rollcall--2020-01-09--Citizenship question hangs over census preparations, panel told

Although the Trump administration dropped a citizenship question from this year 's census , minority groups told the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Thursday that the question 's specter has haunted preparations for a national count that could miss millions of residents .
John Yang , president of Asian Americans Advancing Justice , called the citizenship question a “ five-alarm fire ” for groups working with immigrants .
He said lingering fear could potentially reduce immigrant participation in a count that will determine the distribution of 435 congressional seats and influence the flow of $ 1.5 trillion in federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this month , and Yang and other committee witnesses said the agency has not done enough to counter the damage caused by the debate .
“ This is the census we are talking about , trying to determine the population of the United States and anything that takes away from that should not be part of the mission , ” Yang said .
“ The fact that this question was introduced has caused damage to these communities.
” Controversy over the question has added to concern by Democrats over the administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolyn B. Maloney , D-N.Y. , said the agency has not addressed issues ranging from citizenship question fears to preparations for its internet portal .
She said Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham will participate in another hearing scheduled Feb. 12 .
“ We are forced to ask whether the failure to address these concerns is incompetence or intentional , ” Maloney said .
The committee 's top Republican , Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan , pushed back , saying that Democrats ignored real problems with the census process in favor of attacking President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jordan also got into an extended exchange with Yang , whose organization has sued to stop the collection of citizenship data through an executive order , about the impact of the question .
“ Rather than conducting similar meaningful oversight , the Democrats have spent a year trying to stop one simple question ‘ Are you a citizen ?
’ ” Jordan said .
Other Republican members said the panel has not done enough to deal with the impact of switching to an online count .
Panel witnesses , including Leadership Conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gupta and Urban League CEO Marc Morial , said the switch to a primarily online count presents risks for rural residents .
Gupta said these residents frequently lack internet access and literacy needed to complete the census .
“ Rural Americans and older Americans may experience greater vulnerability and undercount due to the challenges of the first high tech census , ” she said .
The Census Bureau has said it will mail paper questionnaires in areas without internet access and send workers to knock on doors where people don ’ t respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to answer basic questions about its hiring of those door-knockers and the preparation for its online portal .
“ We don ’ t want to have another Healthcare.gov with the census , ” Morial said , referring to the famously rocky launch of the government 's health care exchange during the Obama administration

Although the Trump administration dropped a citizenship question from this year’s census, minority groups told the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Thursday that the question’s specter has haunted preparations for a national count that could miss millions of residents.
John Yang, president of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, called the citizenship question a “five-alarm fire” for groups working with immigrants. He said lingering fear could potentially reduce immigrant participation in a count that will determine the distribution of 435 congressional seats and influence the flow of $1.5 trillion in federal funds annually. Census operations formally begin later this month, and Yang and other committee witnesses said the agency has not done enough to counter the damage caused by the debate.
“This is the census we are talking about, trying to determine the population of the United States and anything that takes away from that should not be part of the mission,” Yang said. “The fact that this question was introduced has caused damage to these communities.”
Controversy over the question has added to concern by Democrats over the administration’s conduct of the census. Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y., said the agency has not addressed issues ranging from citizenship question fears to preparations for its internet portal. She said Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham will participate in another hearing scheduled Feb. 12.
“We are forced to ask whether the failure to address these concerns is incompetence or intentional,” Maloney said.


rollcall--2020-01-09--Appeals court lifts block of funding for border wall

A section of the border wall stretches through the Rio Grande Valley sector of the Texas border on Aug. 20 , 2019 .
( Jinitzail Hernández/CQ Roll Call ) A U.S. appeals court has issued a stay on a lower court ruling that had blocked the Trump administration from reallocating $ 3.6 billion in federal military funds to construct a wall along the nation ’ s border with Mexico .
In a 2-1 decision late Wednesday , the New Orleans-based 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals placed a temporarily halt on a Dec. 10 ruling by a federal judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barred the transfer .
The court noted that the U.S. Supreme Court had stayed an injunction last July by a federal judge in California over a similar border wall case .
It also said there was a “ substantial likelihood ” that the plaintiffs in the case , the City of El Paso and the Border Network for Human Rights , lacked legal standing to sue the Trump administration over its attempt to take Pentagon funds and steer them toward the construction of the border wall .
The plaintiffs had argued that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued a national emergency declaration last February to reallocate existing funds and put them toward building his long-promised border wall .
On Thursday , the White House described the latest decision as “ a victory for the rule of law.
” “ We are committed to keeping our borders secure , and we will finish the wall , ” it said in a statement .
Building a wall along the southwest border was one of Trump ’ s biggest campaign pledges during the 2016 presidential election .
On the campaign trail , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said a border wall would deter migrants from unlawfully entering the county .
However , Democrats have fought Trump at every step from fulfilling his pledge to build the wall .
Last February , following a partial government shutdown , the Trump administration declared a national emergency to allocate up to $ 6.7 billion in previously appropriated funds from other government departments toward wall construction .
The declaration came after Congress only appropriated $ 1.375 billion for fiscal 2019 to build border barriers .
The funding for the border wall for fiscal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiscal 2019 , falling short of Trump ’ s $ 5 billion request .
Immigration advocacy groups following the case criticized the latest ruling .
Jerry Taylor , president of the Niskanen Center , a Washington think tank , said that allowing Trump to spend money he took without congressional approval “ only incentivizes this lawless behavior .
”

A U.S. appeals court has issued a stay on a lower court ruling that had blocked the Trump administration from reallocating $3.6 billion in federal military funds to construct a wall along the nation’s border with Mexico.
In a 2-1 decision late Wednesday, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals placed a temporarily halt on a Dec. 10 ruling by a federal judge in El Paso, Texas, that barred the transfer.
The court noted that the U.S. Supreme Court had stayed an injunction last July by a federal judge in California over a similar border wall case. It also said there was a “substantial likelihood” that the plaintiffs in the case, the City of El Paso and the Border Network for Human Rights, lacked legal standing to sue the Trump administration over its attempt to take Pentagon funds and steer them toward the construction of the border wall.
The plaintiffs had argued that the president overstepped his executive authority when he issued a national emergency declaration last February to reallocate existing funds and put them toward building his long-promised border wall.
On Thursday, the White House described the latest decision as “a victory for the rule of law.”


rollcall--2020-01-09--At the Races: Quite a year already

At the Races: Quite a year already

Welcome to At the Races !
Each week we ’ ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election .
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In the week since this newsletter last published , President Donald Trump ordered the killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani , elected officials mostly responded in predictably partisan ways , Iran retaliated by striking two bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq , Trump announced a deescalation of tensions ( while announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some GOP senators balked at the intelligence briefing meant to justify the targeted killing of Soleimani .
It ’ s been a week .
Today , the House is voting on a war powers resolution introduced by Michigan Democrat Elissa Slotkin , a former CIA analyst and Shia militia expert who ’ s emerged as an influential player in her caucus in just her first year in Congress .
( See impeachment . )
We ’ ll be watching the upcoming war powers resolution votes in both chambers to see which vulnerable lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the political dialogue has shifted somewhat over the past week — and senators running for president returned to the Capitol to talk Iran — it ’ s not immediately clear how much this momentous week will really affect this year ’ s race for the House and Senate .
Down-ballot drama : In 2019 , House Democrats in competitive reelection races stayed out of the presidential primary .
But now that it ’ s 2020 , a few vulnerable lawmakers are backing Joe Biden , which could bolster the former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s best positioned to help down-ballot Democrats .
But the vulnerable Democrats could benefit from weighing in on the race too .
Back in town : “ The impeachment trial isn ’ t the only thing that can lure Democratic presidential hopefuls off the campaign trail and back to the Senate , ” writes CQ Roll Call ’ s senior Senate reporter Niels Lesniewski .
Presidential candidates returned for an all-Senate briefing on Iran on Wednesday , and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders held a press conference today in the Capitol where he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
Big-state energy : How much do states care about the census ?
A lot .
Especially big states that don ’ t want to lose any representation ( read : power ) .
California has spent $ 180 million , while New York has shelled out $ 60 million on efforts to count their populations .
“ They are hoping to preserve or poach a seat at [ a ] state like Texas ’ expense , ” Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt told CQ Roll Call ’ s Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might also mean that hard-fought House victories in 2020 could be short-lived , since competitive districts with shrinking populations might disappear ( cc : Anthony Brindisi ) .
He ’ s back !
After rumors that he ’ d drop his Senate bid to run for his old House seat , former Virginia GOP Rep. Scott Taylor went and did just that this week , saying his Democratic successor Elaine Luria ’ s vote for impeachment was “ the final straw.
” Luria , a retired Navy commander , was one of seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of opening an impeachment inquiry in late September , and she ’ s part of a close-knit group of female members with military or intelligence backgrounds , whom Taylor called “ these girls ” in a radio interview Monday .
Luria shot back .
But Taylor , who ’ s still facing questions about wrongdoing in his 2018 campaign , just handed these five Democrats — who have a joint fundraising committee — a new fundraising pitch .
“ We need to show Elaine and Abigail that we have their backs in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger ’ s campaign later wrote in a fundraising blast .
Taking shots at gun control : GOP candidates running for swing seats in Virginia have seized on a movement to declare localities “ sanctuaries ” for Second Amendment rights .
Such measures hold questionable legal weight , but gun rights advocates have pushed elected officials in over 100 counties , cities and towns to pass model “ Second Amendment sanctuary ” resolutions as a show of grassroots opposition to gun control measures promised by the state legislature , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The issue is also playing a role in the 2020 presidential and congressional elections .
All four Republicans vying to challenge Luria in the 2nd District showed up , for example , at a meeting in Virginia Beach on Monday to speak out in favor of a resolution the City Council passed .
One even cried as he talked about protecting our “ God-given right ” to self-defense .
Taking a pass : Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Senate GOP leadership this week that he ’ s not running for the open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s still time for him to change his mind ( again ) , his decision could help create the conditions for a Democrat to win in a Republican state .
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales shifted the race ’ s rating from Solid Republican to Leans Republican .
Where have we heard that name before ?
The race for Rep. Jeff Van Drew ’ s southern New Jersey district got a little more crowded this week .
Now that Van Drew is a Republican running with the president ’ s backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
Mental health advocate Amy Kennedy announced her bid this week with a video that highlighted Van Drew ’ s relationship with the president .
( Kennedy married former Rhode Island Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy in 2011 , after he left Congress . )
Several days later , House Oversight Committee investigator Will Cunningham , who lost to Van Drew in the 2018 primary , jumped in too .
Montclair State University professor Brigid Callahan Harrison was already running .
A new ally : Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a black member of Congress on Thursday .
Maryland Rep. Anthony G. Brown , a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a military veteran , plans to hit the trail for Buttigieg .
Brown , a former Maryland lieutenant governor , comes from a safe Democratic district , but his backing could help Buttigieg , who ’ s struggled to connect with African American voters and has faced questions about his handling of racial issues in South Bend .
Office of the 50th Congressional District of California : That will be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Duncan Hunter , who announced his resignation effective next week after pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds .
That sign won ’ t change until 2021 , since Gov .
Gavin Newsom decided not to call a special election to replace Hunter due to the timing of his resignation .
So it will remain vacant until the winner of the regularly scheduled November 2020 election takes office .
On message : Although the chatter in Washington might be all about impeachment and Iran , Democrats are sticking to kitchen table issues on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national ad Wednesday that highlights Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s “ obstruction ” and urges the Senate “ to pass the House bills ” — but it never mentions the impasse over impeachment trial procedures dominating attention on the Hill .
The dark-money nonprofit also launched 17 ads thanking vulnerable members for voting for Democrats ’ prescription drug bill .
( Republicans had their own prescription drug bill message on the air this week , too , thanks to a $ 4 million campaign from American Action Network . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Susan Collins is facing pressure on impeachment , Majority Forward debuted a new ad attacking the senator over drug pricing .
Separately , a local outside group , the 16 Counties Coalition , went after Collins on TV on Thursday for voting for the GOP tax overhaul .
Impeachment = $ $ $ : The new Republican fundraising platform WinRed announced that $ 101 million has flowed to GOP candidates since it launched in June , with much of that coming after the House impeached Trump , according to The Associated Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times as much as other appeals , the report said .
WinRed was launched to counter the Democratic online fundraising platform ActBlue , which announced Thursday that it helped raise $ 343 million for Democrats in the last fundraising quarter of 2019 and $ 1 billion overall for Democrats throughout the year .
Impeachment = $ $ $ , Part 2 : New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik raised an eye-popping $ 3.2 million from October through December and ended the quarter with $ 3.4 million in the bank , her campaign said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cobb , reported raising $ 2 million and had $ 2.2 million on hand .
These are monster numbers for House candidates , especially in a race that is not even the most competitive in the state .
Both women leveraged Stefanik ’ s high profile during the House Intelligence Committee ’ s impeachment hearings to bring in campaign cash .
Other GOP candidates also tied themselves to Stefanik in fundraising pitches , which was an early test for WinRed .
Running mate strategy ?
: Just days after ending his own presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Julián Castro announced he would endorse Massachusetts Sen. Elizabath Warren in the primary .
Lipinski taking friendly fire : Democratic moderate Dan Lipinski , who is facing a tough House primary in Illinois , caught a lot of flak this week when he was one of only two Democrats ( along with Minnesota ’ s Collin C. Peterson ) to sign on to a legal brief asking the Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe v. Wade .
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot , who has not endorsed in the race , responded with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal for Marie Newman , one of his two challengers in the March 17 primary , and called for Lipinski to leave the party .
On Wednesday , Politico ’ s Illinois Playbook reported some issues with a list of 28 mayors whom Lipinski ’ s campaign claimed had endorsed him .
One of them , Jeff Walik , called the list “ shady ” and said he had twice told the campaign he was staying neutral .
Another was no longer in office .
And eight were Republicans — maybe not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the left .
Parting wisdom : What has retiring Texas Rep. Will Hurd , a Republican who represents a district Hillary Clinton carried in 2016 , learned about how to win elections in a competitive district ?
“ It ’ s simple : Don ’ t be a misogynist , don ’ t be a homophobe , don ’ t be a whatever-phobe and show up , ” he told The New York Times Magazine .
Cover story : Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told colleagues she ’ s taken to wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House makes her grind her teeth .
But “ Nervous Nancy ” she is not , as Time ’ s Molly Ball details in this week ’ s magazine cover story .
Among the non-dental details : The California Democrat orchestrated every element of the impeachment — down to the leather chairs her committee chairman sat in .
Last lap : Longtime Ohio Rep , Steve Chabot , whose 1st District is likely to be merged with the neighboring 2nd after the census , told The Columbus Dispatch he is considering retiring after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in November .
It ’ s complicated : To the short question of what has been done about election security since 2016 , the Congressional Research Service prepared a 42-page answer .
One reason for the length : “ There is no single definition of ‘ election security , ’ nor is there necessarily agreement on which topics should or should not be included in the policy debate.
” AOC for Senate ?
: The New York magazine profile of Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez notes that she may be eyeing a run for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redistricting .
Another suburban target for Dems in Kansas ?
The Ottawa Herald profiled Democratic Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla , who announced this week she will challenge Republican Steve Watkins in Kansas ’ 2nd District , giving Democrats hope of flipping another ( sort-of ) suburban seat in the state .
Watkins , who has so far led a troubled campaign , also faces a primary challenge from state Treasurer Jake LaTurner .
Twenty-two Republicans and six Democrats in the House have announced they ’ re not running for reelection or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of 28 House retirements so far .
Tennessee ’ s Phil Roe , the ranking member on the Veterans ’ Affairs Committee , became the latest Republican to call it quits .
His departure will open up a solid red seat that Trump carried by nearly 60 points , and the seat is already attracting wide interest .
While Trump ’ s decision to order the killing of Soleimani was a big deal in geopolitics , it won ’ t necessarily be a big deal in domestic politics .
“ The media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a game-changer , when there should be the opposite instinct , ” Nathan writes .
Republican Carl DeMaio is one of the top two GOP candidates running to replace Duncan Hunter ( the other is former GOP Rep. Darrell Issa ) .
DeMaio launched his campaign before Hunter decided to resign .
A radio host and former San Diego city councilmember , DeMaio ’ s name might sound familiar to loyal CQ Roll Call readers because he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2014 in a different district .
DeMaio , who is openly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a mission to diversify the Republican Party .
He has his own leadership PAC , Gen-Next GOP Leaders Fund , which so far has donated $ 2,500 to Republican Michelle Steel , who is running in California ’ s 48th District , according to OpenSecrets.org .
In 2018 , just three of the 25 Republicans in House seats Hillary Clinton won were able to win reelection .
Pennsylvani ’ s Brian Fitzpatrick was one of them .
Clinton would have won the 1st District in the northern Philadelphia suburbs by just 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ map been in place in 2016 ( remember the Keystone State got a new map before the 2018 election ) .
Inside Elections rates the 1st District race Tilts Republican .
An unnamed Democratic strategist told The Philadelphia Inquirer back in November that the lack of a top-tier challenger against Fitzpatrick was the “ the biggest recruiting failure in the country.
” But Democrats may not need a big name here given the dynamics of the district .
Fitzpatrick won reelection by just 2 points in 2018 when running against millionaire Scott Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats believe the district is moving in their direction .
In 2019 , Democrats won control of Bucks County government , which comprises most of the 1st District .
The deadline for fourth-quarter fundraising reports is Jan. 31 , but so far the top Democratic fundraiser has been Debbie Wachspress , a Pennsbury School Board member and co-founder of Lower Bucks Indivisible , who had raised $ 216,000 as of Sept. 30 .
She was recently endorsed by Navy veteran Rachel Reddick , who ran unsuccessfully in the 1st District primary last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s List .
Also in the race are Judi Reiss , the chief judicial clerk of Bucks County , who has raised $ 111,000 so far .
Ivyland Borough Council member Christina Finello and technology consultant Skylar Hurwitz are also running .
Fundraising will be critical for any Democrat running in the expensive Philadelphia media market and taking on Fitzpatrick , who had nearly $ 1.1 million on hand as of Sept. 30 .
Democrats will also have to chip away at Fitzpatrick ’ s moderate brand .
A former FBI agent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus .
According to CQ Vote Studies , Fitzpatrick has supported Trump ’ s priorities 64 percent of the the time , the lowest score for a Republican ( the average Republican has backed Trump ’ s priorities 94 percent of the time ) .
Fitzpatrick did vote against impeaching Trump and was critical of the Democrat-led process .
He is also well-known in the district , in part because he succeeded his older brother , Mike , in Congress .
Mike Fitzpatrick died this week at the age of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us know if you ’ d like to learn more about the Democratic primary in Illinois ’ 1st District or Texas ’ 7th District .
Email us at attheraces @ cqrollcall.com .
Democratic presidential hopefuls will once again take to the debate stage .
CNN and The Des Moines Register are hosting the Jan. 14 debate in Iowa , and five candidates have qualified so far , according to NBC News : Biden , Buttigieg , Warren , Sanders and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota .
Subscribe nowusing this link so you don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news and analysis from our team , plus key stories and data that will keep you informed about 2020 races .

Down-ballot drama: In 2019, House Democrats in competitive reelection races stayed out of the presidential primary. But now that it’s 2020, a few vulnerable lawmakers are backing Joe Biden, which could bolster the former vice president’s argument that he’s best positioned to help down-ballot Democrats. But the vulnerable Democrats could benefit from weighing in on the race too.
Back in town: “The impeachment trial isn’t the only thing that can lure Democratic presidential hopefuls off the campaign trail and back to the Senate,” writes CQ Roll Call’s senior Senate reporter Niels Lesniewski. Presidential candidates returned for an all-Senate briefing on Iran on Wednesday, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders held a press conference today in the Capitol where he said he wouldn’t conduct foreign policy on Twitter.
Big-state energy: How much do states care about the census? A lot. Especially big states that don’t want to lose any representation (read: power). California has spent $180 million, while New York has shelled out $60 million on efforts to count their populations. “They are hoping to preserve or poach a seat at [a] state like Texas’ expense,” Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt told CQ Roll Call’s Mike Macagnone. As Macagnone explains, redistricting might also mean that hard-fought House victories in 2020 could be short-lived, since competitive districts with shrinking populations might disappear (cc: Anthony Brindisi).
He’s back! After rumors that he’d drop his Senate bid to run for his old House seat, former Virginia GOP Rep. Scott Taylor went and did just that this week, saying his Democratic successor Elaine Luria’s vote for impeachment was “the final straw.” Luria, a retired Navy commander, was one of seven Democratic freshmen who came out in support of opening an impeachment inquiry in late September, and she’s part of a close-knit group of female members with military or intelligence backgrounds, whom Taylor called “these girls” in a radio interview Monday. Luria shot back. But Taylor, who’s still facing questions about wrongdoing in his 2018 campaign, just handed these five Democrats — who have a joint fundraising committee — a new fundraising pitch. “We need to show Elaine and Abigail that we have their backs in the face of this sexist language,” Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s campaign later wrote in a fundraising blast.
Taking shots at gun control: GOP candidates running for swing seats in Virginia have seized on a movement to declare localities “sanctuaries” for Second Amendment rights. Such measures hold questionable legal weight, but gun rights advocates have pushed elected officials in over 100 counties, cities and towns to pass model “Second Amendment sanctuary” resolutions as a show of grassroots opposition to gun control measures promised by the state legislature, which Democrats took control of last year. The issue is also playing a role in the 2020 presidential and congressional elections. All four Republicans vying to challenge Luria in the 2nd District showed up, for example, at a meeting in Virginia Beach on Monday to speak out in favor of a resolution the City Council passed. One even cried as he talked about protecting our “God-given right” to self-defense.


rollcall--2020-01-09--Trump suggests Iran downed Ukrainian airliner, potentially by accident

President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner earlier this week — possibly by mistake .
“ Well , I have my suspicions , ” he told reporters following an energy event in the White House .
“ It ’ s a tragic thing .
… Somebody could have made a mistake on the other side .
… It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood .
“ Some people say it was mechanical [ failure ] .
I , personally , don ’ t think that ’ s even a question , personally , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid Iran ’ s missile strikes on U.S. military facilities in neighboring Iraq , killing all 176 people on board .
U.S. officials have yet to publicly state what may have caused the crash .
Citing a senior U.S. intelligence official and an Iraqi intelligence official , Newsweek reported Thursday that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made and Iranian-operated missile .
CNN , also citing unnamed officials , reported the U.S. increasingly believes Iran mistakenly shot down the airliner .
Iranian officials have refused to hand over the in-flight recorder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane ’ s American manufacturer , Boeing .
Trump said he would sign off on Tehran handing over the device to another country , like France , so its contents can be examined .
The plane went down as Iran launched missiles from its own soil at American military targets in Iraq , Tehran ’ s response to the Trump-ordered strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani , commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard ’ s lethal Quds Force .
That was part of a weekslong back-and-forth between the two countries that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning of war until both sides appeared to tamp down tensions Wednesday .
As tensions appeared to cool , the president announced he already has given the Treasury Department the go-ahead to further stiffen sanctions on Iran for its behaviors across the Middle East .
It was his sanctions-based policy on Tehran that helped lead officials there to lash out at U.S. interests and targets across the region , Democrats and experts say .
On Thursday , Trump accused Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats of defending Soleimani , whom the U.S. government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump designated the IRG a terrorist organization earlier this year .
“ You know what I thought bothers me ?
” he asked rhetorically .
“ When I see a Nancy Pelosi trying to defend this monster from Iran , who 's killed so many people .
… He was the big roadside bomb guy — he would send them to Afghanistan , he would send them to Iraq .
That was his favorite thing .
He thought that was wonderful .
He doesn ’ t think it ’ s wonderful anymore.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a measure intended to limit his power to wage war on Iran , Trump told reporters a commander in chief should not be required to always get congressional approval for military operations because they often must make “ split-second decisions.
” Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

U.S. officials have yet to publicly state what may have caused the crash. Citing a senior U.S. intelligence official and an Iraqi intelligence official, Newsweek reported Thursday that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made and Iranian-operated missile. CNN, also citing unnamed officials, reported the U.S. increasingly believes Iran mistakenly shot down the airliner.
Iranian officials have refused to hand over the in-flight recorder, or “black box,” to the plane’s American manufacturer, Boeing. Trump said he would sign off on Tehran handing over the device to another country, like France, so its contents can be examined.
The plane went down as Iran launched missiles from its own soil at American military targets in Iraq, Tehran’s response to the Trump-ordered strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s lethal Quds Force. That was part of a weekslong back-and-forth between the two countries that had many lawmakers and foreign policy experts warning of war until both sides appeared to tamp down tensions Wednesday.
As tensions appeared to cool, the president announced he already has given the Treasury Department the go-ahead to further stiffen sanctions on Iran for its behaviors across the Middle East. It was his sanctions-based policy on Tehran that helped lead officials there to lash out at U.S. interests and targets across the region, Democrats and experts say.
On Thursday, Trump accused Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats of defending Soleimani, whom the U.S. government for years considered a terrorist leader. Trump designated the IRG a terrorist organization earlier this year.


rollcall--2020-01-09--Pelosi wants new AUMF but says ‘it’s harder than you would think’

Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , conducts her weekly news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on Thursday , January 9 , 2020 .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she wants Congress to pass a new authorization for use of military force , or AUMF , to cover all conflicts the U.S. is currently fighting in the Middle East but she did not commit to drafting or holding a vote on such a measure .
“ It ’ s harder than you would think , ” the California Democrat said during her weekly press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran language they previously supported ] Every president who has served since 9/11 has used AUMFs Congress passed in 2001 and 2002 to approve military operations in the region to justify various military operations they ’ ve conducted .
Both have been cited recently by administration officials trying to justify President Donald Trump ’ s drone strike killing Iran ’ s top general Qassem Soleimani .
“ For sure , ” Pelosi said when asked if she thinks the existing AUMFs should be repealed .
“ We will have that resolution coming up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
Lee ’ s legislation , as currently proposed , would only repeal the 2002 AUMF authorizing military operations in Iraq .
The House passed the same language in July as an amendment to its version of the National Defense Authorization Act , 242-180 , but it was stripped from the final version negotiated with the Senate .
Pelosi described three key decisions that need to be made in debating a new AUMF — “ timing , geography and scope.
” Any new AUMF should have a sunset date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be renewed , but nonetheless it should have a date , ” she said .
Pelosi said it ’ s important to define which areas of the Middle East the U.S. is willing to use military force .
An on scope , she said questions arise about whether lawmakers want to authorize boots on the ground , air cover or other operations .
Pelosi did not specify a timeline for the House to draft a new AUMF , nor did she offered any guarantees such a measure would actually be introduced or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AUMF debate , if it comes , will follow a Thursday House vote on a War Powers resolution directing the president to terminate the use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress authorizes it or there ’ s an imminent attack on Americans .
Democrats decided to file the War Powers resolution as a concurrent resolution , which is a nonbinding measure that does not go to the president ’ s desk to become law .
Pelosi pushed back on characterizations that its nonbinding nature makes the resolution less effective .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
Pelosi said the War Powers Act provides two paths for such legislation and one is a concurrent resolution .
“ We ’ re taking this path because it does not require a signature of the president of the United States , ” she said .
The War Powers resolution is a statement of the Congress , Pelosi said .
“ And I will not have this statement be diminished by whether the president would veto or not .
”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she wants Congress to pass a new authorization for use of military force, or AUMF, to cover all conflicts the U.S. is currently fighting in the Middle East but she did not commit to drafting or holding a vote on such a measure.
“It’s harder than you would think,” the California Democrat said during her weekly press conference.
[Republicans come out against Iran language they previously supported]
Every president who has served since 9/11 has used AUMFs Congress passed in 2001 and 2002 to approve military operations in the region to justify various military operations they’ve conducted. Both have been cited recently by administration officials trying to justify President Donald Trump’s drone strike killing Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani.
“For sure,” Pelosi said when asked if she thinks the existing AUMFs should be repealed.


rollcall--2020-01-09--Sanders says he wouldn’t pull troops from Iraq via tweet

From left , Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt. , Sen. Patrick Leahy , D-Vt. , and Rep. Ro Khanna , D-Calif. , participate in a press conference in the Capitol to unveil the No War Against Iran Act on Thursday .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont wants U.S. troops home from Iraq .
But in a clear jab at President Donald Trump ’ s foreign policy approach , he said he wouldn ’ t do it with a tweet .
Sanders ’ appearance at a press conference Thursday to push legislation blocking war with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment trial isn ’ t the only thing that can lure Democratic presidential hopefuls off the campaign trail and back to the Senate .
Senators seeking the Democratic presidential nomination were also back on Capitol Hill for Wednesday afternoon ’ s classified briefing on Trump ’ s order for the targeted killing last week of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq .
Sens .
Michael Bennet of Colorado , Cory Booker of New Jersey , Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts came back to D.C. for the all-senators briefing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for many lawmakers .
On Thursday , Sanders , who also attended the Wednesday briefing , headlined the unveiling of legislation with California Rep. Ro Khanna and other Democrats that would bar funding for military action against Iran except in cases of self-defense of American interests or in compliance with the restrictions of the War Powers Resolution .
Sanders reiterated his longstanding opposition to U.S. military engagements in Iraq dating back to the first Gulf War , but he made clear that if elected president he would not be seeking a precipitous or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I will do my best as president to bring our troops home as soon as possible , but I will not do it through a tweet , ” Sanders said .
“ I will not do it by creating a situation where we get kicked out of the country , but what we need to do is work with the government of Iraq , work with other allies in the region.
” Sanders is the Senate lead on one of the pieces of legislation currently moving in the House seeking to curtail the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to military action against Iran .
“ Just as we were led into Vietnam and Iraq by lies , the Trump administration is misleading us on Iran , ” Sanders said .
“ They are justifying the assassination of Qassem Soleimani by claiming that he was planning imminent attacks on hundreds of Americans in the region , and yet they produce no evidence that would justify this claim , not even in a classified setting.
” “ Our founding fathers understood that it was only too easy for a president to lead the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is why they gave the exclusive power over war and peace to the people ’ s elected representatives , ” Sanders said .
The House is making plans to take up the companion version of the Sanders bill , introduced by Khanna , along with legislation from Rep. Barbara Lee of California to revoke the 2002 authorization for use of force against Iraq .
The first step for the Senate is a concurrent resolution under the War Powers Act that also seeks to limit the president ’ s actions against Iran .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an unresolved matter of legal interpretation .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the position Tuesday that the House resolution has “ real teeth.
” “ We ’ re taking this path because it does not require a signature of the president of the United States , “ the California Democrat said .
The War Powers Resolution is a statement of Congress , Pelosi said .
“ And I will not have this statement be diminished by whether the president would veto or not.
” Concurrent resolutions do not go to the president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Kaine , D-Va. , that could reach the floor as soon as next week is a joint resolution , meaning it could go to the president ’ s desk — likely for a veto .
Lee and other House members standing alongside Sanders on Thursday amplified concerns that the Trump administration may be using the 2002 authorization for use of military force against Iraq to go after Iran on Iraqi soil .
“ Even then , as flawed as the 2002 authorization finally was , it was never intended or written to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had personnel in Iraq , neither was the 2001 blank check , ” Lee said Thursday .
“ This administration has falsely claimed that the 2002 AUMF can be used as the congressional authorization to attack Iran .
That ’ s completely outrageous .
”

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont wants U.S. troops home from Iraq. But in a clear jab at President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach, he said he wouldn’t do it with a tweet.
Sanders’ appearance at a press conference Thursday to push legislation blocking war with Iran is the latest indicator that the impeachment trial isn’t the only thing that can lure Democratic presidential hopefuls off the campaign trail and back to the Senate.
Senators seeking the Democratic presidential nomination were also back on Capitol Hill for Wednesday afternoon’s classified briefing on Trump’s order for the targeted killing last week of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.
Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts came back to D.C. for the all-senators briefing that seemed to yield more questions than answers for many lawmakers.
On Thursday, Sanders, who also attended the Wednesday briefing, headlined the unveiling of legislation with California Rep. Ro Khanna and other Democrats that would bar funding for military action against Iran except in cases of self-defense of American interests or in compliance with the restrictions of the War Powers Resolution.


rollcall--2020-01-09--Trump administration proposal would ease environmental impact reviews for federal projects

A Trump administration proposal would expand the number of projects like pipelines and fossil fuel drilling sites that are eligible to avoid comprehensive environmental impact studies .
( Joe Raedle/Getty Images file photo ) The Trump administration proposed sweeping changes to how the government reviews the environmental impacts of infrastructure projects , a move that could put President Donald Trump ’ s energy and transportation policy ambitions on a glide path should he win re-election .
The proposed rule announced by the White House ’ s Council on Environmental Quality on Thursday would be the first major shift to implementation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four decades and is intended to streamline the federal environmental review process by allowing the government to approve pipelines and highways at a more efficient clip .
Speaking on the proposed rule at the White House , Trump touted how it would remove bureaucratic obstacles in the way of infrastructure projects .
“ I ’ ve been talking about it for a very long time , where it takes many , many years to get something built , get something done in any way .
The builders aren ’ t happy , nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , it takes 30 years , it takes numbers that nobody would believe.
” Under NEPA , federal agencies are required to assess the degree to which their actions could impact a broad array of environmental factors , including air and water quality and endangered species .
If finalized , the proposed rule would expand the number of projects eligible to avoid comprehensive reviews under NEPA and regulators would be allowed to apply more so-called categorical exclusions , in which officials determine that a project has no significant impact on the environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rule would state that the federal government does not need to review the “ cumulative effects ” of a project , which environmentalists believe will result in officials ignoring the impacts that fossil fuel projects like drilling sites and pipelines may have on climate change .
It would also set page limits for the length of environmental review documents .
The White House Council on Environmental Quality chairwoman Mary Neumayr told reporters on a call Thursday morning that the changes would not change implementation of any other federal environmental law and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions in NEPA analysis .
Democrats were quick to pan the proposal , noting that environmental reviews help make major highway and other infrastructure projects more resilient to climate change .
“ Not only is removing these requirements a bad idea for public health and our environment , but it will end up costing taxpayers more when projects aren ’ t built to be resilient , ” sad Rep. Peter DeFazio , D-Ore. , chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee .
“ You can be sure I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop this misguided proposal.
” Republicans , meanwhile , applauded the measure for its red tape-cutting provisions .
“ Streamlining the review of proposed roads , bridges , and other critical infrastructure projects will save the taxpayers money while maintaining necessary protections for the environment , public safety , and human health , said Rep. Sam Graves , R-Mo.
, ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure .
In pursuit of what officials have called an “ energy dominance ” agenda , the Trump administration has worked to slash red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuel leasing and constructing new pipeline infrastructure .
At the same time , the administration has suffered losses in court as some federal judges have sided with environmentalists that certain NEPA reviews failed to consider the impacts of climate change , including for permitting the controversial Keystone XL pipeline .
It ’ s unlikely the rule will be finalized soon enough for the government to start using the updated review criteria before the 2020 general election .
Still , the proposal raises the stakes for environmentalists fearful of what the changes could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re hopeful that these rules get defeated .
We think that the American people are going to speak out , ” said Drew McConville , senior managing director at the Wilderness Society .
“ The longer these rules are in place , the deeper the hole we are digging for public health , for public lands and for the country.
” Neumayr said the proposed rule would be published in the Federal Register on Friday and be subject to a 60-day public comment period .

The Trump administration proposed sweeping changes to how the government reviews the environmental impacts of infrastructure projects, a move that could put President Donald Trump’s energy and transportation policy ambitions on a glide path should he win re-election.
The proposed rule announced by the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality on Thursday would be the first major shift to implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act in four decades and is intended to streamline the federal environmental review process by allowing the government to approve pipelines and highways at a more efficient clip. Speaking on the proposed rule at the White House, Trump touted how it would remove bureaucratic obstacles in the way of infrastructure projects. “I’ve been talking about it for a very long time, where it takes many, many years to get something built, get something done in any way. The builders aren’t happy, nobody’s happy. It takes 20 years, it takes 30 years, it takes numbers that nobody would believe.” Under NEPA, federal agencies are required to assess the degree to which their actions could impact a broad array of environmental factors, including air and water quality and endangered species. If finalized, the proposed rule would expand the number of projects eligible to avoid comprehensive reviews under NEPA and regulators would be allowed to apply more so-called categorical exclusions, in which officials determine that a project has no significant impact on the environment and does not need a thorough analysis.
‘Cumulative effects’
The rule would state that the federal government does not need to review the “cumulative effects” of a project, which environmentalists believe will result in officials ignoring the impacts that fossil fuel projects like drilling sites and pipelines may have on climate change. It would also set page limits for the length of environmental review documents. The White House Council on Environmental Quality chairwoman Mary Neumayr told reporters on a call Thursday morning that the changes would not change implementation of any other federal environmental law and would “not exclude consideration” of climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions in NEPA analysis. Democrats were quick to pan the proposal, noting that environmental reviews help make major highway and other infrastructure projects more resilient to climate change. “Not only is removing these requirements a bad idea for public health and our environment, but it will end up costing taxpayers more when projects aren’t built to be resilient,” sad Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “You can be sure I will use all the tools at my disposal to stop this misguided proposal.” Republicans, meanwhile, applauded the measure for its red tape-cutting provisions. “Streamlining the review of proposed roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure projects will save the taxpayers money while maintaining necessary protections for the environment, public safety, and human health, said Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
‘Energy dominance’


rollcall--2020-01-09--Waiting for Pelosi: The Senate theater of the absurd

A Capitol .
A hallway .
Lunch .
The Senate copes with not having full control of its calendar and waiting on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to transmit articles of impeachment so it can start its trial .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) Senators are getting a little antsy waiting for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to deliver the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump so they can start a trial .
We spent the first full day Congress was back in the Capitol after its recess talking to senators , and we got an earful of their frustrations , suggestions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why the angst ?
The beginning of January can be a fairly slow time for Congress , especially during an election year .
But not so for 2020 .
The House impeachment of Trump and a Senate trial , along with escalating tensions with Iran , have created an atmosphere of high drama .
To take the theater metaphor ( this is Political Theater , after all ) a little further , the House impeachment was an opera , where none of the actors left any doubt as to their roles , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate ?
At this point , it is the theater of the absurd , where no one really seems to know what ’ s going on , even as the players cling to bits of narrative .
Maybe we ’ ll call it “ Waiting for Pelosi , ” with apologies to Samuel Beckett .
So on the first full day members of Congress returned from their break , we at Political Theater went to the Hill for one of the Capitol ’ s most sacrosanct rituals : senators ’ Tuesday policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I tagged along with CQ Roll Call ’ s senior Senate reporter Niels Lesniewski , we found that senators ’ lives had been unexpectedly disrupted , and they were not exactly happy about it .
As chaotic as the Senate can seem sometime , it is a highly regimented and rule-abiding place , and senators dig that .
But with Pelosi delaying when she sends the articles of impeachment , senators don ’ t have control of their schedules , and they really don ’ t like that .
As we spoke with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up several signs that they ’ re ready to get the show on the road .
So even by the more recent standards of the Trump era , the new year is off to a chaotic start .
Just ask any senator .
They ’ re ready for some answers , a schedule , some structure .
Ready to wrap up this revue of the theater of the absurd .
Ready to move on to what some may say is the Kabuki theater of an impeachment trial .
• Roberts would hold the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Trump impeachment trial • Political fallout from Soleimani could be biggest for Senate • McConnell : Senate has votes to proceed without Democrats in impeachment trial • Coolness and wisdom : Impeachment day under the Capitol Dome • House members feel the weight of history in impeachment votes • Articles of impeachment not headed to Senate imminently • What ’ s the shocking secret sauce to progress on the Hill ?
Impeachment Subscribe to this podcast below :

Senators are getting a little antsy waiting for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to deliver the articles of impeachment of President Donald Trump so they can start a trial. We spent the first full day Congress was back in the Capitol after its recess talking to senators, and we got an earful of their frustrations, suggestions and theories about what happens next.
Why the angst? The beginning of January can be a fairly slow time for Congress, especially during an election year. But not so for 2020.
The House impeachment of Trump and a Senate trial, along with escalating tensions with Iran, have created an atmosphere of high drama. To take the theater metaphor (this is Political Theater after all) a little further, the House impeachment was an opera, where none of the actors left any doubt as to their roles, and the melodrama and histrionics flowed. And the Senate?
At this point it is the theater of the absurd, where no one really seems to know what’s going on, even as the players cling to bits of narrative.


rollcall--2020-01-09--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 9

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 9

Republican senators were told by McConnell at a lunch Thursday to keep their schedules flexible for the end of next week , when they are supposed to leave Washington for a weeklong break that includes the MLK Day holiday on January 20 .
According to an attendee , McConnell said that with the possibility that Speaker Nancy Pelosi could soon send over the impeachment articles , senators should be prepared to be at the Capitol for Saturday sessions starting Jan. 18 .
Pelosi has not announced her plans for transmitting the articles .
“ The speculation at lunch was that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of this week , today or tomorrow , ” Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas , told reporters after lunch .
He said that he has not yet seen a final version of the rules and procedures for the Senate impeachment trial .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday signed on to a resolution by Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
, that seeks to change Senate rules to allow a motion to dismiss articles of impeachment after 25 calendar days if they haven ’ t arrived from the House .
Here is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on : Pelosi suggested Thursday her hold on the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump could end in the near future , but she did not specify the circumstances that would lead to that .
“ No , I ’ m not holding them indefinitely , ” Pelosi said answering questions from reporters at her weekly news conference .
“ I ’ ll send them over when I 'm ready .
And that will probably be soon.
” Pelosi reiterated that she wants to see the Senate resolution specifying procedures for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the articles , although she also acknowledged that McConnell has declined to do so .
“ At some point we hope that we would see from them what the terms of the engagement would be , ” she said .
“ We are ready.
” Pelosi said “ it is not incidental ” to identify what witnesses and documents will be allowed in the trial but separate from that request from Democrats is the need to know the rules under which House impeachment managers will be able to present their case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed one person to speak for the House and the White House and she needs to know whether that ’ s what McConnell envisions for this trial before she decides who should represent the House .
“ It doesn ’ t mean that we have to agree to the rules or like the rules , ” she said .
“ We just have to know what they are.
” Asked why she doesn ’ t just send the articles over and let Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer handle the negotiation over procedure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would be futile .
“ They ’ ve had the negotiation , ” she said .
Pelosi concluded her remarks on impeachment with a swipe at McConnell , who has repeatedly said the speaker can ’ t “ dictate ” how the Senate chooses to run its trial .
“ I ’ m not responsible to Mitch McConnell or anybody else except my members and the people that have worked so hard on this , ” she said .
Bolton testimony is Senate ’ s call : Trump sent mixed signals about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former national security adviser John Bolton testifying in a Senate impeachment trial .
“ That ’ s up to the Senate , ” Trump told reporters after an unrelated event at the White House , noting “ I always got along with him.
” “ He didn ’ t get along with some of our people , ” he said of the notoriously brusque Bolton before warning his former aide ’ s testimony could erode “ presidential privilege ” that allows certain top White House aides , including national security advisers , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For the future , we have to protect presidential privilege , ” he said , opining that future chief executives can not have senior aides and former top staffers testifying about “ whatever my thoughts are , whatever your thoughts are.
” In her news conference , Pelosi cited Bolton ’ s willingness to testify and new information on the Ukraine aid package hold that has emerged since she put her hold on the articles .
“ In the past few weeks since we ’ ve had , shall we say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t reveal the terms of engagement , many things have been accomplished , ” she said .
“ A joke and a scam ” : Trump on Thursday accused Pelosi of being afraid to deliver to the Senate the impeachment articles he dubbed “ a joke ” because they prove “ no crimes.
” He also claimed in a tweet the articles “ were fraudulently produced by corrupt politicians like Shifty Schiff in the first place , ” referring to House Intelligence Chairman Adam B. Schiff of California .
Claiming to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the president claimed the articles and the investigation that spawned them “ show no crimes and are a joke and a scam !
” McConnell told his caucus this week he has the votes to set procedures for the trial that do not include an agreement on witnesses , deferring the question of whether to call witnesses until after opening cases from the House impeachment managers and Trump ’ s defense team .
The House voted last month to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress stemming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s president , during which he suggested that country ’ s government investigate top U.S. Democrats moments after the duo discussed a massive American military aid package on Kyiv was eager to secure for its standoff with Russia .
Get on with it : Several Senate Democrats pushed Pelosi to send over the articles sooner rather than later .
“ The longer it goes on the less urgent it becomes , ” Sen. Diane Feinstein told Politico on Wednesday .
“ So if it ’ s serious and urgent , send them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , don ’ t send it over.
” Democratic Sens .
Joe Manchin III , Richard Blumenthal and Chris Coons , and independent Angus King , who caucuses with Democrats , expressed similar sentiments .
House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith told CNN on Thursday that he supported Pelosi ’ s effort to try to leverage a fair trial in the Senate , but “ at this point it doesn ’ t look like that is going to happen.
” Later in the morning , Smith walked back from those remarks , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaker believes that holding on to the articles for a longer time will help force a fair trial in the Senate , then I wholeheartedly support that decision , ” he tweeted .
New Jersey Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski said that when the articles go over won ’ t matter in the long run .
 “ A year from now , none of you are going to remember whether we sent the articles on Jan. 9th or Jan. 18th or Jan. 25th .
You will remember how this ends , ” Malinowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting Thursday morning .
Trump TV : Some Republican senators are advising Trump to not include some of Trump ’ s fiercest defenders during the House impeachment proceedings in the Senate trial .
The White House had floated adding GOP Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio , John Ratcliffe of Texas and Doug Collins of Georgia to Trump ’ s legal team and the president “ loves the idea , ” The Washington Post reported , citing administration and congressional sources .
But McConnell has been advising Trump and his legal team to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made-for-TV-type House setting , but rather one where ultimately your audience is senators in the middle on both sides , who are actually listening to the arguments here , ” the Post reported , citing a source familiar with McConnell ’ s thinking .

Republican senators were told by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at a lunch Thursday to keep their schedules flexible for the end of next week, when they are supposed to leave Washington for a weeklong break that includes the MLK Day holiday on January 20.
According to an attendee, McConnell said that with the possibility that Speaker Nancy Pelosi could soon send over the impeachment articles, senators should be prepared to be at the Capitol for Saturday sessions starting Jan. 18.
Pelosi has not announced her plans for transmitting the articles.
“The speculation at lunch was that it will be this week. The end of this week, today or tomorrow,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters after lunch.
He said that he has not yet seen a final version of the rules and procedures for the Senate impeachment trial.


rollcall--2020-01-08--House to vote on war powers Thursday

House to vote on war powers Thursday

Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , arrives at the Capitol Visitor Center for a briefing by administration officials for members of the House on the latest developments on Iranian airstrikes in Iraq on Wednesday .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Corrected 7:53 p.m. | The House will vote Thursday on a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump ’ s authority to take future military action against Iran without congressional authorization , Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday .
House lawmakers received a briefing from key administration officials following the Tuesday night attack on two bases in Iraq that house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
“ Today , to honor our duty to keep the American people safe , the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the President ’ s military actions regarding Iran , ” Pelosi said .
The resolution , introduced Wednesday by Michigan freshman Elissa Slotkin , directs the president to end the use of U.S. military forces to engage Iran unless Congress has formally authorized action or if there is an “ imminent armed attack upon the United States.
” Slotkin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three tours in Iraq and represents a competitive district .
House Democrats exited their briefing unsatisfied with the administration ’ s threat rationale for the Soleimani strike and legal justification , the 2002 authorization for use of military force against Iraq .
“ Members of Congress have serious , urgent concerns about the Administration ’ s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward .
Our concerns were not addressed by the President ’ s insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the Administration ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The announcement comes as grumbling about the administration ’ s justification for the strike on Soleimani is picking up steam across the Capitol .
Some of the members ’ reaction to Wednesday ’ s briefing by the administration was not kind .
Following the briefing , Republican Sens .
Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky were firmly supportive of a similar resolution offered by Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine , subject to some small amendments .
Lee called the Wednesday afternoon session “ probably the worst briefing I ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the nine years I ’ ve served in the United States Senate.
” “ One of the messages we received from the briefers was : Do not debate , do not discuss the issue of the appropriateness of further military intervention against Iran , and that if you do , you ’ ll be emboldening Iran , ” Lee said .
“ I find this insulting and demeaning — not personally , but to the office that each of the 100 senators in this building happens to hold .
I find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Constitution of the United States to which we ’ ve all sworn an oath.
” Paul said he and Lee were “ stepping up and saying we are not abdicating our duty.
” Paul took particular umbrage with public statements indicating that the targeting killing Friday could be justified using the 2002 Iraq AUMF , since the strike took place on Iraqi soil .
“ They have justified the killing of an Iranian general as being something that Congress gave them permission to do in 2002 , ” Paul said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an insult.
” Lawmakers were still working out earlier in the day a process that would ensure the resolution will have a “ privileged ” status in the Senate and therefore will require action by the other chamber .
“ The issue — if you look at what happened with the Yemen war powers , we passed it in the House , there was [ a motion to recommit ] , the MTR passed and that de-privileged it in the Senate .
And of course if it ’ s de-privileged McConnell won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Rep. Ro Khanna explained to reporters .
Khanna 's own House-passed war powers resolution on Yemen faced trouble in the Senate last year because the parliamentarian ruled that it was not privileged because of language added to the measure through a Republican motion to recommit , or MTR .
The parliamentarian determined that the MTR language was too unrelated to the content of the underlying resolution for the measure to retain its privilege .
Democrats were concerned about a similar situation happening with the Iran war powers measure , so instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which requires an MTR vote , they filed it as a concurrent resolution , which does not .
The downside of a concurrent resolution is that it 's only a message from Congress and does not go to the president ’ s desk to be signed into law , as a joint resolution would .
But since Trump likely would veto any war powers resolution that reaches his desk , a concurrent resolution accomplishes the goal Democrats are seeking , which is to show bipartisan support for asserting Congress 's power to authorize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some hope that some of the Republican senators who supported the Yemen war powers resolution last year would also support this new iteration .
The resolution will see action in the House Rules Committee on Wednesday evening before a vote slated for Thursday .
Pelosi also announced that the House may soon consider a slate of related legislation , including a repeal of the 2002 Iraq AUMF from Rep. Barbara Lee and legislation from Khanna that would bar funding for military action against Iran not authorized by legislators .

Corrected 7:53 p.m. | The House will vote Thursday on a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump’s authority to take future military action against Iran without congressional authorization, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday.
House lawmakers received a briefing from key administration officials following the Tuesday night attack on two bases in Iraq that house U.S. troops and the preceding U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
“Today, to honor our duty to keep the American people safe, the House will move forward with a War Powers Resolution to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran,” Pelosi said.
The resolution, introduced Wednesday by Michigan freshman Elissa Slotkin, directs the president to end the use of U.S. military forces to engage Iran unless Congress has formally authorized action or if there is an “imminent armed attack upon the United States.” Slotkin is a former CIA analyst who served three tours in Iraq and represents a competitive district.
House Democrats exited their briefing unsatisfied with the administration’s threat rationale for the Soleimani strike and legal justification, the 2002 authorization for use of military force against Iraq.


rollcall--2020-01-10--Emails show Boeing employees derided FAA and worried about 737 Max simulators

Long before two separate Boeing 737 Max airplane crashes killed 346 people , employees of the company exchanged internal messages displaying deep concern about the aircraft ’ s simulators as well as disdain for federal regulators .
In dozens of pages of messages released to congressional committees investigating the October 2018 crash of a Lion Air jet in Indonesia and the March 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft in Ethiopia , employees expressed dismay about a flight simulator used to test the aircraft , criticized the culture of the company and bantered about tricking regulators at the Federal Aviation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Max has been grounded since shortly after the second crash , and Boeing ’ s CEO , Dennis Muilenburg , was fired in December .
The release of the emails comes two days after Boeing began recommending pilots undergo training on a simulator before flying the Max ; they had previously resisted such a recommendation .
Meanwhile , congressional investigations are ongoing , with Rep. Peter A. DeFazio , the Oregon Democrat who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee , eyeing the process under which new aircraft are certified by the FAA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new , damning perspective to the investigation .
Taken together , the emails paint a picture of a workforce under tremendous pressure to get the aircraft approved while requiring minimal guidance to fly it .
At one point , Mark Forkner , the chief technical pilot for the company , vowed to go “ face to face ” with any regulator who tried to require simulator training for the Max .
Meanwhile , instant messages reflected deep concern about the simulator itself .
“ Would you put your family on a Max @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employee asked another in a February 2018 text exchange .
“ I wouldn ’ t. ” In another exchange , one Boeing employee told another , “ I ’ ll be shocked if the FAA passes this turd.
” “ The FAA were neither thorough nor demanding and failed to write up many issues , ” another employee wrote , in yet another text exchange , while one joked in another message , “ I still haven ’ t been forgiven by god for the covering up I did last year.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We regret the content of these communications , and apologize to the FAA , Congress , our airline customers , and to the flying public for them , ” the company said in a lengthy statement on its website .
“ The language used in these communications , and some of the sentiments they express , are inconsistent with Boeing values , and the company is taking appropriate action in response .
This will ultimately include disciplinary or other personnel action , once the necessary reviews are completed.
” [ Probe faults Boeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before certification ] The company said all of the Boeing Max simulators are “ functioning effectively , ” with the problems discussed in the emails having occurred “ early in the service life of these simulators.
” “ These communications do not reflect the company we are and need to be , and they are completely unacceptable , ” they said .
“ That said , we remain confident in the regulatory process for qualifying these simulators.
” Lawmakers , who received the documents last month and pushed Boeing to release them Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deeply disturbing picture of the lengths Boeing was apparently willing to go to in order to evade scrutiny from regulators , flight crews and the flying public , even as its own employees were sounding alarms internally , ” he said .
“ I can only imagine how painful it must be for the families of the 346 victims to read these new documents that detail some of the earliest and most fundamental errors in the decisions that went into the fatally flawed aircraft.
” DeFazio said the emails show “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of the 737 Max program to conceal critical information from regulators and the public.
” Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi , the chairman of the Senate Commerce , Science and Transportation Committee , said the messages “ suggest a troubling disregard for safety among some at Boeing and raise questions about the efficacy of FAA ’ s oversight of the certification process.
” In a statement , the FAA said “ while the tone and content of some of the language contained in the documents is disappointing , the FAA remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning the Boeing 737 Max to passenger service.
” The agency said it maintains “ a rigorous process for qualifying flight simulators , ” and said the simulator referenced “ has been evaluated and qualified three times in the last six months .
Any potential safety deficiencies identified in the documents have been addressed.
” “ Our experts determined that nothing in the submission pointed to any safety risks that were not already identified as part of the ongoing review of proposed modifications to the aircraft , ” it said .

Long before two separate Boeing 737 Max airplane crashes killed 346 people, employees of the company exchanged internal messages displaying deep concern about the aircraft’s simulators as well as disdain for federal regulators.
In dozens of pages of messages released to congressional committees investigating the October 2018 crash of a Lion Air jet in Indonesia and the March 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft in Ethiopia, employees expressed dismay about a flight simulator used to test the aircraft, criticized the culture of the company and bantered about tricking regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration to certify the aircraft.
[FAA review predicted fatalities after first Boeing 737 Max crash]
The Max has been grounded since shortly after the second crash, and Boeing’s CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, was fired in December.
The release of the emails comes two days after Boeing began recommending pilots undergo training on a simulator before flying the Max; they had previously resisted such a recommendation.


rollcall--2020-01-10--Businesses hit by mistaken tax penalty seek help from Congress

Arizona Sen. Martha McSally is the lead sponsor of a bill that would address an unintentional mistake in the 2017 Republican tax code overhaul over deducting net operating losses .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) A one-word drafting error in the 2017 tax code overhaul has sent companies ranging from specialty retailer PetSmart Inc. to Nissan Motor Co. scrambling to Capitol Hill for relief .
As part of the effort to offset a dramatic reduction in the corporate tax rate in the 2017 law , Republicans limited the ability of firms to claim tax breaks on net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income .
Under prior law , companies could “ carry back ” net operating losses to offset taxes paid in the previous two years , generating refunds on those earlier tax bills .
They could also “ carry forward ” such losses for up to 20 years , reducing future tax liability .
The 2017 law eliminated carrybacks and imposed new limits on carryforwards , though the 20-year time frame was removed .
According to the Joint Committee on Taxation , the change was estimated to raise $ 201 billion over a decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affecting businesses .
But there was , according to the law ’ s drafters , an unintentional mistake : The loss carryback elimination and other changes applied to firms ’ tax years “ ending ” after Dec. 31 , 2017 , rather than “ beginning ” after that date .
That creates a particularly acute problem for the retail industry , where companies ’ fiscal years often end on Jan. 31 rather than Dec. 31 , so they have an extra month after the holidays to tally profits and losses .
Retailers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a calendar year industry , ” said Rachelle Bernstein , vice president and tax counsel at the National Retail Federation .
Her group and another representing big retailers , the Retail Industry Leaders Association , is lobbying for legislation that would fix the net operating loss flaw and give affected companies four months to apply for tax refunds .
As a result of the law ’ s wording mistake , companies whose tax year ended just after the end of calendar 2017 would be hit by the new net operating loss restrictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the law passed .
“ Because of the way it was drafted , it became a retroactive tax increase .
That was not their intention , ” said Nicole Kaeding , an economist with the National Taxpayers Union Foundation .
Senate Finance Committee Republicans pointed out in an August 2018 letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that their clear intent , as outlined in the conference report accompanying the 2017 bill , was to apply the provision to “ taxable years beginning after December 31 , 2017.
” The lead sponsors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona Republicans David Schweikert in the House and Martha McSally in the Senate .
Phoenix-based PetSmart , which sells pet food , furniture , supplies and services like dog grooming and boarding , is lobbying for the measures , according to records filed with the Senate .
In a statement , PetSmart said it has been urging Congress to ensure “ companies are treated fairly regardless of what date they end their fiscal year .
This drafting error has put PetSmart at a significant disadvantage which was clearly not the intent.
” PetSmart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Schweikert , who represents northeast Phoenix .
McSally is one of the most vulnerable senators up for reelection this year , with her race ranked a Toss-up by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales .
Aides to McSally didn ’ t respond to a request for comment .
It ’ s not just retailers who are affected .
Nissan , the big Yokohama , Japan-based car manufacturer , is pushing for a fix because its fiscal year ends on March 31 .
“ Congress did make a mistake ; it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tracy Woodard , director of government affairs for Nissan North America .
Nissan ’ s U.S. headquarters are in Franklin , Tennessee , and the company has manufacturing facilities elsewhere in Tennessee as well as Mississippi .
Tennessee GOP Sens .
Lamar Alexander , who is retiring after this Congress , and Marsha Blackburn , as well as Mississippi Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith are co-sponsors of McSally ’ s bill , as is Arizona Democrat Kyrsten Sinema .
Texas Republican Sens .
John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are co-sponsors of the Senate version , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead sponsor of the House bill .
Among their constituent interests supporting the fix : Houston-based jewelry and apparel chain Charming Charlie .
The company is emerging from its second bankruptcy in three years , and was forced to close hundreds of stores and liquidate assets last summer while waiting for lawmakers to act on the net operating loss correction , which never came .
According to its July 2019 bankruptcy court filing , Charming Charlie suffered , like many others , from “ a challenging commercial environment brought on by increased competition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brick-and-mortar stores.
” The company also blamed bad weather in early 2019 , which reduced foot traffic in stores , as well as a decline in tax refunds from consumers adjusting to the new personal income tax rates and deductions in the 2017 law .
Tariffs on goods sourced from China also played a role in Charming Charlie ’ s misfortune .
Fletcher , who knocked off longtime GOP Rep. John Culberson in the Houston suburbs in 2018 , said Charming Charlie ’ s predicament was one reason she got involved with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a lot of small businesses and retailers in the district that this truly technical error is a huge impediment , ” said Fletcher , who faces a potentially tough reelection battle this year .
Charlie Chanaratsopon , who founded his namesake company in 2004 , didn ’ t respond to a request for comment .
Cornyn wouldn ’ t address the Charming Charlie connection , though he chuckled when the name was brought to his attention .
Still , he called it “ completely reprehensible ” to put businesses in this situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a perfectly avoidable situation .
“ People have a right to plan their affairs and their business based on the existing rules and then when Congress goes back on that retroactively , obviously it creates a lot of disruption , a lot of chaos and it ’ s just fundamentally unfair , ” Cornyn said .
It ’ s been a tough go for retailers across the country in recent years as online behemoth Amazon chews up competitors and tariffs eat into profit margins .
CB Insights , a research firm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , production and nonsupervisory employment in the retail trades , which rebounded strongly after the Great Recession , has plateaued since 2016 and is now lower than it was before the tax overhaul passed .
Compounding matters , retailers got hit with a double whammy of mistakes in the 2017 law .
Republican authors meant to allow retailers and restaurants to write off the entire cost of property improvements the same year they occurred , but a drafting error saddled these companies with a requirement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While that flaw was a subject of furious year-end tax and spending negotiations , Senate Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley of Iowa said Wednesday that other fixes were “ equally important , ” and an aide later said the net operating loss fix was among them .
House Democrats have sought something in return for passing technical corrections , which they view as a Republican problem since the 2017 law passed without a single Democratic vote .
Republicans , including House Ways and Means ranking member Kevin Brady of Texas complain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by Democratic demands to enhance refundable tax credits for low-income individuals and families who pay little to no income tax .
On Wednesday , House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts said he planned to renew his push for legislation expanding earned income and child tax credits for the working poor , suggesting the effort was still tethered to GOP technical correction hopes .
Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Brendan F. Boyle , a Ways and Means member and a co-sponsor of the House bill with Schweikert and Fletcher , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t because of any particular company in his northeast Philadelphia district .
Boyle said he thinks it ’ s time for Democrats to stop pointing out all the Republican tax law errors and “ do the responsible thing and fix it , which is in the best interests of the American people .
”

A one-word drafting error in the 2017 tax code overhaul has sent companies ranging from specialty retailer PetSmart Inc. to Nissan Motor Co. scrambling to Capitol Hill for relief.
As part of the effort to offset a dramatic reduction in the corporate tax rate in the 2017 law, Republicans limited the ability of firms to claim tax breaks on net operating losses, or when deductions exceed income.
Under prior law, companies could “carry back” net operating losses to offset taxes paid in the previous two years, generating refunds on those earlier tax bills. They could also “carry forward” such losses for up to 20 years, reducing future tax liability. The 2017 law eliminated carrybacks and imposed new limits on carryforwards, though the 20-year time frame was removed.
According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, the change was estimated to raise $201 billion over a decade, one of the largest revenue raisers affecting businesses. But there was, according to the law’s drafters, an unintentional mistake: The loss carryback elimination and other changes applied to firms’ tax years “ending” after Dec. 31, 2017, rather than “beginning” after that date.
That creates a particularly acute problem for the retail industry, where companies’ fiscal years often end on Jan. 31 rather than Dec. 31, so they have an extra month after the holidays to tally profits and losses.


rollcall--2020-01-10--Emails ensure Boeing scrutiny will continue, DeFazio says

House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter A. DeFazio , D-Ore. , speaks to a reporter in his office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Oct. 23 , 2019 .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) The chairman of the committee investigating how the troubled Boeing 737 Max made its way through the Federal Aviation Administration flight certification process questioned on Friday whether the company has given his panel the “ full picture ” of the jet ’ s development , saying he believes Boeing may be trying to scapegoat lower-level employees .
Rep. Peter A. DeFazio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee , said he will press Boeing attorneys to release more documents , saying he will continue the investigation into the crash even as his committee pushes toward legislation to prevent similar tragedies .
“ None of the emails we ’ ve seen — 500,000 or so emails and other messages — have any indication that there ’ s a senior leadership at Boeing , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a real question about , you know , are we getting the full picture here ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed last March , killing 157 .
An earlier October 2018 Lion Air flight killed 189 .
On Thursday , the company released 117 pages of documents , including damning messages questioning the safety of the aircraft , the culture of the company and ridiculing FAA regulators who were tasked with approving the plane .
But none of the exchanges appeared to include top Boeing management .
“ Our request was very broad and it was not limited to technical line personnel or test pilots , ” DeFazio said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization who had communications regarding any of these issues which would go from the CEO on down.
” The emails and internal messages among Boeing employees released Thursday painted a picture of a company where employees were under tremendous pressure to get an aircraft they didn ’ t entirely have faith in approved by the FAA , while at the same time ensuring that the regulators didn ’ t require more costly simulator training of pilots who were flying the plane .
Employees discussed trying to essentially “ jedi mind trick ” regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boeing employee darkly joking , “ I still haven ’ t been forgiven by God for the covering up I did last year.
” Though the 737 Max has been grounded since March , the CEO was fired in December and production halted by Boeing , DeFazio said his investigation into the aircraft will continue .
In the latest trove of internal messages , he said he was particularly alarmed by a 2013 thread where employees discussed how best to conceal the new MCAS steering system in order to avoid additional certification or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only referencing the new system internally , but calling it something else publicly .
“ Starting in at least ’ 13 they were deliberately concealing the system , ” DeFazio said .
“ It ’ s the first time I know of an automated flight control system that has been concealed deliberately by a manufacturer.
” A malfunction in the MCAS system — which was also not mentioned in flight manuals for the 737 Max — is believed to have been a factor in the October 2018 Lion Air crash and the March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said there was no timeline for introducing a bill but said , “ I ’ m not anticipating a long delay , ” and suggested he ’ d move forward even as the investigation continued .
Rep. Rick Larsen , D-Wash. , whose district includes the Boeing factory that built the 737 Max and who chairs the House Aviation Subcommittee of DeFazio ’ s committee , said Boeing had prolonged scrutiny by dragging out the release of the requested documents .
“ If Boeing had been more forthcoming earlier on with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messaging , we could have gotten solutions sooner , ” he said .
“ We could have spared the women and men who design and manufacture this airplane the frustration and disruption of their lives and potentially we could have saved the lives of 346 people .
”

The chairman of the committee investigating how the troubled Boeing 737 Max made its way through the Federal Aviation Administration flight certification process questioned on Friday whether the company has given his panel the “full picture” of the jet’s development, saying he believes Boeing may be trying to scapegoat lower-level employees.
Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore., the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he will press Boeing attorneys to release more documents, saying he will continue the investigation into the crash even as his committee pushes toward legislation to prevent similar tragedies.
“None of the emails we’ve seen — 500,000 or so emails and other messages — have any indication that there’s a senior leadership at Boeing,” he said. “There’s a real question about, you know, are we getting the full picture here?”
The committee requested the documents shortly after Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed last March, killing 157. An earlier October 2018 Lion Air flight killed 189. On Thursday, the company released 117 pages of documents, including damning messages questioning the safety of the aircraft, the culture of the company and ridiculing FAA regulators who were tasked with approving the plane.
But none of the exchanges appeared to include top Boeing management.


rollcall--2020-01-10--‘Fire Drill Friday’ finale: Jane Fonda goes back to Cali

Martin Sheen is seen outside the Capitol while being arrested during a weekly rally with Jane Fonda to call for action on climate change on Friday .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) Corrected 7:11 p.m. | The season finale of Jane Fonda ’ s weekly Fire Drill Fridays saw some passionate speeches , a mass arrest and her most star-studded lineup yet .
The Hollywood veteran turned out hundreds for her final rally , including celebrity pals such as former “ West Wing ” actor Martin Sheen , Joaquin Phoenix and Susan Sarandon .
Since Oct. 11 , Fonda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol to get arrested in the name of the Green New Deal .
Fonda herself has been arrested five times .
But where does the weekly climate change protest go from here ?
To California , with Fonda .
The 82-year-old actress is soon resuming filming of her hit Netflix show “ Grace and Frankie ” and will no longer hold rallies on the Hill .
For her ultimate Washington appearance , Fonda brought out the big guns .
Martin Sheen , aka President Bartlet , delivered a rousing soliloquy so “ West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find Josh Lyman clapping on the side of the stage as a single tear streamed from his dimpled face .
Sheen later joined the other protesters in being apprehended by Capitol police .
The next rally will be held Feb. 7 in Los Angeles as the movement heads west .
Fonda is encouraging people around the country to start Fire Drill Fridays in their own communities by going to the Greenpeace website and learning how to organize .
That could prove difficult .
Part of Fonda ’ s effectiveness was the star wattage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get arrested for civil disobedience .
It might be hard for the average citizen to get Martin Sheen and Joaquin Phoenix out to their rally .
While the movement is packing up its wagon and rolling west , another organizer vowed that “ when needed , we ’ ll be right back in Washington , D.C. ” An earlier version of this story misstated the number of times Fonda has been arrested for her D.C. rallies against climate change.Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

For her ultimate Washington appearance, Fonda brought out the big guns.
Martin Sheen, aka President Bartlet, delivered a rousing soliloquy so “West Wing”-esque I half expected to find Josh Lyman clapping on the side of the stage as a single tear streamed from his dimpled face. Sheen later joined the other protesters in being apprehended by Capitol police.
The next rally will be held Feb. 7 in Los Angeles as the movement heads west. Fonda is encouraging people around the country to start Fire Drill Fridays in their own communities by going to the Greenpeace website and learning how to organize.
That could prove difficult. Part of Fonda’s effectiveness was the star wattage and boldface names she could bring out to get arrested for civil disobedience. It might be hard for the average citizen to get Martin Sheen and Joaquin Phoenix out to their rally.
While the movement is packing up its wagon and rolling west, another organizer vowed that “when needed, we’ll be right back in Washington, D.C.”


rollcall--2020-01-10--Campus Notebook: Rick Scott’s lavish estates and exclusive clubs

Florida Sen. Rick Scott has a solid setup when he ’ s not in Washington .
Scott ’ s home in Naples , Fla. , is worth between $ 5 million and $ 25 million .
He also has a boathouse there , which is valued between $ 100,000 and $ 250,000 .
The Republican has another house in Troy , Montana , worth between $ 1 million and $ 5 million .
Scott lists a refundable club deposit between $ 1,000 and $ 15,000 for Royal Poinciana , an exclusive country club in Naples , Florida , where tee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s website also says it “ enjoys a healthy waiting list , ” but does not specify how much it costs to become a member .
Additionally , Scott lists a refundable club deposit valued between $ 50,000 and $ 100,000 for Red Sky , a ranch and golf club in Wolcott , Colorado .
Red Sky requires a membership deposit of $ 140,000 with just under $ 10,000 in annual dues .
Sen. Mitt Romney has made good money from speaking engagements and service on corporate boards , according to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican made $ 177,342 giving speeches in 2018 .
NBCUniversal Media paid him $ 137,082 and the Retail Industry Leaders Association paid Romney $ 40,260 .
He also earned $ 1.63 million as a director on corporate boards .
Marriott International paid him $ 1.41 million , and Romney earned $ 220,000 from Solamere Capital in 2018 .
Additionally , he earned $ 1.88 million in retirement income from his Goldman Sachs IRA .
How much did the Van Drew Crew make ?
Of the five Jeff Van Drew staffers who resigned in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was planning to switch his allegiance from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party , four of them were among the highest paid and most senior employees in the office , according to payroll records from July 2019 .
Five staffers resigned from Van Drew ’ s office on Dec. 15 : Javier Gamboa , a legislative director who made an annual salary of $ 110,000 ; Edward Kaczmarski and Justin O ’ Leary — both of whom served as deputy chiefs of staff and made $ 101,000 each ; and Mackenzie Lucas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80,000 a year .
Another signatory , Caroline Wood , worked as a legislative assistant and made $ 50,000 annually , a salary that was on the lower end of the spectrum in the former Democrat ’ s office .
Amazon.com , Inc. , paid for one of Sen. Ron Johnson ’ s staffers to travel to the online marketplace ’ s global headquarters in Seattle , Washington .
Annie Chestnut , who works as an aide in the Wisconsin Republican ’ s office , traveled to Amazon from Nov. 4-6 to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examine policy issues in the commerce , transportation and technology arenas .
The trip cost $ 1,338 , according to a good faith estimate submitted by Chestnut to the Senate Office of Public Records on Dec. 16 .
Benjamin Fry , a staffer for Sen. David Perdue , transitioned to the role of campaign manager in December for the Georgia Republican ’ s reelection bid .
Fry made $ 50,625 from Perdue for Senate , according to his financial disclosure report filed Dec. 31 .
Perdue faces several Democratic challengers , including Jon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Police officer saw two individuals pass “ what appeared to be a glass pipe back and forth ” in the 100 block of D Street , NW .
A check conducted by the officer found that there was an active city bench warrant out for that individual .
The suspect was arrested .

Club life for Rick Scott
Florida Sen. Rick Scott has a solid setup when he’s not in Washington.
Scott’s home in Naples, Fla., is worth between $5 million and $25 million. He also has a boathouse there, which is valued between $100,000 and $250,000.
The Republican has another house in Troy, Montana, worth between $1 million and $5 million.
Scott lists a refundable club deposit between $1,000 and $15,000 for Royal Poinciana, an exclusive country club in Naples, Florida, where tee times are not required. The club’s website also says it “enjoys a healthy waiting list,” but does not specify how much it costs to become a member.