling $ 350,000 in planned television advertising for later this month in Nevada and South Carolina .
`` I just want to be careful about how we spend our money , '' she told reporters after a Wednesday rally at a community college in Nashua , New Hampshire , near the border with Massachusetts .
Buttigieg , meanwhile , has been raking in money after his Iowa performance .
This week he attended three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And on Saturday , his husband , Chasten , will be on Biden 's home turf in Philadelphia .
Former Pennsylvania Gov .
Ed Rendell , an early Biden donor , said Biden 's Philadelphia donor base is strong and runs deep given the former vice president 's long-standing connection to the state and city .
Biden was born in Pennsylvania and represented neighboring Delware in teh U.S. Senate for more than three decades .
`` We give to Joe because we believe he 'd be a good president .
But we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a friend , a great personal friend and a friend to Philadelphia , '' said Rendell , who is also a former Philadelphia mayor .
`` We 're not bailing . ''
Slodysko reported from Washington .
Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont contributed to this report from Des Moines , Iowa .

The Iowa caucuses weren’t just a colossal political mess. They were a massive money drain for Democratic presidential contenders who poured millions of dollars into a contest so marred by technical glitches that its ultimate outcome will be marked with an asterisk.
That’s forced a reassessment of political strategy born of financial necessity for candidates strapped for money. It has also created a predatory environment for stronger candidates trying to pick off donors of weaker ones.
And then there is the case of Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York City mayor who is funding his own campaign and holding something that has come to be called a “friend raiser” rather than a fundraiser. He merely is asking for support from donors to other candidates rather than asking them to write his campaign a check.
The chase for campaign money always runs in parallel to the primary calendar, but at this stage of the race, candidates’ finances can be a ready proxy for the state of their political strength.
That’s placed an even bigger spotlight on New Hampshire, where many of the cash-poor candidates were trying to raise money in between campaign stops ahead of the Feb. 11 primary.
As results from Monday’s Iowa caucuses were still being tabulated, former Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who both trailed in the state, shifted their money around, canceled ad buys and sent out emails pleading for donations ahead of Friday’s debate.
“We’ll keep this brief. If we don’t hit our $600,000 debate fundraising goal by tomorrow night, we could enter the New Hampshire (get out the vote) weekend without the resources that we need to succeed,” Biden’s campaign said in a fundraising email.
Biden, who has low cash reserves and has struggled to raise money, has pegged his bid for the nomination on his appeal in more diverse states that follow New Hampshire. But after a poor showing in predominantly white Iowa, he’s being squeezed.
Pete Buttigieg, the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor who did quite well in Iowa, has been reaching out to past Biden donors to gauge their interest in jumping ship.
Bloomberg’s “friend raiser” tactic is targeting on-the-fence donors whom Biden needs and who could further hinder his fundraising efforts.
“Donors panic. Supporters panic,” said Ian Sams, who was the primary spokesman for California Sen. Kamala Harris before she bowed out of the 2020 presidential race after struggling to raise money. “The challenge is convincing supporters that panic is not the wisest reaction and that they should keep faith in the plan that they’ve been outlining for a year.”
Although no winner has been declared in Iowa, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared to be the victor in the race to replenish his bank account. Sanders, who is nearly tied with Buttigieg for the lead in Iowa, announced a $25 million January fundraising haul on Thursday. The stunning sum, which was raised from his legions of grassroots donors who contribute small sums online, relieves the strain that $50 million in spending at the end of 2019 placed on his campaign finances.
That puts him in a “strong position to compete in states all over the map,” said campaign manager Faiz Shakir.
The campaign will immediately increase staffing in states that vote during the Democratic primary’s Super Tuesday, on March 3, and also plans to spend $5.5 million on television and digital ads in eight new states: Arkansas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Utah.
And Sanders will expand ad buys the campaign already made in California and Texas, the two largest states voting on Super Tuesday.
Biden and Warren are taking a different route.
Biden this week canceled a $119,000 ad buy in South Carolina, where he has polled strongly. Warren cut even more, canceling $350,000 in planned television advertising for later this month in Nevada and South Carolina.
“I just want to be careful about how we spend our money,” she told reporters after a Wednesday rally at a community college in Nashua, New Hampshire, near the border with Massachusetts.
Buttigieg, meanwhile, has been raking in money after his Iowa performance. This week he attended three fundraisers in New York and New Jersey. And on Saturday, his husband, Chasten, will be on Biden’s home turf in Philadelphia.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, an early Biden donor, said Biden’s Philadelphia donor base is strong and runs deep given the former vice president’s long-standing connection to the state and city. Biden was born in Pennsylvania and represented neighboring Delware in teh U.S. Senate for more than three decades.
“We give to Joe because we believe he’d be a good president. But we also help him because he’s been a friend, a great personal friend and a friend to Philadelphia,” said Rendell, who is also a former Philadelphia mayor. “We’re not bailing.”
___
Slodysko reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont contributed to this report from Des Moines, Iowa.


shareblue--2020-02-09--Trump finalizes plan to allow drilling at Utah monuments

The U.S. government implemented final management plans Thursday for two national monuments in Utah that Donald Trump downsized more than two years ago that ensure lands previously off-limits to energy development will be open to mining and drilling despite pending lawsuits .
The lands have generated little interest from energy companies in the two years since Trump cut the size of Bears Ears National Monument by 85 % and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by nearly half , said Casey Hammond , acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management with the U. S. Department of the Interior .
Hammond said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the management plans after Trump signed his proclamations in December 2017 , despite the pending lawsuits by conservation , tribal , and paleontology groups aiming to restore the monuments to their original sizes .
`` If we stopped and waited for every piece of litigation to be resolved we would never be able to do much of anything around here , '' he said .
Conservation groups that have called the decision the largest elimination of protected land in American history criticized the administration on Thursday for spending time on management plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contend Trump misused the Antiquities Act to reverse decisions by previous presidents .
A federal judge last year rejected the administration 's bid to dismiss the lawsuits .
In a recent court filing , tribal groups said the Bears Ears lands are `` a living and vital place where ancestors passed from one world to the next , often leaving their mark in petroglyphs or painted handprints , and where modern day tribal members can still visit them . ''
It 's unknown how long it will take before a judge rules on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It 's the height of arrogance for Trump to rush through final decisions on what 's left of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante while we 're fighting his illegal evisceration of these national monuments in court , '' said Randi Spivak , public lands director at the Center for Biological Diversity .
`` Trump is eroding vital protections for these spectacular landscapes .
We wo n't rest until all of these public lands are safeguarded for future generations . ''
The biggest fear by conservationists is that the excluded lands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American Southwest will become ravaged by mining , drilling , and extraction .
They also worry about off-road vehicle use and logging .
Government officials opted to allow off-road vehicles on designated routes in Bears Ears , for instance , rather than choosing broader closures .
President Bill Clinton created the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in 1996 on lands home to cliffs , canyons , waterfalls , and arches in southern Utah .
President Barack Obama created Bears Ears National Monument in 2016 on a scenic swath of southern Utah with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ancient ruins on land considered sacred to tribes .
Market dynamics have limited interest in a large coal reserve found in the now unprotected lands cut from Grand Staircase and uranium on lands cut from Bears Ears .
But an economic analysis by the U.S. government estimates coal production could lead to $ 208 million in annual revenues and $ 16.6 million in royalties on lands cut from Grand Staircase .
Oil and gas wells in that area could produce $ 4.1 million in annual revenues , the analysis says .
If interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hammond said the lands cut remain under federal control and governed by `` time-tested laws '' and subject to environmental regulations .
He rebuffed the oft-repeated claim from conservation groups that there would be a `` free-for-all '' for mineral development .
`` Any suggestion that these lands and resources will be adversely impacted by the mere act of being excluded from the monuments is simply not true , '' Hammond said .
Trump cut the size monuments following review of 27 national monuments by then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke .
He recommended shrinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has yet to take action .
Trump said he scaled back the size of the monuments to reverse misuse of the Antiquities Act by previous Democratic presidents that he said led to oversized monuments that hinder energy development , grazing , and other uses .
The move earned cheers from Republican leaders in Utah , including former U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and current Gov .
Gary Herbert .
U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah also offered praise to the Trump administration for moving ahead with the plans , one day after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump by voting to convict the president in the impeachment trial .
`` I appreciate the work that the president and Secretary Bernhardt have done with our state to develop plans that will allow more of our land to be used for recreation , grazing , and management practices , '' Romney said in a statement .
The Bureau of Land Management posted online the voluminous and detailed management plans for the monuments , which are being sliced into noncontiguous sections rather than one large swath as in the original boundaries .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fact '' web page about Bears Ears , in which it clarifies that no extraction or commercial logging is allowed within the changed boundaries .
The agency says it received about 250,500 comments about the plans , most of which were dismissed because they dealt with the size reduction , legality of that move , or timing of the planning effort .
Of the comments , the agency said four included valid protests that led to changes in the final plan .

The U.S. government implemented final management plans Thursday for two national monuments in Utah that Donald Trump downsized more than two years ago that ensure lands previously off-limits to energy development will be open to mining and drilling despite pending lawsuits.
The lands have generated little interest from energy companies in the two years since Trump cut the size of Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by nearly half, said Casey Hammond, acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management with the U. S. Department of the Interior.
Hammond said the department had a duty to work on the management plans after Trump signed his proclamations in December 2017, despite the pending lawsuits by conservation, tribal, and paleontology groups aiming to restore the monuments to their original sizes.
“If we stopped and waited for every piece of litigation to be resolved we would never be able to do much of anything around here,” he said.
Conservation groups that have called the decision the largest elimination of protected land in American history criticized the administration on Thursday for spending time on management plans they believe will become moot. They contend Trump misused the Antiquities Act to reverse decisions by previous presidents.
A federal judge last year rejected the administration’s bid to dismiss the lawsuits. In a recent court filing, tribal groups said the Bears Ears lands are “a living and vital place where ancestors passed from one world to the next, often leaving their mark in petroglyphs or painted handprints, and where modern day tribal members can still visit them.”
It’s unknown how long it will take before a judge rules on lawsuits that were filed two years ago.
“It’s the height of arrogance for Trump to rush through final decisions on what’s left of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante while we’re fighting his illegal evisceration of these national monuments in court,” said Randi Spivak, public lands director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Trump is eroding vital protections for these spectacular landscapes. We won’t rest until all of these public lands are safeguarded for future generations.”
The biggest fear by conservationists is that the excluded lands on some of the most pristine stretches of the American Southwest will become ravaged by mining, drilling, and extraction. They also worry about off-road vehicle use and logging. Government officials opted to allow off-road vehicles on designated routes in Bears Ears, for instance, rather than choosing broader closures.
President Bill Clinton created the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in 1996 on lands home to cliffs, canyons, waterfalls, and arches in southern Utah. President Barack Obama created Bears Ears National Monument in 2016 on a scenic swath of southern Utah with red rock plateaus, cliffs, and ancient ruins on land considered sacred to tribes.
Market dynamics have limited interest in a large coal reserve found in the now unprotected lands cut from Grand Staircase and uranium on lands cut from Bears Ears.
But an economic analysis by the U.S. government estimates coal production could lead to $208 million in annual revenues and $16.6 million in royalties on lands cut from Grand Staircase. Oil and gas wells in that area could produce $4.1 million in annual revenues, the analysis says.
If interest comes as energy market forces shift, Hammond said the lands cut remain under federal control and governed by “time-tested laws” and subject to environmental regulations. He rebuffed the oft-repeated claim from conservation groups that there would be a “free-for-all” for mineral development.
“Any suggestion that these lands and resources will be adversely impacted by the mere act of being excluded from the monuments is simply not true,” Hammond said.
Trump cut the size monuments following review of 27 national monuments by then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. He recommended shrinking two other monuments as well, but Trump has yet to take action.
Trump said he scaled back the size of the monuments to reverse misuse of the Antiquities Act by previous Democratic presidents that he said led to oversized monuments that hinder energy development, grazing, and other uses. The move earned cheers from Republican leaders in Utah, including former U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch and current Gov. Gary Herbert.
U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah also offered praise to the Trump administration for moving ahead with the plans, one day after he earned the ire of the GOP and Trump by voting to convict the president in the impeachment trial.
“I appreciate the work that the president and Secretary Bernhardt have done with our state to develop plans that will allow more of our land to be used for recreation, grazing, and management practices,” Romney said in a statement.
The Bureau of Land Management posted online the voluminous and detailed management plans for the monuments, which are being sliced into noncontiguous sections rather than one large swath as in the original boundaries. The agency also created a “Myth vs Fact” web page about Bears Ears, in which it clarifies that no extraction or commercial logging is allowed within the changed boundaries.
The agency says it received about 250,500 comments about the plans, most of which were dismissed because they dealt with the size reduction, legality of that move, or timing of the planning effort. Of the comments, the agency said four included valid protests that led to changes in the final plan.


shareblue--2020-02-09--Trump trying to stall lawsuit from columnist who accused him of rape

Donald Trump 's lawyers want to put the brakes on a lawsuit filed by an advice columnist who has accused him of raping her in the 1990s and is seeking his DNA as possible evidence .
Trump attorneys argued in legal papers this week that E. Jean Carroll 's defamation suit and `` extensive and burdensome '' information-gathering requests should be delayed until New York 's highest court rules on whether another woman can proceed with a somewhat similar suit .
Carroll and the other woman , former `` Apprentice '' contestant Summer Zervos , claim Trump besmirched them by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , accused him of sexual assault .
In Zervos ' case , Trump 's lawyers have argued that an incumbent president ca n't be sued in state courts , and they are asking the state high court to decide .
`` That threshold issue should be decided '' before Carroll 's case goes any further , Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz wrote .
If a court agrees , Carroll 's suit would be on hold for months .
Her lawyer , Roberta Kaplan , noted Thursday that a judge declined previously to dismiss the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The earlier request , made by a different Trump lawyer , was based on different arguments than the new bid for a delay .
`` It is hardly a surprise that Trump is seeking to stop this lawsuit , '' Kaplan said in a statement , adding that Carroll will continue to pursue Trump 's DNA .
Carroll , a longtime Elle magazine advice writer , alleged last year that Trump raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s .
She said it happened after they ran into each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a bodysuit .
Trump has said Carroll was `` totally lying '' to sell a book she published last year .
He said he 'd never met her , dismissing a 1987 social-scene photo of the two and their then-spouses as a moment when he was `` standing with my coat on in a line . ''
Carroll said his remarks hurt her career by making readers reluctant to seek her advice .
She is seeking a DNA sample from Trump to see whether it matches unidentified male genetic material in skin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wore during the alleged rape , did n't launder , and has since worn only once — to a photo shoot for a magazine story that aired her allegation last year .
Zervos , a California restaurateur , was a 2006 contestant on the Trump-hosted reality show `` The Apprentice . ''
A decade later , she became one of more than a dozen women who came forward during Trump 's presidential campaign to accuse him of sexual assault or sexual harassment over the years .
Zervos alleged he subjected her to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career advice on two occasions in 2007 , once in his New York office and once at a California hotel where he was staying .
On the campaign trail , Trump called all his accusers `` liars '' offering `` totally made-up nonsense to steal the election . ''
He also issued a statement denying Zervos ' allegations and retweeted a message calling them `` a hoax . ''
Her suit said his comments sparked threats against her and her restaurant .
Appeals judges last month put the case on hold until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's argument that presidents are n't subject to state court lawsuits while in office .
The delay came about three weeks before Trump was due to undergo sworn pretrial questioning .
The high court , called the Court of Appeals , has set a May 11 deadline for both sides ' legal filings .
A decision could take months longer .
Both Carroll and Zervos are seeking damages and retractions of Trump 's statements about them , according to their suits .
Zervos also wants an apology .
The Associated Press generally does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly .

Donald Trump’s lawyers want to put the brakes on a lawsuit filed by an advice columnist who has accused him of raping her in the 1990s and is seeking his DNA as possible evidence.
Trump attorneys argued in legal papers this week that E. Jean Carroll’s defamation suit and “extensive and burdensome” information-gathering requests should be delayed until New York’s highest court rules on whether another woman can proceed with a somewhat similar suit.
Carroll and the other woman, former “Apprentice” contestant Summer Zervos, claim Trump besmirched them by calling them liars after they, separately, accused him of sexual assault.
In Zervos’ case, Trump’s lawyers have argued that an incumbent president can’t be sued in state courts, and they are asking the state high court to decide.
“That threshold issue should be decided” before Carroll’s case goes any further, Trump lawyer Marc Kasowitz wrote.
If a court agrees, Carroll’s suit would be on hold for months.
Her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, noted Thursday that a judge declined previously to dismiss the case or put on it hold. The earlier request, made by a different Trump lawyer, was based on different arguments than the new bid for a delay.
“It is hardly a surprise that Trump is seeking to stop this lawsuit,” Kaplan said in a statement, adding that Carroll will continue to pursue Trump’s DNA.
Carroll, a longtime Elle magazine advice writer, alleged last year that Trump raped her in a Manhattan department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. She said it happened after they ran into each other by chance and bantered about trying on a bodysuit.
Trump has said Carroll was “totally lying” to sell a book she published last year. He said he’d never met her, dismissing a 1987 social-scene photo of the two and their then-spouses as a moment when he was “standing with my coat on in a line.”
Carroll said his remarks hurt her career by making readers reluctant to seek her advice.
She is seeking a DNA sample from Trump to see whether it matches unidentified male genetic material in skin cells on a dress that Carroll says she wore during the alleged rape, didn’t launder, and has since worn only once — to a photo shoot for a magazine story that aired her allegation last year.
Zervos, a California restaurateur, was a 2006 contestant on the Trump-hosted reality show “The Apprentice.” A decade later, she became one of more than a dozen women who came forward during Trump’s presidential campaign to accuse him of sexual assault or sexual harassment over the years.
Zervos alleged he subjected her to unwanted kissing and groping when she sought career advice on two occasions in 2007, once in his New York office and once at a California hotel where he was staying.
On the campaign trail, Trump called all his accusers “liars” offering “totally made-up nonsense to steal the election.” He also issued a statement denying Zervos’ allegations and retweeted a message calling them “a hoax.”
Her suit said his comments sparked threats against her and her restaurant.
Appeals judges last month put the case on hold until the state’s highest court rules on Trump’s argument that presidents aren’t subject to state court lawsuits while in office. The delay came about three weeks before Trump was due to undergo sworn pretrial questioning.
The high court, called the Court of Appeals, has set a May 11 deadline for both sides’ legal filings. A decision could take months longer.
Both Carroll and Zervos are seeking damages and retractions of Trump’s statements about them, according to their suits. Zervos also wants an apology.
The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly.


Cartoon: Trumpy Corinthians

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-02-08--Nevada Democrats rush to distance themselves from Iowa fiasco

Reacting to tech troubles in Iowa , Nevada Democrats scrapped plans to use similar technology at their caucuses in less than three weeks , as early primary voting states sought to reassure the public that they could pull off smooth elections .
Officials in South Carolina and New Hampshire expressed confidence in their primary election systems , while Democrats in Nevada , the third state to vote , said they were taking steps to prevent the chaos seen in Iowa .
Nevada State Democratic Party chair William McCurdy II issued a statement Tuesday saying the party `` can confidently say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last night will not happen in Nevada . ''
`` We will not be employing the same app or vendor used in the Iowa caucus , '' McCurdy said .
`` We had already developed a series of backups and redundant reporting systems , and are currently evaluating the best path forward . ''
During a conference call with reporters late Tuesday afternoon , the party 's executive director Alana Mounce had few answers but confirmed the party would not use apps developed by the vendor Shadow Inc. , which was behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada had planned to use more technology than Iowa in their Feb. 22 caucuses .
They had announced plans to use two apps : one to tabulate results , as Iowa did , and a second app preloaded onto tablets for voters to use at caucus sites to cast online votes during four days of early voting .
The party has not ruled out using another app to tabulate results , Mounce said , but has no list of other technology vendors right now that they 're pursuing or talking to in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not answer a question about how the party could find a new app to use in such a short time frame , instead reiterating that the party was evaluating its options .
She did not offer details about any of the backup options or offer a timeline for when the party would have more information .
Mounce said the party is still committed to offering early voting , which is scheduled to start Feb. 15 .
The Nevada Democratic Party paid Shadow Inc. $ 58,000 for technology services in August , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Federal Election Commission .
The party 's state-based fundraising reports shows additional payments totaling about $ 50,000 in October and December .
Shadow Inc. issued a statement Tuesday saying it regrets the delay in reporting in Iowa but that the underlying data it collected was `` sound and accurate . ''
Mounce said she believed the technology created for Nevada was different than what was created for Iowa .
She said the decision to ditch the technology in Nevada was made by the state party , not the Democratic National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` coding issue in the reporting system '' for its delay in reporting results .
Caucus organizers reported problems with the new mobile app that led many precinct leaders to phone in results to the state party headquarters .
Some questioned whether the app-users — volunteer organizers — had been properly trained on the new technology .
Other early voting states also tried to to reassure the public about their plans for the presidential primary .
New Hampshire and South Carolina , which both hold primaries instead of caucuses , said they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire 's top elections official , Bill Gardner , says the state , which votes second after Iowa , has `` kept it simple '' and he does n't expect any problems in the Feb. 11 primary .
The South Carolina Democratic Party chairman , Trav Robertson Jr. , said in a statement that his party has `` confidence in our voting system and the professionals who run the South Carolina Election Commission . ''
In Nevada , local Democratic officials expressed faith in the party .
Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party and securing its place as the third state weighing in on the presidential race , issued a public statement saying he is `` 100 % confident that what happened in Iowa will not happen in Nevada . ''
Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolak issued a similar statement , saying he has confidence in the party .
Donna West , the current Clark County chair , said she was not worried .
`` I see this as an opportunity to learn .
We 've got time , '' West said , deferring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state party .
The Nevada campaigns of many of the top Democratic presidential candidates declined to comment Tuesday .
An official with one Democratic presidential campaign in Nevada who was not authorized to speak publicly said because of the similarity to the Iowa Democratic Party 's plans , there was mounting concern about Nevada 's ability to pull off a smooth process and Nevada Democrats needed to offer more information to reassure the campaigns .
Unlike in Iowa , where party officials said they were not allowing precinct chairs to download the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nevada precinct chairs had been practicing with the app for about a month , local Democrats said .
`` From what I 've seen , the party 's done everything it can to make for a smooth process .
Unfortunately , there will be some who will look at Iowa and think that process is already damaged , '' said Chris Miller , the former chair of the Clark County Democratic Party .
Miller said the state party held a dry run of the early voting app last weekend at a meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's central committee members did a mock registration , were given a paper ballot and went to a tablet , where they first cast their votes online , indicating their top candidate and their next choices .
They then filled out paper ballots as a backup record of their votes .
Miller said the process was easy .

Reacting to tech troubles in Iowa, Nevada Democrats scrapped plans to use similar technology at their caucuses in less than three weeks, as early primary voting states sought to reassure the public that they could pull off smooth elections.
Officials in South Carolina and New Hampshire expressed confidence in their primary election systems, while Democrats in Nevada, the third state to vote, said they were taking steps to prevent the chaos seen in Iowa.
Nevada State Democratic Party chair William McCurdy II issued a statement Tuesday saying the party “can confidently say that what happened in the Iowa caucus last night will not happen in Nevada.”
“We will not be employing the same app or vendor used in the Iowa caucus,” McCurdy said. “We had already developed a series of backups and redundant reporting systems, and are currently evaluating the best path forward.”
During a conference call with reporters late Tuesday afternoon, the party’s executive director Alana Mounce had few answers but confirmed the party would not use apps developed by the vendor Shadow Inc., which was behind the technology used in Iowa.
Democrats in Nevada had planned to use more technology than Iowa in their Feb. 22 caucuses. They had announced plans to use two apps: one to tabulate results, as Iowa did, and a second app preloaded onto tablets for voters to use at caucus sites to cast online votes during four days of early voting.
The party has not ruled out using another app to tabulate results, Mounce said, but has no list of other technology vendors right now that they’re pursuing or talking to in order to use a different app.
Mounce did not answer a question about how the party could find a new app to use in such a short time frame, instead reiterating that the party was evaluating its options.
She did not offer details about any of the backup options or offer a timeline for when the party would have more information.
Mounce said the party is still committed to offering early voting, which is scheduled to start Feb. 15.
The Nevada Democratic Party paid Shadow Inc. $58,000 for technology services in August, according to the party’s spending reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. The party’s state-based fundraising reports shows additional payments totaling about $50,000 in October and December.
Shadow Inc. issued a statement Tuesday saying it regrets the delay in reporting in Iowa but that the underlying data it collected was “sound and accurate.”
Mounce said she believed the technology created for Nevada was different than what was created for Iowa. She said the decision to ditch the technology in Nevada was made by the state party, not the Democratic National Committee.
The Iowa Democratic Party blamed a “coding issue in the reporting system” for its delay in reporting results. Caucus organizers reported problems with the new mobile app that led many precinct leaders to phone in results to the state party headquarters. Some questioned whether the app-users — volunteer organizers — had been properly trained on the new technology.
Other early voting states also tried to to reassure the public about their plans for the presidential primary.
New Hampshire and South Carolina, which both hold primaries instead of caucuses, said they had faith in their well-tested systems.
New Hampshire’s top elections official, Bill Gardner, says the state, which votes second after Iowa, has “kept it simple” and he doesn’t expect any problems in the Feb. 11 primary.
The South Carolina Democratic Party chairman, Trav Robertson Jr., said in a statement that his party has “confidence in our voting system and the professionals who run the South Carolina Election Commission.”
In Nevada, local Democratic officials expressed faith in the party.
Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, who is credited with building Nevada’s Democratic Party and securing its place as the third state weighing in on the presidential race, issued a public statement saying he is “100% confident that what happened in Iowa will not happen in Nevada.” Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a similar statement, saying he has confidence in the party.
Donna West, the current Clark County chair, said she was not worried.
“I see this as an opportunity to learn. We’ve got time,” West said, deferring further questions about the process to the state party.
The Nevada campaigns of many of the top Democratic presidential candidates declined to comment Tuesday.
An official with one Democratic presidential campaign in Nevada who was not authorized to speak publicly said because of the similarity to the Iowa Democratic Party’s plans, there was mounting concern about Nevada’s ability to pull off a smooth process and Nevada Democrats needed to offer more information to reassure the campaigns.
Unlike in Iowa, where party officials said they were not allowing precinct chairs to download the new mobile app until just before the caucuses, Nevada precinct chairs had been practicing with the app for about a month, local Democrats said.
“From what I’ve seen, the party’s done everything it can to make for a smooth process. Unfortunately, there will be some who will look at Iowa and think that process is already damaged,” said Chris Miller, the former chair of the Clark County Democratic Party.
Miller said the state party held a dry run of the early voting app last weekend at a meeting of its governing members. The party’s central committee members did a mock registration, were given a paper ballot and went to a tablet, where they first cast their votes online, indicating their top candidate and their next choices. They then filled out paper ballots as a backup record of their votes.
Miller said the process was easy.


shareblue--2020-02-08--Trump fires second official who testified for his impeachment in one day

Taking swift and harsh action against those who crossed him , Donald Trump on Friday ousted two government officials who had delivered damaging testimony during his impeachment hearings .
Trump made the moves just two days after his acquittal by the Senate .
First came news that Trump had ousted Lt. Col Alexander Vindman , the decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats ' impeachment case .
He was escorted out of the White House complex Friday , according to his lawyer , who said he was asked to leave in retaliation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The truth has cost Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman his job , his career , and his privacy , '' David Pressman , an attorney for Vindman , said in a statement .
The Army said in a statement that Vindman and his twin brother , Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman , who also was asked to leave his job as a White House lawyer on Friday , had been reassigned to the Army .
Next came word that Gordon Sondland , Trump 's ambassador to the European Union , also was out .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union , '' Sondland said in a statement .
Sondland was a crucial witness in the House impeachment inquiry , telling investigators￼ that `` Everyone was in the loop '' on Trump 's desire to press Ukraine for politically charged investigations￼ .
He told lawmakers how he came to understand that there was a `` quid pro quo '' ￼connecting a desired White House visit for Ukraine 's leader and an announcement that the country would￼ conduct the investigations Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a one-page statement that accused Trump of taking revenge on his client .
`` He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day : he followed orders , he obeyed his oath , and he served his country , even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril , '' Pressman said .
`` And for that , the most powerful man in the world — buoyed by the silent , the pliable , and the complicit — has decided to exact revenge . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's accusation .
`` We do not comment on personnel matters , '' said John Ullyot , spokesman for the National Security Council , the foreign policy arm of the White House where Vindman was an expert on Ukraine .
Vindman 's status had been uncertain since he testified that he did n't think it was `` proper '' for Trump to `` demand that a foreign government investigate '' former Vice President Joe Biden and his son 's dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine .
Vindman 's ouster , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday during his post-acquittal celebration with Republican supporters in the East Room and said Friday that he was not happy with him .
`` You think I 'm supposed to be happy with him ? ''
Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House .
`` I 'm not .
...
They are going to be making that decision . ''
Vindman , a 20-year Army veteran , wore his uniform full of medals , including a purple heart , when he appeared late last year for what turned out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump supporters raised questions about the immigrant 's allegiance to the United States — his parents fled the Soviet Union when he was a child —and noted that he had received offers to work for the government of Ukraine , offers Vindman said he swiftly dismissed .
`` I am an American , '' he stated emphatically .
`` The White House is running a two for one special today on deep state leakers , '' Rep. Paul Gosar , an Arizona Republican , wrote on Twitter .
A Twitter account used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TrumpWarRoom , claimed Vindman leaked information to the whistleblower whose complaint about Trump 's call ignited the investigation , and `` colluded with Democrats to start the partisan impeachment coup . ''
Former Trump NSC official Tim Morrison testified that others had brought concerns that Vindman may have leaked something .
Vindman , in his own congressional testimony , denied leaking any information .
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the firing was another example of how the `` White House runs away from the truth . ''
`` Lt. Col. Vindman lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defend our Constitution , '' Schumer said in a statement .
`` This action is not a sign of strength .
It only shows President Trump 's weakness . ''
Hillary Clinton , the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee , recalled how Vindman in testimony before the House impeachment panel said that he reassured his worried father that would be `` fine for telling the truth . ''
`` It 's appalling that this administration may prove him wrong , '' Clinton said in a tweet .
At last fall 's hearing , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , Rep. Devin Nunes , addressed him as `` Mr. Vindman , '' the Iraq War veteran replied : `` Ranking member , it 's Lt. Col. Vindman please . ''
Defense Secretary Mark Esper was asked what the Pentagon would do to ensure that Vindman faces no retribution .
`` We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that , '' Esper said .
`` We 've already addressed that in policy and other means . ''
Alexander Vindman is scheduled to enter a military college in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his brother is to be assigned to the Army General Counsel 's Office , according to two officials who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and so spoke on condition of anonymity .
Pressman said Vindman was among a handful of men and women who courageously `` put their faith in country ahead of fear '' but have `` paid a price . ''
`` There is no question in the mind of any American why this man 's job is over , why this country now has one less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Pressman said .
`` Lt. Col. Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth .
His honor , his commitment to right , frightened the powerful . ''

Taking swift and harsh action against those who crossed him, Donald Trump on Friday ousted two government officials who had delivered damaging testimony during his impeachment hearings. Trump made the moves just two days after his acquittal by the Senate.
First came news that Trump had ousted Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, the decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats’ impeachment case. He was escorted out of the White House complex Friday, according to his lawyer, who said he was asked to leave in retaliation for “telling the truth.”
“The truth has cost Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman his job, his career, and his privacy,” David Pressman, an attorney for Vindman, said in a statement. The Army said in a statement that Vindman and his twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, who also was asked to leave his job as a White House lawyer on Friday, had been reassigned to the Army.
Next came word that Gordon Sondland, Trump’s ambassador to the European Union, also was out.
“I was advised today that the President intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union,” Sondland said in a statement.
Sondland was a crucial witness in the House impeachment inquiry, telling investigators￼ that “Everyone was in the loop” on Trump’s desire to press Ukraine for politically charged investigations￼. He told lawmakers how he came to understand that there was a “quid pro quo” ￼connecting a desired White House visit for Ukraine’s leader and an announcement that the country would￼ conduct the investigations Trump wanted.
Alexander Vindman’s lawyer issued a one-page statement that accused Trump of taking revenge on his client.
“He did what any member of our military is charged with doing every day: he followed orders, he obeyed his oath, and he served his country, even when doing so was fraught with danger and personal peril,” Pressman said. “And for that, the most powerful man in the world — buoyed by the silent, the pliable, and the complicit — has decided to exact revenge.”
The White House did not respond to Pressman’s accusation.
“We do not comment on personnel matters,” said John Ullyot, spokesman for the National Security Council, the foreign policy arm of the White House where Vindman was an expert on Ukraine.
Vindman’s status had been uncertain since he testified that he didn’t think it was “proper” for Trump to “demand that a foreign government investigate” former Vice President Joe Biden and his son’s dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine. Vindman’s ouster, however, seemed imminent after Trump mocked him Thursday during his post-acquittal celebration with Republican supporters in the East Room and said Friday that he was not happy with him.
“You think I’m supposed to be happy with him?” Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. “I’m not. … They are going to be making that decision.”
Vindman, a 20-year Army veteran, wore his uniform full of medals, including a purple heart, when he appeared late last year for what turned out to be a testy televised impeachment hearing. Trump supporters raised questions about the immigrant’s allegiance to the United States — his parents fled the Soviet Union when he was a child —and noted that he had received offers to work for the government of Ukraine, offers Vindman said he swiftly dismissed.
“I am an American,” he stated emphatically.
Trump backers cheered Vindman’s removal, while Democrats were aghast.
“The White House is running a two for one special today on deep state leakers,” Rep. Paul Gosar, an Arizona Republican, wrote on Twitter.
A Twitter account used by Trump’s reelection campaign, @TrumpWarRoom, claimed Vindman leaked information to the whistleblower whose complaint about Trump’s call ignited the investigation, and “colluded with Democrats to start the partisan impeachment coup.”
Former Trump NSC official Tim Morrison testified that others had brought concerns that Vindman may have leaked something. Vindman, in his own congressional testimony, denied leaking any information.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the firing was another example of how the “White House runs away from the truth.”
“Lt. Col. Vindman lived up to his oath to protect and defend our Constitution,” Schumer said in a statement. “This action is not a sign of strength. It only shows President Trump’s weakness.”
Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, recalled how Vindman in testimony before the House impeachment panel said that he reassured his worried father that would be “fine for telling the truth.”
“It’s appalling that this administration may prove him wrong,” Clinton said in a tweet.
At last fall’s hearing, when the senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, addressed him as “Mr. Vindman,” the Iraq War veteran replied: “Ranking member, it’s Lt. Col. Vindman please.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper was asked what the Pentagon would do to ensure that Vindman faces no retribution. “We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that,” Esper said. “We’ve already addressed that in policy and other means.”
Alexander Vindman is scheduled to enter a military college in Washington, D.C., this summer, and his brother is to be assigned to the Army General Counsel’s Office, according to two officials who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and so spoke on condition of anonymity.
Pressman said Vindman was among a handful of men and women who courageously “put their faith in country ahead of fear” but have “paid a price.”
“There is no question in the mind of any American why this man’s job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House,” Pressman said. “Lt. Col. Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful.”


shareblue--2020-02-10--GOP budget chair dismisses Trump's plan as 'just a list of suggestions'

A key Senate Republican is already dismissing Donald Trump 's proposed fiscal year 2021 budget , hours after it was released .
The $ 4.8 trillion proposal has so far received bipartisan criticism for its cuts to the social safety net and other major programs and for its massive increases to the national debt .
Republican Sen. Mike Enzi ( WY ) , chair of the Senate Budget Committee , specifically said in a statement Monday that Trump 's proposal will likely go nowhere , waving off his wishlist items as merely `` suggestions . ''
`` Presidents ' budgets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but in the end , they are just a list of suggestions , as the power of the purse rests with Congress , '' Enzi wrote .
`` Bipartisan consensus will be necessary to bring our debt and deficits under control .
I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put our country on a more sustainable fiscal course . ''
Though Trump ran on promises of balanced budgets and elimination of the entire national debt by 2024 , the deficit has grown to $ 1 trillion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a historic high .
A senior administration official told Fox Business on Sunday that even if the economy stays strong , this budget proposal will not lead to a balanced budget until 2035 .
Trump 's budget plan includes cuts to Social Security disability benefits and Medicaid , as well as food stamps , farm subsidies , and student loans .
During his 2016 campaign , Trump repeatedly promised not to make any cuts to Medicare , Medicaid , or Social Security , while claiming his Democratic and Republican opponents were going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said , `` We will not be touching your Social Security or Medicare in Fiscal 2021 Budget .
Only the Democrats will destroy them by destroying our Country ’ s greatest ever Economy ! ''
Enzi has previously raised warning flags about Trump 's budgets and their massive expansion of the national debt , despite voting for Trump 's 2017 tax bill , which exploded the deficit by an estimated $ 1 trillion over a decade .
Other Republicans echoed Enzi 's attempts this week to frame Trump 's budget as little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not become law .
Sen. Kevin Cramer ( R-ND ) , a Trump loyalist , said Monday , `` Each year the President delivers his budget then Congress gets to work on its own .
The Admin ’ s 2021 Budget contains several provisions I do not agree with .
This includes cuts to our military 's intelligence gathering resources for which protect our troops & global interests . ''
Rep. Rick Crawford , another staunch Trump ally , said in a radio interview on Monday that Congress `` does n't adopt presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never happens , '' he said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A key Senate Republican is already dismissing Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget, hours after it was released.
The $4.8 trillion proposal has so far received bipartisan criticism for its cuts to the social safety net and other major programs and for its massive increases to the national debt.
Republican Sen. Mike Enzi (WY), chair of the Senate Budget Committee, specifically said in a statement Monday that Trump’s proposal will likely go nowhere, waving off his wishlist items as merely “suggestions.”
“Presidents’ budgets are a reflection of Administration priorities, but in the end, they are just a list of suggestions, as the power of the purse rests with Congress,” Enzi wrote. “Bipartisan consensus will be necessary to bring our debt and deficits under control. I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put our country on a more sustainable fiscal course.”
Though Trump ran on promises of balanced budgets and elimination of the entire national debt by 2024, the deficit has grown to $1 trillion annually and the national debt is at a historic high. A senior administration official told Fox Business on Sunday that even if the economy stays strong, this budget proposal will not lead to a balanced budget until 2035.
Trump’s budget plan includes cuts to Social Security disability benefits and Medicaid, as well as food stamps, farm subsidies, and student loans.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump repeatedly promised not to make any cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security, while claiming his Democratic and Republican opponents were going to slash the programs. On Saturday, Trump said, “We will not be touching your Social Security or Medicare in Fiscal 2021 Budget. Only the Democrats will destroy them by destroying our Country’s greatest ever Economy!”
Enzi has previously raised warning flags about Trump’s budgets and their massive expansion of the national debt, despite voting for Trump’s 2017 tax bill, which exploded the deficit by an estimated $1 trillion over a decade.
Other Republicans echoed Enzi’s attempts this week to frame Trump’s budget as little more than a casual suggestion that will not become law.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Trump loyalist, said Monday, “Each year the President delivers his budget then Congress gets to work on its own. The Admin’s 2021 Budget contains several provisions I do not agree with. This includes cuts to our military’s intelligence gathering resources for which protect our troops & global interests.”
Rep. Rick Crawford, another staunch Trump ally, said in a radio interview on Monday that Congress “doesn’t adopt presidential budgets” automatically.
“It just never happens,” he said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-10--Trump still losing to all major Democratic candidates after acquittal

If the election were held today , Donald Trump would lose reelection to every major Democratic presidential candidate , according to a Quinnipiac poll released on Monday .
The poll 's findings come after the Republican-controlled Senate voted to acquit Trump of the two articles of impeachment against him — one for abuse of power and another for obstruction of Congress — suggesting that acquittal did not help Trump 's reelection chances .
In fact , the poll found that 55 % of American voters believe the Senate acquittal , `` does not clear [ Trump ] of any wrongdoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted head-to-head polls between Trump and six Democratic presidential hopefuls .
The responses showed : • Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg beating Trump , 51 % to 42 % .
Trump continues to have a low approval rating , with just 43 % of Americans saying they are happy with his job performance .
According to Quinnipiac , that is lower than former President Barack Obama 's approval rating at this same point in his presidency , when 45 % approved of the job he was doing .
It 's also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ W. Bush , who had a 48 % approval rating at this point in his presidency .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

If the election were held today, Donald Trump would lose reelection to every major Democratic presidential candidate, according to a Quinnipiac poll released on Monday.
The poll’s findings come after the Republican-controlled Senate voted to acquit Trump of the two articles of impeachment against him — one for abuse of power and another for obstruction of Congress — suggesting that acquittal did not help Trump’s reelection chances.
In fact, the poll found that 55% of American voters believe the Senate acquittal, “does not clear [Trump] of any wrongdoing in the Ukraine matter.”
Quinnipiac conducted head-to-head polls between Trump and six Democratic presidential hopefuls. The responses showed:
Former Vice President Joe Biden beating Trump, 50% to 43%.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) beating Trump, 51% to 43%.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) beating Trump, 48% to 44%.
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg beating Trump, 47% to 43%.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) beating Trump, 49% to 43%.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg beating Trump, 51% to 42%.
Trump continues to have a low approval rating, with just 43% of Americans saying they are happy with his job performance.
According to Quinnipiac, that is lower than former President Barack Obama’s approval rating at this same point in his presidency, when 45% approved of the job he was doing. It’s also lower than that of former President George W. Bush, who had a 48% approval rating at this point in his presidency.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-10--GOP says prescription drugs cost too much but voted against lowering them

At least two dozen House Republicans have called on Congress to address the rising costs of prescription drugs after voting against legislation to rein in the rising costs of prescription drugs .
The most recent to do so was Rep. Doug Collins ( R-GA ) , who went on Fox Business Monday morning demanding the House address the issue , which was addressed in December .
`` Here 's the problem : We 've got to get back to actually governing , '' Collins said .
`` The American people want to see us put a budget together .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of , '' he added .
In December 2019 , a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives passed H.R .
3 , the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act .
The bill would allow the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices and put in provisions to prevent prescription drug cost spikes .
Since Jan. 1 , the costs of more than 630 prescription drugs have increased .
The legislation opposed by these Republicans would reduce the cost of medication to treat breast cancer , arthritis , diabetes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 96 % .
For example , the cost of Humira , a drug to help with arthritis , would drop by by 81 % , from $ 34,411 per year to $ 8,276 per year .
Premarin , a drug to fight breast cancer , would drop in price by 96 % , from $ 568 to just $ 21 per year , according to an analysis by the House Ways and Means Committee .
Collins , along with 190 other Republicans , voted against the bill .
Since that Dec. 12 vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook or Twitter about the high cost of prescription drugs .
On Jan. 27 , Rep. Fred Upton ( R-MI ) tweeted he had heard from `` countless folks '' in his district that `` prescription drugs cost too much . ''
`` They 're right , '' Upton added , not mentioning that he voted against a bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs .
`` The cost of health care and prescription drugs is too high , '' Rep. Jackie Walorski ( R-IN ) wrote on Feb. 4 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she added , despite her vote against H.R .
3 .
`` Congress should now act with the President on issues such as the high cost of prescription drugs , the high cost of health care , border security , and keeping our very strong economy going , '' Rep. Andy Harris ( R-MD ) wrote on Facebook on Feb. 4 , two months after voting against a bill to lower the high cost of prescription drugs .
In late January , Rep. Tom Emmer ( R-MN ) , the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that House Democrats ' ignoring the issue of prescription drugs `` is gon na cost them '' in November 's election .
Republican after Republican has taken to social media to lament the high cost of prescription drugs , yet only two Republicans voted for legislation to lower their cost in the House .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

At least two dozen House Republicans have called on Congress to address the rising costs of prescription drugs after voting against legislation to rein in the rising costs of prescription drugs.
The most recent to do so was Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), who went on Fox Business Monday morning demanding the House address the issue, which was addressed in December.
“Here’s the problem: We’ve got to get back to actually governing,” Collins said.
“The American people want to see us put a budget together. They want to see drug pricing taken care of,” he added.
In December 2019, a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The bill would allow the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices and put in provisions to prevent prescription drug cost spikes.
Since Jan. 1, the costs of more than 630 prescription drugs have increased. The legislation opposed by these Republicans would reduce the cost of medication to treat breast cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and other medical conditions by as much as 96%.
For example, the cost of Humira, a drug to help with arthritis, would drop by by 81%, from $34,411 per year to $8,276 per year. Premarin, a drug to fight breast cancer, would drop in price by 96%, from $568 to just $21 per year, according to an analysis by the House Ways and Means Committee.
Collins, along with 190 other Republicans, voted against the bill.
Since that Dec. 12 vote, at least 24 Republicans have written on Facebook or Twitter about the high cost of prescription drugs.
On Jan. 27, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) tweeted he had heard from “countless folks” in his district that “prescription drugs cost too much.”
“They’re right,” Upton added, not mentioning that he voted against a bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
“The cost of health care and prescription drugs is too high,” Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) wrote on Feb. 4. “Republicans are committed to lowering costs,” she added, despite her vote against H.R. 3.
“Congress should now act with the President on issues such as the high cost of prescription drugs, the high cost of health care, border security, and keeping our very strong economy going,” Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) wrote on Facebook on Feb. 4, two months after voting against a bill to lower the high cost of prescription drugs.
In late January, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), the head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said that House Democrats’ ignoring the issue of prescription drugs “is gonna cost them” in November’s election.
Republican after Republican has taken to social media to lament the high cost of prescription drugs, yet only two Republicans voted for legislation to lower their cost in the House.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-10--Trump finally agrees to speed up immigration cases for military interpreters

Donald Trump 's administration has agreed to speed up the cases of some former interpreters for the U.S. military in Iraq and hundreds of other refugees whose efforts to move to the United States have been in limbo since he announced his travel bans three years ago .
The news was contained in a settlement filed in federal court in Seattle on Monday .
It concerned more than 300 refugees who were on the verge of being permitted to come to America in 2017 when their applications were halted as part of Trump 's efforts to restrict travel from several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected are close relatives of refugees who are already in the United States , while others are from 11 countries , including Egypt , Iran , and Somalia , that Trump singled out , citing security reasons .
`` The government tried to keep refugee families apart under the pretense of national security , '' said Lisa Nowlin , an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington , which sued along with several other organizations .
`` This settlement aims to undo the harmful effects of the illegal and misguided ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugees from the 11 countries and on relatives of those already in the United States — known as `` follow-to-join '' refugees — were companion measures to Trump 's broader travel ban on those seeking visas to enter the United States , which the Supreme Court eventually allowed .
U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle — the same judge who blocked Trump 's initial , broader travel ban in early 2017 — blocked the companion refugee restrictions late that year in consolidated lawsuits that were brought by the ACLU , Jewish Family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other organizations .
They alleged that the refugee bans were discriminatory and arbitrary and that they violated due process rights .
By the time Robart agreed to block the bans , hundreds of refugees had their cases upended , leaving them in administrative limbo .
For many , background checks , medical clearances or other required documentation had expired by the time the bans were revoked .
That meant they had to begin the process over again .
The plaintiffs included former interpreters for the U.S. military in Iraq , who sued under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their identities became public .
Others were refugees who had petitioned to have their spouses and children join them in the United States from camps in Kenya , Uganda , and elsewhere .
One plaintiff , Allen Vaught , an Iraq war veteran from Dallas , said the refugee ban `` derailed efforts to get my last surviving Iraqi translator , who served bravely alongside U.S. military forces for many years , to the United States . ''
Under the settlement , the refugees wo n't automatically be admitted to the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their cases to the front of the line for processing .
`` What the administration did really messed up their cases , '' said Mariko Hirose , litigation director of the New York-based International Refugee Assistance Project .
`` This settlement is aimed at making sure that people who were affected by the ban are able to get their cases adjudicated and hopefully come to the U.S. very quickly . ''

Donald Trump’s administration has agreed to speed up the cases of some former interpreters for the U.S. military in Iraq and hundreds of other refugees whose efforts to move to the United States have been in limbo since he announced his travel bans three years ago.
The news was contained in a settlement filed in federal court in Seattle on Monday. It concerned more than 300 refugees who were on the verge of being permitted to come to America in 2017 when their applications were halted as part of Trump’s efforts to restrict travel from several mostly Muslim nations.
Some of those affected are close relatives of refugees who are already in the United States, while others are from 11 countries, including Egypt, Iran, and Somalia, that Trump singled out, citing security reasons.
“The government tried to keep refugee families apart under the pretense of national security,” said Lisa Nowlin, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, which sued along with several other organizations. “This settlement aims to undo the harmful effects of the illegal and misguided ban on refugees.”
The restrictions on refugees from the 11 countries and on relatives of those already in the United States — known as “follow-to-join” refugees — were companion measures to Trump’s broader travel ban on those seeking visas to enter the United States, which the Supreme Court eventually allowed.
U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle — the same judge who blocked Trump’s initial, broader travel ban in early 2017 — blocked the companion refugee restrictions late that year in consolidated lawsuits that were brought by the ACLU, Jewish Family Services, International Refugee Assistance Project and other organizations. They alleged that the refugee bans were discriminatory and arbitrary and that they violated due process rights.
By the time Robart agreed to block the bans, hundreds of refugees had their cases upended, leaving them in administrative limbo. For many, background checks, medical clearances or other required documentation had expired by the time the bans were revoked. That meant they had to begin the process over again.
The plaintiffs included former interpreters for the U.S. military in Iraq, who sued under pseudonyms because they could face threats if their identities became public. Others were refugees who had petitioned to have their spouses and children join them in the United States from camps in Kenya, Uganda, and elsewhere.
One plaintiff, Allen Vaught, an Iraq war veteran from Dallas, said the refugee ban “derailed efforts to get my last surviving Iraqi translator, who served bravely alongside U.S. military forces for many years, to the United States.”
Under the settlement, the refugees won’t automatically be admitted to the United States, but the government agreed to move their cases to the front of the line for processing.
“What the administration did really messed up their cases,” said Mariko Hirose, litigation director of the New York-based International Refugee Assistance Project. “This settlement is aimed at making sure that people who were affected by the ban are able to get their cases adjudicated and hopefully come to the U.S. very quickly.”


shareblue--2020-02-10--Trump wants to slash funding for toxic waste cleanup

Donald Trump called Monday for slashing funding for the Superfund hazardous waste program , even as the backlog of clean-ups has grown around the country for lack of money .
The $ 113 million in Superfund clean-up cuts are part of Trump 's proposal for a $ 2.4 billion , or 26 % , cut in overall funding for the Environmental Protection Agency .
That 's in line with the president 's vow as a candidate to cut all but `` little tidbits '' of the environmental agency in a push to cut regulations he sees as unnecessarily burdensome to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Trump has called for cuts nearing one-third of the environmental agency 's budget .
Republicans and Democrats in Congress annually have overridden his proposal , keeping funding for the agency 's environmental and public health oversight roughly even .
Other major cuts for the EPA in Trump 's latest proposal include eliminating $ 66 million in funding for the Energy Star program — a popular program that lets consumers compare the energy efficiency of appliances — and for voluntary climate programs .
`` These programs are not essential to EPA 's core @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private sector , '' the budget says .
Trump and his EPA administrators have stressed Superfund clean-ups as one of their top environmental priorities .
However , as The Associated Press reported in January , the Trump administration has built up the biggest backlog of unfunded toxic Superfund clean-up projects in at least 15 years , nearly triple the number that were stalled for lack of money in the Obama era , agency figures show .
The four-decade-old Superfund program is meant to tackle some of the most heavily contaminated sites in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildlife , and habitat around the sites with dangerous industry pollutants .
Trump 's proposal says the cut reflects that his administration is running the Superfund program more efficiently , and `` challenges the agency to optimize the use of settlement funds for the cleanup actions '' at those Superfund sites where a responsible company has been found to pay for the work .

Donald Trump called Monday for slashing funding for the Superfund hazardous waste program, even as the backlog of clean-ups has grown around the country for lack of money.
The $113 million in Superfund clean-up cuts are part of Trump’s proposal for a $2.4 billion, or 26%, cut in overall funding for the Environmental Protection Agency. That’s in line with the president’s vow as a candidate to cut all but “little tidbits” of the environmental agency in a push to cut regulations he sees as unnecessarily burdensome to business.
Monday marked the fourth year where Trump has called for cuts nearing one-third of the environmental agency’s budget. Republicans and Democrats in Congress annually have overridden his proposal, keeping funding for the agency’s environmental and public health oversight roughly even.
Other major cuts for the EPA in Trump’s latest proposal include eliminating $66 million in funding for the Energy Star program — a popular program that lets consumers compare the energy efficiency of appliances — and for voluntary climate programs.
“These programs are not essential to EPA’s core mission and can be implemented by the private sector,” the budget says.
Trump and his EPA administrators have stressed Superfund clean-ups as one of their top environmental priorities.
However, as The Associated Press reported in January, the Trump administration has built up the biggest backlog of unfunded toxic Superfund clean-up projects in at least 15 years, nearly triple the number that were stalled for lack of money in the Obama era, agency figures show.
The four-decade-old Superfund program is meant to tackle some of the most heavily contaminated sites in the U.S., which threaten the residents, wildlife, and habitat around the sites with dangerous industry pollutants.
Trump’s proposal says the cut reflects that his administration is running the Superfund program more efficiently, and “challenges the agency to optimize the use of settlement funds for the cleanup actions” at those Superfund sites where a responsible company has been found to pay for the work.