shareblue--2020-12-10--Education secretary says education is 'horrible idea' unless you go into debt

Outgoing Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos argued on Thursday that free education was a `` horrible idea '' that would lead to rationing .
Appearing on Fox Business , DeVos was asked about proposals to forgive student loan debt for roughly 45 million Americans .
She responded that they should instead pay off what they owe .
`` To ask taxpayers — two out of three of whom have not gone to college — to help underwrite the forgiveness of those one in three that have is fundamentally unfair , '' she argued , suggesting that students should evaluate colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after graduating .
`` For students that have debt today , there are many different repayment plans that they can avail themselves of . ''
`` The notion of free college is a horrible idea , period .
Because we know that anything that 's free becomes automatically rationed and it is a form of socialism , '' DeVos said .
`` America 's higher education system is the envy of the world .
The last thing we want to do is socialize higher education and basically devalue everything that higher education has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won last month by a wide margin over Donald Trump .
Biden made partial forgiveness of student loan debt a key part of his campaign agenda — along with getting rid of DeVos and replacing her with someone who believes in public education .
`` It will take years to repair the damage Betsy DeVos is doing to our schools , '' he tweeted last December .
`` Our students and educators deserve a Secretary of Education who values our public schools — and is actually an educator . ''
Published with permission @ @ @ @ @ @

Outgoing Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos argued on Thursday that free education was a “horrible idea” that would lead to rationing.
Appearing on Fox Business, DeVos was asked about proposals to forgive student loan debt for roughly 45 million Americans. She responded that they should instead pay off what they owe.
“To ask taxpayers — two out of three of whom have not gone to college — to help underwrite the forgiveness of those one in three that have is fundamentally unfair,” she argued, suggesting that students should evaluate colleges based on how much alumni typically earn after graduating. “For students that have debt today, there are many different repayment plans that they can avail themselves of.”
“The notion of free college is a horrible idea, period. Because we know that anything that’s free becomes automatically rationed and it is a form of socialism,” DeVos said. “America’s higher education system is the envy of the world. The last thing we want to do is socialize higher education and basically devalue everything that higher education has to offer.”
President-elect Joe Biden won last month by a wide margin over Donald Trump. Biden made partial forgiveness of student loan debt a key part of his campaign agenda — along with getting rid of DeVos and replacing her with someone who believes in public education.
“It will take years to repair the damage Betsy DeVos is doing to our schools,” he tweeted last December. “Our students and educators deserve a Secretary of Education who values our public schools — and is actually an educator.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--Indicted Texas AG accused of 'begging for a pardon' with 'stunt' to please Trump

Sen. Ben Sasse ( R-NE ) on Thursday accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton — who filed a lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to overturn Donald Trump 's election loss in four states — of waging the legal battle in order to secure a pardon from Trump .
`` I 'm no lawyer , but I suspect the Supreme Court swats this away , '' Sasse said of the lawsuit in a statement to the Washington Examiner .
`` From the brief , it looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt rather than a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already been rejected by federal courts and Texas ' own solicitor general is n't signing on . ''
Paxton is a Trump ally and the top law enforcement officer of Texas .
He also faces a litany of personal legal troubles .
He 's been under indictment for five years for alleged securities fraud .
And he 's currently under federal investigation in a separate matter , after former aides accused Paxton of committing bribery and abusing the office of the attorney general to benefit his wealthy political donors , the Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , the Supreme Court is unlikely to rule in favor of Paxton 's lawsuit .
However , Trump has praised Paxton 's lawsuit , calling it `` the big one '' and thanking Texas and the 17 GOP attorneys general who support its lie-filled lawsuit for filing it .
Even though Trump is fighting to overturn the election results , he 's reportedly planning a spate of pardons for his family and allies in the coming weeks — a sign he knows he will no longer be president come Jan. 20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly admit it .
Paxton said Wednesday he did not discuss a pardon with Trump , according to a report from a Texas television station .
However , Paxton is scheduled to have lunch with Trump on Thursday afternoon , along with other GOP attorneys general who are backing his anti-democratic lawsuit .
Trump , for his part , has rewarded those who have been loyal to him with pardons or commutations .
• He commuted the sentence of longtime ally and loyalist Roger Stone , who had been sentenced to three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Congress , witness tampering , and obstructing the House investigation into Trump 's alleged ties to Russia .
• He issued a wide-reaching pardon to his former national security adviser Michael Flynn , who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a now-former Russian ambassador .
The Department of Justice had been trying to drop the charges against Flynn , despite his guilty plea , but Trump stepped in to give a broad pardon to Flynn of `` any and all possible offenses '' stemming from former special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granting a preemptive pardon for any crimes with which Flynn has not yet been charged .
• He pardoned Joe Arpaio , the overtly racist former Maricopa County sheriff who was one of the first elected officials to endorse Trump 's presidential bid in 2016 .
Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt of court , after he refused to stop racially profiling Hispanic residents , despite being ordered to by a judge .
• He commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich , the former Illinois governor whose wife went on a public flattery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commutation .
Blagojevich was serving a long prison sentence for trying to sell the Senate seat former President Barack Obama vacated when he took office in 2009 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) on Thursday accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton — who filed a lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to overturn Donald Trump’s election loss in four states — of waging the legal battle in order to secure a pardon from Trump.
“I’m no lawyer, but I suspect the Supreme Court swats this away,” Sasse said of the lawsuit in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “From the brief, it looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt rather than a lawsuit — as all of its assertions have already been rejected by federal courts and Texas’ own solicitor general isn’t signing on.”
Paxton is a Trump ally and the top law enforcement officer of Texas.
He also faces a litany of personal legal troubles.
He’s been under indictment for five years for alleged securities fraud. And he’s currently under federal investigation in a separate matter, after former aides accused Paxton of committing bribery and abusing the office of the attorney general to benefit his wealthy political donors, the Associated Press reported on Nov. 17.
As Sasse said, the Supreme Court is unlikely to rule in favor of Paxton’s lawsuit.
However, Trump has praised Paxton’s lawsuit, calling it “the big one” and thanking Texas and the 17 GOP attorneys general who support its lie-filled lawsuit for filing it.
Even though Trump is fighting to overturn the election results, he’s reportedly planning a spate of pardons for his family and allies in the coming weeks — a sign he knows he will no longer be president come Jan. 20, 2020, even as he refuses to publicly admit it.
Paxton said Wednesday he did not discuss a pardon with Trump, according to a report from a Texas television station.
However, Paxton is scheduled to have lunch with Trump on Thursday afternoon, along with other GOP attorneys general who are backing his anti-democratic lawsuit.
Trump, for his part, has rewarded those who have been loyal to him with pardons or commutations.
For example:
He commuted the sentence of longtime ally and loyalist Roger Stone, who had been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstructing the House investigation into Trump’s alleged ties to Russia.
He issued a wide-reaching pardon to his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a now-former Russian ambassador. The Department of Justice had been trying to drop the charges against Flynn, despite his guilty plea, but Trump stepped in to give a broad pardon to Flynn of “any and all possible offenses” stemming from former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation — essentially granting a preemptive pardon for any crimes with which Flynn has not yet been charged.
He pardoned Joe Arpaio, the overtly racist former Maricopa County sheriff who was one of the first elected officials to endorse Trump’s presidential bid in 2016. Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt of court, after he refused to stop racially profiling Hispanic residents, despite being ordered to by a judge.
He commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor whose wife went on a public flattery campaign of Trump to help earn the commutation. Blagojevich was serving a long prison sentence for trying to sell the Senate seat former President Barack Obama vacated when he took office in 2009.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--Ted Cruz says Senate won't let Biden do his job unless Trump's OK with it

Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) plans to obstruct every one of President-elect Joe Biden 's Cabinet confirmations unless Donald Trump concedes .
Trump , of course , has vowed never to do so .
`` As long as there 's litigation ongoing , and the election result is disputed , I do not think you will see the Senate act to confirm any nominee , '' Cruz said in an Axios interview on Wednesday .
Cruz and his fellow Republicans will control the Senate until at least Inauguration Day .
If Democrats win two runoffs in Georgia on Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break a 50-50 tie , giving her party a slim majority .
Other Senate Republicans have also reportedly indicated that they hope to obstruct some or all of Biden 's appointees .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly would only allow votes on picks he deems acceptable .
Homeland Security and Government Affairs chair Ron Johnson ( WI ) also also suggested to Axios this week that until `` some pretty troubling irregularities '' about the 2020 election are explained , he might also try to block confirmations .
A Cruz spokesperson did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story .
But his suggestion that his caucus would stop Biden from assembling a team until the election is no longer disputed could mean an indefinite delay .
To date , Trump and his supporters have filed and lost dozens of legal challenges to his election defeat .
Though they have baselessly alleged fraud or cheating , their allegations have been refuted by media fact-checkers , election officials from both parties , and judges — even some appointed by Trump .
While his viable legal avenues to challenge the election have largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ file bogus legal challenges for the next four years .
And on Nov. 23 , Trump made it clear that he never intends to stop disputing his defeat .
`` Will never concede to fake ballots [ ... ] , '' he tweeted .
On Wednesday , Trump spent most of a White House Hanukkah celebration lying about the election results and claiming he was `` going to win . ''
Regardless of whether Trump and Cruz accept the results , Biden will be inaugurated in 40 days .
In order to hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , massive unemployment , racial divisions , and other challenges , he will need a Cabinet — and fast .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) plans to obstruct every one of President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet confirmations unless Donald Trump concedes.
Trump, of course, has vowed never to do so.
“As long as there’s litigation ongoing, and the election result is disputed, I do not think you will see the Senate act to confirm any nominee,” Cruz said in an Axios interview on Wednesday.
Cruz and his fellow Republicans will control the Senate until at least Inauguration Day. If Democrats win two runoffs in Georgia on Jan. 5, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would break a 50-50 tie, giving her party a slim majority.
Other Senate Republicans have also reportedly indicated that they hope to obstruct some or all of Biden’s appointees. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly would only allow votes on picks he deems acceptable. Homeland Security and Government Affairs chair Ron Johnson (WI) also also suggested to Axios this week that until “some pretty troubling irregularities” about the 2020 election are explained, he might also try to block confirmations.
A Cruz spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story. But his suggestion that his caucus would stop Biden from assembling a team until the election is no longer disputed could mean an indefinite delay.
To date, Trump and his supporters have filed and lost dozens of legal challenges to his election defeat. Though they have baselessly alleged fraud or cheating, their allegations have been refuted by media fact-checkers, election officials from both parties, and judges — even some appointed by Trump.
While his viable legal avenues to challenge the election have largely been exhausted, Trump could continue to file bogus legal challenges for the next four years.
And on Nov. 23, Trump made it clear that he never intends to stop disputing his defeat. “Will never concede to fake ballots […],” he tweeted.
On Wednesday, Trump spent most of a White House Hanukkah celebration lying about the election results and claiming he was “going to win.”
Regardless of whether Trump and Cruz accept the results, Biden will be inaugurated in 40 days. In order to hit the ground running to address the pandemic, massive unemployment, racial divisions, and other challenges, he will need a Cabinet — and fast.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--Incoming QAnon congresswoman is spreading some real whoppers about the COVID vaccine

Congresswoman-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene took to Twitter Wednesday night to falsely claim the COVID vaccine is dangerous and to mock mask-wearing as ineffective .
`` Sadly , many families have dealt with vaccine injuries , '' she tweeted accompanying a link to an article inaccurately stating that the COVID vaccine causes Bell 's palsy .
`` All COVID-19 vaccines should be by CHOICE .
Not mandated . ''
She then posted a meme of a face mask reshaped to look like a holiday angel , captioned `` The Official DIY Christmas ornament for 2020 . ''
Accompanying the meme , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of a mask ! ''
Later , she complained on the platform that the necessity for a COVID vaccine has been overhyped .
`` Over 99 % of people under age 60 survive COVID-19 , '' she tweeted , quoting the Hoover Institute 's Victor Davis Hanson appearing on Fox News .
`` There are very real side effects being reported with the [ COVID ] vaccine .
Why are Democrats wanting the vaccine distributed based on racial justice ?
Oppose ! ''
But COVID denialism is just the latest in Greene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greene , elected to the House in November as representative for the 14th Congressional District of Georgia , is notorious for her other tinfoil-hat conspiracy theories .
She is a proud supporter of QAnon , a far-right conspiracy theory touting that a secret cabal of Democratic child abusers control the U.S. government , and once called `` Q , '' its purported leader , a `` patriot . ''
In June , Politico uncovered videos of Greene spouting hateful racist , antisemitic , and Islamophobic views .
According to the outlet , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` Nazi , '' claimed Muslims did not belong in politics , and accused Black voters of being `` slaves to the Democratic Party . ''
Greene has also promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories in the past , referring to a `` so-called plane that crashed into the Pentagon '' in a 2018 video .
`` It ’ s odd there 's never any evidence shown for a plane in the Pentagon , '' she said .
Views like Greene 's grow increasingly dangerous during a global pandemic that claimed a record number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , top infectious diseases specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci said it was `` extraordinary '' that many Americans still view the coronavirus pandemic as a hoax .
`` Trouble is , you go to different parts of the country and even when an outbreak is clear and hospitals are on the verge of being overrun , there are a substantial proportion of people who still think this is not real , that it 's fake news or it 's a hoax , '' Fauci said .
As the vaccine is rolled out , Fauci @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on board with public health measures .
`` It 's extraordinary , I have never really seen anything like this , '' he noted Wednesday .
`` We have got to overcome that and pull together as a nation ... with adhering to public health measures . ''
But much like Greene , many Americans are still promoting wild conspiracy theories about the virus .
According to a YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project survey in late October , 38 % of Americans believe the COVID death rate has been greatly exaggerated .
An April study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the U.S. government created COVID-19 , and another July study noted that some 25 % of Americans believed coronavirus-related conspiracy theories in whole or in part .
University of Bristol cognitive psychologist Stephan Lewandowsky , who specializes in the study of disinformation , noted that conspiracy theories abound where governments send mixed messages to the public .
And Donald Trump has been especially guilty of this .
The White House occupant recently claimed that photos by a Nevada doctor of makeshift COVID ward in a parking lot were a hoax , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disappear after the election .
But such denialism is not uncommon during frightening periods of history , Lewandosky said .
`` Any scary event — a pandemic , a mass shooting — that denies people a sense of control will lead to a proliferation of conspiracy theories , '' he added .
`` They give people a sense of psychological comfort : the feeling that they are not at the mercy of randomness . ''
He noted that conspiracy theories are dangerous in general , but `` more so in a pandemic if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or commit acts of vandalism or violence . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Congresswoman-elect Marjorie Taylor Greene took to Twitter Wednesday night to falsely claim the COVID vaccine is dangerous and to mock mask-wearing as ineffective.
“Sadly, many families have dealt with vaccine injuries,” she tweeted accompanying a link to an article inaccurately stating that the COVID vaccine causes Bell’s palsy. “All COVID-19 vaccines should be by CHOICE. Not mandated.”
She then posted a meme of a face mask reshaped to look like a holiday angel, captioned “The Official DIY Christmas ornament for 2020.”
Accompanying the meme, Greene tweeted: “The most effective use of a mask!”
Later, she complained on the platform that the necessity for a COVID vaccine has been overhyped.
“Over 99% of people under age 60 survive COVID-19,” she tweeted, quoting the Hoover Institute’s Victor Davis Hanson appearing on Fox News. “There are very real side effects being reported with the [COVID] vaccine. Why are Democrats wanting the vaccine distributed based on racial justice? Oppose!”
But COVID denialism is just the latest in Greene’s long history of spreading disinformation.
Greene, elected to the House in November as representative for the 14th Congressional District of Georgia, is notorious for her other tinfoil-hat conspiracy theories.
She is a proud supporter of QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory touting that a secret cabal of Democratic child abusers control the U.S. government, and once called “Q,” its purported leader, a “patriot.”
In June, Politico uncovered videos of Greene spouting hateful racist, antisemitic, and Islamophobic views.
According to the outlet, she called Jewish billionaire and philanthropist George Soros a “Nazi,” claimed Muslims did not belong in politics, and accused Black voters of being “slaves to the Democratic Party.”
Greene has also promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories in the past, referring to a “so-called plane that crashed into the Pentagon” in a 2018 video.
“It’s odd there’s never any evidence shown for a plane in the Pentagon,” she said.
Views like Greene’s grow increasingly dangerous during a global pandemic that claimed a record number of lives Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, top infectious diseases specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci said it was “extraordinary” that many Americans still view the coronavirus pandemic as a hoax.
“Trouble is, you go to different parts of the country and even when an outbreak is clear and hospitals are on the verge of being overrun, there are a substantial proportion of people who still think this is not real, that it’s fake news or it’s a hoax,” Fauci said.
As the vaccine is rolled out, Fauci said it’s critical that Americans get on board with public health measures.
“It’s extraordinary, I have never really seen anything like this,” he noted Wednesday. “We have got to overcome that and pull together as a nation… with adhering to public health measures.”
But much like Greene, many Americans are still promoting wild conspiracy theories about the virus.
According to a YouGov-Cambridge Globalism Project survey in late October, 38% of Americans believe the COVID death rate has been greatly exaggerated.
An April study concluded that 30% of Americans believed that the U.S. government created COVID-19, and another July study noted that some 25% of Americans believed coronavirus-related conspiracy theories in whole or in part.
University of Bristol cognitive psychologist Stephan Lewandowsky, who specializes in the study of disinformation, noted that conspiracy theories abound where governments send mixed messages to the public.
And Donald Trump has been especially guilty of this.
The White House occupant recently claimed that photos by a Nevada doctor of makeshift COVID ward in a parking lot were a hoax, and notoriously predicted that the virus would simply disappear after the election.
But such denialism is not uncommon during frightening periods of history, Lewandosky said.
“Any scary event — a pandemic, a mass shooting — that denies people a sense of control will lead to a proliferation of conspiracy theories,” he added. “They give people a sense of psychological comfort: the feeling that they are not at the mercy of randomness.”
He noted that conspiracy theories are dangerous in general, but “more so in a pandemic if they lead people to ignore official advice, or commit acts of vandalism or violence.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-10--It sure looks like Trump's coup is just another get-rich-quick scheme

Donald Trump 's election loss grift now includes profiting off his designated `` recount '' fund , according to a new report from Salon .
Shortly after Election Day , the Trump campaign blasted donors with clever marketing , seeking money for an `` Official Election Defense Fund '' to `` protect the integrity of the Election !
, '' though it did n't provide any evidence of election fraud .
Trump has insisted that recounts would prove him the ultimate winner of the election .
However , the partial recount in Wisconsin , for which his campaign paid $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result .
President-elect Joe Biden won that state .
Multiple recounts in Georgia also did not change the fact that Biden won that state .
Nevertheless , Trump has solicited money from his supporters to fund recounts he says will ultimately make him the winner .
But , according to a lengthy footnoted disclaimer included in those fundraising emails , 75 % of the contributions would go to Trump 's Save America PAC , from which Trump might eventually be able to pay himself a salary once he 's out of office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee .
Only donations of more than $ 5,000 would then go to `` DJTP 's Recount Account . ''
This means merely a portion of the donated money would likely go toward recount efforts — but Trump found a way to personally profit off that as well .
Last Thursday , the Trump campaign filed disclosures with the Federal Elections Commission that revealed its `` recount '' fund paid $ 16,800 to DT Endeavor LLC .
The filings were first discovered by Salon .
DT Endeavor LLC , Trump 's public financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust .
A certification of trustee states that `` the purpose of the Trust is to hold assets for the benefit of Donald J. Trump '' and that money from the trust could be distributed `` at his request , '' meaning Trump could withdraw funds from the trust any time he wants .
Ultimately , the public records appear to show that the $ 16,800 ended up lining Trump 's own pocket .
The accuracy of the disclosures is also in question , Salon noted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 16,800 of donor money was used to fund a round-trip flight from Washington to Philadelphia a day after the presidential election in a Cessna private jet , which DT Endeavor owns .
But instead of the five-figure payment being recorded as a travel expense , it was as labeled as `` recount : advanced consulting , '' paid on Nov. 19 , the FEC disclosures revealed .
Revelations from the recent FEC disclosures contribute to the pattern of Trump cashing in on campaign donations and taxpayer money while bragging about donating his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has `` treated the presidency as a self-enrichment scheme , '' Alan Zibel , the Corporate Presidency Project research director at Public Citizen , told the American Independent Foundation .
Between Nov. 3 and Dec. 3 , the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee raised $ 207.5 million after incessantly repeating false claims of voter fraud and a `` stolen '' election to donors .
Trump has continued to encourage Republican lawmakers around the country to overturn the election results .
He is also enthusiastically supporting a lawsuit filed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported by 17 other Republican-led states , asking the Supreme Court to throw out tens of millions of votes and invalidate the results in several swing states that he lost .
However , all of the dozens of lawsuits filed by the campaign or Trump supporters have in dozens of lawsuits have failed to provide any evidence that the election was stolen .
In fact , the administration 's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed in November that this year 's election was the most secure in American history .
Days later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that agency , for assuring the country in a statement that there was `` no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes , changed votes , or was in any way compromised . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s election loss grift now includes profiting off his designated “recount” fund, according to a new report from Salon.
Shortly after Election Day, the Trump campaign blasted donors with clever marketing, seeking money for an “Official Election Defense Fund” to “protect the integrity of the Election!,” though it didn’t provide any evidence of election fraud.
Trump has insisted that recounts would prove him the ultimate winner of the election. However, the partial recount in Wisconsin, for which his campaign paid $3 million, did not change the result. President-elect Joe Biden won that state. Multiple recounts in Georgia also did not change the fact that Biden won that state.
Nevertheless, Trump has solicited money from his supporters to fund recounts he says will ultimately make him the winner. But, according to a lengthy footnoted disclaimer included in those fundraising emails, 75% of the contributions would go to Trump’s Save America PAC, from which Trump might eventually be able to pay himself a salary once he’s out of office, and 25% to the Republican National Committee. Only donations of more than $5,000 would then go to “DJTP’s Recount Account.”
This means merely a portion of the donated money would likely go toward recount efforts — but Trump found a way to personally profit off that as well.
Last Thursday, the Trump campaign filed disclosures with the Federal Elections Commission that revealed its “recount” fund paid $16,800 to DT Endeavor LLC. The filings were first discovered by Salon.
DT Endeavor LLC, Trump’s public financial disclosures show, is 100% owned by the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust. A certification of trustee states that “the purpose of the Trust is to hold assets for the benefit of Donald J. Trump” and that money from the trust could be distributed “at his request,” meaning Trump could withdraw funds from the trust any time he wants.
Ultimately, the public records appear to show that the $16,800 ended up lining Trump’s own pocket.
The accuracy of the disclosures is also in question, Salon noted.
Flight records pulled by Salon indicate the $16,800 of donor money was used to fund a round-trip flight from Washington to Philadelphia a day after the presidential election in a Cessna private jet, which DT Endeavor owns.
But instead of the five-figure payment being recorded as a travel expense, it was as labeled as “recount: advanced consulting,” paid on Nov. 19, the FEC disclosures revealed.
Revelations from the recent FEC disclosures contribute to the pattern of Trump cashing in on campaign donations and taxpayer money while bragging about donating his presidential salary.
Since Trump took office, he has “treated the presidency as a self-enrichment scheme,” Alan Zibel, the Corporate Presidency Project research director at Public Citizen, told the American Independent Foundation.
Between Nov. 3 and Dec. 3, the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee raised $207.5 million after incessantly repeating false claims of voter fraud and a “stolen” election to donors. Trump has continued to encourage Republican lawmakers around the country to overturn the election results.
He is also enthusiastically supporting a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and supported by 17 other Republican-led states, asking the Supreme Court to throw out tens of millions of votes and invalidate the results in several swing states that he lost.
However, all of the dozens of lawsuits filed by the campaign or Trump supporters have in dozens of lawsuits have failed to provide any evidence that the election was stolen.
In fact, the administration’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed in November that this year’s election was the most secure in American history. Days later, Trump fired Christopher Krebs, the head of that agency, for assuring the country in a statement that there was “no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-11--Supreme Court refuses GOP request to overturn election that Trump lost

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit backed by Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden 's election victory , ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation 's highest court .
The court 's order was its second this week rebuffing Republican requests that it get involved in the 2020 election outcome .
The justices turned away an appeal from Pennsylvania Republicans on Tuesday .
The Electoral College meets Monday to formally elect Biden as the next president .
More than half of House Republicans , including their top two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden 's victory in an extraordinary display of the party 's willingness to subvert the will of voters .
Seventeen Republican attorneys general and 126 members of Congress sought to join Texas and Trump in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out millions of votes in four battleground states based on baseless claims of fraud .
On Friday , House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana signed onto a brief backing the longshot bid , demonstrating Trump 's remarkable political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that many Democrats and others fear risk deeply damaging democracy .
`` This lawsuit is an act of flailing GOP desperation , which violates the principles enshrined in our American Democracy , '' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a message to Democrats on Friday .
A few Republicans have expressed concerns about the case .
Many others have remained silent .
`` Texas is a big state , but I do n't know exactly why it has a right to tell four other states how to run their elections .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the basis for that lawsuit , '' Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander told NBC 's Chuck Todd in an interview for `` Meet The Press '' that will air Sunday .
To be clear , there has been no evidence of widespread fraud .
Election law experts think the lawsuit will never last .
`` The Supreme Court is not going to overturn the election in the Texas case , as the President has told them to do , '' tweeted Rick Hasen , a law professor at the University of California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad shape as a country that 17 states could support this shameful , anti-American filing '' by Texas and its attorney general , Ken Paxton , he said .
The lawsuit filed against Michigan , Georgia , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin repeated false , disproven , and unsubstantiated accusations about the voting in four states that went for Trump 's Democratic challenger .
The case demanded that the high court invalidate the states ' 62 total Electoral College votes .
That 's an unprecedented remedy in American history : setting aside the votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the baseless claim the Republican incumbent lost a chance at a second term due to widespread fraud .
Two days after Paxton sued , 17 states filed a motion supporting the lawsuit , and on Thursday six of those states asked to join the case themselves .
Trump has acted to join the case , tweeting Thursday that `` the Supreme Court has a chance to save our Country from the greatest Election abuse in the history of the United States . ''
Hours later , Trump held a meeting at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filed , with a dozen Republican attorneys general , including Paxton and several others who are backing the effort .
Still , some of the top state Republican prosecutors urging the Supreme Court to hear the case have acknowledged that the effort is a long shot and are seeking to distance themselves from Trump 's baseless allegations of fraud .
North Dakota 's Wayne Stenehjem , among the 17 attorneys general supporting the case , said North Dakota is not alleging voter fraud in the four states at issue .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stenehjem , who noted that his office has received thousands of calls and emails from constituents asking the state to support the suit .
`` But it 's worth it for the Supreme Court to weigh in and settle it once and for all , '' he said .
The case has inflamed already high tensions over the election .
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said his office staff received two death threats Thursday after he signed onto the brief supporting the case .
The lawsuit has also divided officials in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had supported supporting Texas ' case , even though he said the suit was `` belated '' and its chances `` are slim at best . ''
Fox said the case raised `` important constitutional questions about the separation of powers and the integrity of mail-in ballots in those defendant states . ''
But Gov .
Steve Bullock ( D-MT ) urged the court to reject the case .
He said the fact that Texas is not suing Montana , which Trump won , even though the state similarly used mail-in ballots underscores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election integrity than it is about attempting to overturn the will of the electorate . ''
The litigation rankled Democratic attorneys general .
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey , co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association , called the attempt to overturn votes `` unconscionable . ''
Support among other leading lawyers was disturbing , Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford , who 's also co-chair of the Democratic attorneys general group , told The Associated Press .
`` I do think that these individuals are kowtowing to a president who has implemented some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duly elected attorneys general in their states in a way that is unfortunate , '' he said .
`` I do think that this is a dangerous precedent to initiate . ''
Suits brought by Trump and his allies have failed repeatedly across the country , and the Supreme Court this week rejected a Republican bid to reverse Pennsylvania 's certification of Biden 's victory .
Trump has spent the week relentlessly tweeting about the Texas case with the hashtag `` overturn '' and claiming , falsely , that he had won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attorneys general supporting the case have shown greater political ambitions .
In Kansas , Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt , who is considering a bid for governor in 2022 , announced that he would back the effort only hours after former Republican Gov .
Jeff Colyer — another potential candidate for governor — tweeted that Schmidt 's office should .
Officials in Michigan , Pennsylvania , Georgia and Wisconsin say the suit is a publicity stunt .
More than 20 other attorneys general from states including California and Virginia also filed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
Despite the political pressure , Idaho 's Republican attorney general chose not to join Texas .
`` As is sometimes the case , the legally correct decision may not be the politically convenient decision , '' Lawrence Wasden said in a statement .
`` But my responsibility is to the state of Idaho and the rule of law . ''

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit backed by Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory, ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation’s highest court.
The court’s order was its second this week rebuffing Republican requests that it get involved in the 2020 election outcome. The justices turned away an appeal from Pennsylvania Republicans on Tuesday.
The Electoral College meets Monday to formally elect Biden as the next president.
More than half of House Republicans, including their top two leaders, had backed a Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in an extraordinary display of the party’s willingness to subvert the will of voters.
Seventeen Republican attorneys general and 126 members of Congress sought to join Texas and Trump in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out millions of votes in four battleground states based on baseless claims of fraud. On Friday, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana signed onto a brief backing the longshot bid, demonstrating Trump’s remarkable political power even even as he spreads false claims that many Democrats and others fear risk deeply damaging democracy.
“This lawsuit is an act of flailing GOP desperation, which violates the principles enshrined in our American Democracy,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote in a message to Democrats on Friday.
A few Republicans have expressed concerns about the case. Many others have remained silent.
“Texas is a big state, but I don’t know exactly why it has a right to tell four other states how to run their elections. So I’m having a hard time figuring out the basis for that lawsuit,” Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander told NBC’s Chuck Todd in an interview for “Meet The Press” that will air Sunday.
To be clear, there has been no evidence of widespread fraud. Election law experts think the lawsuit will never last.
“The Supreme Court is not going to overturn the election in the Texas case, as the President has told them to do,” tweeted Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine. “But we are in bad shape as a country that 17 states could support this shameful, anti-American filing” by Texas and its attorney general, Ken Paxton, he said.
The lawsuit filed against Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin repeated false, disproven, and unsubstantiated accusations about the voting in four states that went for Trump’s Democratic challenger. The case demanded that the high court invalidate the states’ 62 total Electoral College votes. That’s an unprecedented remedy in American history: setting aside the votes of tens of millions of people, under the baseless claim the Republican incumbent lost a chance at a second term due to widespread fraud.
Two days after Paxton sued, 17 states filed a motion supporting the lawsuit, and on Thursday six of those states asked to join the case themselves. Trump has acted to join the case, tweeting Thursday that “the Supreme Court has a chance to save our Country from the greatest Election abuse in the history of the United States.” Hours later, Trump held a meeting at the White House, scheduled before the suit was filed, with a dozen Republican attorneys general, including Paxton and several others who are backing the effort.
Still, some of the top state Republican prosecutors urging the Supreme Court to hear the case have acknowledged that the effort is a long shot and are seeking to distance themselves from Trump’s baseless allegations of fraud. North Dakota’s Wayne Stenehjem, among the 17 attorneys general supporting the case, said North Dakota is not alleging voter fraud in the four states at issue.
“We’re careful on that,” said Stenehjem, who noted that his office has received thousands of calls and emails from constituents asking the state to support the suit. “But it’s worth it for the Supreme Court to weigh in and settle it once and for all,” he said.
The case has inflamed already high tensions over the election. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said his office staff received two death threats Thursday after he signed onto the brief supporting the case.
The lawsuit has also divided officials in some states.
Montana Attorney General Tim Fox had supported supporting Texas’ case, even though he said the suit was “belated” and its chances “are slim at best.” Fox said the case raised “important constitutional questions about the separation of powers and the integrity of mail-in ballots in those defendant states.”
But Gov. Steve Bullock (D-MT) urged the court to reject the case. He said the fact that Texas is not suing Montana, which Trump won, even though the state similarly used mail-in ballots underscores that “this action is less about election integrity than it is about attempting to overturn the will of the electorate.”
The litigation rankled Democratic attorneys general. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, co-chair of the Democratic Attorneys General Association, called the attempt to overturn votes “unconscionable.” Support among other leading lawyers was disturbing, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who’s also co-chair of the Democratic attorneys general group, told The Associated Press.
“I do think that these individuals are kowtowing to a president who has implemented some level of control and authority over the duly elected attorneys general in their states in a way that is unfortunate,” he said.
“I do think that this is a dangerous precedent to initiate.”
Suits brought by Trump and his allies have failed repeatedly across the country, and the Supreme Court this week rejected a Republican bid to reverse Pennsylvania’s certification of Biden’s victory.
Trump has spent the week relentlessly tweeting about the Texas case with the hashtag “overturn” and claiming, falsely, that he had won the election but was robbed.
Many of the attorneys general supporting the case have shown greater political ambitions.
In Kansas, Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who is considering a bid for governor in 2022, announced that he would back the effort only hours after former Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer — another potential candidate for governor — tweeted that Schmidt’s office should.
Officials in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin say the suit is a publicity stunt. More than 20 other attorneys general from states including California and Virginia also filed a brief Thursday urging the court to reject the case.
Despite the political pressure, Idaho’s Republican attorney general chose not to join Texas.
“As is sometimes the case, the legally correct decision may not be the politically convenient decision,” Lawrence Wasden said in a statement. “But my responsibility is to the state of Idaho and the rule of law.”


shareblue--2020-12-11--Workers sue North Carolina to keep them safe from COVID on the job

Labor groups have filed a lawsuit in North Carolina to force officials to ensure workers ' safety amid the coronavirus pandemic .
According to the Raleigh News and Observer , the move comes after North Carolina 's Republican labor commissioner Cherie Berry refused to adopt workplace safety requirements , saying her department does not have the authority to do enact such rules .
Her refusal forced several labor advocacy groups to file a petition in Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday in hopes to reverse the labor commissioner 's decision , according to the paper .
The groups behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County , and the NC AFL-CIO , which all `` primarily advocate for the Latino immigrants that make up majority of workers in meat processing plants and agriculture in the state , '' according to the News and Observer .
`` The statutes giving rise to NCDOL ’ s authority were intended to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for North Carolina ’ s workers … This mission extends beyond preventing premature death due to workplace hazards .
North Carolina statutes charge NCDOL with the protection of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read .
The conflict between the laborers and the state 's GOP-led labor department began in October , when the groups filed a petition asking the state to require employers to enforce social distancing , provide face masks , and disinfect the workplace , among other safety precautions .
The petition called for the North Carolina Department of Labor to `` to put an end to the dangerous conditions and exercise its power to engage in rulemaking.
” '' Workers throughout North Carolina , from all industries , age groups , and across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe at work because of the lack of enforceable COVID-19 workplace requirements , '' the petition read .
Berry snubbed those calls , writing in a Nov. 9 letter , `` While I am not dismissing the tragic deaths that have occurred as a result of this virus , statistically , the virus has not been proven likely to cause death or serious physical harm from the perspective of an occupational hazard . ''
As the New and Observer noted , the worker groups claim in their court filing that the state 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence , let alone substantial evidence , for its assertion that COVID-19 is not likely to cause serious physical harm . ''
Despite Berry 's claims , as the outlet noted , a Dec. 7 report from the North Carolina Health and Human Services Department showed 302 total reported COVID-19 clusters at workplaces , 6,886 cases , and 31 deaths in the state .
Berry has been at odds with the state 's Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper over the coronavirus response .
Cooper issued mask mandates back in June for business owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News and Observer reported earlier in December .
Shortly after , he raised plans of an executive order with safety protections for laborers .
But Berry rebuffed Cooper , writing in an Aug. 31 letter : `` Should you decide to issue this EO , I respectfully ask that you take care not to publicly overstate the role of the NCDOL regarding enforcement.
” After Berry 's pushback , along with that of his states ' Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments , Cooper chose not to go through with the executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit in Georgia is indicative of a larger problem : Across the country , workers have similarly been risking their health to stay in the workplace , even as coronavirus cases spike nationwide .
According to a UCLA Labor Center report , for instance , domestic workers in California are excluded from many legal protections that other workers are usually given .
The Occupational Health and Safety Act , which protects workers from health and safety hazards , does not include domestic workers in the state , leaving them open to infection on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they become sick .
Undocumented farmworkers are also especially vulnerable during the pandemic .
Since they work in the fields , usually in close proximity with others , social distancing is difficult , putting them at risk of contracting the virus .
Seeking medical attention if they fall ill is also an issue , as many fear getting deported .
In South Dakota , meat plant workers have also been left to fend for themselves , after Donald Trump in April issued an executive order mandating meat-packing plants nationwide remain open .
Keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In April , the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls alone recorded 518 infections in employees and 126 in people connected to the cases , making it the largest known virus cluster and forcing it to close at the time .
Many of the plant 's workers belong to the city 's burgeoning immigrant community , demonstrating again how the pandemic has hurt the immigrant workers more broadly .
And just last month , Tyson Foods was accused in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging the company forced employees at one of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while supervisors gambled on who would get infected .
The company later suspended those supervisors and said it would launch its own investigation into the matter .
Meanwhile , Republican lawmakers at the federal level are trying to make it easier for companies to skirt responsibility if workers get sick , trying to force through Congress a liability shield that would protect those companies from lawsuits .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) has refused to pass a COVID relief bill without those liability protections , leaving the fate of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Labor groups have filed a lawsuit in North Carolina to force officials to ensure workers’ safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Raleigh News and Observer, the move comes after North Carolina’s Republican labor commissioner Cherie Berry refused to adopt workplace safety requirements, saying her department does not have the authority to do enact such rules. Her refusal forced several labor advocacy groups to file a petition in Wake County Superior Court on Wednesday in hopes to reverse the labor commissioner’s decision, according to the paper.
The groups behind the suit are the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry, The Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County, and the NC AFL-CIO, which all “primarily advocate for the Latino immigrants that make up majority of workers in meat processing plants and agriculture in the state,” according to the News and Observer.
“The statutes giving rise to NCDOL’s authority were intended to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for North Carolina’s workers … This mission extends beyond preventing premature death due to workplace hazards. North Carolina statutes charge NCDOL with the protection of all working people,” the court filing read.
The conflict between the laborers and the state’s GOP-led labor department began in October, when the groups filed a petition asking the state to require employers to enforce social distancing, provide face masks, and disinfect the workplace, among other safety precautions.
The petition called for the North Carolina Department of Labor to “to put an end to the dangerous conditions and exercise its power to engage in rulemaking.”
“Workers throughout North Carolina, from all industries, age groups, and across racial and ethnic lines, are not safe at work because of the lack of enforceable COVID-19 workplace requirements,” the petition read.
Berry snubbed those calls, writing in a Nov. 9 letter, “While I am not dismissing the tragic deaths that have occurred as a result of this virus, statistically, the virus has not been proven likely to cause death or serious physical harm from the perspective of an occupational hazard.”
As the New and Observer noted, the worker groups claim in their court filing that the state’s labor department “does not provide any evidence, let alone substantial evidence, for its assertion that COVID-19 is not likely to cause serious physical harm.”
Despite Berry’s claims, as the outlet noted, a Dec. 7 report from the North Carolina Health and Human Services Department showed 302 total reported COVID-19 clusters at workplaces, 6,886 cases, and 31 deaths in the state.
Berry has been at odds with the state’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper over the coronavirus response.
Cooper issued mask mandates back in June for business owners, employees, and customers, the News and Observer reported earlier in December. Shortly after, he raised plans of an executive order with safety protections for laborers.
But Berry rebuffed Cooper, writing in an Aug. 31 letter: “Should you decide to issue this EO, I respectfully ask that you take care not to publicly overstate the role of the NCDOL regarding enforcement.”
After Berry’s pushback, along with that of his states’ Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments, Cooper chose not to go through with the executive order, the outlet wrote.
The lawsuit in Georgia is indicative of a larger problem: Across the country, workers have similarly been risking their health to stay in the workplace, even as coronavirus cases spike nationwide.
According to a UCLA Labor Center report, for instance, domestic workers in California are excluded from many legal protections that other workers are usually given. The Occupational Health and Safety Act, which protects workers from health and safety hazards, does not include domestic workers in the state, leaving them open to infection on the job, with no recourse if they become sick.
Undocumented farmworkers are also especially vulnerable during the pandemic. Since they work in the fields, usually in close proximity with others, social distancing is difficult, putting them at risk of contracting the virus. Seeking medical attention if they fall ill is also an issue, as many fear getting deported.
In South Dakota, meat plant workers have also been left to fend for themselves, after Donald Trump in April issued an executive order mandating meat-packing plants nationwide remain open.
Keeping the plants open has had disastrous results. In April, the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls alone recorded 518 infections in employees and 126 in people connected to the cases, making it the largest known virus cluster and forcing it to close at the time. Many of the plant’s workers belong to the city’s burgeoning immigrant community, demonstrating again how the pandemic has hurt the immigrant workers more broadly.
And just last month, Tyson Foods was accused in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging the company forced employees at one of its Iowa plants to work through the pandemic while supervisors gambled on who would get infected. The company later suspended those supervisors and said it would launch its own investigation into the matter.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers at the federal level are trying to make it easier for companies to skirt responsibility if workers get sick, trying to force through Congress a liability shield that would protect those companies from lawsuits.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has refused to pass a COVID relief bill without those liability protections, leaving the fate of that assistance up in the air.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-11--18 House Republicans ask Supreme Court to throw out elections they won

On Friday , 126 House Republicans filed a revised amicus brief , asking the Supreme Court to overturn the 2020 election results in four swing states .
The list includes 19 lawmakers whose own constituents would be disenfranchised by such a move .
The brief — originally filed Thursday by Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-LA ) on behalf of 105 colleagues — endorses a nonsensical lawsuit by Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .
Citing no specific evidence of fraud , Paxton urged the Supreme Court to throw out last month 's presidential election results in Georgia , Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections based on concerns about the fact that different states have different election rules .
President-elect Joe Biden won all four states after they had voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election .
Legal experts say the suit is likely going nowhere , just like the dozens of other lawsuits seeking to have the election results overturned .
Pennsylvania 's attorney general , Josh Shaprio , dismissed it as a `` seditious abuse of the judicial process '' based on a `` surreal alternate reality . ''
Still , nearly two-thirds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its leaders — put their names on the brief .
Some 19 of those lawmakers who signed actually represent districts in those states , meaning they want to throw out the votes from their own constituents .
They are Reps. Rick Allen , Austin Scott , Buddy Carter , Doug Collins , Drew Ferguson , Jody Hice , and Barry Loudermilk of Georgia ; Jack Bergman , Bill Huizenga , John Moolenaar , and Tim Walberg of Michigan ; John Joyce , Fred Keller , Mike Kelly , Dan Meuser , Scott Perry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GT '' Thompson of Pennsylvania ; and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin .
With the exception of Collins , who unsuccessfully sought a Senate seat , every one of these lawmakers won reelection last month — in the very same elections they now seek to have thrown out .
Several of them released excited statements about their victories , suggesting they believed them to be totally legitimate .
`` Thank you GA-11 for your overwhelming support !
I will continue to represent everyone in the district and work hard to ensure a nation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opportunity , '' tweeted Loudermilk on election night .
`` THANK YOU # Mi01 for your incredible support and our largest win margin yet , '' celebrated Bergman after being declared the winner .
`` I ’ m so grateful that Michigan ’ s First District once again entrusted me to be your Representative in Washington .
Our work is just getting started ! ''
`` Representing the people of # GA08 is one of the highest privileges of my life , '' wrote Scott , citing the AP projection of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , & I are humbled that you ’ ve continued to put your faith in us by giving us the responsibility to represent you in Washington .
God Bless the great state of GA , & God Bless the USA . ''
`` Thank you to all the voters of the Fourth Congressional District , '' wrote Moolenaar , who gave an acceptance speech the day after the election .
`` I am humbled and grateful for your overwhelming support , and I look forward to continuing to serve you in Congress !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am honored that you have chosen me to be your voice in our nation ’ s capital , '' Kelly tweeted .
`` Together , we will keep fighting for freedom , our values , a brighter economic future for our families , and a stronger , more prosperous America . ''
Kelly has been filing his own unsuccessful lawsuits in Pennsylvania to have Trump declared the winner .
The top two House Republican leaders also made a big deal out of these and other House victories in these states — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections were invalid .
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , who signed the amicus brief , chest-thumped about not having lost a single member of his caucus who sought reelection .
`` Here 's a group photo of me with all the House Republicans who lost races this year , '' he tweeted on Tuesday , with a photo of himself walking unaccompanied .
`` Pundits doubted us .
Polls were stacked against us .
Political so-called experts proclaimed we would lose .
But Republicans have grown our party in the House and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , '' he bragged on Nov. 12 .
Minority Whip Steve Scalise , who also signed the brief , sent congratulatory messages about Republican winners from those states .
`` The people in MI-06 have spoken , '' he tweeted , `` and I 'm excited to congratulate my friend and colleague [ Fred Upton ] on a tough-won victory . ''
By signing onto the amicus brief , McCarthy and Scalise are now casting doubt on the legitimacy of these and numerous other apparent Republican victors in the four states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his GOP colleagues of illegally attacking American democracy .
Rep. Bill Pascrell ( D-NJ ) wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to refuse to seat the Republicans who signed the letter when the next session begins in January .
`` Stated simply , men and women who would act to tear the United States government apart can not serve as Members of the Congress , '' he wrote .
`` These lawsuits seeking to obliterate public trust in our democratic system by invalidating the clear results of the 2020 presidential election undoubted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution , which each Member swears to support and defend . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Friday, 126 House Republicans filed a revised amicus brief, asking the Supreme Court to overturn the 2020 election results in four swing states. The list includes 19 lawmakers whose own constituents would be disenfranchised by such a move.
The brief — originally filed Thursday by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) on behalf of 105 colleagues — endorses a nonsensical lawsuit by Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Citing no specific evidence of fraud, Paxton urged the Supreme Court to throw out last month’s presidential election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and order new elections based on concerns about the fact that different states have different election rules. President-elect Joe Biden won all four states after they had voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election.
Legal experts say the suit is likely going nowhere, just like the dozens of other lawsuits seeking to have the election results overturned. Pennsylvania’s attorney general, Josh Shaprio, dismissed it as a “seditious abuse of the judicial process” based on a “surreal alternate reality.”
Still, nearly two-thirds of the House Republican minority caucus — including its leaders — put their names on the brief.
Some 19 of those lawmakers who signed actually represent districts in those states, meaning they want to throw out the votes from their own constituents. They are Reps. Rick Allen, Austin Scott, Buddy Carter, Doug Collins, Drew Ferguson, Jody Hice, and Barry Loudermilk of Georgia; Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, John Moolenaar, and Tim Walberg of Michigan; John Joyce, Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, Scott Perry, Guy Reschenthaler, and Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania; and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin.
With the exception of Collins, who unsuccessfully sought a Senate seat, every one of these lawmakers won reelection last month — in the very same elections they now seek to have thrown out.
Several of them released excited statements about their victories, suggesting they believed them to be totally legitimate.
“Thank you GA-11 for your overwhelming support! I will continue to represent everyone in the district and work hard to ensure a nation that is free, safe, and full of opportunity,” tweeted Loudermilk on election night.
“THANK YOU #Mi01 for your incredible support and our largest win margin yet,” celebrated Bergman after being declared the winner. “I’m so grateful that Michigan’s First District once again entrusted me to be your Representative in Washington. Our work is just getting started!”
“Representing the people of #GA08 is one of the highest privileges of my life,” wrote Scott, citing the AP projection of his win. “Vivien, the kids, & I are humbled that you’ve continued to put your faith in us by giving us the responsibility to represent you in Washington. God Bless the great state of GA, & God Bless the USA.”
“Thank you to all the voters of the Fourth Congressional District,” wrote Moolenaar, who gave an acceptance speech the day after the election. “I am humbled and grateful for your overwhelming support, and I look forward to continuing to serve you in Congress!”
“Thank you western Pennsylvania! I am honored that you have chosen me to be your voice in our nation’s capital,” Kelly tweeted. “Together, we will keep fighting for freedom, our values, a brighter economic future for our families, and a stronger, more prosperous America.”
Kelly has been filing his own unsuccessful lawsuits in Pennsylvania to have Trump declared the winner.
The top two House Republican leaders also made a big deal out of these and other House victories in these states — but also signed onto the brief suggesting those elections were invalid.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who signed the amicus brief, chest-thumped about not having lost a single member of his caucus who sought reelection. “Here’s a group photo of me with all the House Republicans who lost races this year,” he tweeted on Tuesday, with a photo of himself walking unaccompanied.
“Pundits doubted us. Polls were stacked against us. Political so-called experts proclaimed we would lose. But Republicans have grown our party in the House and now, we will hold the line in Washington,” he bragged on Nov. 12.
Minority Whip Steve Scalise, who also signed the brief, sent congratulatory messages about Republican winners from those states. “The people in MI-06 have spoken,” he tweeted, “and I’m excited to congratulate my friend and colleague [Fred Upton] on a tough-won victory.”
By signing onto the amicus brief, McCarthy and Scalise are now casting doubt on the legitimacy of these and numerous other apparent Republican victors in the four states.
On Friday, one veteran lawmaker accused his GOP colleagues of illegally attacking American democracy. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her to refuse to seat the Republicans who signed the letter when the next session begins in January.
“Stated simply, men and women who would act to tear the United States government apart cannot serve as Members of the Congress,” he wrote. “These lawsuits seeking to obliterate public trust in our democratic system by invalidating the clear results of the 2020 presidential election undoubted attack the text and spirit of the Constitution, which each Member swears to support and defend.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-11--White House threatens to fire FDA head if he doesn't approve vaccine immediately

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Friday pressed Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn to grant an emergency use authorization for Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine by the end of the day or face possible firing , two administration officials said .
The vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech won a critical endorsement Thursday from an FDA panel of outside advisers , and signoff from the agency — which is expected within days — is the next step needed to get the shots to the public .
The FDA is not required to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but often does .
Meadows spoke to Hahn by telephone on Friday , according to a senior administration official who was familiar with the conversation but was not authorized to discuss private conversations .
The chief of staff also told Hahn his job was in jeopardy if the emergency use authorization was not issued before Saturday , said a second administration official familiar with the conversation .
Hahn signaled that he would tell regulators to allow the vaccine to be issued on an emergency basis , the official said .
President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine and tweeted directly at Hahn earlier Friday , complaining that FDA `` is still a big , old , slow turtle . ''
Trump has publicly bashed the pace of the FDA 's vaccine review process .
`` Get the dam vaccines out NOW , Dr. Hahn , '' Trump tweeted Friday .
`` Stop playing games and start saving lives . ''
Hahn disputed characterizations of his conversation with Meadows .
`` This is an untrue representation of the phone call with the Chief of Staff , '' Hahn said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was encouraged to continue working expeditiously on Pfizer-BioNTech 's EUA request .
FDA is committed to issuing this authorization quickly , as we noted in our statement this morning . ''
The FDA said earlier Friday that it `` will rapidly work '' to grant emergency use of the vaccine .

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Friday pressed Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn to grant an emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine by the end of the day or face possible firing, two administration officials said.
The vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech won a critical endorsement Thursday from an FDA panel of outside advisers, and signoff from the agency — which is expected within days — is the next step needed to get the shots to the public.
The FDA is not required to follow the guidance of its advisory committees, but often does.
Meadows spoke to Hahn by telephone on Friday, according to a senior administration official who was familiar with the conversation but was not authorized to discuss private conversations.
The chief of staff also told Hahn his job was in jeopardy if the emergency use authorization was not issued before Saturday, said a second administration official familiar with the conversation.
Hahn signaled that he would tell regulators to allow the vaccine to be issued on an emergency basis, the official said.
President Donald Trump has been pressing for quick approval for the vaccine and tweeted directly at Hahn earlier Friday, complaining that FDA “is still a big, old, slow turtle.” Trump has publicly bashed the pace of the FDA’s vaccine review process.
“Get the dam vaccines out NOW, Dr. Hahn,” Trump tweeted Friday. “Stop playing games and start saving lives.”
Hahn disputed characterizations of his conversation with Meadows.
“This is an untrue representation of the phone call with the Chief of Staff,” Hahn said in a statement. “The FDA was encouraged to continue working expeditiously on Pfizer-BioNTech’s EUA request. FDA is committed to issuing this authorization quickly, as we noted in our statement this morning.”
The FDA said earlier Friday that it “will rapidly work” to grant emergency use of the vaccine.


shareblue--2020-12-11--Republicans in Congress finally find a reason to stand up to Trump

A supermajority in the Senate and House have voted to pass the annual defense authorization bill , ignoring angry veto threats from Donald Trump .
On Friday , 84 senators voted for the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act legislation .
Republican senators backed the conference report by a 42 to 7 vote .
On Tuesday , the House of Representatives voted by 335-78 in favor of the bill , with one member voting `` present . ''
Republican members supported the bill by a lopsided 140-40 majority .
The $ 731.6 billion legislation sets funding levels and policies for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay increases for armed service members .
Despite its bipartisan support , Trump repeatedly objected to the bill because it includes a provision renaming military bases that honor Confederate figures from the Civil War .
`` I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth 'Pocahontas ' Warren ( of all people ! )
Amendment , which will lead to the renaming ( plus other bad things ! )
of Fort Bragg , Fort Robert E. Lee , and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June .
More recently , he offered to overlook its anti-Confederate provisions if Congress added unrelated provisions to penalize social media companies that he believes are unfair to conservatives — but Congress did not bite .
Hours before the House voted , Trump tweeted : `` I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) , which I will VETO .
Must include a termination of Section 230 ( for National Security purposes ) , preserve our National Monuments , & allow for 5G @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Section 230 is a provision in the Communications Decency Act of 1996 which essentially shields social media and internet companies from being held liable for what their users post online .
Trump has criticized the provision in the past , even going so far as to sign an executive order back in May aimed at rolling back some of the protections Section 230 affords social media companies .
`` Online platforms are engaging in selective censorship that is harming our national discourse , '' the order read , in part .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time , chose to fact check as misleading one of his tweets in which he falsely claimed mail-in voting constituted fraud .
Unlike prior to Trump 's election defeat last month , few GOP legislators followed his demands this time .
On Tuesday , Trump 's White House put out an official Statement of Administration Policy opposing the legislation and recommending Trump veto it .
He now has up to 10 days — not including Sundays — to do so .
If he does , Congress can override his veto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate .
If all of the lawmakers who backed the bill this week vote back an override , it would have sufficient support , but at least some Republican supporters of the bill have suggested they might sustain a potential veto .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A supermajority in the Senate and House have voted to pass the annual defense authorization bill, ignoring angry veto threats from Donald Trump.
On Friday, 84 senators voted for the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act legislation. Republican senators backed the conference report by a 42 to 7 vote.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted by 335-78 in favor of the bill, with one member voting “present.” Republican members supported the bill by a lopsided 140-40 majority.
The $731.6 billion legislation sets funding levels and policies for the nation’s defense for 2021 and authorizes pay increases for armed service members.
Despite its bipartisan support, Trump repeatedly objected to the bill because it includes a provision renaming military bases that honor Confederate figures from the Civil War.
“I will Veto the Defense Authorization Bill if the Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren (of all people!) Amendment, which will lead to the renaming (plus other bad things!) of Fort Bragg, Fort Robert E. Lee, and many other Military Bases from which we won Two World Wars, is in the Bill!” he tweeted in June.
More recently, he offered to overlook its anti-Confederate provisions if Congress added unrelated provisions to penalize social media companies that he believes are unfair to conservatives — but Congress did not bite.
Hours before the House voted, Trump tweeted: “I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I will VETO. Must include a termination of Section 230 (for National Security purposes), preserve our National Monuments, & allow for 5G & troupe reductions in foreign lands!”
Section 230 is a provision in the Communications Decency Act of 1996 which essentially shields social media and internet companies from being held liable for what their users post online. Trump has criticized the provision in the past, even going so far as to sign an executive order back in May aimed at rolling back some of the protections Section 230 affords social media companies.
“Online platforms are engaging in selective censorship that is harming our national discourse,” the order read, in part. Trump notably signed it shortly after Twitter, for the first time, chose to fact check as misleading one of his tweets in which he falsely claimed mail-in voting constituted fraud.
Unlike prior to Trump’s election defeat last month, few GOP legislators followed his demands this time.
On Tuesday, Trump’s White House put out an official Statement of Administration Policy opposing the legislation and recommending Trump veto it. He now has up to 10 days — not including Sundays — to do so.
If he does, Congress can override his veto with two-thirds supermajorities in the House and Senate.
If all of the lawmakers who backed the bill this week vote back an override, it would have sufficient support, but at least some Republican supporters of the bill have suggested they might sustain a potential veto.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-11--GOP congressman: Attempt to overturn election shows how 'desperate' our party is

Rep. Denver Riggleman ( R-VA ) blasted fellow House Republicans Friday for supporting Donald Trump 's attempt at overturning the election , calling them `` desperate '' to maintain Trump 's approval .
The congressman , who lost his nomination to another Republican in June after drawing ire for officiating at an LGBTQ wedding , is on his way out — and gave the GOP a scathing farewell speech late Thursday after 106 House Republicans signed onto an amicus brief supporting the Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election 's results .
`` What 's going on ? ''
Riggleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview Friday .
He attributed financial motives to many of the House Republicans who signed the brief .
`` The amount of fundraising that happened or piggybacked on this amicus brief , I saw it immediately , '' said Riggleman .
He added that `` Stop the Steal '' campaigning is still `` huge '' for some of his colleagues and that signing onto the brief was a reelection bid to their constituents , many of whom believe election fraud conspiracy theories .
Riggleman called the brief `` the political litmus test for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` top priority '' for most House Republicans .
Asked to describe the party in one word , Riggleman chose `` desperate . ''
`` I think the Republican Party this morning is desperate , '' he said .
`` ...
I also believe the Republican Party is in fear , and I think it 's in fear of what 's going to happen to them if they do n't go along with the agenda , you know , that 's being set by the president right now . ''
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there 's some fear , I think there 's some desperation , but I also think the amazing amount of pressure that individuals are receiving , and otherwise individuals that would make common-sense decisions — I think they 're clouded right now , '' Riggleman said .
He had one more message for fellow Republicans : Give up the conspiracy theories .
`` Here 's what I want to tell people : COVID is real , the Kraken is not , '' said Riggleman .
`` My job now is to continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this scourge of disinformation that 's infecting so many individuals through the internet . ''
On Thursday , Riggleman made waves with a brutal farewell speech to House Republicans .
`` We must work together to inoculate against the social contagion of disinformation , conspiracies , antisemitism , dehumanization , racism , 'Deep State ' cabal nonsense , cults , and those grifters posing as servants of the people , '' he said .
Riggleman added that he would n't give up fighting radical conspiracy theorists within the party .
`` For those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not stop in tracking those who push falsehoods onto decent Americans , '' he said .
`` Radicalization through disinformation has no place in the United States and in this fight I will not relent . ''
Riggleman 's remarks came after the majority of House Republicans signed onto the brief in support of a lawsuit filed by Trump , Texas , and 17 other states in an effort to steal the election .
`` This brief presents [ our ] concern as Members of Congress , shared by untold millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the 2020 presidential election cast doubt upon its outcome and the integrity of the American system of elections , '' reads the filing in part .
Trump loyalist and signatory Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-LA ) later defended the House Republicans .
`` Most of my Republican colleagues in the House , and countless millions of our constituents across the country , now have serious concerns with the integrity of our election system , '' Johnson said .
`` The purpose of our amicus brief will be to articulate this concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great importance of this issue merits a full and careful consideration by the Court . ''
Johnson , a noted Trump ally , had lobbied the House for support of the Texas lawsuit .
He sent out a personal email to other House Republicans urging them to sign onto Trump 's coup , telling them Trump was `` anxiously awaiting the final list '' of who would sign .
Republicans who have stood up to Trump 's false claims of election fraud have not fared well .
Georgia 's Republican Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been plagued by trespassers onto their property and threats of violence .
And Trump has repeatedly slammed Georgia 's Republican governor , Brian Kemp , as well as Arizona Republican Gov .
Doug Ducey , for refusing to throw out votes .
On Thursday , Trump tweeted Kemp was `` finished '' as governor .
Trump 's team also attacked Republican Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler for not being vocal enough in their support of Trump 's coup .
Trump previously fired a cybersecurity official who had defended the integrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) blasted fellow House Republicans Friday for supporting Donald Trump’s attempt at overturning the election, calling them “desperate” to maintain Trump’s approval.
The congressman, who lost his nomination to another Republican in June after drawing ire for officiating at an LGBTQ wedding, is on his way out — and gave the GOP a scathing farewell speech late Thursday after 106 House Republicans signed onto an amicus brief supporting the Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election’s results.
“What’s going on?” Riggleman asked his fellow Republicans in a CNN interview Friday.
He attributed financial motives to many of the House Republicans who signed the brief.
“The amount of fundraising that happened or piggybacked on this amicus brief, I saw it immediately,” said Riggleman.
He added that “Stop the Steal” campaigning is still “huge” for some of his colleagues and that signing onto the brief was a reelection bid to their constituents, many of whom believe election fraud conspiracy theories.
Riggleman called the brief “the political litmus test for 2022,” saying reelection was a “top priority” for most House Republicans.
Asked to describe the party in one word, Riggleman chose “desperate.”
“I think the Republican Party this morning is desperate,” he said. “…I also believe the Republican Party is in fear, and I think it’s in fear of what’s going to happen to them if they don’t go along with the agenda, you know, that’s being set by the president right now.”
“I think that’s the issue, I think there’s some fear, I think there’s some desperation, but I also think the amazing amount of pressure that individuals are receiving, and otherwise individuals that would make common-sense decisions — I think they’re clouded right now,” Riggleman said.
He had one more message for fellow Republicans: Give up the conspiracy theories.
“Here’s what I want to tell people: COVID is real, the Kraken is not,” said Riggleman. “My job now is to continue to speak as loudly as I can about this scourge of disinformation that’s infecting so many individuals through the internet.”
On Thursday, Riggleman made waves with a brutal farewell speech to House Republicans.
“We must work together to inoculate against the social contagion of disinformation, conspiracies, antisemitism, dehumanization, racism, ‘Deep State’ cabal nonsense, cults, and those grifters posing as servants of the people,” he said.
Riggleman added that he wouldn’t give up fighting radical conspiracy theorists within the party.
“For those who spread disinformation, know that I will not stop in tracking those who push falsehoods onto decent Americans,” he said. “Radicalization through disinformation has no place in the United States and in this fight I will not relent.”
Riggleman’s remarks came after the majority of House Republicans signed onto the brief in support of a lawsuit filed by Trump, Texas, and 17 other states in an effort to steal the election.
“This brief presents [our] concern as Members of Congress, shared by untold millions of their constituents, that the unconstitutional irregularities involved in the 2020 presidential election cast doubt upon its outcome and the integrity of the American system of elections,” reads the filing in part.
Trump loyalist and signatory Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) later defended the House Republicans.
“Most of my Republican colleagues in the House, and countless millions of our constituents across the country, now have serious concerns with the integrity of our election system,” Johnson said. “The purpose of our amicus brief will be to articulate this concern and express our sincere belief that the great importance of this issue merits a full and careful consideration by the Court.”
Johnson, a noted Trump ally, had lobbied the House for support of the Texas lawsuit.
He sent out a personal email to other House Republicans urging them to sign onto Trump’s coup, telling them Trump was “anxiously awaiting the final list” of who would sign.
Republicans who have stood up to Trump’s false claims of election fraud have not fared well.
Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and his wife, have been plagued by trespassers onto their property and threats of violence.
And Trump has repeatedly slammed Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp, as well as Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, for refusing to throw out votes. On Thursday, Trump tweeted Kemp was “finished” as governor.
Trump’s team also attacked Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler for not being vocal enough in their support of Trump’s coup.
Trump previously fired a cybersecurity official who had defended the integrity of the election.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-12-11--5 rules Georgia GOP wants to change so they never lose another election

Georgia Republicans are determined to change voting rules to make sure they never suffer another election defeat , after losing their state 's 16 electoral votes last month .
After decades as a solidly red state , Georgia voters choose President-elect Joe Biden over Donald Trump in November by about a 12,000 vote margin .
Additionally , Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue failed to receive majorities in their respective races and were forced into January runoffs by their Democratic challengers .
Though even many GOP state officials have vouched for the legitimacy of the November results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change the system to prevent future Democratic victories , throwing a number of options at the wall that include lawsuits , legislation , and constitutional amendment proposals in their hunt to disenfranchise even more of their constituents .
A Texas lawsuit is seeking to toss out Georgia 's 2020 vote entirely and force a do-over , even though the results were certified three times over , under state law .
On Monday , Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a bizarre lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to overturn the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three other swing states Biden won .
Citing no evidence of actual fraud , Paxton urged new elections based on the fact that various states conduct elections differently and the some made it easier to vote by mail during the pandemic .
Though legal experts say the lawsuit is weak , some Georgia Republicans have endorsed it .
Sens .
Loeffler and Perdue put out a statement of support , and Reps. Rick Allen , Buddy Carter , Drew Ferguson , and Austin Scott signed onto an amicus brief in support of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raffensperger , a Republican , called last month for new rules to make mail-in voting more difficult , including a requirement that people provide photo identification to do so .
Voter ID laws are a common tool to disenfranchise citizens from voting , as many do not have access to government-issued photo identification .
Requiring photo ID for voting by mail — especially during a pandemic — can be especially burdensome for those who do not own a photocopier or a scanner .
Still , the GOP-controlled state Senate began consideration of such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brian Kemp praised the idea , arguing , `` Voters casting their ballots in person must show a photo ID , and we should consider applying that same standard to mail-in balloting . ''
Making it easier to throw out votes Raffensperger also endorsed changes in November to make it easier to challenge other people 's votes .
He said this would `` build voters trust in our electoral system . ''
On Thursday , the Georgia Republican Party and others filed a federal lawsuit asking that the state 's existing signature-matching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and demanding a new system in which all absentee ballot signatures be subject to `` verification by three reviewers , in the presence of at least one meaningful observer from each political party represented by the candidates . ''
According to the American Civil Liberties Union , strict signature matching rules often disenfranchise `` voters already at the margins — people with disabilities , trans and gender-nonconforming people , women , people for whom English is a second language , and military personnel , '' whose signatures may change over time .
Another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week by the Republican National Committee and Georgia Republican Party , seeks to make it harder for those voting by mail to safely drop their votes in a secure drop box .
Noting that such boxes were not used prior to this year , the suit asks that they be prohibited except `` during regular business hours when the offices of the county registrar and absentee ballot clerk are open and accessible to the general public . ''
Given ongoing U.S .
Postal Service delays , such a change could make it harder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours to get their ballots in on time to be counted .
Preventing voters from choosing their secretary of state On Thursday , Georgia House Speaker David Ralston demanded a constitutional amendment to allow the state legislature , not the voters , to select Georgia 's secretary of state .
Ralston argued that this was necessary because , `` As the state ’ s chief elections official , it is incumbent on the Secretary of State to be responsive to the People 's House and faithfully perform his or her duties in accordance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assembly.
” The state legislature maps , of course , are written by the majority party and have been gerrymandered to preserve Republican control .
By preventing statewide voters from choosing a statewide official , they could make sure no Democrat holds the office , regardless of popular will .
Some of these changes would not take effect until future elections .
But if the lawsuits succeed , they could make it harder for citizens to participate in the Jan. 5 runoffs that will likely determine control of the U.S. Senate for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of racial discrimination , Georgia was long restricted from making changes to disenfranchise voters under the Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act .
But in 2013 , the conservative majority on the Supreme Court struck down those voter protections , arguing that they were no longer necessary .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Georgia Republicans are determined to change voting rules to make sure they never suffer another election defeat, after losing their state’s 16 electoral votes last month.
After decades as a solidly red state, Georgia voters choose President-elect Joe Biden over Donald Trump in November by about a 12,000 vote margin. Additionally, Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue failed to receive majorities in their respective races and were forced into January runoffs by their Democratic challengers.
Though even many GOP state officials have vouched for the legitimacy of the November results, Republicans have taken an array of steps to change the system to prevent future Democratic victories, throwing a number of options at the wall that include lawsuits, legislation, and constitutional amendment proposals in their hunt to disenfranchise even more of their constituents.
Ignoring certified election results entirely
A Texas lawsuit is seeking to toss out Georgia’s 2020 vote entirely and force a do-over, even though the results were certified three times over, under state law.
On Monday, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a bizarre lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to overturn the 2020 election results from Georgia, as well as three other swing states Biden won. Citing no evidence of actual fraud, Paxton urged new elections based on the fact that various states conduct elections differently and the some made it easier to vote by mail during the pandemic.
Though legal experts say the lawsuit is weak, some Georgia Republicans have endorsed it. Sens. Loeffler and Perdue put out a statement of support, and Reps. Rick Allen, Buddy Carter, Drew Ferguson, and Austin Scott signed onto an amicus brief in support of the effort.
Requiring photo identification for mail-in votes
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, called last month for new rules to make mail-in voting more difficult, including a requirement that people provide photo identification to do so.
Voter ID laws are a common tool to disenfranchise citizens from voting, as many do not have access to government-issued photo identification.
Requiring photo ID for voting by mail — especially during a pandemic — can be especially burdensome for those who do not own a photocopier or a scanner.
Still, the GOP-controlled state Senate began consideration of such a change last week. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp praised the idea, arguing, “Voters casting their ballots in person must show a photo ID, and we should consider applying that same standard to mail-in balloting.”
Making it easier to throw out votes
Raffensperger also endorsed changes in November to make it easier to challenge other people’s votes. He said this would “build voters trust in our electoral system.”
On Thursday, the Georgia Republican Party and others filed a federal lawsuit asking that the state’s existing signature-matching rules for mail-in votes be declared unconstitutional and demanding a new system in which all absentee ballot signatures be subject to “verification by three reviewers, in the presence of at least one meaningful observer from each political party represented by the candidates.”
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, strict signature matching rules often disenfranchise “voters already at the margins — people with disabilities, trans and gender-nonconforming people, women, people for whom English is a second language, and military personnel,” whose signatures may change over time.
Limiting drop-box hours for mail-in votes
Another lawsuit, filed in state court this week by the Republican National Committee and Georgia Republican Party, seeks to make it harder for those voting by mail to safely drop their votes in a secure drop box.
Noting that such boxes were not used prior to this year, the suit asks that they be prohibited except “during regular business hours when the offices of the county registrar and absentee ballot clerk are open and accessible to the general public.”
Given ongoing U.S. Postal Service delays, such a change could make it harder for voters who work during daytime business hours to get their ballots in on time to be counted.
Preventing voters from choosing their secretary of state
On Thursday, Georgia House Speaker David Ralston demanded a constitutional amendment to allow the state legislature, not the voters, to select Georgia’s secretary of state.
Ralston argued that this was necessary because, “As the state’s chief elections official, it is incumbent on the Secretary of State to be responsive to the People’s House and faithfully perform his or her duties in accordance with the laws passed by the General Assembly.”
The state legislature maps, of course, are written by the majority party and have been gerrymandered to preserve Republican control. By preventing statewide voters from choosing a statewide official, they could make sure no Democrat holds the office, regardless of popular will.
Some of these changes would not take effect until future elections. But if the lawsuits succeed, they could make it harder for citizens to participate in the Jan. 5 runoffs that will likely determine control of the U.S. Senate for the next two years.
Given its long history of racial discrimination, Georgia was long restricted from making changes to disenfranchise voters under the Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. But in 2013, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court struck down those voter protections, arguing that they were no longer necessary.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.