rollcall--2020-01-15--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 15

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 15

Flanked by Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , left , and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff , Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces the seven House members who will serve as managers in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) Speaker Nancy Pelosi officially signed the articles of impeachment Wednesday evening , ahead of their delivery to the Senate from her chamber .
“ Today we make history when the managers walk down the hall will cross a threshold in history , ” Pelosi said .
Pelosi reiterated that Democrats were upholding the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future president should ever entertain the idea that Article 2 says he can do what he wants.
” The House voted 228-193 earlier Wednesday to adopt the resolution that officially appoints the seven House impeachment managers , and authorizes a message to the Senate naming the managers , who Pelosi announced earlier in the day .
As is customary when Pelosi signs bills , she used multiple pens so she can give one to various members involved in the effort .
Pelosi handed a pen to every manager and committee chair , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one for myself.
” After the signing , managers processed over to the Senate to deliver the articles and their message .
Before the House vote , Pelosi spoke on the House floor warning against an outright dismissal of the case and said that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is afraid that more evidence will emerge if witnesses are heard .
Pelosi cited Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 's poem “ Paul Revere 's Ride ” and the pledge of allegiance in her argument for the resolution , providing her own impeachment-themed version .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about an assault on the Constitution of the United States , undermining the republic for which our flag stands , by the president of the United States , ” she said .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said that Pelosi ’ s seven chosen impeachment managers show that the speaker isn ’ t interested in “ winning the minds ” of skeptical members of the public .
During Wednesday 's floor debate , McCarthy quoted Pelosi — who was walking to her seat across the House chamber — saying , `` the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read the quote , Pelosi pumped her fist and sat down .
The resolution also includes language to allow the seven House Democrats to employ legal and clerical assistants for the trial and spend Judiciary Committee and other House funds for the preparation for and duration of the trial .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Tuesday that he expects the trial to begin in earnest Tuesday after the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday .
Trump responded to the announcement minutes later , calling the effort a “ con job.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Work to be done : Rep. David Cicilline , a Rhode Island Democrat who sits on the Judiciary panel , indicated that even though the articles of impeachment have been transmitted to the Senate , the House still has investigative work to do .
“ There ’ s a significant amount of oversight that is underway and that will continue , ” the Rhode Island Democrat said .
Cicilline ’ s committee released a second batch of evidence on Tuesday of communications that appear to tie Trump to his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s help promoting the president ’ s political interests .
The documents — which include texts and voicemails — were provided to the investigating House committees by Lev Parnas , an indicted associate of Giuliani .
“ It ’ s evidence which corroborates the evidence that we collected during the course of the investigation that shows the president abused the power of his office , ” Cicilline said of the Parnas documents .
New managers : Pelosi earlier Wednesday announced the seven House managers for the Senate impeachment trial .
• Rep. Val @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Intelligence and Judiciary .
committees and a former chief of the Orlando Police Department .
• Rep. Sylvia R. Garcia , D-Texas , a Judiciary member who served as a city and county judge before being elected to Congress .
• Rep. Jason Crow , D-Colo. , a former Army Ranger who serves on the Armed Services Committee .
“ The emphasis is on litigation , the emphasis is on comfort level in the courtroom , ” Pelosi said of the selections .
Pelosi , Schiff , Nadler and others emphasized that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from witnesses and allow the introduction of documents .
“ Witnesses tell the truth and witnesses don ’ t tell the truth .
Documents don ’ t lie , ” Schiff said .
During Clinton ’ s impeachment trial , 13 House Republicans were chosen as impeachment managers .
In 1999 , specific managers were assigned to open the case , give closing statements and they split up the articles between themselves , touting their merits .
Prior experience : Lofgren is the only House Democrat who was on Capitol Hill during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Richard Nixon — as a Judiciary staffer during Nixon ’ s impeachment hearings and as a member during Clinton ’ s trial .
Three of the Republican impeachment managers for the Clinton case are still in Congress : Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio , Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina .
Clampdown : The Senate sergeant-at-arms and Capitol Police are launching an unprecedented crackdown on the Capitol press corps for the trial that intends to protect senators and the chamber , but also suggests that credentialed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a daily basis are considered a threat .
Additional security screening and limited movement within the Capitol for reporters are two issues that are drawing criticism from Capitol Hill media .
During the trial , a single press pen will be set up on the second floor of the Senate , where lawmakers enter and exit the chamber .
Reporters will be confined to the pen , unable to move with senators .
No movement will be allowed outside the corrals , and reporters and photographers will need to be escorted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course of a day on Capitol Hill , many senators stop and talk or walk and talk as reporters gather around to catch the latest comment .
Others employ age-old avoidance tactics , including fake phone calls or staffers by their side firmly stating , “ We ’ re late , she can ’ t talk , ” or a similar excuse .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar , ranking member on the Rules Committee , was critical of the measures .
“ They claim it is security .
I really don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve had very high profile votes and high profile subjects at hearings , and we have not restricted access in that way , ” Klobuchar told CBS News .
“ I have my own theories , of course , and they ’ re not good ones .
It ’ s because they don ’ t want people to interview senators and be able to have them talk.
” Delaying tactics : Republican Sen. Roy Blunt told reporters it ’ s pretty certain the impeachment trial could still be going by the time Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Union address and put the blame on House Democrats for that .
The House voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18 but Pelosi delayed transmitting the articles against him — abuse of power and obstructing Congress — in the House trying to get assurances from McConnell that the trial would be what House Democrats considered a fair one , with the ability to call more witnesses and introduce other evidence .
“ If we would have gotten started at the proper time , we might have , ” Blunt said of finishing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s address .
“ It ’ s hard to imagine ” the proceeding would be concluded by Feb. 4 .
President Bill Clinton gave his 1999 State of the Union speech during his impeachment trial .
Making her picks : Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland , a Judiciary Committee member and constitutional law professor , wouldn ’ t comment on whether he has been asked to serve as a manager .
“ It ’ s the speaker ’ s call , ” he said , but he was among Democrats who expected Schiff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very capable individuals named.
” Pelosi and Schiff remained in the room for more than an hour after most members broke from their Tuesday morning caucus meeting .
They left through a back door away from most of the gathered media and did not stop for comments in front of a handful of cameras .
The two appeared to be continuing the conversation Tuesday afternoon as they walked to votes together .
Asked about possible impeachment managers as he was leaving votes , Schiff responded , “ I don ’ t have anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nadler declined to say whether he would be a manager as he left the caucus meeting or any details on the selection , including whether he was involved in deliberations or whether a list had been finalized .
New evidence : House committees investigating Trump released a trove of documents Tuesday night related to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani ’ s efforts to get Ukraine to open an investigations into Trump ’ s political rivals , which is at the center of the president ’ s impeachment .
The evidence , including phone records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani associate Lev Parnas was a key figure , as other witnesses testified , in working with Giuliani to try to get Ukraine to open the investigations Trump wanted .
Parnas communicated with several associates of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy , including his top aides and longtime friends Ivan Bakanov and Serhiy Shefir , and Ukraine ’ s interior minister Arsen Avakov to try to set up a meeting between Giuliani and Zelenskiy , according to electronic messages the committee released .
Handwritten notes from Parnas the committees released seem to offer some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents were released without the context in which they were written other than that they were scribbled on stationary from the Ritz-Carlton in Vienna .
The notes , which Parnas seems to be taking as reminders for himself , have two starred items , one to “ get Zalensky ( sic ) to announce that the Biden case will be investigated ” and one saying he should start communication with Zelenskiy .
Those are followed with a note that appears to be numbered list of action items , including plans to put together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ do my ‘ magic ’ and cut a deal.
” The notes mention counsel that had been retained to assist in the matter and suggest thoughts of hiring lobbyists and PR firms as well .
The electronic communications Parnas shared with the Ukranian aides include a May 10 letter Giuliani wrote to Zelenskiy , passed through Avakov , in which he requested a meeting with the Ukranian president , saying he was acting in his capacity as Trump ’ s personal attorney “ with his knowledge and consent.
” The committee also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prosecutor General Lutsenko in which the latter in early 2019 shared negative views about then-U.S .
Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch .
Parnas tells Lutsenko , who various State Department officials testified was corrupt and was not trusted by the U.S. , that in America people were talking about him as a “ true Ukranian hero.
” The documents also contained a series of text messages exchanged while Giuliani was trying to push Yovanovitch from her post , between Parnas and Robert Hyde , a Republican congressional candidate in Connecticut , that appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ukraine .
In a March 22 text , Hyde tells Parnas “ Wow .
Can ’ t believe Trump hasn ’ t fired this bitch .
I ’ ll get right in that .
”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi officially signed the articles of impeachment Wednesday evening, ahead of their delivery to the Senate from her chamber.
“Today we make history when the managers walk down the hall will cross a threshold in history,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi reiterated that Democrats were upholding the Constitution and sending a message that “no future president should ever entertain the idea that Article 2 says he can do what he wants.”
The House voted 228-193 earlier Wednesday to adopt the resolution that officially appoints the seven House impeachment managers, and authorizes a message to the Senate naming the managers, who Pelosi announced earlier in the day.
As is customary when Pelosi signs bills, she used multiple pens so she can give one to various members involved in the effort.


rollcall--2020-01-15--Pentagon to talk Space Force plans, uniforms with Trump

The Air Force chief of staff sits in the foreground as members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee .
( Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Defense Department brass are expected Wednesday afternoon to brief President Donald Trump on their plans for standing up a new military branch called the Space Force , and a Pentagon official said they may even present several logo options for the new armed service .
The White House meeting is expected to include Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper , Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his second day of the job as the first-ever chief of space operations , the top officer in the sixth U.S. military service .
Trump ’ s public schedule notes a meeting with Esper at 2:15 p.m. that is closed to the press .
Besides being prepared to show Trump the logo ideas , the military leaders will be ready to talk about the subject of uniforms and to describe proposed rank structures and organizational charts , according to the Pentagon official .
Esper and Barrett met with Vice President Mike Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topics , the official said .
Pence swore in Raymond as the first chief of space operations at an Eisenhower Executive Office Building ceremony on Tuesday .
“ I know the next year is going to be a busy year , and we are going to see literally thousands of Air Force personnel move into the Space Force , ” Pence said at the ceremony .
Air Force Brig .
Gen. Edward Thomas , spokesman for the Air and Space Forces , would not confirm the meeting or who was attending it when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas said the two services are “ moving out quickly on a host of issues from organizational structures to branding the new service — how we present it to the American people and the members of the military.
” The first objective , he said , is to advance the space mission .
“ We have about 25,000 members assigned to the Space Force carrying out space operations every day , from missile warning to GPS , ” Thomas said .
“ Ensuring our forces are ready is job one.
” The Space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 20 , when Trump signed the fiscal 2020 defense authorization law , known as the NDAA .
The new service ’ s function is to train and equip units that can deter adversaries and defend U.S. interests in space .
The law also created assistant secretary positions with space responsibilities in the Air Force and Defense secretariats .
Proponents of the Space Force say it was needed to provide bureaucratic clout to advance a mission that is increasingly central to deterrence and victory in war .
U.S. satellites are increasingly at risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To critics , though , the Space Force is not going to do more than could be done by the Air Force , except that more money will be spent to justify a new organization .
Trump has taken a personal interest in the Space Force , and his reelection campaign has touted it .
Lawmakers had been discussing the prospect of a Space Force before Trump took office , but the president has claimed to have thought of the idea .
Nonetheless , his advocacy for it is widely seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House meeting Wednesday comes as Congress awaits in the weeks ahead an NDAA-mandated report on how the force will be organized .
Congressional staff have already been keeping tabs on its progress , even though the service is not yet one month old .
The meeting also comes as speculation mounts about the possible location of headquarters for yet another space organization : a newly minted U.S. Space Command , which is a combatant command — an organization with a broad mission based on geography or function , like Central Command or Transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that existed from 1985 to 2002 , when its functions were moved to the U.S. Strategic Command , which handles U.S. nuclear weapons .
The command , launched in August , is currently housed at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs , Colo .
It is not clear when the new headquarters announcement will come , but it could affect the 2020 elections if it is decided this year .
Sites in Colorado as well as Florida , Alabama and perhaps elsewhere are said to be under consideration .
Meanwhile , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislative proposal for fiscal 2021 that would create National Guard and Reserve units for the Space Force and would establish the position of vice chief of space operations , the Pentagon official said .
The proposal would also recommend bringing the Space Development Agency , an acquisition organization that is now a part of the Office of Secretary of Defense , under the new military branch .

Defense Department brass are expected Wednesday afternoon to brief President Donald Trump on their plans for standing up a new military branch called the Space Force, and a Pentagon official said they may even present several logo options for the new armed service.
The White House meeting is expected to include Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and Air Force Gen. Jay Raymond, who is on his second day of the job as the first-ever chief of space operations, the top officer in the sixth U.S. military service.
[Final defense authorization authorizes epic spending and puts guardrails on Trump]
Trump’s public schedule notes a meeting with Esper at 2:15 p.m. that is closed to the press.
Besides being prepared to show Trump the logo ideas, the military leaders will be ready to talk about the subject of uniforms and to describe proposed rank structures and organizational charts, according to the Pentagon official.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Appropriators feel the squeeze of budget caps as veterans health funding grows

“ It ’ s going to be a challenge , ” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby , R-Ala. ( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Appropriators and stakeholders have begun coming to grips with the reality of narrow funding increases under next year ’ s budget caps , as politically sacrosanct veterans health care spending continues to grow and eat into what ’ s left for all other nondefense programs .
Last summer ’ s two-year budget deal front-loaded its spending cap increases into the first year , allowing about 4 percent more for discretionary spending in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases are capped at less than 0.4 percent , or $ 5 billion , despite fixed costs for veterans health care that are likely to require substantially more .
“ It ’ s going to be a challenge , ” Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby , R-Ala. , said with characteristic understatement .
On the defense side of the ledger , last year ’ s deal didn ’ t account for current hostilities in the Middle East , culminating in the targeted killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iran ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But lawmakers have consistently voted to support more money for overseas war-fighting if necessary .
The same can ’ t be said for nondefense appropriations .
Without a special “ cap adjustment ” for veterans health care accounts that provide access to private care in certain situations , observers say , other nondefense programs could suffer cuts to their budgets next year .
“ We should and will meet our commitment to veterans , but without some kind of cap increase you ’ re holding everything flat , or cutting items , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for veterans medical care already provided through advance appropriations for fiscal 2021 — an arrangement allowed for veterans health and a few other programs — all other nondefense spending would fall by about 1 percent next year , according to CQ Roll Call calculations .
And if recent history is any guide , appropriators will likely need to pony up at least a few billion dollars extra for veterans health care in next year ’ s spending bill .
After the 2014 wait-time scandal that engulfed the Department of Veterans Affairs , lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ VA Choice ” program , providing $ 10 billion in initial mandatory appropriations so veterans could see doctors in their local communities rather than go to VA hospitals .
The program proved so popular that in 2017 , Congress had to provide an additional $ 4.2 billion .
The following year , lawmakers overhauled the program and replaced Choice with broader “ community care ” services and added $ 5.2 billion more , in what was dubbed the “ VA MISSION Act.
” Starting in fiscal 2019 , however , appropriators had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding $ 1 billion to that year ’ s spending bill that they didn ’ t need to come up with previously .
In the fiscal 2020 spending law enacted last month , that figure grew to $ 8.9 billion .
Already , $ 11.3 billion has been set aside through advance appropriations for fiscal 2021 .
All told , VA medical appropriations for next year are already set at $ 87.6 billion , a 9 percent increase over this year , before any additional needs are identified in the department ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The increase in VA MISSION costs alone eats up nearly all of the additional $ 2.5 billion nondefense funding for fiscal 2021 allotted under the new budget caps .
“ We think that all of VA MISSION should be exempt ” from the caps , said Carlos Fuentes , director of Veterans of Foreign Wars ’ National Legislative Service .
House Democrats last year pushed for a $ 10 billion cap adjustment in fiscal 2021 , but the proposal went nowhere in spending talks with the White House .
There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far for next year .
“ The administration will fully fund the VA MISSION Act and other important priorities within the [ nondefense discretionary ] caps , ” Office of Management and Budget spokesman Rob Kuhlman said in a statement .
Shelby in the past has expressed sympathy for exempting new veterans medical costs from the caps , arguing they are requirements imposed by other committees that should continue to be funded on the mandatory side of the budget , as in the early years of VA Choice .
But fiscal conservatives argue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a rapid pace under the budget deals of recent years .
Since the original across-the-board “ sequester ” triggered under the 2011 deficit reduction law , nondefense discretionary spending has risen on average by 3.5 percent annually through fiscal 2021 , even if VA health care spending stays at current projections .
Backing out VA health care , which has grown at a 6.7 percent average annual clip , all other nondefense spending has increased about 3 percent per year since fiscal 2013 , more than keeping pace with inflation .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VA health care jumped nearly 11 percent by CQ Roll Call calculations .
Sen. James Lankford , R-Okla. , is one Appropriations Committee member who doesn ’ t believe total spending should go up any more than planned .
“ We should always look for other areas where we can spend less , if we ’ ve got to spend more .
And VA MISSION is one of those areas we ’ ve got to be able to spend more .
We ’ ve all agreed on that , ” Lankford said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for domestic appropriations across a range of programs on edge as lawmakers look to the upcoming budget cycle .
“ In practical terms it ’ s basically a freeze , ” said Matt Dennis , acting executive director at the Coalition for Health Funding and a former aide to House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey , D-N.Y. “ Now it ’ s a freeze at a level that folks were by and large happy with in fiscal 2020 , but challenges continue to grow.
” On the defense funding front , given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger issue may pertain to when the fiscal 2021 bill will be enacted .
Depending on the outcome of November ’ s elections , the incoming administration and congressional leadership may want to put their own stamp on federal budgets , including the Pentagon .
That could result in a lengthy stopgap measure that precludes new initiatives and is viewed by the military and their contractors as an inefficient way to budget .
David Berteau , president and CEO of the Professional Services Council , a federal contractors association , said $ 740.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the budget deal , a $ 2.5 billion boost over this year — should be enough to perform America ’ s necessary national security missions .
But getting the money on time is key , he said .
“ It ’ s incumbent on the administration and the Congress to move in a regular order and a timely way to put those appropriations in place , ” Berteau said .

Appropriators and stakeholders have begun coming to grips with the reality of narrow funding increases under next year’s budget caps, as politically sacrosanct veterans health care spending continues to grow and eat into what’s left for all other nondefense programs.
Last summer’s two-year budget deal front-loaded its spending cap increases into the first year, allowing about 4 percent more for discretionary spending in fiscal 2020. In fiscal 2021, increases are capped at less than 0.4 percent, or $5 billion, despite fixed costs for veterans health care that are likely to require substantially more.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., said with characteristic understatement.
On the defense side of the ledger, last year’s deal didn’t account for current hostilities in the Middle East, culminating in the targeted killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iran’s reprisal against U.S. bases in Iraq. But lawmakers have consistently voted to support more money for overseas war-fighting if necessary.
The same can’t be said for nondefense appropriations. Without a special “cap adjustment” for veterans health care accounts that provide access to private care in certain situations, observers say, other nondefense programs could suffer cuts to their budgets next year.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Cory Booker bows out, Ben Carson backs off fair housing and issues of race recede in America

With Cory Booker leaving the Democratic presidential race , following the exits of Kamala Harris and Julián Castro , issues of justice and inequality could get short shrift on the campaign trail , Curtis writes .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) OPINION — It doesn ’ t take a candidate of color on a debate stage to raise issues of justice and inequality .
But that has been the way it has worked out , mostly .
For example , it was exhilarating for many when then-candidate Julián Castro said in a Democratic debate , “ Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while naming Atatiana Jefferson , killed in her Fort Worth , Texas , home by a police officer who shot through the window without identifying himself .
Castro ’ s words were an acknowledgment of the lived experiences of many in America .
He has since dropped out of the race , as has California Sen. Kamala Harris , who chided her party for taking the support of black women for granted .
It was a strong moment for Harris in a November debate when she said : “ When black women are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die in connection with childbirth in America , when the sons of black women will die because of gun violence more than any other cause of death , when black women make 61 cents on the dollar as compared to all women , who tragically make 80 cents on the dollar , the question has to be , ‘ Where you been and what are you going to do ?
And do you understand what the people want ?
’ ” Most recently , it was Cory Booker ’ s turn to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low polling numbers .
The New Jersey senator got a laugh at a debate in the way he criticized Joe Biden ’ s position on legalizing marijuana , but he was making a serious point about punishment in a criminal justice system that is far from fair .
Booker ’ s work on criminal justice reform has been serious , including a bipartisan bill that became law .
Will another candidate take up where the three candidates left off ?
It ’ s easier to stay quiet about such things when you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but dangerous since ignoring problems won ’ t make them disappear .
What gets left out But they have been disappearing from the Democratic debate stage as the field grows less diverse .
Tuesday ’ s debate was dispiriting in that regard , notable for what was not mentioned , though , of course , issues such as health care and war and peace affect Americans of every color .
As Kristen Clarke , president and executive director of the National Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , tweeted during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , census & redistricting hijacking of the federal courts , no civil rights enforcement at DOJ .
Not hearing much on issues that directly impact African Americans & people of color .
This is the impact when we are excluded from the debate stage.
” It ’ s still too soon to know which Democrat will lead the ticket .
But everyone knows the fight he or she will face .
After eight years of President Barack Obama in the White House and a Cabinet and staff that looked more like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who reveled in his hateful and divisive views on women , African Americans and their homes , immigrants from Mexico and Muslim-majority countries , all deemed disloyal or “ other.
” Knowing that this country ’ s history of progress is inevitably followed by pushback has not softened the blow of the current president ’ s words and actions .
Trump surrounds himself with those he considers tough guys — mostly guys , mostly white .
You see it in the tableau standing behind him at every policy rollout , for instance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result in deploying troops , some of them members of groups he disparages .
You see it in the makeup of the federal courts the president rapidly reshapes with each passing day and each vote rushed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
His administration has appointed nearly 1 in 4 of the nation ’ s federal appeals court judges and 1 in 7 of its district court judges , an NPR report last year found .
Around 70 per cent were white men , it said , with dozens of those nominees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court ’ s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling that racial segregation of public schools was unconstitutional .
You see it in regressive policies that are moving the country back , perhaps pleasing to “ Make America Great Again ” supporters , frightening to those who remember the old days as not so good .
Ben Carson , head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the lone African American in Trump ’ s Cabinet , is enforcing parts of the rollback , audaciously subverting the language of housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fair Housing Act of 1968 .
That ’ s fitting , since Trump and his dad were New York landlords who did not let African Americans live in their buildings and were sued because of it .
But the law passed just after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. , and it ’ s sadly ironic the attempted dismantling is happening as King is celebrated this month .
On a recent visit to Charlotte , North Carolina , Carson talked about a HUD proposal that would undo an Obama-era rule ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the 1968 act , requiring municipalities to show what they would do to recognize and fight patterns of housing discrimination as a requirement for federal aid .
Carson characterized cities ’ efforts to affirmatively further fair housing goals while providing affordable housing across neighborhoods as “ redlining , ” a term that has usually described government policies that kept minorities out .
Clarke , of the National Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , in a media call with fair housing advocates Wednesday , called on Carson to withdraw the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it also doubled “ as a transparently ideological attack on equitable local policies that advance racial and economic justice.
” Of course , when he was a presidential candidate , Carson described the Obama policy as “ social engineering , ” when the reason why housing segregation is so entrenched is the “ social engineering ” of housing restrictions , set in law and enforced by violence against people that looked like him — and me .
I live in a Charlotte neighborhood where deeds once read ( and some continue to read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owned and occupied by people of the Caucasian race only.
” It ’ s no coincidence that preferable perks of quality schools , roads , shops and resources followed , a pattern that ’ s tough to break , even when legal prohibitions fall .
Of course , one reason the Democratic stage now looks as it does is because African American voters , especially older ones , are sticking with former Vice President Joe Biden .
Many I ’ ve talked with are truly fond of Biden and impressed with his experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope and change , ” but back to “ normal , ” as a South Carolina voter told me , like other citizens who have heard the chants at Trump rallies , who suffer most with each policy retreat , who know how much is at stake .
For many , a Biden choice is a practical one , a safe one , one they think their white fellow citizens can live with , and so even if the view of the Democratic debate stage may not be great , it ’ s @ @ @

OPINION — It doesn’t take a candidate of color on a debate stage to raise issues of justice and inequality. But that has been the way it has worked out, mostly.
For example, it was exhilarating for many when then-candidate Julián Castro said in a Democratic debate, “Police violence is also gun violence,” while naming Atatiana Jefferson, killed in her Fort Worth, Texas, home by a police officer who shot through the window without identifying himself. Castro’s words were an acknowledgment of the lived experiences of many in America. He has since dropped out of the race, as has California Sen. Kamala Harris, who chided her party for taking the support of black women for granted.
It was a strong moment for Harris in a November debate when she said: “When black women are three to four times more likely to die in connection with childbirth in America, when the sons of black women will die because of gun violence more than any other cause of death, when black women make 61 cents on the dollar as compared to all women, who tragically make 80 cents on the dollar, the question has to be, ‘Where you been and what are you going to do? And do you understand what the people want?’”
Most recently, it was Cory Booker’s turn to leave, due to lack of funds and low polling numbers. The New Jersey senator got a laugh at a debate in the way he criticized Joe Biden’s position on legalizing marijuana, but he was making a serious point about punishment in a criminal justice system that is far from fair. Booker’s work on criminal justice reform has been serious, including a bipartisan bill that became law.
Will another candidate take up where the three candidates left off? It’s easier to stay quiet about such things when you’re looking for votes — easier, but dangerous since ignoring problems won’t make them disappear.


rollcall--2020-01-16--Super PACs after 10 years: Often maligned but heavily used

A man demonstrates against super PACs in front of the Supreme Court in January 2012 to mark the second anniversary of the Citizens United decision , which contributed to the rise of super PACs .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo ) The reelection campaign of Rep. Angie Craig , a first-term Minnesota Democrat , kicked off 2020 with an email plea to supporters : “ We ’ ve got to overturn Citizens United.
” Noting the 10 years since the pivotal Jan. 21 , 2010 , Supreme Court decision , which helped spur along super PACs , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegiance to the cause by providing their email addresses .
Later , would-be donors were asked to chip in money for her campaign , even just $ 15 .
Despite Craig ’ s opposition to the court decision , her candidacy has benefited from ad buys by super PACs .
The solicitation from her campaign illustrates both the toxicity of big political money and the backlash to it that has led to a rise in small-dollar contributions .
It also speaks to the tricky relationship Democrats have with super PACs : They say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the party relies heavily on them too .
A decade in , it ’ s clear super PACs will play a significant role in 2020 , from the presidential contests to Senate and House races — and in both parties .
“ We ’ re on track to have record-breaking super PAC spending , ” said Michael Toner , who leads the election law and government ethics practice at law firm Wiley .
The term super PACs refers to political action committees that are theoretically independent of any particular candidate but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behalf of , or in opposition to , political candidates .
Super PACs can raise funds from individuals , corporations and unions but are not permitted to coordinate their spending with candidates .
Super PACs do disclose their donors , unlike some nonprofit organizations that also engage in electioneering .
But super PAC donors can remain hidden in some circumstances , such as when individuals give money through a company or other group .
Even as Democrats seek to distance themselves from big political money with many disavowing super PACs , the funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the party ’ s presidential candidates , including former Vice President Joe Biden and entrepreneur Andrew Yang .
The now-suspended bids of New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee also had super PAC support .
For Republicans , President Donald Trump has multiple super PACs , or hybrid PACs with a super PAC arm , that are already blanketing the country with electioneering messages .
The Democratic super PAC , Priorities USA , has pledged to spend $ 150 million opposing Trump , all before the party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Republican former chairman of the Federal Election Commission , said the presidential campaigns will drive much of the super PAC spending but so will marquee Senate races in states such as Maine , Iowa , Colorado , Arizona and North Carolina .
House races , too , are likely to see an uptick in super PAC spending , he predicts .
“ We are definitely seeing an increase in candidate-specific super PACs down ballot , ” Toner said .
“ At the U.S. Senate or U.S. House level , if you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can have a big impact.
” So far in the 2019-2020 cycle , super PACs have raised nearly $ 200 million and spent just more than $ 20 million , according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics , which tracks political spending .
The group tabulated that super PACs hauled in about $ 1.6 billion in the 2017-2018 election cycle , which didn ’ t feature a presidential race .
A new super PAC cropped up recently in the Arizona Senate race to attack GOP incumbent Martha McSally , with recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flip-flopper on policy issues .
Even though that super PAC is helping Democrats in their effort to win McSally ’ s seat , Democrats on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail continue to rail against super PACs and the 2010 Citizens United decision .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a collection of other members marked the anniversary with a Tuesday press conference that also included Tiffany Muller , president of End Citizens United , a PAC ( not a super PAC ) that opposes the court decision and contributes to Democrats .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters writ large , especially Democratic primary voters , ” Muller told CQ Roll Call .
“ They don ’ t like super PACs.
” She added that voters view campaigns fueled by small donations of $ 5 and $ 10 as a sign that those candidates are reaching out to ordinary Americans , whereas bigger donations from wealthy individuals and corporations , “ those are given because something is expected.
” Democrats ’ dueling messages , opposing super PACs while also benefiting from them , open them to charges of “ total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleta Mitchell , a Republican .
“ They try to have it both ways.
” But Maryland Democratic Rep. John Sarbanes , who has taken a leading role on the Hill to overhaul the campaign finance system , said members of his party are working toward change .
“ Look , the big money finds everybody in our system right now , ” he said during the press conference with Pelosi .
“ It finds Democrats , it finds Republicans , it finds independents .
The question is : Which is the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to change the system ?
There are no Republicans here.
” Recent polling indicates that most Americans , regardless of their partisan affiliation , view the political money status quo as unsavory .
Nearly half ( 47 percent ) of independent voters and 38 percent of all respondents said the influence of big money from corporations and special interests in the nation ’ s politics amounted to an “ extremely serious problem , ” according to poll by the Campaign Legal Center , a campaign finance overhaul group .
Though super PACs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and definitely may accept unlimited money from corporations — most public companies shy away from such funds , according to campaign finance records and a regular survey by the Public Affairs Council .
The group ’ s annual benchmarking report , which surveys the political activities of corporations , has found consistently in recent years that 95 percent of companies have not donated to any super PAC , said Kristin Brackemyre , director of PAC and government relations at the council .
“ I ’ m definitely expecting in 2020 that won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political environment is , ” Brackemyre said .
“ At this moment in time when there is such a spotlight on political giving , most don ’ t want to give to super PACs .
A major reason is reputational risk.
” The Center for Responsive Politics has come to the same conclusion based on its analysis of FEC data , finding that just 10 individual donors accounted for more than $ 1 billion in donations since super PACs entered the scene , including casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as Democratic presidential contenders Tom Steyer ( along with wife Kathryn Taylor ) and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg .
Still , many super PACs have ties to corporate interests , such as lobbyists .
A Boston-based lobbyist , Larry Rasky of Rasky Partners , was listed as treasurer of Unite the Country , a super PAC supporting Biden ’ s White House bid .
A former registered lobbyist , Jake Menges , is reportedly leading a pro-Trump super PAC dubbed Keep Florida Great .
Though super PACs are , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent of candidates , there are ways to work around those restrictions , including through public communications and sharing content on websites .
“ The whole idea is that they are independent of the candidate , and that ’ s a joke , ” said Meredith McGehee , executive director of Issue One , a nonpartisan group that seeks to reduce the influence of money on politics .
The group released a report this week on ways candidates and outside groups may evade anti-corruption laws .
The report cites numerous Republican and Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including one by the Angie Craig campaign , showing links to “ b-roll ” video that the campaign posted online that a super PAC , Independence USA , later used in a spot supporting her candidacy .
The Craig campaign did not respond to a request seeking comment .
Campaigns and outside groups also share common vendors , McGehee said , offering another possible avenue for coordination .
“ We ’ re now in a world where the candidates understand it makes sense to give a wink and a nod , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you as a candidate are doing.
” House Democrats in Congress endorsed major changes to the current campaign finance system in voting for passage last year of a sweeping overhaul ( HR 1 ) that included additional disclosures and tougher limits on possible coordination between super PACs and candidates .
But the future of such an overhaul remains unclear , with no chance of moving in the GOP-controlled Senate — making political money a potential issue in the 2020 campaigns .
Robert Weissman , president of Public Citizen , blasted the legacy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference call with reporters .
The court decision empowered a select few wealthy , mostly white , donors , he said .
But , he added , “ Citizens United , for all the extraordinary damage it has done , has also lit up a democracy movement ” of small donors and activists who want to change the system .

The reelection campaign of Rep. Angie Craig, a first-term Minnesota Democrat, kicked off 2020 with an email plea to supporters: “We’ve got to overturn Citizens United.”
Noting the 10 years since the pivotal Jan. 21, 2010, Supreme Court decision, which helped spur along super PACs, the Craig campaign urged people to show their allegiance to the cause by providing their email addresses. Later, would-be donors were asked to chip in money for her campaign, even just $15.
Despite Craig’s opposition to the court decision, her candidacy has benefited from ad buys by super PACs. The solicitation from her campaign illustrates both the toxicity of big political money and the backlash to it that has led to a rise in small-dollar contributions. It also speaks to the tricky relationship Democrats have with super PACs: They say they want to do away with them, but the party relies heavily on them too.
A decade in, it’s clear super PACs will play a significant role in 2020, from the presidential contests to Senate and House races — and in both parties.
“We’re on track to have record-breaking super PAC spending,” said Michael Toner, who leads the election law and government ethics practice at law firm Wiley.


rollcall--2020-01-16--An agonizing dispute among terror victims

Kenneth Feinberg , former administrator of the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund , said he does not understand the rationale for paying out 9/11 victims from the fund .
( Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call file photo ) Four decades ago , William Daugherty , a former CIA operative , was held hostage in Iran for 444 days .
His wait for the financial compensation policymakers had promised him will now be a lot longer than that .
A fund created in 2015 for the Iran hostages and other victims of state-sponsored terrorism has become a new source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sept. 11 , 2001 , attacks waged by al-Qaida terrorists on New York and Washington .
President Donald Trump in November signed into law a measure that divided the fund in half , splitting the revenue between two competing groups : victims of state-sponsored terrorism like Daugherty and the 9/11 families .
The move has exacerbated tensions between the two groups and appears unlikely to fully satisfy anyone .
“ We ’ ve been waiting 40 years , ” Daugherty said of his fellow former hostages , who were seized in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran during the 1979 Iranian Revolution .
By contrast , he said , the 9/11 families “ have been waiting 17 years , if they ’ ve been waiting at all.
” [ Lankford : Iran Hostage Bill the Right Legacy for Hero ] The attempt at compromise will cost taxpayers about $ 1.1 billion in the coming decade , according to the Congressional Budget Office .
The U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund , designed initially for the Iran hostages , is financed by criminal and civil penalties paid by companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism .
Under the new law , a greater percentage of those penalties will now be funneled into the terror victims ’ fund instead of being used for other programs , and the fund ’ s life has been extended another four years , through 2030 .
The coming payouts to 9/11 families are based on a federal court ruling that some lawmakers and terrorism victims say they find hard to swallow : that Iran should be held responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11 , 2001 .
Most of the 19 airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; none were from Iran .
While al-Qaida , which conducted the attacks , is a Sunni Muslim terrorist group , Iran is a Shia-led state , and the two chief branches of Islam have seldom seen eye to eye since the original Sunni-Shia schism some 1,400 years ago .
But in a contentious 2011 ruling , U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels of New York found that “ the Islamic Republic of Iran provided material support and resources to al Qaeda for acts of terrorism , including the extrajudicial killing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks.
” He said Iran provided “ services , money , lodging , training , expert advice or assistance , safehouses , false documentation or identification , and/or transportation.
” The court ruling ran counter to the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission , the official group created by Congress in 2002 to provide a full account of the al-Qaida attacks .
In its final report , the commission noted “ strong evidence ” that Iran did facilitate travel of al-Qaida members into and out of Afghanistan before the Sept. 11 attacks .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Iran in the 1990s for training in explosives .
But the commission concluded : “ We have found no evidence that Iran or Hezbollah was aware of the planning for what later became the 9/11 attack .
At the time of their travel through Iran , the al Qaeda operatives themselves were probably not aware of the specific details of their future operations.
” The court ruling had no immediate practical effect in 2011 , since Iran didn ’ t participate in the lawsuit and had no intention of paying anything to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund up and running , Daniels issued default judgments against Iran in a lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 1,000 relatives of 9/11 victims : A sibling of a 9/11 victim could collect $ 4.25 million , a parent or child would be owed $ 8.5 million , and a spouse would be awarded $ 12.5 million .
Armed with those judgments , some 9/11 families started seeking compensation from the new terror victims fund .
And applications surged , growing from 2,883 in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I still don ’ t understand it , ” said Kenneth Feinberg , who served as “ special master , ” or the chief administrator , of the fund until he stepped down in February 2019 .
“ I thought the [ Sept. 11 ] commission concluded that Iran had nothing to do with 9/11.
” Lawmakers agreed to broaden access to the victims fund for 9/11 families in November without embracing the court ruling that found Iran liable .
“ Not particularly , ” said Sen. Lindsey Graham , a South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered Iran responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks .
But Graham , who as chairman of the Judiciary Committee helped author the compensation provision , defends his effort as an attempt at rough justice .
“ I do believe we should give victims as much recourse as possible , and Iran has done their fair share of dirty stuff , ” Graham said .
“ This is sort of an end run , but it works for me.
” Two bites at the apple Most immediate family members of 9/11 victims had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them .
The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund , which initially operated from 2001 to 2004 , distributed $ 7.1 billion to some 5,300 victims and family members , according to Feinberg , who administered that fund at the time .
“ All taxpayer money , all tax-free ” for the victims ’ families , he said of the payouts .
The average payment for a death was $ 2 million , while the average for a physical injury was $ 400,000 , he said .
But now , with 9/11 families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Iran hostages and other victims , revenues are getting spread thin .
The greater the number of claims made on the fund , the longer each recipient must wait to collect his or her full award .
Tensions among victims seemed all but inevitable .
Like the rest of the former Iran hostages , Daugherty was awarded $ 4.4 million , or $ 10,000 per day of captivity , under the state-sponsored terror victims ’ fund established in 2015 .
But so far , after four years of waiting , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or about 17 percent of what he is owed .
And with a surge of claimants , it ’ s not clear how many years he must wait to collect .
“ We should have been the first to be paid , ” Daugherty , 72 , said of his fellow former Iran hostages .
“ We have people who are going to be dead in two years .
We have a couple in hospice now.
” But Charles Wolf , who lost his wife , Katherine , on Sept. 11 in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has no qualms about his pursuit of a claim through the fund originally designed for Iran hostages , even though he already received a payout from the 9/11 fund .
He declined to say how much money he received .
“ This is not a matter of need , ” said Wolf , a 65-year-old salesman who lives a mile from the World Trade Center site .
“ The doggone plane flew right over my apartment and went right into my wife ’ s office .
… Our government failed us in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Iran hostages , Wolf said , “ They ’ re home with their family .
Where ’ s mine ?
There was nothing ever found of my wife .
Nothing .
She was vaporized.
” And as the tensions rise , the share of awards getting paid out is growing smaller .
In the initial round of payments , made in 2017 , claimants received about 14 percent of the money they are owed .
In the second round , awarded last year , the surge of claimants meant each received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the special master ’ s report of February 2019 .
Feinberg , who administered both funds without pay , says the experience has provided some painful lessons .
“ They ’ re fighting with one another , ” he said of the victims and their relatives .
“ You see now the consequences .
No good deed goes unpunished .
”

Four decades ago, William Daugherty, a former CIA operative, was held hostage in Iran for 444 days. His wait for the financial compensation policymakers had promised him will now be a lot longer than that.
A fund created in 2015 for the Iran hostages and other victims of state-sponsored terrorism has become a new source of cash for relatives of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks waged by al-Qaida terrorists on New York and Washington. President Donald Trump in November signed into law a measure that divided the fund in half, splitting the revenue between two competing groups: victims of state-sponsored terrorism like Daugherty and the 9/11 families.
The move has exacerbated tensions between the two groups and appears unlikely to fully satisfy anyone.
“We’ve been waiting 40 years,” Daugherty said of his fellow former hostages, who were seized in the capture of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. By contrast, he said, the 9/11 families “have been waiting 17 years, if they’ve been waiting at all.”
[Lankford: Iran Hostage Bill the Right Legacy for Hero]


rollcall--2020-01-17--Was Hillary Clinton a terrible candidate?

As much as Donald Trump was hailed by Republicans for winning the White House in 2016 , Democrats blamed their loss squarely on Hillary Clinton and her campaign .
A closer look confirms that she underperformed a typical Democrat in key states in the race for president , even as she overperformed elsewhere .
On the surface , Clinton could be viewed as a more valuable candidate to Democrats than Trump was to Republicans , according to Inside Elections ’ Vote Above Replacement metric .
She overperformed a typical Democrat in 19 states while Trump overperformed a typical Republican in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a political candidate relative to a typical candidate from her or his party by comparing the percentage of a candidate ’ s vote to the party ’ s Baseline .
Baseline is the trimmed mean of each party ’ s performance in partisan , contested statewide elections over the four most recent general election cycles .
She also overperformed in four of the 10 closest states in 2016 , while Trump overperformed in three .
Yet her negative VAR in the four closest states was enough to leave a group of shocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Election Night .
Clinton underperformed in Michigan ( -0.2 VAR ) , New Hampshire ( -2.5 ) , Pennsylvania ( -3.3 ) , and Wisconsin ( -0.9 ) .
Losing three ( and nearly four ) of those states locked her out of the presidency .
She also underperformed in Minnesota ( -4.1 ) and nearly lost that state as well .
Clinton ’ s overperformance in California ( 6 VAR ) , Illinois ( 3.1 ) and Massachusetts ( 2.5 ) is evidence that Democrats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the score in Democratic states and not changing the math of the Electoral College .
David Wasserman of The Cook Political Report noted that Trump could lose the popular vote by 5 million votes and still win reelection .
It ’ s not all bad news for Democrats .
Clinton overperformed in the perennial battleground state of Florida ( 4.2 VAR ) , former battleground state Nevada ( 2.8 ) , and the emerging battleground of Maine ( 3.1 ) .
The best news for Democrats might be in growing states where Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VAR , such as Texas ( Clinton 5.1 , Trump -5.8 ) and Georgia ( Clinton 3.1 , Trump -4.3 ) .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

As much as Donald Trump was hailed by Republicans for winning the White House in 2016, Hillary Clinton and her campaign took plenty of blame from her fellow Democrats for the loss. A closer look confirms that she underperformed a typical Democrat in key states in the race for president, even as she overperformed elsewhere.
On the surface, Clinton could be viewed as a more valuable candidate to Democrats than Trump was to Republicans, according to Inside Elections’ ‘Vote Above Replacement’ metric. She overperformed a typical Democrat in 19 states, while Trump overperformed a typical Republican in 15 states.
VAR measures the strength of a political candidate relative to a typical candidate from the same party by comparing the percentage of the candidate’s vote to the party’s Baseline. Baseline is the trimmed mean of each party’s performance in partisan, contested statewide elections over the four most recent general election cycles.
[Is Trump really the MVP of the GOP?]
Clinton also overperformed in four of the 10 closest states in 2016, while Trump overperformed in three. Yet her negative VAR in the four closest states was enough to leave a group of shocked supporters stranded on a riser at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on election night. Clinton underperformed in Michigan (-0.2 VAR), New Hampshire (-2.5), Pennsylvania (-3.3) and Wisconsin (-0.9). Losing three (and nearly four) of those states locked her out of the presidency. She also underperformed in Minnesota (-4.1) and nearly lost that state as well.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Pens, Parnas and pain of imprisonment: Congressional Hits and Misses

This week Speaker Nancy Pelosi signed the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump and Republicans made a stink about @ @ @ @ @ Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders bickered on national TV , Trump ranted about @ @ @ @ @ gave CQ a shoutout .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on @ @ @

This week Speaker Nancy Pelosi signed the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump and Republicans made a stink about her many pens.
Meanwhile Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders bickered on national TV, Trump ranted about dishwashers and Sen. Marco Rubio gave CQ a shoutout.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 17

Impeachment news roundup: Jan. 17

House impeachment managers , from left , Adam B. Schiff , Jerrold Nadler , Zoe Lofgren and Hakeem Jeffries walk to the Senate on Thursday to read the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump .
( Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call ) President Donald Trump ’ s legal team will include former Bill Clinton prosecutors Kenneth Starr and Richard Ray and retired Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz , multiple media outlets reported Friday .
Starr investigated the sexual misconduct allegations that led to President Bill Clinton ’ s impeachment before resigning as special counsel saying `` intense politicization of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence in the justice system .
Ray , who was a prosecutor in Starr ’ s office , wrote the final report on the investigation after succeeding his boss .
Dershowitz has advised Trump the the Mueller investigation and has served as a Fox News contributor and has defended Trump and criticized the investigations into him .
He has also represented Jeffrey Epstein and O.J .
Simpson .
They join White House counsel Pat Cippollone and Trump personal attorney Jay Sekulow on Trump ’ s defense team .
The White House would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement that said he would make oral arguments to “ address the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal.
” The statement also pointed out that Dershowitz was non-partisan , having opposed Clinton ’ s impeachment and voted for Hillary Clinton in her run against Trump .
Good and bad : “ You ’ ve got a good one now — even though they ’ re trying to impeach the son of a bitch , ” Trump told the college football champion LSU Tigers about their president during a celebration event in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invited the team to the Oval Office , noting “ some good and some bad ” presidents had sat inside behind the Resolute Desk he uses .
Fact check : The House has already impeached Trump on two counts ; the Senate trial will determine whether he is removed from office .
Impeachment effect : Calling the House-approved impeachment articles “ no charge-charges , ” chief White House economic adviser Lawrence Kudlow said the House inquiry and pending Senate trial has had no impact on the U.S. economy .
Timeline : Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now and when the Senate begins its trial on Tuesday .
5 p.m. Saturday : House ’ s deadline to file its trial brief .
6 p.m. Saturday : Deadline for Trump to respond to the House summons for his impeachment trial .
Noon Tuesday : Deadline for House to file a rebuttal to Trump ’ s trial brief .

House impeachment managers are working through the weekend, reviewing trial materials and their legal brief.
The House brief, due Saturday at 5 p.m., has already been drafted by staff over the last month, but managers are continuing to refine it, according to a Democratic aide working on the impeachment trial.
Managers will return to Washington on Sunday to meet that day and Monday in the Capitol with counsel to prepare for their opening arguments, the aide said. There are dozens of staffers across the Intelligence, Judiciary and Oversight committees, in addition to House general counsel’s office, working on the trial, the aide said.
The weekend will feature a variety of TV appearances from lawmakers making their case in the court of public opinion before the Senate trial starts Tuesday.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi will appear on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” on Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern time to discuss “the next steps on impeachment, House Democrats’ achievements For The People and other news of the day,” according to a statement from the California Democrat’s office.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Photos of the week

Photos of the week

An Architect of the Capitol worker sorts stanchions in Statuary Hall on Tuesday in advance of the House sending the @ @ @ @ @ Senate .
( Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call ) It was an historic week in Congress @ @ @ @ @ trial managers before sending the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump over to the @ @ @ @ @ .
Over in the Senate Chief Justice John Roberts arrived to swear in the senators @ @ @ @ @ underway next week .

It was an historic week in Congress. The House selected its trial managers before sending the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump over to the other side of the Capitol.
Over in the Senate Chief Justice John Roberts arrived to swear in the senators before the impeachment trial gets underway next week.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, listens as Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces impeachment managers on Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Sergeant at Arms of the House Paul Irving and Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson walk through the Ohio Clock Corridor in advance of the transmission of the articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Stanchions frame a statue of Thomas Jefferson in the Capitol Rotunda in advance of the transmission of the articles of impeachment from the House to the Senate on Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., makes his way to the Senate floor before House impeachment trial managers delivered the articles of impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Pelosi signs the resolution to transmit the two articles of impeachment against Trump to the Senate for trial on Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Irving and Johnson lead House impeachment managers through Statuary Hall to deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Pelosi conducts her weekly news conference in the Capitol on Thursday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Irving leads House impeachment managers through the Capitol Rotunda as they pass from the House to the Senate for the first day of the impeachment trial on Thursday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-01-17--To rein in Big Pharma over high drug prices, start with patent reform

Abuse of the patent system by brand-name drug manufacturers is exacerbating the financial burden faced by American patients for their prescription drugs , Lane writes .
( George Frey/Getty Images file photo ) OPINION — With the Senate impeachment trial kicking off and partisan tensions running high on several fronts , Americans might be forgiven for thinking that Congress has lost the ability to find common ground .
But lately , and despite the proverbial odds , there is a new bipartisan consensus forming on an issue of incredible importance to millions of Americans : prescription drug pricing .
Specifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end abusive practices that are directly contributing to high drug prices .
Across the country , Americans are struggling under the weight of skyrocketing prescription drug costs .
It is no secret that affording medicines and treatments is an incredible burden for too many families .
On average , Americans are paying considerably more than citizens of other high-income countries for the same exact prescription drugs .
Worse , major pharmaceutical companies have kicked off the new year by raising the prices of over 440 drugs , with an average increase of 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the financial burden faced by American patients and only serves to pad Big Pharma ’ s already soaring profits .
A significant reason for the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs is that major pharmaceutical companies have enjoyed an effective open season on raising drug prices .
Armed with government-sponsored monopolies obtained through shameless abuse of the patent system , Big Pharma has been free to raise prices at their leisure .
The goal of brand-name drugmakers ’ abuse of the patent system is to get more than their fair share by getting new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are supposed to be a reward for new innovations , not clever lawyering at the patent office .
Many important older drugs should be facing generic competition , an important and intended step in the life cycle of a drug that reduces prices by about 80 percent on average from their monopoly level .
But patent gamesmanship has increased the average monopoly period of a drug by over two years , costing Americans tens of billions of dollars .
In order for patients to have access to more affordable generics and biosimilars , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any policy aiming to prevent the prescription drug pricing crisis from getting any worse .
The good news is that more and more members of Congress are recognizing this problem .
In recent months , members of both parties have come together to propose innovative solutions that are essential first steps in the right direction .
These proposals won ’ t solve the whole problem but represent real progress as Congress debates bigger solutions to our drug pricing crisis .
In the Senate , Texas Republican John Cornyn and Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the House , Rhode Island Democrat David Cicilline , New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler , Georgia Republican Doug Collins and Wisconsin Republican Jim Sensenbrenner introduced the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act of 2019 .
Both bills would help to rein in Big Pharma and provide additional tools to prevent some of their worst tactics like product hopping .
Together , these two pieces of legislation represent not only clear steps toward solving this critical issue but also a recognition from members of both parties that patent abuse is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs .
Finding common ground isn ’ t easy in today ’ s divided Washington .
We are even seeing it in the broader drug pricing debate with competing proposals in the House and Senate .
But it is encouraging to see bipartisan consensus emerging on patent reform .
If Congress is serious about making prescription drugs more affordable , then reforming the patent system , ending product hopping and finally putting an end to Big Pharma ’ s abuses are a must for 2020 .
American patients can not afford to wait @ @ @

The goal of brand-name drugmakers’ abuse of the patent system is to get more than their fair share by getting new patent monopolies on old drugs. Patents are supposed to be a reward for new innovations, not clever lawyering at the patent office.
Many important older drugs should be facing generic competition, an important and intended step in the life cycle of a drug that reduces prices by about 80 percent on average from their monopoly level. But patent gamesmanship has increased the average monopoly period of a drug by over two years, costing Americans tens of billions of dollars.
In order for patients to have access to more affordable generics and biosimilars, patent reform must be a priority in any policy aiming to prevent the prescription drug pricing crisis from getting any worse.
The good news is that more and more members of Congress are recognizing this problem. In recent months, members of both parties have come together to propose innovative solutions that are essential first steps in the right direction. These proposals won’t solve the whole problem but represent real progress as Congress debates bigger solutions to our drug pricing crisis.
In the Senate, Texas Republican John Cornyn and Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal introduced the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act. In the House, Rhode Island Democrat David Cicilline, New York Democrat Jerrold Nadler, Georgia Republican Doug Collins and Wisconsin Republican Jim Sensenbrenner introduced the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act of 2019. Both bills would help to rein in Big Pharma and provide additional tools to prevent some of their worst tactics like product hopping. Together, these two pieces of legislation represent not only clear steps toward solving this critical issue but also a recognition from members of both parties that patent abuse is a major factor in rising prescription drug costs.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Ethics expert: GOP ‘crosses the line’ with House hallway ambushes

Having video trackers shadow candidates to get campaign dirt has become a common tactic , but the National Republican Congressional Committee went too far if it directed aides to ambush Democrats in House office buildings , experts on congressional ethics said .
Though a GOP spokesman called it “ frivolous , ” the experts said there was merit to a complaint filed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee against the chairman of the NRCC , Rep. Tom Emmer .
It could lead to the Minnesota lawmaker facing an investigation by the House Ethics Committee .
“ The complaint details conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and House ethics rules that bar campaign activity in House buildings , ” Bryson B. Morgan , a lawyer who worked as an investigative counsel for the Office of Congressional Ethics from 2013 through 2015 , told CQ Roll Call in an email .
“ If the Office of Congressional Ethics determines that NRCC Chairman Rep. Emmer was involved in or knew of this effort , I would expect the matter to be referred by OCE to the Ethics Committee.
” Meredith McGehee , executive director of the government watchdog group Issue One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said filming members of Congress for political purposes is very common as a tactic .
“ But to have the party committees do it — it crosses a line , ” McGehee said .
A complaint sent to OCE on Monday alleges that Emmer violated House rules when the NRCC repeatedly filmed Democrats in the halls of Congress , which are considered official resources , for campaign or political purposes and in violation of chamber rules and federal law .
If the OCE investigation finds that there is a “ substantial reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter would be referred to the House Ethics Committee , which is made up of an equal number of Democratic and Republican members .
Unlike OCE , the Ethics Committee possesses subpoena power , can determine if a violation occurred , and has the power to discipline members .
House rules say that office buildings paid for by the taxpayers , including those connected by tunnels and subways to the Capitol , are off limits for campaign activity .
“ The House buildings , and House rooms and offices — including district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hence are considered official resources , ” House rules state .
“ Accordingly , as a general rule , they may not be used for the conduct of campaign or political activities.
” As an example , the House Ethics Manual notes that a member “ may not film a campaign commercial or have campaign photos taken in a congressional office.
” Because making calls from a member ’ s office to seek campaign contributions would violate the rules , both the DCCC and the NRCC have offices a short walk from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , use for campaign-related activity during free time while Congress is in session .
OCE has previously referred matters involving the misuse of videos and photos in House buildings to the Ethics Committee .
In 2018 , OCE noted that Ohio GOP Rep. James B. Renacci ’ s campaign social media accounts may have posted videos and photos that were photographed or filmed in official House buildings .
OCE recommended that House Ethics further review the allegations into the Ohio Republican .
But the committee delayed action until Renacci — who lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no longer a House member , and therefore not under the committee ’ s jurisdiction .
The DCCC and NRCC are political committees dedicated to increasing their parties ’ representation in the House .
The DCCC ’ s complaint asks for OCE to investigate the NRCC , but OCE only has jurisdiction over members and employees of the House , not party committees .
As such , Emmer , as chairman , would be the one who would come under scrutiny if OCE chooses to pursue an investigation .
House rules mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that any outside organization over which he or she exercises control — including the individual ’ s own authorized campaign committee or , for example , a ‘ leadership PAC ’ — operates in compliance with applicable law.
” Videos posted to the NRCC ’ s Twitter account show someone asking Democrats politically charged questions in House office buildings on Jan. 9 .
In the videos , someone asks Democrats — including Reps. Abby Finkenauer of Iowa , and Andy Kim and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey —whether Qassem Soleimani , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike ordered by President Donald Trump , was a terrorist .
Other videos posted and retweeted on the NRCC ’ s Twitter account were recorded in a House office building the day after Trump was impeached .
They show people asking Democrats , including Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota , why the House did not immediately send the impeachment articles to the Senate .
“ Congresswoman , how do you feel now that you voted yourself out of office ?
” Craig is asked on the video .
Another video shows Rep. Lauren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Office Building and being asked , “ Congresswoman Underwood , why are you posing as a fake nurse ?
” Finkenauer , Craig , Kim , Sherrill and Underwood are all freshmen who flipped Republican-held seats in 2018 and are targeted by the NRCC for defeat in November .
A spokesperson for Emmer ’ s congressional office referred questions seeking comment to the NRCC .
Chris Pack , an NRCC spokesman , did not answer questions about Emmer ’ s knowledge of the video recordings and did not provide a response from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at the chairwoman of the DCCC , Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois .
“ Cheri Bustos will soon find out she should have done a little homework on the actions of DCCC and her fellow members before filing this frivolous ethics complaint , ” Pack said in an email .
In response , DCCC spokeswoman Robyn Patterson said : “ Their veiled threat won ’ t change the fact that Congressman Emmer and his staff have violated Congressional ethics rules and belligerently inhibited the people ’ s work.
” This was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have exchanged jabs .
In October , the NRCC sent packing boxes to the Capitol Hill offices of Democrats in battleground districts , suggesting they will have to pack up and leave their offices after the next election .
Most of those Democrats flipped Republican districts in 2018 and are likely to face competitive races this year .
Some offices alerted Capitol Police about what they thought were suspicious packages .
Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

Having video trackers shadow candidates to get campaign dirt has become a common tactic, but the National Republican Congressional Committee went too far if it directed aides to ambush Democrats in House office buildings, experts on congressional ethics said.
Though a GOP spokesman called it “frivolous,” the experts said there was merit to a complaint filed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee against the chairman of the NRCC, Rep. Tom Emmer. It could lead to the Minnesota lawmaker facing an investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
“The complaint details conduct that is clearly prohibited by federal law and House ethics rules that bar campaign activity in House buildings,” Bryson B. Morgan, a lawyer who worked as an investigative counsel for the Office of Congressional Ethics from 2013 through 2015, told CQ Roll Call in an email. “If the Office of Congressional Ethics determines that NRCC Chairman Rep. Emmer was involved in or knew of this effort, I would expect the matter to be referred by OCE to the Ethics Committee.”
Meredith McGehee, executive director of the government watchdog group Issue One, called the complaint “worthwhile.” She said filming members of Congress for political purposes is very common as a tactic.


rollcall--2020-01-17--Impeachment isn’t the only obstacle to legislative wins for Congress in 2020

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on Wednesday .
Democrats have said they can “ investigate and legislate , ” but that could be harder to pull off this year .
( Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call ) On Dec. 18 , the House voted to impeach President Donald Trump .
On Dec. 19 , the House approved a major rewrite of a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada .
Those two events , just 24 hours apart , marked the culmination of a strategy Democrats have sought to execute since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year : investigate and legislate .
“ Our view is we are here to make things better for our constituents and stand up for the constitutional oaths that we took , ” said Rep. Tom Malinowski , a freshman Democrat from New Jersey who ousted a Republican in 2018 .
“ Those things are not in conflict with one another .
And by the way , that ’ s always been true .
When Nixon was being impeached , Congress passed a major infrastructure bill .
When Clinton was being impeached , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that strategy resonates with the rest of the country will be a whole other matter .
In less than 10 months , voters will head to the polls to choose their president and a new Congress .
According to a FiveThirtyEight aggregation of polls , roughly 47 percent of Americans support Trump ’ s removal from office , a figure that has held steady since October .
But the Democrats ’ gambit seems like a tricky thing to pull off : Sure , we can work with a guy we voted to kick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , continue to complain that Democrats have wasted valuable time on impeachment instead of working on major legislation like an infrastructure bill .
As New York GOP Rep. Tom Reed , who co-chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus , put it : “ I ’ m not overly optimistic that this is going to all of a sudden be a ‘ kumbaya ’ moment , especially with impeachment and the other toxicity in the water here in Washington.
” Complicating matters further is heightened tensions with Iran following a U.S. drone strike Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That attack prompted a vote in the House on Jan. 9 , limiting Trump ’ s ability to wage war in Iran .
A Senate vote on a War Powers resolution was not acted on before the chamber began its impeachment proceedings , and when consideration of it happens is uncertain .
There are some observers who think Democrats are succeeding , at least for now .
“ I think they ’ ve done a really good job … of balancing oversight of the administration and passing a ton of legislation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide to several moderate Democrats and now a senior vice president at Third Way , a centrist think tank .
There were signs of progress at the end of last year following 11 months of nothing much .
Democrats and Republicans came together to pass the annual defense policy bill , which included the establishment of Trump ’ s long-sought Space Force and paid family and medical leave for government workers .
A record-breaking spending package was enacted , which included the repeal of three taxes levied by the 2010 health care law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ in 2020 ] is there ’ s going to be a vise grip on impeachment , and the 2020 election , ” Horwitz said .
“ That doesn ’ t leave much room or appetite for legislating.
” Neil Bradley , a former aide to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , who is now an executive vice president with the Chamber of Commerce , mostly agrees : “ Clearly , they can both legislate and deal with impeachment .
Whether they will , again [ in 2020 ] , I think remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no shortage of work to be done.
” So what kind of work can be done ?
Bradley and others point to a number of items left over from last session that could get action this year , including proposals to lower the cost of prescription drugs and ending what are known as surprise medical bills .
A marijuana banking bill that passed the House with wide bipartisan support could get action in the Senate .
In addition , the Supreme Court is set to decide on a program for “ Dreamers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America when they were children .
The decision could prompt congressional action .
The Federal Trade Commission has asked for stronger enforcement ability on data privacy and data breaches , and there ’ s a chance something could be enacted on that front .
Meanwhile , a direct outcome of the investigations of Trump could mean an overhaul of surveillance laws , if Republicans are to be believed .
And yet there is almost no hope on big issues at the top of voters ’ minds .
One example can be found in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women Act , which expired in February but whose programs have been funded through spending bills .
Democrats have been pushing to take guns away from domestic abusers — a provision was included in an April bill that passed the House , but the National Rifle Association and Republicans have come out against closing what Democrats commonly refer to as the “ boyfriend loophole.
” Talks have broken down , and it ’ s unclear what , if anything , will happen .
The only noteworthy gun measure that passed last year was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package that allotted $ 25 million to explicitly allow the government , for the first time since 1996 , to research gun violence .
Some analysts think that what ’ s happened with appropriations is a bad sign for this year .
A deal to lift budgetary caps was struck in July but instead of reaching quick agreement , Congress dragged out negotiations until the year ’ s end .
“ The fact that we had a deal on the caps in place over the summer , and it ’ s taken them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I don ’ t think is a particularly encouraging sign of how that process will go , ” said Molly E. Reynolds , a Brookings Institution scholar .
For years , civil libertarians have been calling for changes to the country ’ s surveillance laws , and that effort got a boost from , of all things , the investigation into Russia and Trump .
The release of a report from the inspector general for the Justice Department found questionable actions on the part of the FBI in bringing information to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to surveil Carter Page , a former Trump campaign official .
Another consideration is the host of high-profile members who are heading out the door via retirement , some of whom have big-ticket items on their wish list .
Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , chairman of the Senate Health , Education , Labor and Pensions Committee , has been seeking an update to the Higher Education Opportunity Act , which has not been reauthorized since 2008 .
The law deals with student loans , aid and other provisions that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Indeed , two members of the HELP committee — Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts — have plans that call for canceling student loan debt .
Still , action on a big overhaul seems unlikely .
Bradley , who focuses on education issues , believes there could be some movement on vocational training and other education and labor issues .
“ I could see a skinny higher ed ” bill , he said .
Some in Congress believe impeachment isn ’ t helping .
Following a failed committee vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , Sam Graves of Missouri , the top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee , concluded that impeachment was to blame .
He sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and complained in a statement that Democrats ’ “ partisan impeachment and anti-Trump agenda is infecting even the most bipartisan work this Congress does.
” Graves and other Republicans ’ main objection on the bill was an amendment that requires the General Services Administration to conduct an annual audit of properties leased to private parties .
Republicans saw it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington hotel would be affected by the bill .
They were right , as Democrats trumpeted that provision in a news release following the vote .
And yet there are those who insist that impeachment is not the disease , but the cure .
Pointing to the success of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact vote , Malinowski , the New Jersey Democrat , posited that impeachment is “ making bipartisan legislation more likely , not less likely.
” “ It makes members more determined to demonstrate to their constituents that Congress can legislate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it also puts the president in that position where he is more eager to show that he can actually govern .
”

On Dec. 18, the House voted to impeach President Donald Trump. On Dec. 19, the House approved a major rewrite of a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. Those two events, just 24 hours apart, marked the culmination of a strategy Democrats have sought to execute since the day they took control of the House last year: investigate and legislate.
“Our view is we are here to make things better for our constituents and stand up for the constitutional oaths that we took,” said Rep. Tom Malinowski, a freshman Democrat from New Jersey who ousted a Republican in 2018. “Those things are not in conflict with one another. And by the way, that’s always been true. When Nixon was being impeached, Congress passed a major infrastructure bill. When Clinton was being impeached, the Congress passed major legislation.”
Whether that strategy resonates with the rest of the country will be a whole other matter. In less than 10 months, voters will head to the polls to choose their president and a new Congress. According to a FiveThirtyEight aggregation of polls, roughly 47 percent of Americans support Trump’s removal from office, a figure that has held steady since October.
But the Democrats’ gambit seems like a tricky thing to pull off: Sure, we can work with a guy we voted to kick out of office. Republicans, meanwhile, continue to complain that Democrats have wasted valuable time on impeachment instead of working on major legislation like an infrastructure bill.
As New York GOP Rep. Tom Reed, who co-chairs the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, put it: “I’m not overly optimistic that this is going to all of a sudden be a ‘kumbaya’ moment, especially with impeachment and the other toxicity in the water here in Washington.”


rollcall--2020-01-16--Historic impeachment trial begins. Now what?

With elections looming , how politically perilous is the impeachment trial for senators — on both sides of the aisle @ @ @ @ @ reelection in November ?
We turn to CQ Roll Call 's elections analyst Nathan L. @ @ @ @ @ key races and how impeachment will — or will not — play into them .
@ @ @ @ @ Tully-McManus offers a view from inside the Senate chamber from day one of the impeachment @ @

With elections looming, how politically perilous is the impeachment trial for senators — on both sides of the aisle — who are up for re-election in November? We turn to CQ Roll Call’s elections analyst Nathan Gonzalez to look at some key races and how impeachment will — or will not — play into them. Plus, congressional reporter Katherine Tully-McManus offers a view from inside the Senate chambers from day one of the impeachment proceedings.


rollcall--2020-01-16--How Ed Henry covered impeachment the first time

Heard on the Hill alum Ed Henry gets ready for a new role at Fox News .
( Courtesy Fox News ) Ed Henry had an interview scheduled with Bill Clinton .
It was a relatively sleepy week in Washington , the State of the Union was approaching , and the young reporter planned to ask the president about his relationship with Congress .
Things changed .
News of the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke , and what was supposed to be a routine sit-down turned into a 15-minute phone call brimming with executive denials : “ not sexual , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true.
” That was 1998 , and Henry was a staff writer at Roll Call .
It was kind of a big deal for a journalist at the beginning of his career .
“ I remember back then having some of the more gray-bearded reporters look down on these young hungry journalists , ” Henry says .
“ We would outrun them on a lot of these stories , and they would ‘ tut-tut ’ that we were young and didn ’ t understand the whole story.
” Now Henry has yet another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as co-anchor of “ America ’ s Newsroom , ” Fox News ’ midmorning show .
As he gets ready to start that new job on Monday , he ’ s sounding a little gray-beard-esque himself ( minus the beard ) .
“ When scoops are just tweeted out , I think a lot of the context can be lost , ” he tells me .
“ There are far too many journalists who are in a rush to be first , instead of being right.
” “ I don ’ t leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hastens to add .
“ In the 24-hour news cycle of cable , we don ’ t always get it right.
” Henry has been a Fox News staple for a while , joining in 2011 to cover the White House after leaving CNN .
He ’ s also served as the network ’ s chief national correspondent and pulled weekend duty on lightning-rod opinion program “ Fox & Friends.
” It ’ s hard to imagine Henry as the wonkily irreverent voice behind Roll Call ’ s Heard on the Hill column @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was during the Clinton impeachment years .
“ You could have an item about one senator , you know , whispering something to another senator in the cloakroom , and it would start a five-alarm fire , ” he says .
It meant exploring the intersection of cage fighting and Congress , or calling out the GOP staffers who partied with Jim Belushi at the Capital Grille .
It also meant scrounging for details that would make sense of an impeachment process that was on the one hand rigidly formal and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chaotic day in which the presumed next speaker of the House , Robert L. Livingston , copped to an extramarital affair and suddenly announced he would resign .
( There are shades here of Henry ’ s own career ; he stepped away from Fox News for a few months in 2016 after reports emerged of an affair . )
The same day , Henry spotted future Speaker John A. Boehner on a smoke break in the lobby .
“ What ’ s that quote ?
‘ May you always live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Henry .
“ To hell with that.
” Back then , Henry was young and “ broke , ” sharing the newsroom with journalists who went on to gain notoriety , including Paul Kane ( Washington Post ) , Jim VandeHei ( co-founder of Axios ) , Mark Preston ( CNN ) and Norah O ’ Donnell ( CBS ) .
As he takes his place behind the desk of “ America ’ s Newsroom , ” he ’ s not that scrappy Hill reporter anymore .
Lately he ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for asking a guest some questions about Ukraine .
“ Ed Henry just got his ASS handed to him , ” retweeted the president , whose love affair with Fox News appears to be cooling .
“ I tried not to take that personally , ” Henry says , noting that he sometimes clashed with President Barack Obama too .
Monday will bring another milestone for Henry , this one personal .
It ’ s the week his sister will return to work after recovering from a liver transplant , made possible when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( The liver is the only internal organ that can regenerate itself , which makes live donation an option . )
Henry made the announcement during an emotional segment of “ Fox & Friends ” in July .
“ I ’ m used to delivering the news and without emotion , and I almost immediately lost it , ” he says .
“ It was very cathartic.
” Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone .

Ed Henry had an interview scheduled with Bill Clinton. It was a relatively sleepy week in Washington, the State of the Union was approaching, and the young reporter planned to ask the president about his relationship with Congress.
Things changed. News of the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke, and what was supposed to be a routine sit-down turned into a 15-minute phone call brimming with executive denials: “not sexual,” “not improper,” “not true.”
That was 1998, and Henry was a staff writer at Roll Call. It was kind of a big deal for a journalist at the beginning of his career.
“I remember back then having some of the more gray-bearded reporters look down on these young hungry journalists,” Henry says. “We would outrun them on a lot of these stories, and they would ‘tut-tut’ that we were young and didn’t understand the whole story.”
Now Henry has yet another impeachment trial to cover — this time as co-anchor of “America’s Newsroom,” Fox News’ midmorning show. As he gets ready to start that new job on Monday, he’s sounding a little gray-beard-esque himself (minus the beard).


rollcall--2020-01-16--Watch: Chief Justice Roberts swears in senators, starts impeachment trial

Senators raise their hands as Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. administers the oath of the Senate court of impeachment @ @ @ @ @ Studio ) Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. officially began the third presidential impeachment trial @ @ @ @ @ Shortly after arriving at the Capitol , Senate President Pro Tempore Charles E. Grassley swore @ @ @ @ @ Senate rostrum .
Roberts then administered the oath to lawmakers .
Alphabetically and in groups @ @ @ @ @ ’ names were read by the clerk and the senators approached the Republican desk — @ @ @ @ @ staff — to sign the impeachment oath book .
Julie E. Adams , secretary of @ @ @ @ @ book at 2:30 p.m .
Shortly after , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell read through @ @ @ @ @ the court of impeachment until Tuesday , Jan. 21 at 1 p.m .

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. officially began the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history Thursday. Shortly after arriving at the Capitol, Senate President Pro Tempore Charles E. Grassley swore in the justice on the Senate rostrum.
Roberts then administered the oath to lawmakers. Alphabetically and in groups of four, the senators’ names were read by the clerk and the senators approached the Republican desk — normally used by Republican floor staff — to sign the impeachment oath book.
Julie E. Adams, secretary of the Senate, closed the book at 2:30 p.m. Shortly after, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell read through some procedural language and adjourned the court of impeachment until Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 1 p.m.