rollcall--2020-09-24--Election in Minnesota’s 2nd District delayed after death of third-party candidate

The November election in Minnesota ’ s 2nd District , and those voters ’ representation in Congress early next year , got thrown into chaos Thursday after the reported death of a third-party candidate .
A state official , citing state law , said the House election would be held early next year .
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued a statement Thursday saying Adam Weeks , the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate running for the seat currently held by freshman Democratic Rep. Angie Craig , had died .
“ The law is clear on what happens next , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If a major party nominee dies within 79 days of Election Day ; a special election will be held for that office on the second Tuesday of February ( February 9 , 2021 ) .
” Although some political observers questioned whether the Legal Marijuana Now Party constituted a major party , it appeared that the election would be postponed until early February .
That seems to mean that the district would not have a representative in the House during the potentially crucial first weeks of the 117th Congress .
The Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the district to continue to vote and noted that for those who had already voted early , they did not need to request a new ballot .
However , votes for the House seat cast in the November elections “ will not be counted , ” according to the statement .

The November election in Minnesota’s 2nd District, and those voters’ representation in Congress early next year, got thrown into chaos Thursday after the reported death of a third-party candidate. A state official, citing state law, said the House election would be held early next year.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued a statement Thursday saying Adam Weeks, the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate running for the seat currently held by freshman Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, had died.
“The law is clear on what happens next,” Simon said in the statement. “If a major party nominee dies within 79 days of Election Day; a special election will be held for that office on the second Tuesday of February (February 9, 2021).”
Although some political observers questioned whether the Legal Marijuana Now Party constituted a major party, it appeared that the election would be postponed until early February. That seems to mean that the district would not have a representative in the House during the potentially crucial first weeks of the 117th Congress.
The Secretary of State’s Office advised voters in the district to continue to vote and noted that for those who had already voted early, they did not need to request a new ballot. However, votes for the House seat cast in the November elections “will not be counted,” according to the statement.


rollcall--2020-09-24--House Democrats drafting $2.4 trillion coronavirus relief bill

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has directed House committee leaders to put together a more slender coronavirus relief package than the one that previously passed the chamber , in their latest offer in talks with the White House .
The House could vote on that as-yet-unreleased $ 2.4 trillion bill as soon as next week if GOP cooperation does n't materialize , according to Democratic lawmakers .
But Democrats say they 're hoping for renewed talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and a compromise agreement that can actually become law .
Democrats will need to trim about $ 1 trillion from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously served as their starting point in the talks .
That 's a hefty task for party leaders seeking to appease the rank-and-file , given the ongoing economic downturn , record unemployment and the likely upcoming surge in hospitalizations during cold and flu season .
And Pelosi wants to add more provisions that were n't in the earlier , more pricey bill , such as aid to airlines and restaurants , which will squeeze out even more of the May legislation .
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md.
, said after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working on a “ short time frame .
”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has directed House committee leaders to put together a more slender coronavirus relief package than the one that previously passed the chamber, in their latest offer in talks with the White House.
The House could vote on that as-yet-unreleased $2.4 trillion bill as soon as next week if GOP cooperation doesn't materialize, according to Democratic lawmakers. But Democrats say they're hoping for renewed talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and a compromise agreement that can actually become law.
Democrats will need to trim about $1 trillion from the legislation the House passed in May that previously served as their starting point in the talks. That's a hefty task for party leaders seeking to appease the rank-and-file, given the ongoing economic downturn, record unemployment and the likely upcoming surge in hospitalizations during cold and flu season.
And Pelosi wants to add more provisions that weren't in the earlier, more pricey bill, such as aid to airlines and restaurants, which will squeeze out even more of the May legislation.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said after a leadership meeting Thursday that negotiators are working on a “short time frame.”


rollcall--2020-09-24--Credit union lobby starts $7 million effort to help vulnerable incumbents

The Credit Union National Association , a lobbying group for credit unions , is launching what it says will be a $ 7 million investment in competitive congressional races during the final weeks of the election .
The group ’ s first efforts will inject outside spending into some of the nation ’ s most pivotal Senate races .
CUNA , along with its affiliates , will back the reelection bids of Republican Sens .
Susan Collins , who is in the fight of her career to keep her seat in Maine , and Steve Daines , who is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Steve Bullock .
CUNA also is launching digital ads in support of Democratic Sens .
Gary Peters in Michigan and Tina Smith in Minnesota .
The efforts will include direct mail outreach to voters in those states .
And CUNA has its eyes on additional races that it plans to announce later .
The group plans to spend in 11 Senate and House races over the coming weeks , said Trey Hawkins , deputy chief advocacy officer for political action .
“ We ’ re going to be doing everything , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at credit union members , ” Hawkins told CQ Roll Call .
He said 44 percent of registered voters are credit union members .

The Credit Union National Association, a lobbying group for credit unions, is launching what it says will be a $7 million investment in competitive congressional races during the final weeks of the election.
The group’s first efforts will inject outside spending into some of the nation’s most pivotal Senate races. CUNA, along with its affiliates, will back the reelection bids of Republican Sens. Susan Collins, who is in the fight of her career to keep her seat in Maine, and Steve Daines, who is facing a tough race in Montana against Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock.
CUNA also is launching digital ads in support of Democratic Sens. Gary Peters in Michigan and Tina Smith in Minnesota. The efforts will include direct mail outreach to voters in those states. And CUNA has its eyes on additional races that it plans to announce later.
The group plans to spend in 11 Senate and House races over the coming weeks, said Trey Hawkins, deputy chief advocacy officer for political action.
“We’re going to be doing everything, from direct mail and digital ads, aimed at credit union members,” Hawkins told CQ Roll Call. He said 44 percent of registered voters are credit union members.


rollcall--2020-09-24--At the Races: Supreme politics

At the Races: Supreme politics

Welcome to At the Races !
Each week we ’ ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election .
Know someone who ’ d like to get this newsletter ?
They can subscribe here .
A year that has included the impeachment of a president , a global outbreak of a deadly virus , an economic collapse and nationwide protests around social justice has added one more historic event to the list : a partisan battle over a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with President Donald Trump on Wednesday not committing to a peaceful transfer of power .
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death Friday sent shockwaves through the political world , but it ’ s not clear how the battle to replace her could roil the 2020 elections .
Amid all the chaos , the presidential race has remained remarkably stable since voters are so polarized .
Ginsburg ’ s death did inject new energy into Senate races , with record amounts of cash flowing to Democratic campaigns and Republicans expecting the fight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court battle actually move swing voters ?
Candidates ’ TV ads could provide clues about whether campaigns see the high court as a salient issue .
On Wednesday , for example , former Colorado Gov .
John Hickenlooper released a new TV ad in his race against GOP Sen. Cory Gardner , where he references the high court , connecting it to other issues , including health care costs and abortion .
As the Supreme Court fight shakes up Senate races , one contest could actually affect the confirmation tussle in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special Senate election to serve out the last two years of the late Sen. John McCain ’ s term could be seated shortly after the November election , and potentially in time to vote on Trump ’ s nominee .
GOP Sen. Martha McSally , who was appointed to the seat , has been locked in a heated race against retired astronaut Mark Kelly .
On Wednesday , Kelly told “ The View ” that the winner of the special election should be “ promptly seated ” once the results are certified .

Stephanie Akin, Bridget Bowman, and Kate Ackley

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we’ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call team that will keep you informed about the 2020 election. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here.
A year that has included the impeachment of a president, a global outbreak of a deadly virus, an economic collapse and nationwide protests around social justice has added one more historic event to the list: a partisan battle over a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Not to mention a looming electoral showdown, with President Donald Trump on Wednesday not committing to a peaceful transfer of power.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death Friday sent shockwaves through the political world, but it’s not clear how the battle to replace her could roil the 2020 elections. Amid all the chaos, the presidential race has remained remarkably stable since voters are so polarized.
Ginsburg’s death did inject new energy into Senate races, with record amounts of cash flowing to Democratic campaigns and Republicans expecting the fight to rev up their base. Will the Supreme Court battle actually move swing voters? Candidates’ TV ads could provide clues about whether campaigns see the high court as a salient issue. On Wednesday, for example, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper released a new TV ad in his race against GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, where he references the high court, connecting it to other issues, including health care costs and abortion.
As the Supreme Court fight shakes up Senate races, one contest could actually affect the confirmation tussle in Congress. The winner of Arizona’s special Senate election to serve out the last two years of the late Sen. John McCain’s term could be seated shortly after the November election, and potentially in time to vote on Trump’s nominee. GOP Sen. Martha McSally, who was appointed to the seat, has been locked in a heated race against retired astronaut Mark Kelly. On Wednesday, Kelly told “The View” that the winner of the special election should be “promptly seated” once the results are certified.


rollcall--2020-09-24--Photo: On this day in 2015

Photo: On this day in 2015

Speaker John A. Boehner speaks with Pope Francis in the Capitol on Sept. 24 , 2015 , before the pontiff @ @ @ @ @ joint meeting of Congress .
The following morning at his weekly news conference , the @ @ @ @ @ be resigning the next month .

(Bill Clark/Roll Call)
Speaker John A. Boehner speaks with Pope Francis in the Capitol on Sept. 24, 2015, before the pontiff’s address to a joint meeting of Congress. The following morning at his weekly news conference, the Ohio Republican announced he would be resigning the next month.


rollcall--2020-09-24--Why Obamacare might survive the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court might not be as ready to wipe out the full 2010 health care law as its ideological balance would suggest , even if a new conservative justice fills the seat of the reliably liberal late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The Trump administration and a coalition of Republican-led states have asked the Supreme Court to strike down President Barack Obama ’ s signature law that expanded insurance coverage to more than 20 million people , including popular provisions such as required coverage of preexisting medical conditions .
But such a sweeping outcome would cut against the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with decisions from just last term and defy the current reality about how the law continues to work in the real world , legal experts with deep working knowledge of the Supreme Court said .
“ This might be a case that will surprise some people who think it 's just going to attract the normal political alignments , ” Roman Martinez , a high court litigator at Latham & Watkins law firm and a former law clerk for Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. , said during a discussion hosted by Georgetown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The case is nonetheless at the heart of the roaring presidential campaign and the divisive Senate fight to confirm a new Supreme Court justice .
The court hears oral argument on the case Nov. 10 and would decide before the end of the term at the end of June .

The Supreme Court might not be as ready to wipe out the full 2010 health care law as its ideological balance would suggest, even if a new conservative justice fills the seat of the reliably liberal late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The Trump administration and a coalition of Republican-led states have asked the Supreme Court to strike down President Barack Obama’s signature law that expanded insurance coverage to more than 20 million people, including popular provisions such as required coverage of preexisting medical conditions.
But such a sweeping outcome would cut against the court’s traditional legal approach, conflict with decisions from just last term and defy the current reality about how the law continues to work in the real world, legal experts with deep working knowledge of the Supreme Court said.
“This might be a case that will surprise some people who think it's just going to attract the normal political alignments,” Roman Martinez, a high court litigator at Latham & Watkins law firm and a former law clerk for Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., said during a discussion hosted by Georgetown Law’s Supreme Court Institute.
The case is nonetheless at the heart of the roaring presidential campaign and the divisive Senate fight to confirm a new Supreme Court justice. The court hears oral argument on the case Nov. 10 and would decide before the end of the term at the end of June.


rollcall--2020-09-24--GOP avoids T-word in transition pushback

Add it to the list of things Republicans running for Congress have to respond to as voting begins in some @ @ @ @ @ Congress lined up Thursday morning to promise that a peaceful transfer of power would indeed @ @ @ @ @ s elections after President Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to commit to a peaceful transfer @ @ @ @ @ answered reporters ’ questions or posted statements on the latest Trump statement , hardly any @ @ @ @ @ .
The president ’ s comments are just the latest in a long line of @ @ @ @ @ been asked to react to , but some running for reelection preempted reporter questions with @ @ @ @ @ The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th .
There @ @ @ @ @ just as there has been every four years since 1792 , ” Senate Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ .
He later referred to it when reporters asked about the president ’ s comments @ @ @ @ @ you see my tweet ?
That pretty well sums it up .
”

Add it to the list of things Republicans running for Congress have to respond to as voting begins in some states.
Republican members of Congress lined up Thursday morning to promise that a peaceful transfer of power would indeed take place after November’s elections after President Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to commit to a peaceful transfer. Although some GOP lawmakers answered reporters’ questions or posted statements on the latest Trump statement, hardly any mentioned the president by name.
The president’s comments are just the latest in a long line of statements that GOP lawmakers have been asked to react to, but some running for reelection preempted reporter questions with statements Thursday morning.
“The winner of the November 3rd election will be inaugurated on January 20th. There will be an orderly transition just as there has been every four years since 1792,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted Thursday morning.
He later referred to it when reporters asked about the president’s comments, saying, “Did you see my tweet? That pretty well sums it up.”


rollcall--2020-09-25--How ‘The General Lee’ was left in the Democratic Party’s dust

President Donald Trump may be calling for “ patriotic education , ” but plenty of Americans already cherish a sanitized version of U.S. history .
Even a former Democratic congressman proudly lives in a world that eschews the history of the Confederate flag .
In a field in rural Virginia this month , country singer Whey Jennings sang for an enthusiastic crowd his grandfather ’ s hit “ Good Ol ’ Boys , ” the theme song to the show “ The Dukes of Hazzard.
” To his right sat a cast member from the show , former Democratic Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owns and operates the adjacent Cooter ’ s , a folksy museum dedicated to his 1979 hit show .
The museum ’ s main attraction is “ The General Lee , ” the show ’ s iconic car , complete with its controversial Confederate flag roof .
Jones remains firm in his long-standing support of what he calls the rebel flag , despite its association with hate groups .
As a former Democratic congressman , there ’ s a lot of daylight between him and his civil rights roots .
See the video @ @ @

President Donald Trump may be calling for “patriotic education,” but plenty of Americans already cherish a sanitized version of U.S. history. Even a former Democratic congressman proudly lives in a world that eschews the history of the Confederate flag.
In a field in rural Virginia this month, country singer Whey Jennings sang for an enthusiastic crowd his grandfather’s hit “Good Ol’ Boys,” the theme song to the show “The Dukes of Hazzard.” To his right sat a cast member from the show, former Georgia Democratic Rep. Ben “Cooter” Jones, who owns and operates the adjacent Cooter’s, a folksy museum dedicated to his 1979 hit show. The museum’s main attraction is “The General Lee,” the show’s iconic car, complete with its controversial Confederate flag roof.
Jones remains firm in his long-standing support of what he calls the rebel flag, despite its association with hate groups. As a former Democratic congressman, there’s a lot of daylight between him and his civil rights roots. Watch the video for more.


rollcall--2020-09-25--Democratic House challenger invokes Ginsburg in new campaign ad

Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan , who is challenging Illinois Republican Rep. Rodney Davis , is launching an ad Friday that invokes the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and ties the Supreme Court fight to her party ’ s broader push on health care .
“ A nation mourns , and your health care is at risk , ” the narrator says as the ad pans to a black-and-white photograph of Ginsburg .
“ A Supreme Court controlled by Donald Trump could overturn the Affordable Care Act by the end of this year .
Rodney Davis won ’ t help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug and insurance industries that gave him over $ 770,000.
” Although Ginsburg ’ s death has already infused pivotal Senate races with new campaign cash and an urgency to mobilize voters , Dirksen Londrigan ’ s ad , part of a six-figure buy , is among the first for a House candidate to draw on the fight over the justice ’ s replacement , linking it with Democrats ’ dominant message of expanding health care coverage .
Senators , of course , vote on judicial nominations , while House members do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Central Illinois represents a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats and is a rematch from 2018 , when Davis defeated Dirksen Londrigan by 1 point .
Recent polling shows a similar close race heading into Election Day , with Davis considered among the House ’ s most vulnerable members .
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Tilt Republican .
The new ad says Davis voted multiple times to “ gut ” protections for people with preexisting medical conditions .
It ’ s a message that Democrats have used in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Katko of New York and Ann Wagner of Missouri .

Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, who is challenging Illinois Republican Rep. Rodney Davis, is launching an ad Friday that invokes the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and ties the Supreme Court fight to her party’s broader push on health care.
“A nation mourns, and your health care is at risk,” the narrator says as the ad pans to a black-and-white photograph of Ginsburg. “A Supreme Court controlled by Donald Trump could overturn the Affordable Care Act by the end of this year. Rodney Davis won’t help us. He votes with Trump and the drug and insurance industries that gave him over $770,000.”
Although Ginsburg’s death has already infused pivotal Senate races with new campaign cash and an urgency to mobilize voters, Dirksen Londrigan’s ad, part of a six-figure buy, is among the first for a House candidate to draw on the fight over the justice’s replacement, linking it with Democrats’ dominant message of expanding health care coverage. Senators, of course, vote on judicial nominations, while House members do not.
The race for the 13th District in Central Illinois represents a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats and is a rematch from 2018, when Davis defeated Dirksen Londrigan by 1 point. Recent polling shows a similar close race heading into Election Day, with Davis considered among the House’s most vulnerable members. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Tilt Republican.
The new ad says Davis voted multiple times to “gut” protections for people with preexisting medical conditions. It’s a message that Democrats have used in other competitive races, including against GOP Reps. John Katko of New York and Ann Wagner of Missouri.


rollcall--2020-09-25--Trump expected to pick Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court

Judge Amy Coney Barrett spent 16 years as a legal academic before President Donald Trump appointed her to a federal appeals court in 2017 .
Now , she is expected to be Trump ’ s nominee to become a Supreme Court justice and replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
CNN , CBS News , The New York Times and other media outlets reported that Barrett would be the president ’ s pick , roughly 24 hours before a scheduled White House event to officially make the announcement .
The news outlets cited unnamed people close to the process who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate aide who would only speak on background told CQ Roll Call that the White House has signaled that Trump intends to pick Barrett .
Barrett , born in 1972 , was a law professor at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana , where she went to law school , and wrote in the areas of federal courts , constitutional law and statutory interpretation .
Her record reflects a commitment to the legal approach championed by conservative Supreme Court justices such as the late Justice Antonin Scalia , for whom she clerked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 55-43 confirmation vote for Barrett in October 2017 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the floor that her writings as a professor “ clearly show a nominee who will uphold our Constitution and our nation 's laws as they are written — as they are written — not as she wishes they were.
” She is the first Indiana woman to sit on the 7th Circuit , which is based in Chicago and covers Indiana , Illinois and Wisconsin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ only the fifth female Supreme Court justice , and would join two female justices currently on the high court .

Judge Amy Coney Barrett spent 16 years as a legal academic before President Donald Trump appointed her to a federal appeals court in 2017. Now, she is expected to be Trump’s nominee to become a Supreme Court justice and replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
CNN, CBS News, The New York Times and other media outlets reported that Barrett would be the president’s pick, roughly 24 hours before a scheduled White House event to officially make the announcement. The news outlets cited unnamed people close to the process who asked not to be identified. A Senate aide who would only speak on background told CQ Roll Call that the White House has signaled that Trump intends to pick Barrett.
Barrett, born in 1972, was a law professor at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, where she went to law school, and wrote in the areas of federal courts, constitutional law and statutory interpretation. Her record reflects a commitment to the legal approach championed by conservative Supreme Court justices such as the late Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom she clerked in 1998 and 1999.
Ahead of a 55-43 confirmation vote for Barrett in October 2017 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the floor that her writings as a professor “clearly show a nominee who will uphold our Constitution and our nation's laws as they are written — as they are written — not as she wishes they were.”
She is the first Indiana woman to sit on the 7th Circuit, which is based in Chicago and covers Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. And if confirmed, she would be only the fifth female Supreme Court justice, and would join two female justices currently on the high court.


rollcall--2020-09-25--House committee’s recommendation: more Nickelback — Congressional Hits and Misses

“ Holy s -- - , I thought we had better technology than this !
” exclaimed Sen. Jon Tester @ @ @ @ @ hearing .
Luckily for him , the House Modernization of Congress Committee has been working @ @ @ @ @ up with solutions for the many tech problems plaguing Congress .
Unluckily for the rest @ @ @ @ @ Davis opted to play out the panel ’ s final meeting with his favorite band @ @ @ @ @ the frozen video calls and Rep. Louie Gohmert ’ s attempts to hear better by @ @ @ @ @ microphone , Speaker Nancy Pelosi still managed to try leading her caucus in the middle @ @ @ @ @ .
[ Also watch : How ‘ The General Lee ’ was left in the @ @ @ @ @ ]

“Holy s---, I thought we had better technology than this!” exclaimed Sen. Jon Tester during a partially virtual Senate hearing.
Luckily for him, the House Modernization of Congress Committee has been working for 18 months to come up with solutions for the many tech problems plaguing Congress. Unluckily for the rest of us, Rep. Rodney Davis opted to play out the panel’s final meeting with his favorite band, Nickelback.
But amid the frozen video calls and Rep. Louie Gohmert’s attempts to hear better by putting his ear to his microphone, Speaker Nancy Pelosi still managed to try leading her caucus in the middle of a live Zoom interview.
[ Also watch: How ‘The General Lee’ was left in the Democratic Party’s dust ]


rollcall--2020-09-25--Capitol bids goodbye to Ruth Bader Ginsburg

As the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday became the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol , it was fitting that most of the members of Congress gathered for her intimate arrival ceremony were women .
Later Friday , a larger group of mostly women lawmakers lined the steps of the Capitol for the departure of Ginsburg ’ s casket .
As the hearse pulled away from the Capitol , those present waved goodbye .
Ginsburg died Sept. 18 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer .
While Ginsburg is the first woman to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for government officials , the first woman whose casket lay in the Capitol was civil rights icon Rosa Parks , who in 2005 lay in honor , a distinction reserved for a select few private citizens .
The arrival ceremony was short and solemn , although a brief moment of levity occurred afterward as guests paused by Ginsburg ’ s casket to pay their respects on their way out and the justice ’ s trainer Bryant Johnson dropped to the floor and did three pushups .
Less than half an hour elapsed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ escorted into Statutory Hall promptly at the 10 a.m. start time and when the Sergeant-of-Arms staff started escorting guests out .

As the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday became the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol, it was fitting that most of the members of Congress gathered for her intimate arrival ceremony were women.
Later Friday, a larger group of mostly women lawmakers lined the steps of the Capitol for the departure of Ginsburg’s casket. As the hearse pulled away from the Capitol, those present waved goodbye. Ginsburg died Sept. 18 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
While Ginsburg is the first woman to lie in state, a distinction reserved for government officials, the first woman whose casket lay in the Capitol was civil rights icon Rosa Parks, who in 2005 lay in honor, a distinction reserved for a select few private citizens.
The arrival ceremony was short and solemn, although a brief moment of levity occurred afterward as guests paused by Ginsburg’s casket to pay their respects on their way out and the justice’s trainer Bryant Johnson dropped to the floor and did three pushups.
Less than half an hour elapsed from the time Ginsburg’s casket was escorted into Statutory Hall promptly at the 10 a.m. start time and when the Sergeant-of-Arms staff started escorting guests out.


rollcall--2020-09-25--Photos of the week: As RBG is honored, Congress plods on

Congress had its share of hearings and votes this week , but that was all overshadowed by the death of @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg .
Here ’ s a look at the week ending Sept. 25 through the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s photojournalists .

Bill Clark, Tom Williams, and Caroline Brehman

Congress had its share of hearings and votes this week, but that was all overshadowed by the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Here’s a look at the week ending Sept. 25 through the lenses of CQ Roll Call’s photojournalists.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden leaves the Capitol on Friday after a memorial service for Ginsburg. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A joint services military honor guard carries Ginsburg’s casket through the Capitol Rotunda to Statuary Hall on Friday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Deborah Collins of Gettysburg, Pa., watches as Ginsburg’s casket ascends the steps of the Capitol for her memorial service Friday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Maine Sen. Susan Collins arrives for a vote in the Capitol on Thursday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
FBI Director Christopher Wray, right, greets Michigan Sen. Gary Peters before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing Thursday in the Dirksen Building. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Pool)
Mourners pay their respects Wednesday as Ginsburg lies in repose at the top of the front steps of the Supreme Court. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to the Senate chamber for a vote Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pay their respects Wednesday as Ginsburg lies in repose at the Supreme Court. Bill Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the high court in 1993. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Florida Rep. Ross Spano, center, poses for a selfie Wednesday with Paul and Linda Pickern of All Pro Pastors International ministry during a tour of the Capitol Rotunda. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell adjusts his nameplate behind the protective plexiglass shield on the witness table Tuesday before the start of a House Financial Services hearing in the Rayburn Building on the Fed's pandemic response and oversight of the Treasury Department. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends an interfaith service on the National Mall on Tuesday to honor the more than 200,000 people who died due to COVID-19. The COVID Memorial Project placed 20,000 American flags around the Washington Monument in the victims’ honor. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
A woman waves a “Notorious R.B.G.” flag in front of the Supreme Court on Monday in honor of Ginsburg. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Casey Heigh displays a sweater featuring Ginsburg’s image at The Outrage store on 14th Street Northwest in Washington on Monday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-09-25--Judge orders Census Bureau to keep counting through October

Census Bureau employees rushing to wrap up the 2020 count have been given a reprieve .
Workers may continue counting beyond Sept. 30 , according to a federal judge 's order that bars the Trump administration from trying to end the 2020 count a month early .
The plaintiffs , led by the National Urban League , had argued that by abandoning the effort to extend in-person counting to Oct. 31 , and the ultimate deadline for delivering census results to April 30 , the Trump administration risks undercounting typically underrepresented communities and violating administrative law .
Late Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern District of California agreed , finding that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross ’ directive to cut the counting short — the “ replan ” — ignored the risk to the count ’ s accuracy , among other problems .
The agency could not blindly adhere to the statutory Dec. 31 deadline for apportionment data while ignoring the requirements for an accurate census , she said in her decision .
“ Even as the bureau began to develop the replan at the secretary ’ s direction , the bureau continued to acknowledge that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accuracy , ” the ruling said .

Census Bureau employees rushing to wrap up the 2020 count have been given a reprieve.
Workers may continue counting beyond Sept. 30, according to a federal judge's order that bars the Trump administration from trying to end the 2020 count a month early.
The plaintiffs, led by the National Urban League, had argued that by abandoning the effort to extend in-person counting to Oct. 31, and the ultimate deadline for delivering census results to April 30, the Trump administration risks undercounting typically underrepresented communities and violating administrative law.
Late Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California agreed, finding that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ directive to cut the counting short — the “replan” — ignored the risk to the count’s accuracy, among other problems. The agency could not blindly adhere to the statutory Dec. 31 deadline for apportionment data while ignoring the requirements for an accurate census, she said in her decision.
“Even as the bureau began to develop the replan at the secretary’s direction, the bureau continued to acknowledge that the replan would present an unacceptable level of accuracy,” the ruling said.


rollcall--2020-09-26--Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court

By the time President Donald Trump officially introduced Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee Saturday evening at the @ @ @ @ @ the dramatic tension already had been resolved over what unfolds over the next weeks , @ @ @ @ @ , a former law professor and reliably conservative federal appeals court judge for the past @ @ @ @ @ been the front runner for the spot if Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg left the bench @ @ @ @ @ .
“ She is a woman of unparalleled achievement , towering intellect , sterling credentials @ @ @ @ @ Constitution , ” Trump said Saturday from the White House Rose Garden .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ you are very eminently qualified for this job .
You are going to be fantastic @ @ @ @ @ Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to begin Barrett 's confirmation hearings on Oct. 12 , @ @ @ @ @ news organizations reported Saturday .
Barrett gave a nod during her brief remarks to the @ @ @ @ @ the high court .

By the time President Donald Trump officially introduced Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee Saturday evening at the White House, much of the dramatic tension already had been resolved over what unfolds over the next weeks, months and years.
Barrett, a former law professor and reliably conservative federal appeals court judge for the past three years, had long been the front runner for the spot if Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg left the bench during Trump’s presidency.
“She is a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution,” Trump said Saturday from the White House Rose Garden. “I looked and I studied and you are very eminently qualified for this job. You are going to be fantastic. Really fantastic.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to begin Barrett's confirmation hearings on Oct. 12, the Associated Press and other news organizations reported Saturday.
Barrett gave a nod during her brief remarks to the woman she would succeed to the high court.


rollcall--2020-09-28--Georgia voters to pick short-term successor to the late Rep. John Lewis

Seven candidates are vying for a chance to spend three months — or less — in Congress in the special election Tuesday in Georgia ’ s 5th District to fill the remainder of the late civil rights icon John Lewis ’ term .
The candidates for the deep-blue , Atlanta-based seat include several Georgia political veterans , but they do not include the two major-party nominees running on the November ballot for the full term that starts in January .
After Lewis ’ death in July , the executive committee of the state Democratic Party chose party chairwoman and state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face Republican Angela Stanton-King , who was unopposed in the June 9 primary .
Five Democrats , a Libertarian and an independent filed to run in the special election .
If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote , a Dec.1 runoff would be held for the top two finishers .
Williams has said she decided against running in the special election to focus on November and to take care of her family during the pandemic .
A handful of the candidates have nevertheless pulled in tens of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their profiles and place them in Washington during the lame-duck session of one of the most tumultuous periods of American politics in recent history .

Seven candidates are vying for a chance to spend three months — or less — in Congress in the special election Tuesday in Georgia’s 5th District to fill the remainder of the late civil rights icon John Lewis’ term.
The candidates for the deep-blue, Atlanta-based seat include several Georgia political veterans, but they do not include the two major-party nominees running on the November ballot for the full term that starts in January. After Lewis’ death in July, the executive committee of the state Democratic Party chose party chairwoman and state Sen. Nikema Williams as their nominee to face Republican Angela Stanton-King, who was unopposed in the June 9 primary.
Five Democrats, a Libertarian and an independent filed to run in the special election. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a Dec.1 runoff would be held for the top two finishers.
Williams has said she decided against running in the special election to focus on November and to take care of her family during the pandemic.
A handful of the candidates have nevertheless pulled in tens of thousands of dollars for a race that could raise their profiles and place them in Washington during the lame-duck session of one of the most tumultuous periods of American politics in recent history.


rollcall--2020-09-28--As military rollover deaths increase, families push for change

Spc .
Marquise Gabriel Elliot survived an eight-month tour in Afghanistan in 2017 and 2018 , collecting several awards for his Army service , including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal .
The 25-year-old North Carolina native returned to the United States and was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska , an assignment that thrilled the avid hiker .
Elliot dreamed of one day opening a barbershop with his father , possibly even in Alaska .
But in June 2019 , just over a year after returning from Afghanistan , Elliot was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an exercise at the Yukon Training Area .
Another passenger in the vehicle sustained minor injuries .
Elliot 's death is n't unique , or even unusual .
At least two other soldiers died in rollovers during stateside training in the weeks before Elliot 's death .
In 2019 alone , at least 15 servicemembers died in military vehicle accidents .
So far this year , at least 10 have been killed in vehicle-related training accidents .
In the last 14 years , nearly four times as many servicemembers have died in training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Congressional Research Service .
Many of these accidents involve the kind of rollover that killed Elliot , accidents the families of the deceased say are preventable .
These families are now banding together to rewrite military policies , but they argue the Defense Department has moved slowly to institute change , and the issue is only starting to percolate and the response is not yet consistent on Capitol Hill .

Spc. Marquise Gabriel Elliot survived an eight-month tour in Afghanistan in 2017 and 2018, collecting several awards for his Army service, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. The 25-year-old North Carolina native returned to the United States and was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, an assignment that thrilled the avid hiker.
Elliot dreamed of one day opening a barbershop with his father, possibly even in Alaska. But in June 2019, just over a year after returning from Afghanistan, Elliot was killed when his Humvee rolled over during an exercise at the Yukon Training Area. Another passenger in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Elliot’s death isn’t unique, or even unusual. At least two other soldiers died in rollovers during stateside training in the weeks before Elliot’s death.
In 2019 alone, at least 15 servicemembers died in military vehicle accidents. So far this year, at least 10 have been killed in vehicle-related training accidents. In the past 14 years, nearly four times as many servicemembers have died in training accidents as in combat, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Many of these accidents involve the kind of rollover that killed Elliot, accidents the families of the deceased say are preventable. These families are now banding together to rewrite military policies, but they argue the Defense Department has moved slowly to institute change, and the issue is only starting to percolate and the response is not yet consistent on Capitol Hill.


rollcall--2020-09-28--Trump administration  pushes to end census next week

Days after a judge ordered the Census Bureau to continue enumerating for another month beyond its current Sept. 30 deadline , Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , who oversees the agency , announced Monday he intends to end all in-person counting efforts next week .
“ The Secretary of Commerce has announced a target date of October 5 , 2020 to conclude 2020 Census self-response and field data collection operations , ” according to a Census Bureau announcement made on Twitter and on its website .
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit and census experts argued a shortened census count would risk missing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results .
Because of delays earlier in the year related to the coronavirus pandemic , the administration originally postponed certain counting deadlines and sought a four-month legislative extension of when it needed to delivery census totals to the White House .
But it abandoned that effort after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in July trying to exclude undocumented immigrants from apportionment .
[ Judge orders Census Bureau to keep counting through October ] The agency provided no further information or rationale for the new end date , and a spokesman referred questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late Monday afternoon , the agency also had not filed any documents in a California case overseen by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California .
Koh ruled against the Census Bureau last week , finding that the Sept. 30 deadline likely violated administrative law .

Days after a judge ordered the Census Bureau to continue enumerating for another month beyond its current Sept. 30 deadline, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the agency, announced Monday he intends to end all in-person counting efforts next week.
“The Secretary of Commerce has announced a target date of October 5, 2020 to conclude 2020 Census self-response and field data collection operations,” according to a Census Bureau announcement made on Twitter and on its website.
Plaintiffs in a lawsuit and census experts argued a shortened census count would risk missing or double counting people, skewing the results. Because of delays earlier in the year related to the coronavirus pandemic, the administration originally postponed certain counting deadlines and sought a four-month legislative extension of when it needed to delivery census totals to the White House. But it abandoned that effort after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in July trying to exclude undocumented immigrants from apportionment.
[Judge orders Census Bureau to keep counting through October]
The agency provided no further information or rationale for the new end date, and a spokesman referred questions back to the statement. As of late Monday afternoon, the agency also had not filed any documents in a California case overseen by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California. Koh ruled against the Census Bureau last week, finding that the Sept. 30 deadline likely violated administrative law.


rollcall--2020-09-28--Rep. Angie Craig sues Minnesota to prevent election delay

Rep. Angie Craig , who represents Minnesota ’ s 2nd District , filed a lawsuit Monday to block the state from postponing her election because of the death of a third-party candidate in the race .
The situation has thrown into chaos not only the reelection contest but also the congressional representation of the 2nd District ’ s voters in Congress early next year .
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said the 2nd District would hold a special election on Feb. 9 and , since ballots had already been printed , that votes cast in the race for November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mean that the seat would remain vacant through the potentially crucial first weeks of the 117th Congress , which will convene in January .
Craig , a first-term Democrat , faces Republican challenger Tyler Kistner , a Marine veteran .
Adam Weeks , the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate running for the seat , died last week , according to news reports .
“ The people of Minnesota ’ s Second Congressional District deserve to have a voice fighting for them in Washington , ” Craig said in the legal challenge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Unfortunately , the process currently in place would deprive Minnesotans of their seat at the table at a time when critical legislation affecting our state will be debated — including bills to rid politics of special interests , ensure quality , affordable health care for every Minnesotan and safeguard our family farmers.
” Kistner said last week that he had “ directed my campaign to suspend all campaign advertising after the passing of Adam Weeks out of respect for his family and friends .
Marie and I will continue to pray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Rep. Angie Craig, who represents Minnesota’s 2nd District, filed a lawsuit Monday to block the state from postponing her election because of the death of a third-party candidate in the race.
The situation has thrown into chaos not only the reelection contest but also the congressional representation of the 2nd District’s voters in Congress early next year. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said the 2nd District would hold a special election on Feb. 9 and, since ballots had already been printed, that votes cast in the race for November would not be counted.
That seemed to mean that the seat would remain vacant through the potentially crucial first weeks of the 117th Congress, which will convene in January. Craig, a first-term Democrat, faces Republican challenger Tyler Kistner, a Marine veteran. Adam Weeks, the Legal Marijuana Now Party candidate running for the seat, died last week, according to news reports.
“The people of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District deserve to have a voice fighting for them in Washington,” Craig said in the legal challenge, according to a statement from her campaign. “Unfortunately, the process currently in place would deprive Minnesotans of their seat at the table at a time when critical legislation affecting our state will be debated — including bills to rid politics of special interests, ensure quality, affordable health care for every Minnesotan and safeguard our family farmers.”
Kistner said last week that he had “directed my campaign to suspend all campaign advertising after the passing of Adam Weeks out of respect for his family and friends. Marie and I will continue to pray for them during this difficult time.”


rollcall--2020-09-28--Slimmer coronavirus aid package introduced in House

House Democrats unveiled a $ 2.2 trillion pandemic relief package Monday night as part of a last-ditch attempt to secure new aid before the Nov. 3 elections .
Even as talks resumed between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on a potential compromise , Democrats sought to increase the public pressure by offering their own revised wish list that Republicans have said is still too costly .
The White House has sought to hold the line at $ 1.5 trillion and some Senate Republicans have pushed to keep the price tag even lower .
The new draft Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote later this week if bipartisan talks founder , amounts to a slimmed-down version of a $ 3.4 trillion bill the House passed in May .
After brief talks over the weekend , Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke by phone again Monday and agreed to resume talks Tuesday morning , Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted .
In an interview on MSNBC Monday , Pelosi said she was optimistic about reaching an agreement .
But she said Mnuchin “ has to come back with much more money to get the job done.
” Pelosi has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill on the floor , however , if talks with the administration falter .
A number of rank-and-file Democrats , including moderates in tough reelection races , have urged a floor vote on something they can go home to campaign on .

House Democrats unveiled a $2.2 trillion pandemic relief package Monday night as part of a last-ditch attempt to secure new aid before the Nov. 3 elections.
Even as talks resumed between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on a potential compromise, Democrats sought to increase the public pressure by offering their own revised wish list that Republicans have said is still too costly. The White House has sought to hold the line at $1.5 trillion and some Senate Republicans have pushed to keep the price tag even lower.
The new draft Democratic measure, which could get a floor vote later this week if bipartisan talks founder, amounts to a slimmed-down version of a $3.4 trillion bill the House passed in May. After brief talks over the weekend, Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke by phone again Monday and agreed to resume talks Tuesday morning, Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted.
In an interview on MSNBC Monday, Pelosi said she was optimistic about reaching an agreement. But she said Mnuchin “has to come back with much more money to get the job done.”
Pelosi has said House Democrats are prepared to put the bill on the floor, however, if talks with the administration falter. A number of rank-and-file Democrats, including moderates in tough reelection races, have urged a floor vote on something they can go home to campaign on.


rollcall--2020-09-28--Survey: Capitol Hill aides see a job well done fighting the coronavirus

ANALYSIS — In their news conferences and floor speeches , representatives and senators say they feel a sense of urgency about stemming the spread of the coronavirus , and about helping Americans weather the economic crisis the virus has caused .
On Sept. 17 , for example , Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats planned to “ crush this virus ” in order to “ open up our economy and our schools.
” Two days before , in laying out his party ’ s election platform , Pelosi ’ s fellow Californian , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy.
” And yet , when lawmakers head home for the final sprint to Election Day , it now seems likely they will have done little since March to combat the virus or to help Americans weather the downturn .
The results of CQ Roll Call ’ s latest Capitol Insiders Survey of congressional staffers reveal one reason that stated urgency hasn ’ t yielded a breakthrough in negotiations on another round of virus relief .
If the aides reflect their bosses , many on Capitol Hill believe Congress has already done an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in rescuing the economy .

ANALYSIS — In their news conferences and floor speeches, representatives and senators say they feel a sense of urgency about stemming the spread of the coronavirus, and about helping Americans weather the economic crisis the virus has caused.
On Sept. 17, for example, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats planned to “crush this virus” in order to “open up our economy and our schools.”
Two days before, in laying out his party’s election platform, Pelosi’s fellow Californian, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, pledged to “defeat the coronavirus and keep America healthy.”
And yet, when lawmakers head home for the final sprint to Election Day, it now seems likely they will have done little since March to combat the virus or to help Americans weather the downturn.
The results of CQ Roll Call’s latest Capitol Insiders Survey of congressional staffers reveal one reason that stated urgency hasn’t yielded a breakthrough in negotiations on another round of virus relief. If the aides reflect their bosses, many on Capitol Hill believe Congress has already done an effective job in containing the virus and in rescuing the economy.


rollcall--2020-09-28--Photo: No mirror, no problem

Photo: No mirror, no problem

Speaker Nancy Pelosi checks her hair Monday with the help of an aide ’ s iPhone before a television interview @ @ @ @ @ Senate Office Building .

(Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Speaker Nancy Pelosi checks her hair Monday with the help of an aide’s iPhone before a television interview with MSNBC in the Russell Senate Office Building.


rollcall--2020-09-28--Pension negotiators restart talks with eyes on the calendar

Bipartisan talks are underway for an expensive bailout of failing union pension plans as worsening finances and election concerns may have broken a monthslong logjam .
Looming pension plan insolvencies in battleground states like Michigan , Ohio and Wisconsin have gotten lawmakers ’ attention with just over a month until Election Day .
And on Sept. 14 , the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation reported that the financial condition of its insurance backstop for failed plans has gotten much worse over the past year as pandemic-induced lower interest rates crushed projected asset values .
Whether the political and financial conditions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans and Democrats have long been far apart on how to address the growing pool of red ink at more than 100 pension plans , mostly in the transportation and construction industries .
But leadership on both sides of the aisle has given negotiators the green light to try .
“ At least we are sitting down talking , and we ’ ve been waiting eight months to sit down and talk , ” said Senate Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley , R-Iowa .
Democrats have pushed for what would be a roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead have offered benefit cuts , insurance premium hikes and rising company contributions .

Bipartisan talks are underway for an expensive bailout of failing union pension plans as worsening finances and election concerns may have broken a monthslong logjam.
Looming pension plan insolvencies in battleground states like Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin have gotten lawmakers’ attention with just over a month until Election Day. And on Sept. 14, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation reported that the financial condition of its insurance backstop for failed plans has gotten much worse over the past year as pandemic-induced lower interest rates crushed projected asset values.
Whether the political and financial conditions are enough to spur action is uncertain. Republicans and Democrats have long been far apart on how to address the growing pool of red ink at more than 100 pension plans, mostly in the transportation and construction industries. But leadership on both sides of the aisle has given negotiators the green light to try.
“At least we are sitting down talking, and we’ve been waiting eight months to sit down and talk,” said Senate Finance Chairman Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa.
Democrats have pushed for what would be a roughly $60 billion taxpayer rescue. Republicans instead have offered benefit cuts, insurance premium hikes and rising company contributions.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Startup finds fintech can be held back by old suspicions

As the CEO of Makeba , a money transfer startup , Yamandou Alexander appreciates a paradox about his slice of the global financial technology industry .
While sending money online to friends and family abroad has never been easier thanks to fintech , building a business to do it in African countries that lack such services can be very difficult .
The strain of creating a remittance business , on a scale of 1 to 10 , is “ an 11 , ” Alexander said in an interview with CQ Roll Call .
He ’ s running into preconceived notions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to address concerns such as money laundering .
To keep New York-based Makeba afloat , Alexander , 47 , took $ 500,000 out of his own savings .
His struggles contrast starkly with companies working in countries with more advanced payment systems .
Ant Group , a Chinese fintech firm , is poised to raise as much as $ 34 billion in an initial public offering , the largest ever if it succeeds .
Last week , U.S. payments firm Melio raised $ 80 million in private funding .
Makeba is concentrating on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been slower to develop than other areas of fintech .
Chris McCann , a general partner at Race Capital , a venture firm , last year wrote that “ very few remittance startups have broken out , ” even as the world demands faster and cheaper payments .

As the CEO of Makeba, a money transfer startup, Yamandou Alexander appreciates a paradox about his slice of the global financial technology industry.
While sending money online to friends and family abroad has never been easier thanks to fintech, building a business to do it in African countries that lack such services can be very difficult.
The strain of creating a remittance business, on a scale of 1 to 10, is “an 11,” Alexander said in an interview with CQ Roll Call. He’s running into preconceived notions about doing business in Africa and how to address concerns such as money laundering. To keep New York-based Makeba afloat, Alexander, 47, took $500,000 out of his own savings.
His struggles contrast starkly with companies working in countries with more advanced payment systems. Ant Group, a Chinese fintech firm, is poised to raise as much as $34 billion in an initial public offering, the largest ever if it succeeds. Last week, U.S. payments firm Melio raised $80 million in private funding.
Makeba is concentrating on remittances that cross international borders, which have been slower to develop than other areas of fintech. Chris McCann, a general partner at Race Capital, a venture firm, last year wrote that “very few remittance startups have broken out,” even as the world demands faster and cheaper payments.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Privacy of biometric data in DHS hands in doubt, inspector general says

An inspector general ’ s report is casting doubt on the Department of Homeland Security ’ s ability to protect its massive repository of personal data from hackers amid a push by the Trump administration to vastly expand its collection of biometrics through the use of facial recognition and other tools .
The report , released by the DHS inspector general ’ s office on Sept. 23 , found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection failed to protect a collection of 184,000 facial images of cross-border travelers prior to a massive data breach last year .
At least 19 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pilot program at the Anzalduas Port of Entry in Texas , were later posted on the dark web .
The report found that Perceptics , a subcontractor hired to help CBP collect biometric data on border crossers , violated DHS privacy policies when an employee used an unencrypted USB drive to transfer a set of facial scans to its own networks without the agency ’ s authorization or knowledge .
The data set was later obtained by hackers during a ransomware attack on Perceptics ’ servers .
“ This incident may damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s ability to safeguard biometric data and may result in travelers ’ reluctance to permit DHS to capture and use their biometrics at U.S. ports of entry , ” the inspector general ’ s report said .
If that ’ s the case , the report has arrived at a tricky moment for DHS , which earlier this month proposed new regulations that would require both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to submit biometric data in order to apply for a variety of immigration services , such as visas for themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow for the collection of facial , iris and voice scans , along with DNA samples .

An inspector general’s report is casting doubt on the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to protect its massive repository of personal data from hackers amid a push by the Trump administration to vastly expand its collection of biometrics through the use of facial recognition and other tools.
The report, released by the DHS inspector general’s office on Sept. 23, found that U.S. Customs and Border Protection failed to protect a collection of 184,000 facial images of cross-border travelers prior to a massive data breach last year. At least 19 of the images, which were collected through a pilot program at the Anzalduas Port of Entry in Texas, were later posted on the dark web.
The report found that Perceptics, a subcontractor hired to help CBP collect biometric data on border crossers, violated DHS privacy policies when an employee used an unencrypted USB drive to transfer a set of facial scans to its own networks without the agency’s authorization or knowledge. The data set was later obtained by hackers during a ransomware attack on Perceptics’ servers.
“This incident may damage the public’s trust in the government’s ability to safeguard biometric data and may result in travelers’ reluctance to permit DHS to capture and use their biometrics at U.S. ports of entry,” the inspector general’s report said.
If that’s the case, the report has arrived at a tricky moment for DHS, which earlier this month proposed new regulations that would require both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to submit biometric data in order to apply for a variety of immigration services, such as visas for themselves or family members. The proposal would allow for the collection of facial, iris and voice scans, along with DNA samples.


rollcall--2020-09-29--‘Did you not know that he was my brother?’: Congressmen on Alpha Phi Alpha

A couple of years ago , Rep. Robert “ Bobby ” C. Scott got together with some friends from college @ @ @ @ @ education came up .
He looked around the circle and saw a professor , a @ @ @ @ @ an early childhood education advocate , and a scholarship foundation founder .
“ You can @ @ @ @ @ Education and Labor Committee was just delighted to be involved in that conversation , ” @ @ @ @ @ himself .
“ How often do you get a group like that , and it @ @ @ @ @ your fraternity brothers ?
” For Scott , that ’ s the beauty of Alpha @ @ @ @ @ century after he pledged at Harvard , the congressman still learns from his line brothers @ @ @ @ @ , education , education ” is how Rep. Gregory W. Meeks sums up the civic @ @ @ @ @ fraternity is known .
Like Scott , he ’ s one of seven Alphas who @ @ @ @ @

A couple of years ago, Rep. Robert “Bobby” C. Scott got together with some friends from college, and the topic of education came up.
He looked around the circle and saw a professor, a local school board member, an early childhood education advocate, and a scholarship foundation founder.
“You can imagine the chair of the Education and Labor Committee was just delighted to be involved in that conversation,” he says, referring to himself. “How often do you get a group like that, and it’s just all of your fraternity brothers?”
For Scott, that’s the beauty of Alpha Phi Alpha. Half a century after he pledged at Harvard, the congressman still learns from his line brothers.
“Education, education, education, education” is how Rep. Gregory W. Meeks sums up the civic engagement projects for which the fraternity is known. Like Scott, he’s one of seven Alphas who currently sit in Congress.


rollcall--2020-09-29--How Biden could still win (note sarcasm)

ANALYSIS — It has become fashionable these days to write about the many ways that Democrat Joe Biden can lose @ @ @ @ @ November .
Lots of really smart people have written on the subject , and their @ @ @ @ @ that we don ’ t know precisely what will happen between today and Nov. 3 @ @ @ @ @ be certain who will win the presidency .
“ There are at least five reasons @ @ @ @ @ lead over Donald Trump does not guarantee him a lock on the White House , @ @ @ @ @ Edsall wrote in The New York Times recently , even though I know of no @ @ @ @ @ “ guaranteed ” a Biden victory .
In Politico a few weeks ago , David @ @ @ @ @ “ Why Biden could still lose the suburbs to Trump.
” “ This Is How @ @ @ @ @ George Packer in a late August piece in The Atlantic .

ANALYSIS — It has become fashionable these days to write about the many ways that Democrat Joe Biden can lose to President Donald Trump in November.
Lots of really smart people have written on the subject, and their pieces are a good reminder that we don’t know precisely what will happen between today and Nov. 3. We can’t be certain who will win the presidency.
“There are at least five reasons Joe Biden’s consistent lead over Donald Trump does not guarantee him a lock on the White House,” the always thoughtful Tom Edsall wrote in The New York Times recently, even though I know of no veteran political analyst who has “guaranteed” a Biden victory.
In Politico a few weeks ago, David Siders wrote a piece entitled “Why Biden could still lose the suburbs to Trump.”
“This Is How Biden Loses,” wrote George Packer in a late August piece in The Atlantic.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Environmental action, laws may face new hurdles on high court

A conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court could deal a crippling blow to environmental laws on the books , water down climate regulations tied up in court and make it harder to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. , according to environmental law scholars and advocates .
A 6-3 conservative majority may also dissuade an administration under the leadership of Joe Biden , the Democratic candidate for president , from pursuing aggressive climate rules , experts said .
President Donald Trump ’ s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who was a reliable supporter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Coney Barrett , does not have a deep judicial record on any topic , including environmental issues .
The Senate confirmed her to the circuit court 55-43 in October 2017 .
Barrett clerked for former conservative justice Antonin Scalia and holds a narrow view on who has legal standing to file federal lawsuits than more liberal colleagues .
Two majority opinions Barrett wrote on the Seventh Circuit , which covers Illinois , Indiana and Wisconsin , hint at her views on water law and legal standing .
In June 2018 , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling that found 13 acres of wetlands in Illinois fell under Clean Water Act protections .
And in August she held , writing the majority opinion , that a citizen group challenging the location of the planned Obama Presidential Center in Chicago did not have legal standing .
Experts pointed to a landmark case in 2000 that established a broad view of environmental groups ’ ability to sue .

Corrected, Oct. 6 | A conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court could deal a crippling blow to environmental laws on the books, water down climate regulations tied up in court and make it harder to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., according to environmental law scholars and advocates.
A 6-3 conservative majority may also dissuade an administration under the leadership of Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate for president, from pursuing aggressive climate rules, experts said.
President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was a reliable supporter of stringent environmental oversight, Seventh Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett, does not have a deep judicial record on any topic, including environmental issues. The Senate confirmed her to the circuit court 55-43 in October 2017.
Barrett clerked for former conservative justice Antonin Scalia and holds a narrow view on who has legal standing to file federal lawsuits than more liberal colleagues.
Two majority opinions Barrett wrote on the Seventh Circuit, which covers Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, hint at her views on water law and legal standing. In June 2018, she signed an opinion that reversed an earlier ruling that found 13 acres of wetlands in Illinois fell under Clean Water Act protections. And in August she held, writing the majority opinion, that a citizen group challenging the location of the planned Obama Presidential Center in Chicago did not have legal standing.
Experts pointed to a landmark case in 2000 that established a broad view of environmental groups’ ability to sue.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Congress looks to avert shutdown amid Supreme Court fight

After a week of mourning Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the Senate turns its attention to her replacement .
President @ @ @ @ @ Barrett as his pick Saturday , and senators will begin meeting with her Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ and Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham , kicking off one of the fastest , and perhaps @ @ @ @ @ modern times .
Amid that backdrop , lawmakers will vote on a stopgap measure to @ @ @ @ @ the 2021 fiscal year begins Thursday , continue negotiations on further financial relief due to @ @ @ @ @ hold high-profile hearings .
Before heading out of Washington for a four-day weekend , the @ @ @ @ @ continuing resolution bill that extends current government funding levels , with some exceptions , through @ @ @ @ @ vote is scheduled Tuesday , which starts the clock on a 30-hour debate period and @ @ @ @ @ just a few hours from the midnight Wednesday deadline for a partial government shutdown .

After a week of mourning Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Senate turns its attention to her replacement.
President Donald Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his pick Saturday, and senators will begin meeting with her Tuesday, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, kicking off one of the fastest, and perhaps most contentious, confirmations in modern times.
Amid that backdrop, lawmakers will vote on a stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown before the 2021 fiscal year begins Thursday, continue negotiations on further financial relief due to the coronavirus pandemic, and hold high-profile hearings.
Stopgap spending
Before heading out of Washington for a four-day weekend, the Senate teed up the House-passed continuing resolution bill that extends current government funding levels, with some exceptions, through Dec. 11.
A procedural vote is scheduled Tuesday, which starts the clock on a 30-hour debate period and means a vote would come just a few hours from the midnight Wednesday deadline for a partial government shutdown.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Judiciary Committee to collide with campaign trail for Supreme Court fight

The Senate Judiciary hearing room will become an extension of the 2020 campaign trail next month — and not just @ @ @ @ @ Democratic vice presidential nominee .
As the panel considers President Donald Trump ’ s nomination @ @ @ @ @ Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , much of the attention may focus on Sen. @ @ @ @ @ ’ s running mate , who has been known for her sharp questioning .
“ @ @ @ @ @ be involved in the hearings and performing my role and responsibility on the Senate Judiciary @ @ @ @ @ Democrat told pool reporters Monday during a campaign stop in North Carolina .
Senate Judiciary @ @ @ @ @ who are facing competitive races in November , among them Chairman Lindsey Graham of South @ @ @ @ @ s an exposure bonanza for a Republican who is up for election this year , @ @ @ @ @ Ross Baker , author of several books on the Senate , said of the upcoming @ @ @

The Senate Judiciary hearing room will become an extension of the 2020 campaign trail next month — and not just because the committee features the Democratic vice presidential nominee.
As the panel considers President Donald Trump’s nomination of federal appellate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, much of the attention may focus on Sen. Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s running mate, who has been known for her sharp questioning.
“I am definitely going to be involved in the hearings and performing my role and responsibility on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” the California Democrat told pool reporters Monday during a campaign stop in North Carolina.
Senate Judiciary members also include four Republicans who are facing competitive races in November, among them Chairman Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
“It’s an exposure bonanza for a Republican who is up for election this year,” Rutgers University political scientist Ross Baker, author of several books on the Senate, said of the upcoming Judiciary hearings.


rollcall--2020-09-29--How the EU is revolutionizing stablecoin (and crypto) oversight

Peter Kerstens , the European Commission ’ s lead on digital finance policy and regulation , explains why — and @ @ @ @ @ new crypto proposals are poised to create the largest regulated market for digital assets in @ @ @ @ @ voters to pick short-term successor to the late Rep. John Lewis

Peter Kerstens, the European Commission’s lead on digital finance policy and regulation, explains why — and how — the bloc's new crypto proposals are poised to create the largest regulated market for digital assets in the world.
More podcast content
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-09-29--Census papers suggest agency chose new deadline over accuracy

The Census Bureau ’ s new “ target date ” to end in-person census counting on Oct. 5 could leave @ @ @ @ @ less than fully counted , according to agency documents released in court Tuesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in a Census Bureau tweet , would allow the agency @ @ @ @ @ statutory deadline for delivering apportionment data .
The administration shortened its original timeline by a @ @ @ @ @ , to finish the census in time to meet that deadline .
Last week , @ @ @ @ @ ordered the Census Bureau to keep counting into October , ruling the shortened timeline may @ @ @ @ @ During a hearing late Tuesday , U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District @ @ @ @ @ ’ s new ending date violated her order .
“ This whole October 5 schedule @ @ @ @ @ , whatever you want to call it , is basically , in its own words @ @ @ @ @ an enjoined date , ” Koh said .

The Census Bureau’s new “target date” to end in-person census counting on Oct. 5 could leave as many as 10 states less than fully counted, according to agency documents released in court Tuesday.
The new date, announced Monday by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in a Census Bureau tweet, would allow the agency to meet a Dec. 31 statutory deadline for delivering apportionment data. The administration shortened its original timeline by a month, to Sept. 30, to finish the census in time to meet that deadline.
Last week, however, a federal judge ordered the Census Bureau to keep counting into October, ruling the shortened timeline may have violated administrative law.
During a hearing late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California said the administration’s new ending date violated her order.
“This whole October 5 schedule adjustment, replan, banana, whatever you want to call it, is basically, in its own words, is trying to implement an enjoined date,” Koh said.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Courtesy calls in the time of COVID-19: No handshakes, no Sherpa

Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Capitol Hill path to the Supreme Court began on Tuesday with courtesy calls unlike any previous high court nominee ’ s — sans handshakes , amid the homestretch of a heated presidential campaign , and without the traditional veteran politician who serves as a guide , or Sherpa , to the ways of the Senate .
Barrett , President Donald Trump ’ s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , had a full day of meetings with senators , including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham , President Pro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans ahead of her confirmation hearings .
The federal appeals court judge arrived at the Senate alongside Vice President Mike Pence , White House counsel Pat Cipollone , Pence ’ s chief of staff , Marc Short , and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows , an entourage that embodied the administration ’ s commitment to getting a third justice confirmed during Trump ’ s first term .
The nominee and the vice president both donned masks as they reached the top of the East Front steps and entered the Capitol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time they were settled into the Senate ’ s Mansfield Room for brief remarks and a photo op .
McConnell ’ s mask lay crumpled on the yellow upholstered chair behind him .
Pence said he looked forward to the Senate voting in the “ near future ” on Barrett ’ s confirmation .

Amy Coney Barrett’s Capitol Hill path to the Supreme Court began on Tuesday with courtesy calls unlike any previous high court nominee’s — sans handshakes, amid the homestretch of a heated presidential campaign, and without the traditional veteran politician who serves as a guide, or Sherpa, to the ways of the Senate.
Barrett, President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, had a full day of meetings with senators, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, President Pro Tempore Charles E. Grassley and other key Republicans ahead of her confirmation hearings.
The federal appeals court judge arrived at the Senate alongside Vice President Mike Pence, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, an entourage that embodied the administration’s commitment to getting a third justice confirmed during Trump’s first term.
The nominee and the vice president both donned masks as they reached the top of the East Front steps and entered the Capitol, but the masks were off by the time they were settled into the Senate’s Mansfield Room for brief remarks and a photo op. McConnell’s mask lay crumpled on the yellow upholstered chair behind him.
Pence said he looked forward to the Senate voting in the “near future” on Barrett’s confirmation.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Senate ends debate on stopgap funding bill, final vote Wednesday

The Senate on Tuesday voted to limit debate on short-term agency spending through Dec. 11 , clearing the way for a final vote Wednesday that could bump up fairly close to a midnight deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown .
The 82-6 cloture vote signals that the continuing resolution is all but certain to clear the Senate and go to President Donald Trump 's desk for his likely signature .
He might have very little time to do so , if any senators decide to chew up all 30 hours of post-cloture debate .
It was n't clear yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending cut proposal Rand Paul , R-Ky. , typically offers — would come up for a vote .
The House passed the stopgap bill by an overwhelming 359-57 vote last week , amid grumbling on both sides of the aisle about lack of progress on full-year spending bills .
None of the dozen fiscal 2021 bills have become law , so the CR is needed to tide agencies over until lawmakers reconvene after the elections for a lame-duck session .
The temporary measure gives appropriators and congressional leaders until Dec. 11 to reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding spread throughout the 12 bills .
If they are unable to do that , it ’ s likely Congress will pass another temporary measure into the new calendar year .

The Senate on Tuesday voted to limit debate on short-term agency spending through Dec. 11, clearing the way for a final vote Wednesday that could bump up fairly close to a midnight deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The 82-6 cloture vote signals that the continuing resolution is all but certain to clear the Senate and go to President Donald Trump's desk for his likely signature. He might have very little time to do so, if any senators decide to chew up all 30 hours of post-cloture debate.
It wasn't clear yet whether any amendments — such as a spending cut proposal Rand Paul, R-Ky., typically offers — would come up for a vote.
The House passed the stopgap bill by an overwhelming 359-57 vote last week, amid grumbling on both sides of the aisle about lack of progress on full-year spending bills. None of the dozen fiscal 2021 bills have become law, so the CR is needed to tide agencies over until lawmakers reconvene after the elections for a lame-duck session.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Photo: Remember Ruth and Breonna

Photo: Remember Ruth and Breonna

Rev .
Angela Martin prepares for a march and a pray-in with the Poor People ’ s Campaign on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Breonna Taylor , who was shot @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky , police at her home in March during a botched raid .

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Rev. Angela Martin prepares for a march and a pray-in with the Poor People’s Campaign on Tuesday on Capitol Hill to remember the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by Louisville, Kentucky, police at her home in March during a botched raid.


rollcall--2020-09-29--House Democrats readying new virus aid package if GOP counter falls short

House Democrats are holding out hope for a bipartisan coronavirus aid deal but are preparing for a quick vote as soon as Wednesday on the $ 2.2 trillion aid package they unveiled Monday if an expected White House counteroffer falls short .
The stakes are high for both sides wanting to deliver more aid ahead of the Nov. 3 election , but it ’ s unclear if the political and moral imperative will be enough to bridge a $ 700 billion difference between Democrats ’ latest bill and a $ 1.5 billion topline the White House has signaled it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Steven Mnuchin are holding last-ditch negotiations to try to find common ground on issues that have divided the parties for months , such as such as assistance for state and local governments , the scale of enhanced unemployment benefits and the amount of aid needed to safely reopen schools , ramp up testing and produce an eventual vaccine .
They spoke on the phone for approximately 50 minutes Tuesday morning going over the provisions of the slimmer House bill and agreed to speak again Wednesday , Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted .

House Democrats are holding out hope for a bipartisan coronavirus aid deal but are preparing for a quick vote as soon as Wednesday on the $2.2 trillion aid package they unveiled Monday if an expected White House counteroffer falls short.
The stakes are high for both sides wanting to deliver more aid ahead of the Nov. 3 election, but it’s unclear if the political and moral imperative will be enough to bridge a $700 billion difference between Democrats’ latest bill and a $1.5 billion topline the White House has signaled it could support.
[Slimmer coronavirus aid package introduced in House]
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are holding last-ditch negotiations to try to find common ground on issues that have divided the parties for months, such as such as assistance for state and local governments, the scale of enhanced unemployment benefits and the amount of aid needed to safely reopen schools, ramp up testing and produce an eventual vaccine.
They spoke on the phone for approximately 50 minutes Tuesday morning going over the provisions of the slimmer House bill and agreed to speak again Wednesday, Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill tweeted.


rollcall--2020-09-29--Democrats release new COVID-19 relief bill

As part of a last-ditch effort to secure new COVID-19 aid before the presidential election , House Democrats released a @ @ @ @ @ on Monday night .
But does it move the needle on COVID-19 relief negotiations ?
@ @ @ @ @ David Lerman and Jennifer Shutt discuss .
• Judiciary Committee to collide with campaign trail @ @ @ @ @ Environmental action , laws may face new hurdles on high court • How Biden could @ @ @ @ @ )

David Lerman, Jennifer Shutt, and Evan Campbell

As part of a last-ditch effort to secure new COVID-19 aid before the presidential election, House Democrats released a $2.2 trillion relief package on Monday night. But does it move the needle on COVID-19 relief negotiations? CQ Roll Call’s David Lerman and Jennifer Shutt discuss.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-09-29--Democrats propose billions for airlines, transit in virus relief bill

House Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to help the flailing airline industry avert tens of thousands of layoffs on @ @ @ @ @ their latest COVID-19 aid bill $ 25 billion to extend payroll support for passenger airlines @ @ @ @ @ measure released late Monday would extend the airline payroll support provision that was included in @ @ @ @ @ relief law passed by Congress in March .
Passenger airlines received $ 25 billion in @ @ @ @ @ law , but the money expires Sept. 30 , and carriers including United Airlines and @ @ @ @ @ will have no choice but to furlough employees if the aid is not renewed .
@ @ @ @ @ could furlough 36,000 employees , and American has said it will have to furlough some @ @ @ @ @ on the management side .

House Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to help the flailing airline industry avert tens of thousands of layoffs on Oct. 1, tucking into their latest COVID-19 aid bill $25 billion to extend payroll support for passenger airlines through next March.
The measure released late Monday would extend the airline payroll support provision that was included in a $2 trillion coronavirus relief law passed by Congress in March.
Passenger airlines received $25 billion in payroll support grants in that law, but the money expires Sept. 30, and carriers including United Airlines and American Airlines have said they will have no choice but to furlough employees if the aid is not renewed.
[White House backs $25B airline relief extension]
United in July estimated it could furlough 36,000 employees, and American has said it will have to furlough some 17,500 and lay off 1,500 on the management side.


rollcall--2020-09-30--Debate fact-check: False claims amid disorderly fracas

Trump has frequently said , as he did at the debate , that Biden called him “ xenophobic ” for imposing the restrictions .
Trump is right that Biden called him xenophobic .
But Biden didn ’ t make clear why he said that .
The Biden campaign has said that was not in connection with the China travel restrictions .
As FactCheck.org has written , on the day the White House announced the restrictions , Biden said at a campaign event in Iowa that as the pandemic unfolds , Americans “ need to have a president who they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he is going to act rationally about it.
” He added , “ This is no time for Donald Trump ’ s record of hysteria and xenophobia — hysterical xenophobia — and fear-mongering to lead the way instead of science.
” The Biden campaign said Biden ’ s “ reference to xenophobia was about Trump ’ s long record of scapegoating others at a time when the virus was emerging from China , ” and that he was not talking about the travel rules .
As for whether the restrictions saved millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no evidence to support this , and the White House has provided none .
The few studies that have been done estimate travel restrictions the United States and other countries enacted on China had modest impacts , slowing the initial spread outside of China but not containing the coronavirus pandemic .
Past studies also have found travel restrictions could delay the path of the spread of diseases , but do little to contain them .
Finally , Trump didn ’ t “ close ” the country .
The restrictions , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain non-U.S. citizens who had traveled to China within the previous two weeks from entering the United States .
But U.S. citizens and permanent residents and their immediate families were exempt from the restrictions .
A New York Times story on April 4 found that nearly 40,000 people had flown on direct flights from China to the United States in the two months after the restrictions went into effect .
So this was hardly a closure .

“There’s going to be no need, in my view, to be able to shut down the whole economy,” Biden told reporters Sept. 2. “I got asked by David Muir a question, if I was asked to shut everything down. I took that as a generic question if — am I going to follow the science? I am going to insist — and I insist now, without any authority, that every responsible person in this country, when they’re out in public or not with the cohort that they have lived with because they know they haven’t spread it to their husband, wife, etc., that they wear a mask and keep socially distanced.”
Travel restrictions to fight COVID-19
Trump falsely said that Biden had opposed the travel restrictions the president imposed on China on Jan. 31 in an effort to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Biden did not say he opposed them at the time. And he later said he endorsed them.
Trump also said that if he had listened to Biden and not imposed the restrictions, millions of Americans would have died rather than 200,000. There is no evidence to support the claim that the travel restrictions saved so many lives.
If we would have listened to you, the country would have been left wide open. Millions of people would have died, not 200,000. … I closed it and you said he’s xenophobic, he’s a racist and he’s xenophobic. Because you didn’t think we should have closed our country. President Donald Trump
As FactCheck.org has written, Biden’s campaign said on April 3 that Biden backed Trump’s decision to impose travel restrictions on China. “Joe Biden supports travel bans that are guided by medical experts, advocated by public health officials, and backed by a full strategy,” Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, told CNN. “Science supported this ban, therefore he did too.”
Trump has frequently said, as he did at the debate, that Biden called him “xenophobic” for imposing the restrictions. Trump is right that Biden called him xenophobic. But Biden didn’t make clear why he said that. The Biden campaign has said that was not in connection with the China travel restrictions.


rollcall--2020-09-30--Kurt Bardella on why The Lincoln Project is targeting the GOP

It ’ s startling to me when you look at the condition of the California Republican Party today .
It ’ s a de facto third party .
They don ’ t have a single person in statewide office .
Half the time they can ’ t find anybody that ’ s truly credible to run for these positions .
And then you look at the congressional level .
In 2018 , some bellwether Republican districts that have been Republican forever finally fell to the Democrats .
And even right now , looking at my former boss , Darrell Issa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congressional District , the district that I grew up in , Darrell is running neck and neck with a candidate , Ammar Campa-Najjar , who has no business being within arm ’ s reach of this race .
It ’ s an R+12 district , and the fact that it ’ s neck and neck , within the margin of error , tells you the Republican Party in California is on life support .
How that happened was in part because they embraced extreme conservative rhetoric targeting Hispanics and Latinos .
When I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Republican Party today nationally — the build-the-wall Republican Party , the lock-the-borders Republican Party , the inflammatory rhetoric that they use — I think to myself , “ We see how this play ends in California .
Why would the Republicans at the national level repeat this ?
” Q .
Do you hear back from former colleagues who reject this Republican Party and are just waiting for Trump to lose ?
A .
They all think that this is crazy town .
They all can not wait for the day that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to talk about and defend this lunatic .
The most ironic thing is that people who actually work in Republican politics , by and large the majority of them , I doubt that they ’ re voting for Trump .
But it ’ s just how Washington is structured and why it ’ s so hard for people to make that change like I did , going from a Republican to a Democrat , because you are who you affiliate with .
That is your professional identity .
That is your personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Everything that ’ s a part of your life is tied to the team that you play for .
And so often I think here in Washington and on Capitol Hill , it ’ s almost like sports .
We had to beat the other guy .
We ’ ve got to win the day .
It ’ s a contest , a competition , and as horrible as that sounds to people who aren ’ t as familiar with Washington , that ’ s really what it feels like when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ livelihood .

It’s startling to me when you look at the condition of the California Republican Party today. It’s a de facto third party. They don’t have a single person in statewide office. Half the time they can’t find anybody that’s truly credible to run for these positions. And then you look at the congressional level. In 2018, some bellwether Republican districts that have been Republican forever finally fell to the Democrats. And even right now, looking at my former boss, Darrell Issa, running in California’s 50th Congressional District, the district that I grew up in, Darrell is running neck and neck with a candidate, Ammar Campa-Najjar, who has no business being within arm’s reach of this race. It’s an R+12 district, and the fact that it’s neck and neck, within the margin of error, tells you the Republican Party in California is on life support.
How that happened was in part because they embraced extreme conservative rhetoric targeting Hispanics and Latinos. When I look at that and then I see this Republican Party today nationally — the build-the-wall Republican Party, the lock-the-borders Republican Party, the inflammatory rhetoric that they use — I think to myself, “We see how this play ends in California. Why would the Republicans at the national level repeat this?”
Q. Do you hear back from former colleagues who reject this Republican Party and are just waiting for Trump to lose?
A. They all think that this is crazy town. They all cannot wait for the day that Trump goes away so they can stop having to talk about and defend this lunatic. The most ironic thing is that people who actually work in Republican politics, by and large the majority of them, I doubt that they’re voting for Trump.
But it’s just how Washington is structured and why it’s so hard for people to make that change like I did, going from a Republican to a Democrat, because you are who you affiliate with. That is your professional identity. That is your personal identity. That is your social circle. Everything that’s a part of your life is tied to the team that you play for. And so often I think here in Washington and on Capitol Hill, it’s almost like sports. We had to beat the other guy. We’ve got to win the day. It’s a contest, a competition, and as horrible as that sounds to people who aren’t as familiar with Washington, that’s really what it feels like when you’re there. This is their livelihood.